Ethel Wight Collection – Part 68

Posted on February 18, 2022 by Don Taylor

Jones, Jordan, Joyal, Kaler, & Munro

Photo Friday
Ethel Wight Collection
By Don Taylor

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.This week, 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 of 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.

Margaret B Jones, circa 1936

The envelope this negative was in says, “Margaret Jones ℅ Mrs. E. W. Jones, 390 Cumberland Ave, #916.”

Margaret B Jones, circa 1936

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • The 1937 Portland City Directory indicates that 390 Cumberland was home to Cumberland Ave Market Grocery, Leonidas Nicholas, Lawrence L Dow, and My Lunch.
  • The 1940 US Census lists 51-year0old Everett W Jones, his 46-year-old wife, Margaret, and his daughter, 23-year-old Margaret Jones, living at 20 Eastwalk in Cape Elizabeth. Everet was the proprietor at a Poultry Farm. Daughter, Margaret V., was a 23-year-old Private Nurse. In 1935 they lived in Portland.
  • The 1937 Portland City Directory lists Everett W Jones as the proprietor of the Kenmore CafĂ© at 106 Oak and 147 Commercial.
  • The 1930 US Census lists 41-year-old Everett W Jones, his 35-year-old wife, Margaret, and his 13-year-old daughter Margaret B in Hartford, Connecticut.
  • My review of Ancestry family trees suggests that this is Margaret B Jones, born about 1917 in Maine, the daughter of Everett Wilbur Jones and Margaret Jacques.

Ancestry has two public trees that refer to Margaret B Jones. Family Search does not appear to have a profile for Margaret, so I have added her photo to Dead Fred. 

Althea Jordan, nurse, circa 1936

This negative envelope says, “Miss Althea Jordan, ME Gen. Hospital #238.”

Althea Jordan, circa 1936

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • The 1936 Portland City Directory lists Althea Jordan as a student nurse at 22 Arsenal (Maine General Hospital).
  • The 1937 Portland City Directory lists Althea as a supervisor at 22 Arsenal.
  • The 1938 Portland City Directory indicates Althea married Thurlow D Poland.
  • A review of Ancestry family trees suggests this is Althea Mae Jordan, born 28 October 1914 in New Hampshire and who married Thurlow D Poland on 29 May 1937.

I believe this to be a photo of Althea about 1936, when she graduated from nursing school.

Ancestry has 29 public trees that refer to Althea. Family Search has a profile for Althea, so I  have uploaded two photos of her to her Family Search profile: GHYK-2Q2.

Nurse Bertha Joyal, circa 1936

This negative envelope says, “Miss Bertha Joyal, Children’s Hospital #760.”

Nurse Bertha Joyal, circa 1936

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • There were three Bertha Joyal’s listed in the 1930 US Census.
    • New Hampshire’s Bertha A Joyal, the 21-year-old daughter of Thomas and Delvina Joyal.
    • Rhode Island’s Bertha Joyal, the 28-year-old wife of Paul Joyal.
    • Rhode Island’s Bertha Joyal, the 38-year-old daughter of Joseph & Elizabeth Joyal.
  • There were four Bertha Joyal’s listed in the 1940 US Census.
    • New Hampshire’s Bertha A Joyal, the 31-year-old daughter of Thomas and Cleoma Joyal. Bertha works as a Nurse.
    • Rhode Island’s Bertha Joyal, the 38-year-old wife of Paul Joyal.
    • Rhode Island’s Bertha Joyal, the 36-year-old daughter of Joseph Joyal.
    • Massachusetts’ Bertha B Joyal, the 29-year-old maid in the James T Cronk household in Granby, Hampshire County.
  • Nurse Bertha Joyal appears in the 1934 and 1936 Biddeford City Directories living and working at Webber Hospital.
  • There was a Bertha E. Joyal who lived in Somersworth, NH, in 1936 and was a student.

I believe that the Bertha Joyal in this photograph is the daughter of Thomas and Delvina Joyal of Somersworth, NH taken about 1935.

Ancestry has NO public trees that refer to Bertha; however, Family Search has a profile for Bertha A Joyal, the daughter of Thomas and Marie Elmire Delvina (Couture) Joyal. So, I have uploaded two photos of her to her Family Search profile, L16K-SLZ.

Rosalind May Kaler (Student Nurse), circa 1937.

This negative envelope says, “Miss Rosalind Kaler, State St. Hospital #862.”

Rosalind May Kaler (Student Nurse), circa 1937.

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • The 1936 Portland City Directory lists Rosalind Kalor, a student nurse at 62 State (State Street Hospital) and residing at 52 State. Rosalind does not appear in the 1937 Directory.
  • Maine Marriage Index indicates that Rosalind M Kaler married John Newbig on 10 April 1937. She was from Waldoboro, Maine.
  • Maine Birth Records indicate Rosalind M Kaler was born 20 Feb 1913 in Waldoboro, Lincoln County, Maine.

This photo is of Rosalind E Kaler, the daughter of Walter E. and Mary (Cheney) Kaler, about 1937 before she married John Newbig.

Ancestry has 25 public trees that refer to Rosalind May Kaler. Family Search has a profile for Rosalind M. Kaler, born 20 February 1913, so I uploaded her photo to profile KT49-1RJ Family Search Memories. 

Confirmed to be Rosalind by a granddaughter.

Elsie (née Munro) Jones and her two sons, Hollis, Jr. and Gordon, circa 1936

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. H.W. Jones, 26 Brentwood St #808.”

Elsie (née Munro) Jones and her two sons, Hollis, Jr. and Gordon, circa 1936

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Hollis W and his wife Elsie N, Jones residing at 26 Brentwood.
  • The 1940 US Census lists Elsie N Jones living at 26 Brentwood with her two sons, 14-year-old Hollis Jr., and nine-year-old Gordon.

This is a photo of Elsie with her two boys about 1936 when Elsie was about 39, Hollis was about 10, and Gordon was about five years old.

Elsie Munro, the wife of Hollis W Jones, is found in ten Ancestry public trees. She also has a Family Search Profile, G99J-MHP. I have uploaded this photo to Elsie’s Family Search Memories.

Ancestry has two public trees that refer to Hollis Willard Jones, born 1925. Although his parents do, Hollis, Jr. does not appear to have a Family Search profile. Gordon does not appear in any Ancestry Public Trees, nor does he have a Family Search profile.

Conclusion

I fully identified all seven of the individuals in these photos. Four of them have Family Search profiles, so I uploaded their images to their Family Search Memories. Two individuals did not have Family Search profiles; however, the photo was with their mother, which I did post to Family Search. Finally, I identified one individual that did not have a Family Search profile but did appear in Ancestry trees, so I posted her image to Dead Fred.

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

Final Note

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.

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.

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Ancestor Sketch – Annie Smythe

Posted on February 14, 2022 by Don Taylor

Bradley-Hingston Project
Hingston-Smythe Line
By Don Taylor

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.Annie Smythe is an immigrant ancestor. She was born in England to Irish parents. She immigrated to the United States, located to Peabody (near Boston), Massachusetts, and married an Irish immigrant. They had six children, including one stillborn. She was widowed at 40 and never remarried. She died at age 50.

Anna (Annie) Smythe is found in 25 Ancestry Public Trees. However, several trees appear to have the wrong husband for her. Family Search has profile KF5Z-LPD for Annie/Anna.

Roberts/Brown – Ancestor #13

List of Grandparents

  • Grandfather: William Robert Hingston (1889-1954)
  • 1st Great-grandmother: Annie Smythe (1859-1912)
  • 2nd Great-grandfather: Robert Smythe (___-___)

Anna/Annie Smythe (1859-1912)

Birth

Annie was born on 2 June 1869 to Robert and Mary (Lyons) Smythe. It is unclear where Annie was born. Some records indicate she was born in England; others indicate Ireland. Because Ireland was part of the “United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland” in 1869 and because both of her parents were born in Ireland, I suspect Annie was born in Ireland. Additionally, I can’t find a record for Annie’s birth in England, and (sadly) Irish birth records through their General Records Office aren’t available until 1864.

Immigration – 1881

Annie came to the United States aboard the S.S. Wyoming, out of Liverpool. The Gulon Line ship’s fare was $80 for a cabin and $30 for steerage. The trip took nine days, seven hours. The SS Wyoming was primarily used for the emigrant trade from Liverpool to New York. Emigrants from Ireland and the continent would come to England through various ports and take emigrant trains to Liverpool. The trains consisted of only third-class carriages and wooden seats. It had to have been a difficult trip, particularly alone. Among the more than 900 passengers on the ship, there were 645 Mormons on board that were heading for Salt Lake City. The ship arrived in New York on 13 September 1881[i]; Castle Garden processed the immigrants.

Marriage

Annie Smythe married Freke Hingston on 2 September 1884 in Peabody, Essex County, Massachusetts. Rev. George Walker of Peabody performed the ceremony. It was the first marriage for both bride and groom.

 The six children of Freke W. and Annie (Smyth) Hingston.

Name Born Married Died
Mary Ellen 7 October 1884 Martin Joseph Quinlan July 1969
(No Name) 11 March 1888 n/a Stillborn
William Robert 29 January 1889 Florence Reid 8 February 1954
James Edward 6 July 1890 9 April 1913
Joseph Freke 19 November 1894 16 November 1976
Florence Louise 5 August 1896 FNU Atwood 2 August 1948

All children were born and died in Peabody, MA.

Adulthood

On 2 January 1899, Annie’s husband Freke died of pneumonia, leaving her a widow with five children.

1900 Census

The 1900 Census finds Annie and her five children living in Peabody. She owns her home at 250 Washington Street, although it is mortgaged. She keeps house, but her fifteen-year-old daughter, Mary, is a suspender maker. William, James, and Joseph are all attending school. They have two boarders, Richard Daley and Patrick Driscoll.

1910 Census

The 1910 Census finds Annie and her five children still at 250 Washington Street. Annie is listed as a nurse who has been out of work for 24 weeks. Twenty-four-year-old Mary works in a Bleachery, and William is a machinist at a machine shop. James was a carpenter and had been out of work for 20 weeks. Fifteen-year-old Joseph worked as a bleacher at a bleachery and attended school; little Florence only attended school.

Death/Burial, etc.

Annie (Smythe) Hingston Died on 23 May 1912 at the age of 50 from “fatty degeneration of the heart.” She was buried on 25 May 1912 at Cedar Grove Cemetery In Peabody. She was preceded in death by her husband and one stillborn child. Her other five children survived her.

Events by Location

  • England (probably Ireland) – Birth (1859).
  • Massachusetts, Peabody – Marriage (1884), 1900, 1910, Death (1912).
  • New York, New York, Castle Garden – Immigration (1881).

Sources

  • 1900 Census, 1900 Census – Annie Hingston. “United States Census, 1900”, database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:66JQ-H6ZY : 26 January 2022), Annie Hingston, 1900.
  • 1910 Census (FS), Family Search, 1910 Census – Annie Hingston, Peabody, Esses, MA (FS). “United States Census, 1910,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M2JN­FF1: accessed 12 March 2018), William R Hingston in household of Annie Hingston, Peabody, Essex, Massachusetts, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 443, sheet 30A, family 479, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 587; FHL microfilm 1,374,600.
  • Find a Grave Memorial, Find a Grave, Annie Smyth Hingston (1859-1912). Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/222462384/annie-hingston : accessed 25 December 2021), memorial page for Annie Smyth Hingston (2 June 1859–23 May 1912), Find a Grave Memorial ID 222462384, citing Cedar Grove Cemetery, Peabody, Essex County, Massachusetts, USA ; Maintained by Thomas F. Scully (contributor 46818179).
  • Massachusetts Births, 1841-1915, Family Search, Florence Louise Hingston – 5 August 1896. “Massachusetts Births, 1841-1915,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FXXZ-4JJ : 20 February 2021), Florence Louise Hingston, 5 August 1896, Peabody, Massachusetts; citing reference ID #Vol. 457, Page 539, Massachusetts Archives, Boston; FHL microfilm 1,843,692.
  • Massachusetts Births, 1841-1915, Family Search, Joseph Freke Hingston. Joseph Freke
  • Massachusetts Deaths, 1841-1915, 1921-1924, Death Certificate: Annie Hingston. “Massachusetts Deaths, 1841-1915, 1921-1924,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N474-RYB : 2 March 2021), Annie Hingston, 23 May 1912; citing Peabody,,Massachusetts, 100, State Archives, Boston; FHL microfilm 2,399,102.
  • “Massachusetts Marriages, 1841-1915,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NWYV-2HT : 10 March 2021), Freke Hingston and Annie Smith, 2 September 1884; citing Peabody, Essex, Massachusetts, United States, State Archives, Boston; FHL microfilm 1,432,997.
  • “Massachusetts Marriages, 1841­-1915,” Family Search, Martin Joseph Quinlan – Mary Ellen Hingston – 21 April 1915. “Massachusetts Marriages, 1841-1915,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N4XC-SYV : 10 March 2021), Martin Joseph Quinlan and Mary Ellen Hingston, 21 April 1915; citing Peabody, Essex, Massachusetts, United States, State Archives, Boston; FHL microfilm 2,411,235.
  • “Massachusetts Marriages, 1841­1915,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N46B­91L: 18 January 2018), William R Hingston and Florence Reid, 24 February 1914; citing Peabody, Essex, Massachusetts, United States, State Archives, Boston; FHL microfilm 2,409,947.
  • Massachusetts State Vital Records, 1841-1920, Family Search, Joseph F Hingston – Death 6 May 1920. “Massachusetts State Vital Records, 1841-1920”, database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:23TL-YHZ : 1 September 2021), Joseph F Hingston, 1920.
  • Massachusetts: Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston Records, 1789-1920 (NEHGS, 2019), American Ancestors, Baptism – Mary Ellen (Hingston) Quinlan. https://www.americanancestors.org/DB2726/i/61210/40/10001937420.
  • New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1891, Family Search, Annie Smith – 1881 – Line 684. – Wyoming. https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVPN-JX11.
  • S. City Directories, 1822-1995, Ancestry.Com, Salem, MA (Peabody) – 1906 – Page 1042 – Hingston. Salem, Massachusetts, City Directory, 1906.
  • S. City Directories, 1822-1995, Ancestry.Com, Salem, MA (Peabody) – 1908 – Page 1088 – Hingston.
  • S. City Directories, 1822-1995, Ancestry.Com, Salem, MA (Peabody) – 1912 – Pages 40 & 1099 – Annie Hingston. Ancestry.com. U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995 [database online]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.

Endnotes

[i] New-York Tribune (New York, New York) · Wed, Sep 14, 1881 · Page 8 – “ARRIVAL OF MORMONS”

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Binford – Surname Saturday

Posted on February 12, 2022 by Don Taylor

Howell-Pankey-Binford Line
By Don Taylor

Name Origin

Ancestry indicates that Binford is an English habitational name from Binneford in Crediton, Devon, based upon the personal name Beonna and Old English ford (ford).

Geographical

Forebears indicates there are only about 3,136 people with the Binford surname globally, with 3,115 of them living in the United States. In the United States, nearly half of the Binfords live in Texas. Virginia, where our ancestors were from, contains 92 individuals with the Binford surname. Interestingly enough, although Binford comes from Crediton, Devon, England, there are no Binfords in England.

Direct Binford Ancestors

    • 5th Great-grandmother: 69 – Betsy Kinsey Binford(1739-ca. 1771)
    • 6th Great-grandfather: 138 – Thomas Binford (____-bef. 1754)*
    • 7th Great-grandfather: 276 – James Binford (____-____)*
    • 8th Great-grandfather: 551 – Anthony Binford (____-____)*

(* = Ancestors of Betsy Kinsey Binford are tentative.)

Historical

Our Binford ancestors lived before US censuses were enumerated. Figuring about 25 years between generations, my earliest known Binford ancestor, Anthony Binford, was probably born about 1664. I don’t know which of our Binford ancestors first migrated to the Colonies.

Direct Binford Descendants

We have 284 known descendants of Anthony Binford; 50 Howell, 36 Binford, 33 Pankey, and 16 Boseman. Two hundred three of those descendants are known descendants of Betsey Kinsey Binford. I have previously written about 5 of them.

Famous Binfords

Julien Binford Self Portrait – “Elizabeth Watching” Source: Julien Binford Facebook Page

Among famous Binford’s is Julien Binford (1908–1997), painter and professor of painting. Julien was born in and lived much of his life in Powhatan County, Virginia.

Our Binford family are from  Powhatan County and the counties Powhatan was descended from. So a relationship to Julien is entirely possible. It will be fun to do a “quick & dirty” tree for Julien and see if such a relationship exists.

Julien Binford has a Facebook Page “to celebrate both his life and his amazing art.”

Sources

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Ethel Wight Collection – Part 67

Posted on February 11, 2022 by Don Taylor

Johndro, Johnson, & (née) Warren

Photo Friday
Ethel Wight Collection
By Don Taylor

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.[This week, 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 of 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.]

Beatrice Harriet Johndro, Nursing Student, circa 1937.

The envelope this negative was in says, “Miss Beatrice Johndro, St. Barnabus Hospital #945.”

Beatrice Harriet Johndro, Nursing Student, circa 1937.

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • Last week, in Ethel Wight Collection – Part 66, I took a look at another photo package for Miss Beatrice Johndro. In it, I reviewed negative package 529. This photo is from negative package 945 taken several months later.

This photo is of Beatrice about 1937, while a student at St. Barnabas Hospital.

Ancestry has 26 public trees that refer to Beatrice Harriet Johndro. Family Search has a profile for Beatrice. So, I uploaded one more photo of her to profile L5NX-7K6’s Family Search Memories.

Pauline Johnson, circa 1934 & 1935

Pauline Johnson, Nursing Student, circa 1937.

These photos are from the Ethel Wight Studio, Portland, Maine. They are from two negative envelopes, one labeled “Miss Pauline Johnson, Children’s Hospital, #294” and the other “Miss Pauline Johnson, Exeter Hospital, Exeter, N.H. #538.” The two different numbers suggest the photos were taken several months apart. Additionally, in the first photo, Pauline is wearing a student nurse uniform, while in the later images, she is wearing a nurse uniform.

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • Pauline Johnson, circa 1935

    The 1940 Census lists Pauline Johnson as a nurse at the Exeter Hospital. She was 27 years old, born in New Hampshire.

  • The 1940 Census also lists Pauline M Johnson, born about 1912 in New Hampshire. She was the daughter of Charles H and Winfred G Johnson. Pauline M was a nurse. Exeter is about 13 miles south of Lee. It also indicates she was living in the same house as in 1935.
  • Pauline Mary Johnson was born 22 April 1912 in Nottingham, New Hampshire, the daughter of Charles and Winifred Johnson.

Alternative individuals

The 1937 Portland City Directory lists a Pauline Johnson, employed by LDCo at 148 Middle and residing at 52 Myrtle. The 1939 City Directory lists her working at 149 Middle but living at 207 High. She was a stitcher and not a nurse.

Conclusion

I believe this is Pauline Mary Johnson about 1934 as a student nurse and again about 1935 as a nurse.

Ancestry has three public trees that refer to Pauline M. Johnson; Family Search has a profile for her. So, I  have uploaded two photos of her to the Family Search Memories for GDLZ-ZGG.

I also uploaded one additional photo of Pauline to my Flickr photostream.

Ruth Johnson, Nurse, circa 1935

This negative envelope says, “Miss Ruth Johnson, ME Gen. Hospital #285.”

Why I couldn’t fully identify this individual.

  • Ruth Johnson, Nurse, circa 1935

    The 1934 and 1935 Portland City Directories list Ruth Johnson as a student nurse at 22 Arsenal (Maine General Hospital). Also listed is Ruth A M Johnson, a nurse working and residing at 46 Spruce.

  • The 1936 Portland City Directory only lists Ruth A M Johnson at 46 Spruce, suggesting that Ruth, the student, either graduated or married or both.
  • The 1940 Census lists Ruth A Johnson, a nurse and the 29-year-old daughter of Robert and Bessie Johnson. Further searching of the 1940 Census indicates she is the only Miss Ruth Johnson who lived in Portland during 1935. And this is not the correct Ruth Johnson.
  • Searches for a Ruth Johnson who married between 1935 and 1940 in Maine were unsuccessful.

This photo is of Ruth Johnson, who was born about 1914 and was a student at Maine General Hospital about 1935. The 1930 Census indicates there were 58 Ruth Johnsons in New England who were born about 1914. Researching each of those individuals is beyond the scope of this identification project.

I have added her photo to Dead Fred and a second photo to my Flickr photostream.

Shirley Johnson (née Warren), circa 1935.

This negative envelope says, “Mrs. J. D. Johnson, 60 Brackett St #519.”

Shirley Johnson (née Warren), circa 1935

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • The 1936 Portland City Directory lists Jordan D Johnson as a clerk residing at 60 Brackett with his wife Shirley M.
  • The 1940 US Census lists Jordan D, and his 30-year-old wife, Shirley, living at 64 Brackett St.
  • Shirley M Warren and Jordan D Johnson married on 30 September 1934, so this photo was taken after that.

I believe this is Shirley M Johnson, née Warren, about 1935.

Ancestry has one public tree that refers to Shirley Warren. Family Search does not appear to have Shirley (Warren) Johnson’s profile. So, I have added her photo to Dead Fred. I also uploaded one additional photo of Shirley to my Flickr photostream.

Ethel Irene Johnson, circa 1937

The negative envelope says, “Mrs. Ethel Johnson, 28 North St #1045.”

Ethel Irene Johnson, circa 1937

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • The 1937 Portland City Directory lists three different Ethel Johnsons.
    • Ethel B Johnson, the wife of Albert W Johnson, lives at 11 Sheridan.
    • Ethel M Johnson, wife of Summer W Johnson, residing at 21 Longfellow.
    • Ethel V Johnson, a single nurse, residing at 75 Capisic.
    • However, the 1937 Portland City Directory does indicate that Mrs. Annie II Johnson lived at 28 North Street.
  • The 1940 Census lists Annie Johnson, a widow living at 28 North Street with her 18-year-old daughter, Ethel.

Based upon the ID (#1045), the photo was likely taken about 1937, when Ethel was about 15 years old. Ancestry Family trees suggest Ethel Irene Johnson was born 19 February 1922 in Portland.

Ancestry has four public trees that refer to Ethel Irene Johnson. Family Search does not appear to have a profile for Ethel, so I have added her photo to Dead Fred.

I also uploaded a second photo of Ethel to my Flickr photostream. 

Conclusion

    • I identified four of five Two of them have Family Search profiles, so I uploaded their images to their Family Search Memories
    • One individual I identified did not have a Family Search profile but did appear in Ancestry trees, so I posted her image to Dead Fred.
    • Another individual did not have a Family Search profile and did not appear in any Ancestry trees. I uploaded her photo to Dead Fred and to my Flickr Photostream.
    • Finally, there was one individual I was unable to identify adequately. I uploaded her photo to Dead Fred.

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

Final Note

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.

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.

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Donna Darling Collection – Part 86

Posted on February 10, 2022 by Don Taylor

Donna’s Cloak & MyHeritage Photo Repair

Treasure Chest Thursday
By Don Taylor

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.For this week’s Treasure Chest Tuesday, I’m looking at another clipping from the Donna Darling Collection. This photo is of Donna in her stage cloak. I’ve seen the image in several newspaper articles as it was a signature costume for her. The print itself is in terrible condition, torn, faded, just generally in awful, unusable condition.

I’ve known about MyHeritage’s photo repair capability for some time, but I hadn’t used it. As such, I figured I’d give it a try and see if it could help this image.

Donna Darling in her white cloak, circa 1926

I uploaded the image to MyHeritage then ran it through both the photo repair and photo enhancement. Zooming in on Donna’s face, I thought I’d see some improvement. Surprisingly, I did not see any difference. The repair smoothed the tear and some minor marks and tears, but nothing more than many other tools can do. That said, the process was straightforward. I’ve used Photoshop Elements and several other simple programs to clean up tears and marks. They typically do a similar job, but they take some experience to use and take more effort. It was the enhancement that I didn’t think the MyHeritage tool did much for my photo. I’ll try it again on something else and see if my opinion can be changed.

Donna in her coat – Original Scan

Donna in her coat – Enhanced and Repaired

The label on the back of this photo said, “Hokum ala Carte,” “Donna Darling,” and had a stamp that read “Darling and Clark Revue.”

Donna and Sammy were married in 1926, so this photo was taken after they got together, but probably towards the beginning of the Darling and Clark Revue in May 1926.

This photo is of Donna Darling in her cloak, circa May 1926.

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