Linwood Dyer Collection – Part 001
By Don Taylor

Because my work on the Ethel Wight Collection failed to identify any individuals this week, I thought I’d begin work on my next collection of photographs. This week, I’m starting my working with the Linwood Dyer Collection. This collection includes hundreds of photos, documents, and genealogies of people who lived in Scarborough, South Portland, and Cape Elizabeth, Maine. I desire to analyze the images and reunite them with family members who may have never seen the picture. The Scarborough Historical Society holds the originals in this collection.

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Sally Burnside Small, before 1893.

The photo identifying information includes:

Studio: Lamson—RTLAND, ME

Back (handwritten): Sally Burnside Small – 1870-1910.

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• The 1887 Portland City Directory lists J. H. Lamson as a photographer in Portland, Maine.
• Sally Burnside Small married John McKinstry Kimball on 13 September 1893 in Portland, Maine.

I believe this photo is of Sally before her marriage in 1893.

I created a new Ancestry Tree, Linwood Dyer Collection via Scarborough Historical Society. I then created an entry for Sally Burnside Small (1870-1910) and uploaded this photo to her gallery there. On Family Search, she has profile K8F3-G54. I also uploaded her Family Search memories.

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Linnie Evelyn Merrill, circa 1896.

The photo identifying information includes:

Complements of Fred L Merrill & Co. Jewelers and Opticians.
Linnie Evelyn Merrill
Studio: Jackson Photo

Back: We wish to say that “Baby Merrill” is a sister to Grace May Merrill, whose picture, taken with her Pug Dog Gip is already in the hands of many of our customers. We trust it will serve to keep us fresh in your memory, and when in need of anything in our line come and see us first.

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• Ancestry Family Trees suggest this is Linnie Evelyn Merrill, daughter of Fred Lyman and Harriet “Hattie” Maud (Martin) Merrill. Linnie, who was born in January 1895, had an older sister Grace May Merrill (1888-1978). The 1900 US Census reports that Fred Merrill was a jeweler.
• Linnie appears to be about a year old, so the photo is from about 1896.

I then created an entry for Linnie Evelyn Merrill and uploaded her photo to my Linwood Dyer Collection tree on Ancestry. On Family Search, she has profile, GS4Q-HGJ. I also uploaded her photo to her Family Search memories.

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Grace May Merrill, circa 1893.

The photo identifying information includes:

Photographer:  Jackson – Portland, ME
The front title says: Grace May Merrill and Gip.

The printing on the back is advertising for Fred L Merrill & Co. Jewelers and Opticians.

Why I believe this to be the individual.

• My research above regarding Linnie Evelyn Merrill prepared me to expect a photo of Grace May Merrill and her pug, Gip. Grace was 12 during the 1900 Census and appears to be about five in this photo, suggesting it was taken about 1893.

I then created an entry for Grace May Merrill in my Linwood Dyer Collection family tree and uploaded her photo there. On Family Search, she has profile, GS4Q-HGJ. I also uploaded her photo to her Family Search memories.

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Conclusion

I identified all three individuals, and I uploaded their images to their Family Search Memories.

I would love to hear your reaction if any of these photos are of your family member. 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 have higher quality than those linked here.