Category Archives: Women

Miss Lila Sears, Portland, Oregon

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Divided Back, Real Photo Postcard, unused. AZO stamp box. Photographer:  Bicknell. Circa 1916 – 1918.

Price:  $15.00      

Embossed on the front lower right is the photographer info:   “Bicknell. 326 1/2 Washington St. Portland Ore.”

Miss Lila, very smartly attired and posing rather somberly for the camera, was born in California, October 1894, the daughter of Benjamin F. Sears and Jennifer Wotton. She married Harry W. Kelley, May 7, 1921, in Portland. The date for this postcard has been narrowed down with the help of Playles.com (AZO stamp boxes all four triangles pointing upward are as late as 1918) and the photographer’s address.

The Bicknell Studio

The photography studio of Bicknell would have been Wilfred Bicknell and his wife, Pearl. They’re both listed as photographers on the 1910 Federal Census for Portland. He born in England about 1875, and she born in Oregon about 1881. The Portland city directories start online from 1906 for Wilfred; address 203 1/2 1st Street. By 1909 we’re seeing an additional address for the studio of 214 Merchants Trust Building, switching to 210 Merchants Trust by 1911. (No city directories were found for 1910.)

In 1919, Wilfred married Mayme H. Thuener, August 11, 1919 in Marin County, California. No records were found for a divorce or death for Pearl.

Curiously, no references were found for the 326 1/2 Washington Street, Portland address that’s embossed on the postcard.

When the WWI Draft Registration Card was recorded, Wilfred was in San Francisco, CA. This record shows his date of birth as December 28, 1874. He’s working as a photographer for employer, Charles Bossum at 25 Kearney St. Then 1920 census for Stockton, CA, shows Wilfred is as owner of a photography gallery.

By 1930, Wilfred has run into some tough times. At the time of this census, taken in Stockton, CA, he is a patient at the state mental hospital. (It makes one wonder how much exposure he may have had to chemicals and/or heavy metals from his occupation.)

Sources:  “Real Photo Postcard Stamp Boxes, A – B.” https://www.playle.com/realphoto/photoa.php. (access April 23, 2023).

Oregon Center For Health Statistics; Portland, Oregon, USA; Oregon State Marriages, 1911-1945 (Ancestry.com).

Oregon State Archives; Salem, Oregon; Oregon, Death Records, 1864-1967. (Ancestry.com).

Year: 1910; Census Place: Portland Ward 5, Multnomah, Oregon; Roll: T624_1286; Page: 11A; Enumeration District: 0159; FHL microfilm: 1375299. (Ancestry.com).

R. L. Polk & Co.’s Portland, Oregon city directories, 1906 – 1916. (Ancestry.com).

Ancestry.com. California, U.S., Marriage Records from Select Counties, 1850-1941.

Ancestry.com. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918.

Year: 1920; Census Place: Stockton Ward 4, San Joaquin, California; Roll: T625_144; Page: 2B; Enumeration District: 177. (Ancestry.com).

Year: 1930; Census Place: Stockton, San Joaquin, California; Page: 1B; Enumeration District: 0050; FHL microfilm: 2339947. (Ancestry.com).

Martha Reifschneider

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Divided Back, Real Photo Postcard, unused. KRUXO stamp box, circa 1908 – 1910.

Price:  $15.00

Portrait of a beautiful young woman, in satin dress with tucks and a ruffled high lace collar…..

This particular KRUXO stamp box, with four-leaf clovers in each corner, is known to be from 1908 – 1910. Here’s the name written on the back:

As you can see, the ending of the surname is a little run together, however, we’re not finding any other potential matches under name variations.
And there’s no guarantee, but still we feel pretty confident that we have the right person in the details below:

Martha is the daughter of George Reifschneider and Katrina Redder, both German emigrants. (The Redder surname is from Ancestry.com family trees.) Martha was born in Iowa about May of 1890. She married Carl Sietmann March 9, 1910 at the home of her parents in Blairstown, Missouri.

Sources:  “K-L. Real Photo Postcard Stamp Boxes.” Playle.com. Accessed April 11, 2023.

Year: 1900; Census Place: Jefferson, Marshall, Iowa; Roll: 447; Page: 3; Enumeration District: 0109. (Ancestry.com).

“Laurel Couple Weds.” Evening Times-Republican (Marshalltown, Iowa). March 16, 1910. Wednesday, p. 9. (Newspapers.com).

Subway Clearance 10′

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Old photo, white border. Circa 1940’s. Photographer:  Robert C. Gilmore, Montrose, Colorado.

Price:  $10.00        Size:  4 and 7/16 x 2 and 11/16″

It was the photographer’s stamp (with its mountain peak) on the back of this one that drew us in……but circa 1940’s, a young woman poses in front of a subway tunnel – its location is a mystery. We couldn’t find any matching images online, and it seems the snapshot must have been taken elsewhere and the film developed in Montrose. So we’ll look to the photographer:

Robert Clinton Gilmore was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, August 14, 1909 and died November 4, 1988 in Montrose, Colorado. On his WWII Draft Registration Card (given name filled out as Bob) his photography business address is listed as 520 Main St., Montrose. He was the son of Horace Clinton Gilmore and Sophia Elizabeth Maria Boller. Sometime after the 1940 Federal Census was taken, he married Katherine (maiden name unknown). The 1930 census for Montrose has his occupation as farm laborer, and living with parents and siblings, Hazel, Deane (brother) and Lucille. Interestingly, Hazel, Bob’s older sister by about four years, is a photographer on this record. So, this could have been the start of Gilmore photography and Bob took over the business or Hazel could have been working for someone else. At the date of our web post, ours is the only photo found with the Gilmore stamp.

Sources:  Year: 1930; Census Place: Montrose, Montrose, Colorado; Page: 1A; Enumeration District: 0001; FHL microfilm: 2339982. (Ancestry.com).

Year: 1940; Census Place: Montrose, Montrose, Colorado; Roll: m-t0627-00472; Page: 11B; Enumeration District: 43-3A. (Ancestry.com).

National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; Wwii Draft Registration Cards For Colorado, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 88. (Ancestry.com).

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/27318883/robert-clinton-gilmore: accessed 26 March 2023), memorial page for Robert Clinton Gilmore (14 Aug 1909–4 Nov 1988), Find a Grave Memorial ID 27318883, citing Cedar Creek Cemetery, Montrose, Montrose County, Colorado, USA; Maintained by Arleta (contributor 46898856).

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/26994908/sophia-elizabeth_maria-gilmore: accessed 26 March 2023), memorial page for Sophia Elizabeth Maria Boller Gilmore (19 Sep 1878–8 Mar 1948), Find a Grave Memorial ID 26994908, citing Cedar Creek Cemetery, Montrose, Montrose County, Colorado, USA; Maintained by Arleta (contributor 46898856).

Young Woman and Old 1928 Chevy

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Old photo, white border. Circa 1930s – 1940s.

Price:  $3.00        Size:  About 2 and 3/4 x 4 and 1/2″

Another unknown person, no i.d. on the back. (Why do I keep buying them? I don’t know. Just like them, I guess.)  But there’s always something to learn from an old photo or postcard. And it was fun to try to discern the license plate info. If we could go back in time and “run the plate,” since the numbers are so easily read 🙂 …..Anyway, at the bottom left, I think that reads 32, as in the year 1932. After that, geez, I’m lost. Every time I look at the enlargement I see something different (rather an interesting phenomena).  As for the make and year, the geniuses at the Forum page of the Antique Automobile Club of America have helped us out again. (I really can’t say enough about these people.) So, the car is a 1928 Chevy; that’s possibly a “pancake” horn to the right of the plate; and the two identical objects above the plate are – you might have guessed by that sense of “in flight” and feathers look – a pair of Mobile Oil Pegasuses (for decoration).

As for the young lady who posed so charmingly for this snapshot – as stated, no name, but she’s standing, hands behind back, smiling, hair side-parted and bobbed, wearing a pale-striped dress, belted at the waist and flat shoes with bobby socks. Her “backdrop” is a massive stone wall, part of some type of structure, maybe even a covered bridge; we can see part of a roof or awning. And there’s our Chevy, peering out from the side of the building. 😉

Sources:  Google search “1928 chevrolet car images front end.” Accessed March 12, 2023.

Google search “mobile oil pegasus.” Accessed March 12, 2023.

Feeding the Pigeons, Atlantic City Boardwalk, 1939

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Old photo, white border. Atlantic City, New Jersey, 1939.

Price:  $10.00        Size:  2 and 1/2 x 3 and 1/2″

A busy street scene:  An older couple with the grandkids, feeding the pigeons. In the background, according to the source below, is the corner of S. New York Avenue and Boardwalk. This A. Schulte Cigars (one of numerous locations) address was 1645 Boardwalk and the Apollo Theater (most often spelled Theatre back in the day) was located at 180 S. New York Ave. The theater was a movie house and you can read the movie that was currently showing:  “The Women”, starring Norma Shearer and Joan Crawford. The year for this photo turned out to be an easy one thanks both to the movie marquee, and the vendor in his small sidewalk booth (check out his shoes) selling tickets to the Miss America Pageant, September 5th – 11th. The movie came out in 1939 and the pageant in Atlantic City for those September dates took place the same year.

To our left, of Schulte’s, we see a shop sign for what looks like, “Milano Linen.” It’s a little hard to make out. To our far right, next to Schulte’s, was Riley’s or maybe O’Riley’s Liquor. Or possibly, it was so-and-so and Riley’s – since the view is obscured we can’t tell.

Source:  “Apollo Theater.” (cinematreasures.org). Accessed March 6, 2023.

Myrle and Kitten

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Old photo, white border. Circa 1920s.

Price:  $4.00        Size:  About 2 and 7/8 x 2 and 11/16″

This photograph has optical illusions…..

The young lady is holding a kitten, not a baby raccoon. But the little guy looks like a raccoon – his chin is blending in with the stucco background of the house, giving his snout a more pointed look, and the girl’s fingers of her left hand, supporting the kitty, are creating a pronounced striped look for his tail, like that of a raccoon. Then the barely noticeable name written in ink at the bottom left – that long downward stroke of the capital “M” coincides with the horizontal mortar of the bricks, making the name appear to begin with “F.”

For the name Myrle, we can’t be sure on this, but with trying out different possibilities, it seems the best fit. It comes up fairly often in online records and we can find it’s origin:  Old French, meaning blackbird. (So pretty, like the young woman, of course!). And said to have peaked in popularity in 1915.

The writing on the reverse, in pencil and which looks to have blended somewhat with the general soiling over the years, is a major challenge and not seeming to fit the norm for a description. We can make out what looks like “J. J.” and “Belmont[?] Road” and “Jenson.” We’ll have to try to revisit this one from time to time, maybe the rest of the wording will “break through” at some point in the future.

Sources:  “Myrle.” https://www.thebump.com/b/myrle-baby-name. Accessed March 2, 2023.

“Myrle – Meaning of Myrle.” https://www.babynamespedia.com/meaning/Myrle/f. Accessed March 2, 2023.

A Sidewalk Stroll in Memphis, Tennessee

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Old photo, white border. Circa 1930s – 1940s.

Price:  $10.00          Size:  2 and 13/16 x 3 and 3/4″

An older couple strolling in a shopping district of Memphis, Tennessee. He in suit, tie, hat and horn-rimmed glasses, hands behind back and she in a hat, dark dress with flowered jacket belted at the waist and carrying a pair of white gloves. It’s a cute look they have, he’s turned towards her slightly, she’s smiling up at him. Behind them is a prominent sign showing “Economy Corner, Pantaze.” Pantaze was a drug store chain.

The photo’s reverse shows the photographer’s surname was Bolton and his business venture for these types of snapshots was called The “CANDID.” According to city directories and census records Bolton was Richard Bolton, and we’re seeing him on the 1910 Federal Census in Greenwood, Mississippi, occupation photographer. By 1912 he’s in Memphis, Tennessee working as a “photo finisher” for Engineers & Architects Supply Co. And by at least 1919, he’s again under the occupation of photographer. He stays with this vocation until his death in 1955.

Richard Bolton was born July 9, 1888 in Lula, Mississippi, son of West D. Bolton and Callie Louise (Perkins) Bolton. By the 1920 census he’s married to Bertha, who was born Nebraska, about 1893. The 1940 shows he is now with wife, Alma, born Tennessee, about 1907. He died in Memphis, December 23, 1955. The death certificate states he was divorced.

Below, worth reading –  love the humor…..♥  The case of the photographer’s disappearing Ford, from The Commercial Appeal, May 12, 1923:

Back to the photo……

What street was our strolling couple on? Unknown, at the moment. Since there were multiple Pantaze Drug Stores (the 1938 city directory, for instance, lists three different stores:  Store No. 1 was located at 38 S. Main; No. 2 was at 209 Beale Ave.; and No. 3 at 531 S. Main) we looked for any added reference to Economy Corner. That was, surprisingly, not found, so maybe someone with knowledge of the old Memphis days can let us know.

I’m aware there’s a glitch above with the grayed out wording and am trying to fix it – but it’s so appropriate though, kind of like the photographer’s car issue. 😉

Sources:  Year: 1910; Census Place: Greenwood South Ward, Leflore, Mississippi; Roll: T624_749; Page: 13B; Enumeration District: 0071; FHL microfilm: 1374762.(Ancestry.com).

R. L. Polk & Co.’s Memphis City Directory, 1912. Page 210. Ancestry.com. U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995.

R. L. Polk & Co.’s Memphis City Directory, 1919. Page 186. Ancestry.com. U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995.

Year: 1920; Census Place: Memphis Ward 4, Shelby, Tennessee; Roll: T625_1763; Page: 1A; Enumeration District: 82. (Ancestry.com).

“Phantom Car Vanishes.”  The Commercial Appeal, (Memphis, TN) May 12, 1923. Saturday, p. 7. (Newspapers.com).

R. L. Polk & Co.’s Memphis City Directory, 1938. Page 1602. Ancestry.com. U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995.

Year: 1940; Census Place: Memphis, Shelby, Tennessee; Roll: m-t0627-03963; Page: 1B; Enumeration District: 98-103. (Ancestry.com).

Tennessee State Library and Archives; Nashville, Tennessee; Tennessee Death Records, 1908-1958. (Ancestry.com).

Glam Photo By W. Albert Martin, Pasadena, California

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Old photo, circa 1936 – 1950. Photographer:  W. Albert Martin, Pasadena, California.

Price:  $15.00                  Size:  3 and 7/16 x 3 and 7/16″

A bit mildew-y as you can see, so this one’s more for digital use. The front markings could be rather easily taken care of in Photoshop, if anyone’s interested. Still, it’s a rather stunning photo printed on textured paper of a radiant young woman in a glam shot, showing bare shoulders, she’s smiling and looking up to her right.

W. Albert Martin (1891 – 1959) was a well-known photographer in Pasadena. His work appeared in The Pasadena Post quite often – shots of society persons, brides, young women appearing in plays, etc. He did the photography for the Cal Tech 1936 yearbook, (possibly other years but we didn’t search extensively) and per Worthpoint, photographed Albert Einstein and his wife, Elsa on five different occasions, and was also known for his photos of Native American and Western scenes. According to his obituary, he had later resided Scottsdale, Arizona and San Diego, California.

The Pasadena business address, 963 E. Colorado St. was found in city directories from 1936 – 1946.

From The Pasadena Post, September 13, 1947:

The 1940 Federal Census has him in Pasadena, photographer with own studio, with wife, Mabel S. Martin. The WWII Draft Registration recorded William Albert Martin, born Beatrice, Nebraska, July 24, 1892. Occupation photographer. Home address 1419 Rutan Way, Pasadena. Business address 696 E. Colorado. By the 1950, he is still in Pasadena, running own portrait studio and now married to Katherine D. Martin.

Obituary from the Independent Star-News, January 18, 1959:

Sources:  “W. Albert Martin Took Prize Photo.” The Pasadena Post, September 13, 1947. Monday, p. 5. (Newspapers.com).

“Native American Couple C1940s W Albert Martin Arizona.” https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/native-american-couple-c1940s-albert-114041173. (Accessed February 23, 2023).

Year: 1940; Census Place: Pasadena, Los Angeles, California; Roll: m-t0627-00240; Page: 12A; Enumeration District: 19-435. (Ancestry.com).

The National Archives At St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; World War II Draft Cards (4th Registration) For the State of California; Record Group Title: Records of the Selective Service System; Record Group Number: 147. (Ancestry.com).

United States of America, Bureau of the Census; Washington, D.C.; Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790-2007; Record Group Number: 29; Residence Date: 1950; Home in 1950: San Gabriel, Los Angeles, California; Roll: 3593; Sheet Number: 1; Enumeration District: 19-1719. (Ancestry.com).

http://www.e-yearbook.com/yearbooks/Cal_Tech_Big_T_Yearbook/1936/Page_6.html – caltech yearbook 1936

Independent Star-News, January 18, 1959 (Pasadena, California). Sunday, p. 38. (Newspapers.com).

Ethel (Lewis) Kelly

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Divided back, Real Photo Postcard, unused. CYKO stamp box. Circa 1915 – 1925.

Price:  $15.00

There are two names on the back of this card:  Ethel Lewis Kelly and Bertha Tufford. Presumably they are cousins, or Bertha could be a cousin-in-law, though records were not found as proof, either way.

A description…..

Ethel, with a thoughtful, agreeable expression, wearing wire-rimmed eyeglasses, head tilted slightly, dark hair parted on the side and pulled back. Rings on both hands, one a possible wedding ring, and an interesting dress style:  light material with small diamonds, dark satiny fabric for the upside of the collar, the same fabric around the waist and for the diagonal accent under the bodice buttons. Lace running up one side from buttons to collar, and then lace around the cuffs, continuing up to the elbows. The carved wooden chair is also gorgeous – one of the nicest we’ve seen. The “ears” of the chair resemble something between a fish and a seahorse.

Ethel Lewis, born August 1890 in Oregon, is the daughter of Timothy Ambrose Lewis and Louise Serrell Crawford. Ethel married Thomas Leo Kelly in about 1923. He was born in Maine 1887. He was first married to Frances Jane Chisholm.

Researching this postcard threw me for a loop for awhile, because there’s a town called Bridge in Oregon. But, there’s another town called McKenzie Bridge, which is an unincorporated community in Lane County, OR, and shows up on Thomas Kelly’s death certificate. So, there’s no “Cousin McKenzie” at all. Thank goodness, as it wasn’t making too much sense that way.

As to the “addressee,” there’s a Bertha Mae Tufford, born January 19, 1892 in Portland, Oregon, who marries Frederick Sylvester Huit on March 10, 1917. If she’s the correct person then we’re led to believe that this postcard photo was taken before this marriage date, when Bertha was still single, still a Tufford, and that would mean that Ethel wasn’t married yet, and the ring on her left hand was not a wedding ring. Or, it could just be that the person who wrote in pencil on the reverse wasn’t aware of Bertha’s marriage or didn’t know the name. But as previously stated, no records were found to verify a “cousinship.” 😉

Sources:  Year: 1900; Census Place: Cottage Grove, Lane, Oregon; Roll: 1349; Page: 15; Enumeration District: 0120; FHL microfilm: 1241348. (Ancestry.com).

Year: 1920; Census Place: Elmira, Lane, Oregon; Roll: T625_1496; Page: 5A; Enumeration District: 229. (Ancestry.com).

The National Archives At St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; World War Ii Draft Cards (4th Registration) For the State of California; Record Group Title: Records of the Selective Service System; Record Group Number: 147. (Ancestry.com).

Oregon State Archives; Salem, Oregon; Oregon, Death Records, 1864-1967. (Ancestry.com).

Ancestry Family Trees for Thomas Leo Kelly and Frances Jane Chisolm. (Ancestry.com). Accessed February 18, 2023.

McKenzie Bridge, Oregon. n.d. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McKenzie_Bridge,_Oregon (accessed February 18, 2023).

Young Woman Wearing Striped Sash

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Divided back, Real Photo Postcard, wide border. Unused. Circa 1910 – 1920s.

Price:  $6.00

A dark-haired young woman with bangs and hair pulled up in a top bun, wears a loose-fitting white blouse and…..are those trousers? Possibly, but more likely the question’s come up just due to the way the skirt is hanging. Not that trousers would have been unheard of, especially with and after WWI (the vacated jobs being filled by women, the practicality of pants, etc.) But to continue – around her hips is a wide, striped cloth accessory, pinned in place, giving the outfit a nice bohemian look. (The “belt” in the limelight reminds me of the Ceinture fléchée, the cloth, arrow sash that the French-Canadian voyageurs used, though there is no arrow design in this one.) And she’s posed at the foot of a flight of wooden stairs – the setting is rustic, working-class, we see an opening to maybe a store or warehouse on the ground level behind her. Maybe the building housed a flat above a shop or was a two-story business. Also of note, the young lady’s jewelry – earrings, a bracelet of (presumably) gold or gold-tone, and two rings, one a possible wedding ring.

Dating the card:  The reverse of this Real Photo Postcard – no stamp box, with its simple lettering style and “Correspondence Here,” “Name and Address Here” and its very short Divided Back line doesn’t, as far as I’ve seen, and according to Playle’s, have any verified to-and-from dates, (that’d be a time-consuming project, for sure) so we’re just estimating by general experience with clothing style and RPPCs.

Sources:  Ceinture fléchée. n.d. See link for URL. Accessed February 16, 2023.

Real Photo Postcard Stamp Backs:  Unknown Manufacturers. Playle.com. (Accessed February 16, 2023).