Lewis and Elsie F. (Pye) McAfee
Files
Dublin Core
Title
Lewis and Elsie F. (Pye) McAfee
Subject
McAfee, Lewis (1904-1968)
McAfee, Elsie F. Pye (1909-1994)
African Americans - Virginia - Shenandoah County
Description
Photograph of Lewis McAfee, seated and holding an open book, with his wife, Elsie (Pye) McAfee sitting beside him.
Lewis McAfee was born in Shenandoah County to Arthur and Minnie McAfee. He grew up on Spring Street in Woodstock. His father was a barber and, in 1910, had his own shop. By 1920, however, his father had died. Lewis lived with his widowed mother and siblings and worked as a general laborer.
Elsie was born in Washington, D.C. the daughter of Alexander Pye (died 1958) and Annie A.L. (Stephens) Pye. Her father was from Washington D.C. Her mother was from Woodstock.
In 1920, however, Elsie (10 years old), her mother, and her two younger sisters were living in Woodstock with her maternal grandfather, George H. Stephens, (widowed). Her own father was not with them.
Lewis and Elsie married in Woodstock in October 1926. She was 16 years old. He was a few years older and worked as a cook. They soon moved in with Elsie’s mother on High Street. In 1930, Lewis was a “cleaner” and had his own shop. Their oldest daughter, Francine, was there too.
Sometime after 1935, Elsie and Lewis moved to Washington D.C. In the 1940 census, the couple had three young daughters. A lodger, Bernard Smith, was also there.
When Lewis registered for the WWII draft in 1942, he and Elsie lived on 14th Street in D.C. Lewis was “Head Janitor” of the building they lived in. He was described as being 5’2” and 140 pounds. In the 1950 census, little had changed except that Elsie was also working as a janitor.
Lewis died in Washington D.C., and was buried in Woodstock. Elsie died many years later in Washington D.C.
Lewis McAfee was born in Shenandoah County to Arthur and Minnie McAfee. He grew up on Spring Street in Woodstock. His father was a barber and, in 1910, had his own shop. By 1920, however, his father had died. Lewis lived with his widowed mother and siblings and worked as a general laborer.
Elsie was born in Washington, D.C. the daughter of Alexander Pye (died 1958) and Annie A.L. (Stephens) Pye. Her father was from Washington D.C. Her mother was from Woodstock.
In 1920, however, Elsie (10 years old), her mother, and her two younger sisters were living in Woodstock with her maternal grandfather, George H. Stephens, (widowed). Her own father was not with them.
Lewis and Elsie married in Woodstock in October 1926. She was 16 years old. He was a few years older and worked as a cook. They soon moved in with Elsie’s mother on High Street. In 1930, Lewis was a “cleaner” and had his own shop. Their oldest daughter, Francine, was there too.
Sometime after 1935, Elsie and Lewis moved to Washington D.C. In the 1940 census, the couple had three young daughters. A lodger, Bernard Smith, was also there.
When Lewis registered for the WWII draft in 1942, he and Elsie lived on 14th Street in D.C. Lewis was “Head Janitor” of the building they lived in. He was described as being 5’2” and 140 pounds. In the 1950 census, little had changed except that Elsie was also working as a janitor.
Lewis died in Washington D.C., and was buried in Woodstock. Elsie died many years later in Washington D.C.
Creator
Morrison Studio
Source
Morrison Studio Collection - Shenandoah County Historical Society
Publisher
Shenandoah County Library
Date
ca 1926
Contributor
Identified by William Polk. Subjects were friends of his parents. He had a similar photograph at home.
Additional biographical information was compiled from public records.
Rights
IN COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE PERMITTED
Relation
Lewis McAfee appears in Morrison photos 000889, 002148, 003981, 012507, and 012508.
Lewis McAfee also appears in image 18-0507-0279 of the George W. Smith Collection. This photograph was also taken by Morrison Studios.
Elsie F. Pye McAfee also appears in image 18-0507-0279 of the George W. Smith Collection.
Identifier
003981
Still Image Item Type Metadata
Original Format
Glass Negative
Collection
Citation
Morrison Studio, “Lewis and Elsie F. (Pye) McAfee,” Shenandoah County Library Archives, accessed April 25, 2024, https://archives.countylib.org/items/show/31908.
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