Identifying Thrift Store Photographs

 I paid $5 for this photograph found in a Tucson antique mall.  A young woman wearing pince nez glasses with a watch hanging from a chain. A studio mark, Stafford, below her portrait.  On the back in black ink is "Ethel Gillbert Hanson[,] Crystal's mother." Ethel (Gilbert) Hansen I searched Ancestry Public Trees for a Crystal who was a daughter of a man surnamed Hans*n and Ethel Gilbert. Only one person showed up. Ethel May Gilbert was born on 4 July 1892 in Illinois, the daughter of Thomas J. Gilbert and Lois L. Leach. She was married to Chris Jence Hansen (1885-1958). The couple had five children- Bernard, Lois, Leonard, Crystal, and Norma. Ethel died on 5 April 1961 in Mazon, Grundy County, Illinois. She was buried in Brookside Cemetery in Mazon.

A $10 photo from an antique store in Tucson. On the back written in black pen is "Alex Masters family." The studio mark on the front is Oswald's Extra Finish 1227 W. Washington Ave N. Minneapolis. Alex Masters' family. The family is posed in front of a house. A man, probable wife, and seven children. The clothing suggested an 1880 to 1910 time frame. I started by searching the 1900 census for Alex* Masters in Minneapolis, then Hennepin County, then Minnesota. Nothing found. Same for 1910 census. I then searched all US censuses. Nothing found. I broadened search including newspapers. Nothing found. They remain mystery.

A photograph from an antique store in Tucson. A family poses in front of a store with the marque reading FRANK D BARRETT. On the back in pencil "Frank, Georgia, Earl and Leon." Printed at the bottom of the photo is: FOR DUPLICATE ADDRESS AMERICAN PHOTO VIEW CO. ROOM 417, REALTY BLDG ELMIRA, N.Y. Barrett family in front of store. Back of photo. Elmira, New York is located in Chemung County. Initial searches for the Barrett family in censuses in Chemung County were unsuccessful. I then searched for Frank Barrett in Elmira, New York scanned newspapers on Newspapers.com. I located his obituary from 1932 that listed son Earl, but not his wife or other son. I then searched Findagrave.com for a Frank Barrett dying in 1932 in New York and located his grave in Elmira,  along with his wife and two sons. I searched again for Barretts in census records in Chemung County, but was unsuccessful. I broadened the search, looking for Georg* Barrett in New York born 1875 +  two years, and then ...

Three photographs from an antique store in Flagstaff, Arizona. The first is Bertha Burdick, taken at the H. L. Boston studio in David City, Nebraska. Bertha Burdick. The second is Lucille Berdick- no studio name on the photo. Lucille Burdick. The third is Donald Burdick, also taken at the H. L. Boston studio of David City, Nebraska. Written in pencil beside his name is "18 yrs 1920." On the back is :Donald 12-25-1920 C. Ruth Burdick." Donald Burdick . I searched the 1920 census for Donald Burdick living in Nebraska. The Burdick family was quickly located, living in David City Township, Butler County, Nebraska. Burdick, Harry head 42 b. Iowa physician Burdick, Bertha 44 b, Michigan Burdick, Donald 16 b. Nebraska Burdick, Harold 14 b. Nebraska Burdick, Howard 12 b. Nebraska Burdick, Elizabeth 8 b. Nebraska   Donald's mother Bertha Agnes (Hill) Burdick) was born in 1875 and died in 1967. She is buried in the David City Cemetery in David City, Butler County, Nebraska. D...

A very large photo from an antique store run by a friend in Tucson. The front is marked "Agnen's Studio, Creston, Iowa." A piece of cardboard was on the back, which I removed and discarded because it was decaying. In pencil on the back of the photograph was: Mrs Duffey 307 N. Maple Mold Smoke 95C Back of photograph. Could I identify the family? There are six women, all with lace collars, and two men. I would guess the photos were taken in the late 1890s to early 1900s. Creston, Iowa is in Union County. I searched the 1900 census for Union County for "Duff*" using the asterick symbol to catch Duffy and Duffey. Seventeen people turned up with surnames spelled Duffield, Duff, and McDuffie. No Duffeys.  I then searched the 1880 census- no matches. Next I searched the 1910 census. There were seven Duffys. The oldest was Harriet Duffy, a widow living by herself, the mother of three children. Linked records suggested she was born in 1858, the daughter of Thomas and Mer...

A photograph from an antique store in Tucson. No studio mark. On the back in pencil is: Cousin Meva Ferrebee Verna "" Meva and Verna Ferrebee. I went to Ancestry Public Trees and searched for "Meva Ferre*" I wasn't sure of the last few letters of the name, so used the asterick to catch various spellings. Only one match- Meva Albert Ferrebee. She had a sister Verna. A family photograph on her father James Harvey Ferrebee included the two sisters and it was obvious that they were a match. I chose to research Meva. Meva Alberta Ferrebee was born on 6 June 1889 in Pennsylvania, the daughter of Harvey Ferrebee and Lillian May Schropp. She was baptized on 11 November 1889 at the Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church in Pine Grove, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. [1] On 7 June 1900, Meva lived with her parents and siblings Harry H., Harvey, and Warren O. and a cousin Mabel E. Schaffer in Washington, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. Her father was a farmer. [2] On 15 A...