by Kristine Schmucker, HCHM Curator
In our Photo Collection, one of the categories is “Unidentified People.” Some are a complete mystery with no clue as to place, date or names. Others, like the photo of the group of young women below, have a few clues including the photographers mark and several names on the back. We would like to see if we could find out more about this photograph.
The photo was taken by local photographer, William R. Murphy. Murphy was a prolific photographer in Newton from 1897 to 1941.
William R. Murphy in the 50th Anniversary Ed of the Newton Kansan, 22 August 1922.
He left Newton in 1941, for health reasons, and died in 1947.We have over 200 photos in our collection with the Murphy Studio mark.
The subjects are fifteen well-dressed young women and one man.
Murphy Photograph
Names are listed on back, but the list does not include everyone and the order may not correspond with the actual photo.
Nellie Fisher, Mable Ragland, Mildred Poland, Erma Bowink (?), Helena (?)Harris, Daisy Guinn (?),Marie R (?), Fay Ollinger, Ethel Middleton, Winnie Dreier, Mammie Berry, Eva Crandall, Mable Kinsey.
Back of Murphy Photograph
Who were the individuals? What was the occasion?
We do know that Mamie Berry Parsons was a piano teacher later in life. Was this a group of piano students? Or a school group? Or a group of friends?
Murphy Logo
If you have any information, please contact John Whitlock, HCHM Photo Curator at pictures@hchm.org or 316-283-2221.
In a later blog post, we will feature William R. Murphy and his work as a photographer in Harvey County. If you have any photos that were taken by him, we would love to hear from you.
Sources:
- Evening Kansan Republican, 7 November 1947
- Newton Kansan 50th Anniversary Ed, 22 August 1922.
- HCHM Photo Archives