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Mystery Photos – A Call to all Family History Detectives

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I was running around town yesterday and dropped into the Albany Antique Mall where I found four 1800’s photos taken at two different photography studios in Albany, the James B. Crawford and Greenwood studios. I tried to find out more about these studios as I wanted to find descendants of the photographers and of the people in the photos so I could send them copies. No information on the Greenwood studio emerged though. However, I did find some information on James Crawford on the Old Oregon website. A wonderful site with historic photos of Oregon, including 34 photos by James Crawford!  John kindly allowed me to copy some information on James Crawford from his website for use on this this blog:

James G. Crawford

From Albany, to Eugene, to Lebanon, to Portland, to Harrisburg, to Portland and McMinnville, and finally back to Albany; like many early photographers, James G. Crawford moved around a lot. He also changed partners, doing business as Crawford & Little, Crawford Brothers, Crawford & Paxton, Crawford & Hutchins, and simply as J. G. Crawford.

Wherever and whenever he practiced his art, he had a keen eye and a penchant for including people in his scenic views, sometimes incongruously. Beginning in Albany in 1868, he produced stereoviews and boudoir cards of scenes from the coast through the Columbia Gorge, and up to the summit of Mt. Hood.

Visit John’s website to learn more about James Crawford and view additional Crawford photos.

I also contacted Albany photographer Kristie Crawford in case she might be a descendant of James Crawford. Though not a descendant, in browsing through her photos it became obvious that like James Crawford, she also has the gift of photography.

Below are the images I found from the Albany studios, and also one photo each from Lebanon and Corvallis photographers. If you are able to identify any of the people in the photos, please do let me know so I can try to get copies of these photos to the people who should have them. Click on the photos for larger images.

– Kim

 Ancestry Connections Genealogy 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

Mystery Photos – A Call to all Family History Detectives — 13 Comments

  1. I am 5th generation from henry and eliza spalding. I have a number of bucket list items such as finding a picture of eliza so the painting on the ceiling of the state capitol can show her face, the only one they did not have a likeness to paint from……I would love to see the home they live in outside of Brownsville saved from disuse, the list is too long for this small space, but I have visited the museum in Brownsville….and hope to own a blanket from the woolen mill someday! mary appel

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  2. Kim – the mystery photos you’ve posted seem to have 2 pictures of the same woman. See what you think when you look at: Greenwood Studios & H.J. Boyd Studio. Thanks to you and your colleagues for all you do for those searching for their families.

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  3. They do look very similar Lora! Perhaps whoever she was, she lived in both Albany and Lebanon.

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  4. The Spalding house is no more, but it is possible that some of the windows were used in building the new garage for the new house.

    The house across the street that was built for Amelia when she married is still there.

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  5. I’m looking for information on my ancestors. I’m related to two pioneer families from there. The devaney’s and the parishes. Do you have any information or pictures about them?

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    • There are many genealogies in the Linn Genealogical Society room at the Albany, Oregon library. I suggest calling the society when the library is open.

  6. My husband is a direct descendant of James G. Crawford. His daughter, Lillian, also worked for a time as a photographer and was my husband’s grandmother. She married William Rader and moved to Rainier, OR where she died in 1938. We have no family photos taken by either James or Lillian, which is very surprising since they were professional photographers. We are unfamiliar with the 4 photos you acquired, but would love to hear from anyone who has any additional photos or info. about J.G. Crawford.

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    • Next time I go looking for photos I will keep this in mind

      Kim

  7. My great grandparents, Andrew Tyra LaGrange and Tryphosa (Phosa) LaGrange lived in Albany in 1910. I cannot find any trace of Andrew after that, and know Phosa was in Portland in 1920. Do you have any information on them in Albany? They were originally in Blodgett, and Phosa is a descendent of the King/Fuller families of King’s Valley.

    Thanks.

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  8. My gr.gr. grandparents were Gershum and Sarah Palmer VanAtta. They traveled from Illinois to Linn Co. Oregon on the Oregon trail with the Macy train in 1854. They settled East of Harrisburg. One family member was buried there but I can not figure out where the property and grave would be.

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  9. Hi Jan,
    I have a picture of the Seidler family at Nye Beach – happy to send you a copy.

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