Maybelle Humphries

Last week, I posted about several unknown photos I found in my families archives. They all seemed to be related to Orting High School in Orting, Pierce County, Washington. Today, I was able to find the names of two of the unidentified, and Maybelle was one of them.

A quick online search through Ancestry.com, FamilySearch.org and the Washington State Digital Archives reveals the following information: Maybelle Jenette Humphries, daughter of George and Hazel (Kirk) Humphries. She was born 16 Oct 1917 in Pierce County, and appeared to be living in Puyallup in the 1930 census with her parents, sister Marylin and brother Dickie. She was the Class Treasurer for the class of 1936 in Orting. George Humphries was born in Kansas and was listed as a barber. Hazel was born in Washington State.

From the two death records listed by the Washington State Archives, I would guess that George is George Hiram Humphries, who died 29 Mar 1959 at the age of 79, making his birth date (calculated) about 1880. This George died in Yakima, Yakima County, Washington, and they also have a listing of him being buried in the Tahoma Cemetery in Yakima.  There were no listed documents for Hazel Kirk or Hazel Humphries in the archives, however, FamilySearch.org's death record for George listed him as a widow, so Hazel must have died before Mar 1929.

My ultimate goal is to return the photo I have of Maybelle to her family. Can you help?

Washington High School photos ca. 1935-1940

From a family with nine children, a lot of memorabilia gets collected. In the collection from my father received during the holidays this past year, I was able to locate several high school senior photos from Pierce and King Counties in Washington State. Some have first names, some have years or schools identified, some have nothing. I would love to identify these folks and get the pictures back to their rightful owners.

Update 13 Apr 2012: Many of these young folks have now been identified thanks to the searching of family archives by many of my own kin. I now have "The Cardinal", yearbook for Orting High School in Orting, Pierce County, Washington, from years 1933 - 1936. See photo captions for names. 

"To my beloved cousin Midge, '36" (Midge would be my great-aunt, Hazel Brown. Orting High School, Orting, Washington. Photo taken by Hartsook Studio, Tacoma.

"Sincerely Dayton" The O on his sweater implies Orting High School, Orting, Washington. Photo taken by Hartsook Studio, Tacoma. UPDATE: Aaron Dayton

"Your Friend Griffi (?) '35" Photo taken by Hartsook Studio, Tacoma. UPDATE: Robert Griffith, Class President, 1936, Orting High School, Orting, Washington.

"Love Helen" Photo taken by Hartsook Studio, Tacoma. UPDATE: Helen Dillon

No identifying marks. Photo taken by The Arntzen Studio, Seattle, Wash.

"Love Mary" Photo taken by Camera Club Studio, Tacoma.

"Lovingly Maybelle '35"  "OHS" in bottom right corner, indicating Orting High School. Photo taken  by Hartsook Studio, Tacoma.  UPDATE: This young woman has been identified as Maybelle Humphries, class treasurer, 1936, Orting High School. 

"Pesky (?) Good Luck, Midge '35" Photo taken by Hartsook Studio, Tacoma. Because this was given to Midge (above), it is probably from Orting High School, Orting, Wash. UPDATE: Lester Harpst

Insignia at bottom "SHS", indicating Sumner High School, '34.  Photo taken by Hartsook Studio, Tacoma

Handwriting on back of SHS photo. "Given to me by Norman on July 15, '34 at his place at Lake. Day of I.A. E. picnic."

Update: on 27 Feb 2012, I contacted the Orting High School Librarian and the Pierce County Library System. Hopefully someone in that arena can assist, or possibly provide a way to get to a high school year book(s) from the era.