Portrait photograph of Estelle (Hottel) Johnson, of Strasburg. She was born in the Harrisville area of Shenandoah County to John William and Mary Belle (Racey) Hottel. She lived most of her life in Strasburg. She married Aubrey Edward Johnson in 1945 when she worked as a bookkeeper and he was a bank teller. In the 1950 census, the couple lived with her mother and she still worked as a bookkeeper for a printing office. Her husband was listed as "Postmaster".
Morrison Studio Collection - Shenandoah County Historical Society
IN COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE PERMITTED
Estelle (Hottel) Johnson appears in Morrison Studio Collection numbers 015003 and 023916.
Photo of two separate portrait photographs of Estelle (Hottel) Johnson as a young woman. She was born in the Harrisville area of Shenandoah County to John William and Mary Belle (Racey) Hottel. She lived most of her life in Strasburg. She married Aubrey Edward Johnson in 1945 when she worked as a bookkeeper and he was a bank teller. In the 1950 census, the couple lived with her mother and she still worked as a bookkeeper for a printing office. Her husband was listed as "Postmaster".
The glass plate negative of this image was stored in a box labeled "Aug 1936".
Identified in 2011 by Graham Conner who worked with Estelle (Hottel) Johnson in Strasburg at the Northern Virginia Daily.
McClanahan, Zora Belle Estep (1902-1981)
Photograph of David and Daisy (Mauck) Estep with their daughters, Thelma and Zora, posed in studio. Daisy and Zora are wearing large hats decorated with flowers. Back row (L to R): Daisy (Mauck) Estep and David F. Estep Front row (L to R): Thelma (Estep) Bauserman and Zora (Estep) McClanahan
Subjects identified in 2009 by J. Hockman, the daughter of Thelma and granddaughter of David and Daisy Estep.
African Americans - Virginia - Shenandoah County
Photograph of Esterlean Rawes Butler of Woodstock Virginia. According to Esterlean's family, the photograph was taken to send to Esterlean's husband, Robert Tolliver, who was serving overseas with the US Army during the Second World War.
Last name identified in 2009 by Frances (Kauffman) Corley, who was a cousin of the subject.
Full identification provided by Simone Alsberry, daughter of the subject, in 2024. Identification provided via Facebook messenger.
Enslaved Person-Virginia-Shenandoah County
Unidentified Slave, EnslavedPerson:19002
Unidentified Slave, EnslavedPerson:19001
Unidentified Slave, EnslavedPerson:19003
Esther (Foltz) Dellinger shown standing with her hands clasped in front of her. Esther was the daughter of James Thomas and Lillie Virginia (Dellinger) Foltz. She married Clyde Eugene Dellinger (1916-1962).
Identified in 2009 by Doug Dellinger, son of Esther (Foltz) Dellinger.
Esther (Foltz) Dellinger appears in Morrison Studio Collection numbers 014446 and 014448.
Esther (Foltz) Dellinger and Daughter Claudette Mae
Esther (Foltz) Dellinger wearing earrings and a necklace, is seated on a bench and holding her young daughter, Claudette Mae (Dellinger) Bergey. Esther was the daughter of James Thomas and Lillie Virginia (Dellinger) Foltz. She married Clyde Eugene Dellinger (1916-1962).
Identified in 2009 by Doug Dellinger, son and brother of the two subjects.
Portrait photograph of Esther (Stout) Keller with short hair and wearing a jacket over a blouse with a striped collar. Esther was the wife of John William "Johnnie" Keller, a well-known and longtime Woodstock policeman.
The glass plate negative for this image was stored in a box labeled "Oct 1943".
Photograph of Esther I. (Wisman) Kneisley seated with one hand on her hip and looking to the side, in profile. Esther was the daughter of Josiah and Emma Lee (Gochenour) Wisman. She married Lewis Yates Kneisley (1900-1942). Both Esther and her husband were from Woodstock.
Esther (Wisman) Kneisley appears in Morrison Studio Collection numbers 026049 and 026718.
Photograph of Esther (Wisman) Kneisley, standing, as a young woman. Her parents were Josiah and Emma Lee (Gochenour) Wisman. She married Lewis Yates Kneisley (1900-1942). Both Esther and her husband were from Woodstock.
The glass plate negative of this image was stored in a box labeled "March 1920".
Miller, Esther Catherine Foltz (1911-1990)
Photograph of Esther Catherine Foltz Miller. Published in the Shenandoah Herald on June 26, 1969 as part of their "Country Kitchens" series. Esther was born April 18, 1911 to Barney and Katie Virginia Foltz. She married Raymond F. Miller on February 23, 1929 in Hagerstown Maryland. Esther lived in Edinburg Virginia. She worked with her husband in the family's printing business. Her primary role was as bookkeeper, but she also ran the printing press. Outside the printing shop which opened in 1955, Esther was a cafeteria worker at the Edinburg School. She started as a cook and retired as the kitchen manager in 1967. She observed "for some children the meal at school was the only meal they had the entire day." Esther and her husband lived on the east side of Edinburg. There they raised their niece Sandra Orndorff. Esther died in 1990 and is buried at Cedarwood Cemetery.
Shenandoah-Valley Herald Collection, Truban Archives, Shenandoah County Library, Edinburg, Virginia.
Nurses - American - Virginia - Shenandoah County
Photo of two separate portrait photographs of Esther Thomas in a nursing uniform. Esther was the daughter of Rev. Wilbur Thomas and Martha Thomas. He was the minister at the Maurertown Brethren Church. The image on the left has a mark at the top where the photographer noted which of the two images he planned to print.
Esther Thomas appears in the Morrison Studio Collection numbers 030549 and 031100.
Photo of two separate portrait photographs of Esther Thomas in a nursing uniform. Esther was the daughter of Rev. Wilbur Thomas and Martha Thomas. He was the minister at the Maurertown Brethren Church.
Identified in 2025 by library staff based on another image of her in the Morrison Studio Collection.
Esther Thomas appears in Morrison Studio Collection numbers 030549 and 031100.
Grandstaff, Ethel Rebecca Clem (1915-1997)
Photo of two separate portrait photographs of Ethel Rebecca (Clem) Grandstaff wearing a student nurse's uniform and cap. Her name tag says, "Mrs. Grandstaff Student Practical Nurse" and the patch on her shoulder contains the letters, "SPN". The left image was used in the 1967 Triplett Business and Technical Institute yearbook. Ethel was from Fort Valley originally. Her parents were John and Bessie (Henry) Clem. She married Charles Edward Grandstaff in 1934, and had four children: James Grandstaff, Nancy (Grandstaff) Shrum, Janita (Grandstaff) Giles, and Joseph Grandstaff. The image on the right has a mark at the top where the photographer noted which of the two images he planned to print.
No ID form. Name was written in the margin of the paper copy.
Ethel R. (Clem) Grandstaff appears in Morrison Studio Collection numbers 012382 and 030754.
Image of the two-story home in Woodstock where Ethel Lee (Marston) Denison lived with her brother in her later years. Ethel was the daughter of William Frank Sr. and Mary Jane (Clem) Marston. She was a graduate of Woodstock High School and the State Teachers College in Harrisonburg (now called James Madison University). She taught for many years in the public schools of Shenandoah County. Her first teaching appointment was a one-room school on Fishers Hill near Strasburg. There she had 45 students, 11 of whom were older than she was. Later, she taught for many years at the Strasburg Elementary School. When she retired in 1960, she was teaching in the Woodstock Elementary School. Her husband was M.H. Denison. She died as a result of injuries sustained in an auto accident on Route 11 in Woodstock.
Identified in 2002 by Betty Page, who went to Woodstock Elementary School but was never in any of Ms. Denison's classes.
Biographical information was compiled from public records including her obituary published in the Northern Virginia Daily on 8 Jan 1973.
Photograph of Ethel Irene (Ryman) Bowers as a young woman, standing. Ethel was the daughter of Edward Andrew "Eddie" Ryman and Susan Frances "Sudie" (Huffman) Ryman. Her husband was Alfred Lender Bowers (1921-2017), whom she married in 1946.
Identified in 2005 by Landon Walker who was a friend of the subject.
Ethel (Ryman) Bowers appears in Morrison Studio Collection numbers 006924, 022667, and 025524.
Portrait photograph showing Ethel (Ryman) Bowers. She married Alfred Bowers in 1946 and they lived near Saumsville Virginia.
The glass plate negative of this image was stored in a box labeled "Oct 1943".
Identified in 2026 by Wayne Bowers, her son.
Portrait photograph of Ethel I. (Ryman) Bowers as a young woman. Ethel was the daughter of Edward Andrew "Eddie" Ryman and Susan Frances "Sudie" (Huffman) Ryman. Her husband was Alfred Lender Bowers (1921-2017), whom she married in 1946.
The glass plate negative of this image was stored in a box labeled "Aug 1945".
Identified in 2012 by Danny Hottel who remembered she was the sister of Johnny Ryman.
Hoover, Ethel Frances (Stultz) (1892-1995)
Ethel Frances (Stultz) Hoover standing by a chair in the studio. Ethel was from the St. Luke area of Shenandoah County. Her parents were Luther Abbot (1859-1922) and Minerva Frances (Wolverton) (1859-1922) Stultz. She married Earl Belew Hoover (1893-1982), in 1925, in Woodstock. He was the son of Charles L. and Sarah Catherine (Wisman) Hoover. Both Earl and Esther were in their early thirties and living in Woodstock when they married. Shortly after their wedding, the couple moved to New Freedom, York, Pennsylvania, where Earl already had a job with the American Insulator Company. Ethel worked at home as a dressmaker for many years. She did not have children. In the 1930 and 1940 censuses, Ethel’s sister, Lena Stultz, lived with them in New Freedom. Earl retired in 1951, and the couple spent their last years living together at the Shrewsbury Retirement Village in Pennsylvania.
Identified in March 2006 by subject's nephew, P.M. Fravel, who has the same photo at home.
Ethel (Stultz) Hoover appears in Morrison Studio Collection numbers 001023, 005876, 012725, and 014096.
Hoover, Ethel Frances Stultz (1892-1995)
Photograph of Ethel (Stultz) Hoover as a young woman. Ethel was from the St. Luke area of Shenandoah County. Her parents were Luther Abbot (1859-1922) and Minerva Frances (Wolverton) (1859-1922) Stultz. She married Earl Belew Hoover (1893-1982), in 1925, in Woodstock. He was the son of Charles L. and Sarah Catherine (Wisman) Hoover. Both Earl and Esther were in their early thirties and living in Woodstock when they married. Shortly after their wedding, the couple moved to New Freedom, York, Pennsylvania, where Earl already had a job with the American Insulator Company. Ethel worked at home as a dressmaker for many years. She did not have children. In the 1930 and 1940 censuses, Ethel’s sister, Lena Stultz, lived with them in New Freedom. Earl retired in 1951, and the couple spent their last years living together at the Shrewsbury Retirement Village in Pennsylvania.
Identified in 2006 by P.M. Fravel, whose grandmother was subject's sister, and who had a copy of this photograph at home.
Ethel (Stultz) Hoover seated on a bench and holding a baby in her arms. The baby is not Ethel's and we do not know its name. Ethel was from the St. Luke area of Shenandoah County. Her parents were Luther Abbot (1859-1922) and Minerva Frances (Wolverton) (1859-1922) Stultz. She married Earl Belew Hoover (1893-1982), in 1925, in Woodstock. He was the son of Charles L. and Sarah Catherine (Wisman) Hoover. Both Earl and Esther were in their early thirties and living in Woodstock when they married. Shortly after their wedding, the couple moved to New Freedom, York, Pennsylvania, where Earl already had a job with the American Insulator Company. Ethel worked at home as a dressmaker for many years. She did not have children. In the 1930 and 1940 censuses, Ethel’s sister, Lena Stultz, lived with them in New Freedom. Earl retired in 1951, and the couple spent their last years living together at the Shrewsbury Retirement Village in Pennsylvania.
Identified in 2007 by P.M. Fravel who had the same photograph at home. Ethel was his grandmother's sister. Mr. Fravel knew the baby was not Ethel's but did not know whose it was.
Feller, Ethel Margaret Gochenour (1910-1988)
Ethel and Luther Feller posed together. They are buried together in Alonzaville. The name, "Feller", is written on the glass plate.
The glass plate negative of this image was stored in a box labeled "Aug 1932".
Identified in 2010 by Fay Hiner, a cousin of the subjects, who had similar photographs at home.
Ethel E. Stickley shown seated on a bench. Ethel taught Speech and Dramatic Reading in Shenandoah County. She never married. Her parents were Ezra E. and Sophia (Helm) Stickley. She is buried in Woodstock.
Identified in 2010 by Margaret Adams of Dallas Texas.
Wisman, Ethel Irene (Stickley) (1887-1959)
Ethel Irene (Stickley) Wisman, standing, and wearing a white dress with her hands behind her back. Ethel was born in St. Luke, the oldest child of Thomas Rosser (1864-1937) and Georgia Lee (Smoot) (1864-1949) Stickley, a farming couple. Her civil birth certificate was completed decades later, in 1950, when her aunt Bessie (Stickley) Sager, then 74 years old, appeared before the county clerk with a bible from 1879 that included a written entry for Ethel’s birth. Ethel married Joseph H. Wisman (1880-1966) in 1907 and three years later, the 1910 census found the couple in the Stonewall District of Shenandoah County with a 16-month old daughter, Virginia Lee Wisman (1909-1989). Ethel’s husband labored on other’s farms. Ten years later, they were still there. Ethel and her husband moved a few times after their daughter had grown. In 1930, the two of them lived in Arden, Berkeley County, West Virginia, where Joseph worked as a salesman in a dry goods store. In 1935, they were back in Shenandoah County. In 1940, they lived on Pennsylvania Avenue in Cumberland, Maryland, where Joseph worked as an agent in an insurance company. By 1950, the couple had returned to Shenandoah County where they lived with Ethel’s, brother, Alger, and a sister, Julia M. Stickley. Joseph worked as a salesman in a grocery store according to the census. When she died, Ethel lived on South Main Street in Woodstock.
Labelled as "Oct 1914" on box of plates.
Additional biographical information was compiled from public records.