Maddox, Magelas, Maheu, Mansfield (née Small), & Marrone

Photo Friday
Ethel Wight Collection
By Don Taylor

For Photo Friday, I identify the people in five more envelopes from the Ethel Wight Studio Collection.[i] The envelopes contain the names who paid for the photos, not necessarily the individual portrayed in the image. As such, it is vital to analyze the pictures and information to identify the individual therein.[ii] Ultimately, my goal is to reunite the photos with family members who may have never seen the image.

Irene Maheu, Student Nurse, circa 1934.

The envelope this negative was in says, “Miss Irene Maheu, Me Eye & Ear Infirmary #233.”

Irene Maheu, Student Nurse, circa 1934.

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• The 1934 Portland City Directory lists Irene Maheu, a student nurse at 79 Bramhall (Maine Eye & Ear Infirmary).
• The 1940 US Census lists Irene [Annette] Maheu, the 27-year-old daughter of Alfred and Julia Maheu, living with her parents in Waterville, Kennebec County, Maine. She is a Dentist-Assistant and was born in Maine. She married Frank Siviski, (Siwicki) Jr., in 1942.

I believe this is the correct Irene Maheu; however, I cannot prove it to my satisfaction because a dental assistant is not a regular transition from the Eye & Ear Infirmary, and there are alternate individuals possible.

Alternate Individuals.

• There was another Irene Maheu, the 31-year-old wife of Andrew Maheu, living in Waterville, Maine. In 1940, this Irene had five children and worked as a marker in the laundry industry and is not likely the woman in this photo.
• There was an Irene M Maheu who married Alfred F Nadeau on 24 October 1938. In 1940 she was living with her husband, Antonio Nadeau, and 4-year-old daughter in Lewiston.

I have added a photo of Irene Maheu to Dead Fred and a second photo of her to my Flickr Photostream. Hopefully, a family member will find her picture and confirm her identity.

Charles and Zilla Maddox, circa 1936.

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. A. E. Maddox, 14 Caldwell St #461.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• 

  Charles and Zilla Maddox, circa 1936.

  The 1934 Portland City Directory lists Arthur E and Verna I Maddox living at 14 Caldwell.

• Ancestry Trees suggest that Arthur Elmer Maddox had three children. Charles, Carol, and Zilla. Carol died about 1931, which means the two children in the photo must be Charles and Zilla

Charles Arthur Maddox was born on 27 January 1929 in Portland, and Zilla Jean Maddox was born on 18 April 1932. Based on the Photo Number (#461), this photo was taken about 1936, when Charles was about seven, and Zella was about four.

Charles Arthur Maddox is found in eight Ancestry public trees. Zilla Jean Maddox is found in three Ancestry public trees. Neither child has a Family Search profile, so I uploaded a photo of them to Dead Fred and a second photo of them to my Flickr photostream.

Richard & William Magelas, circa 1936.

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Geo Magelas, 8 Catherine St #190.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• 

  Richard & William Magelas, circa 1936.

  The 1935 Portland City Directory lists George and Marie A Magelas living at 12 Catherine.

• George and Marie were difficult to find in the 1940 Census. I finally found George and Marie McGiles still living at 12 Catherine. With them are their daughter and two sons, Pheodra (10), William (9), and Richard (6).
• William was born on 2 March 1931 to George and Marie (Macarrick) Magelas. Richard was born in November 1934.

This is a photo of William and Richard Magelas, the two sons of George and Marie (Macarrick) Mageles, about 1936 when William was about five and Richard about three.

Ancestry does not appear to have any public trees that refer to William, Richard, or their parents. Family Search has a profile L2YQ-CK1 for William but does not appear to have a profile for Richard. I have uploaded a photo of the two boys to William’s Family Search Memories. 

Gloria Frances Marrone, circa 1936

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. John Marrone, 163 Cumberland Ave #532.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• 

  Gloria Frances Marrone, circa 1936

  The 1940 Census lists John Marrone and his wife, Irene, living at 163 Cumberland. With them are their nine-year-old daughter, Gloria, and their three-year-old son, John.

• Ancestry trees suggest Gloria Frances Marrone was born on 1 December 1930 to Giovanni (John) and Irene (Blake) Marrone.

This photo is of Gloria about 1936 when she was about five years old.

Ancestry has nine public trees that refer to Gloria Marrone, daughter of John and Irene Marrone. Although John and Irene are found in Family Search, Gloria does not appear to have a profile, so I uploaded her photo to Dead Fred.

Lillian (Small) Mansfield, circa 1934.

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. Roy Mansfield, 390 Cumberland #127.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• 

  Lillian (Small) Mansfield, circa 1934.

  The 1934 Portland City Directory lists Roy D and Lillian C Mansfield living at 384 Cumberland.

• The 1935 Portland City Directory indicates Roy was living at 97 Elm, and Lillian is not listed.
• However, the 1936 Portland City Directory lists Roy and Lillian residing at 150b Free. Lillian is working as a maid.
• Ancestry Public trees suggest this is Lillian Coombe Small, born 30 January 1912 and married Roy Daniel Mansfield on 22 April 1934.

This photo was taken about 1934, while Lillian and Roy lived on Cumberland Ave.

Lillian Coombe Small is found in 4 Ancestry public trees. Family Search has profile GSFT-QGV for Lillian Small. I uploaded a photo of Lillian Mansfield to her Family Search Memories.

Conclusion

I reviewed the photos in five more packages from the Ethel Wight Studio and identified seven individuals:

• • Charles and Zilla Maddox
  • Richard & William Magelas
  • Irene Maheu
  • Lillian Mansfield (née Small)
  • Gloria Frances Marrone

I uploaded two sets of images to Family Search, two sets to Dead Fred, and one set only to my Flickr Photostream

If any of these photos are of your family member, I would love to hear your reaction. Especially if this photo is of a loved one for whom you hadn’t seen this photograph before.

Due to software limitations, the images uploaded to Family Search, Dead Fred, and Flickr have a higher image quality than the images linked here.

For all postings of the Ethel Wight Collection, please see here.

Endnotes

[i] The Wight Studio was in Portland, Maine. Many thanks to Ethel Wight’s family for access to and permission to use the collection of their great aunt.

[ii] These images were converted to positives using a lightbox, a Nikon camera and computer software.