Massanutten Military Academy (Woodstock, Shenandoah County, Va.)
Portrait photograph of Frances Honey. Frances was a faculty member at Massanutten Military Academy (MMA) for the 1926-1927 school year. This photograph appeared in the school's 1927 yearbook "The Adjutant" which noted she was the school's secretary and her nickname was "Oh! Honey."
Morrison Studio Collection - Shenandoah County Historical Society
Identified in 2024 by library staff based on the 1927 MMA yearbook.
IN COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE PERMITTED
Metcalfe, Frances Elizabeth (Keister) (1920-2002)
Photo of a photograph of Frances Elizabeth (Keister) Metcalfe as a young woman standing in front of a tree outdoors. Frances was the daughter of Carlos Smith Keister (1888-1974) of Strasburg and Louise de Segur (Balthis) (1891-1978) Keister of Charlottesville. Her father was a well-known cattle dealer and farmer in the Strasburg area. In 1930 and 1940, the family lived on North Street in Strasburg. Frances attended Mary Washington College in Fredericksburg and graduated from the University of Texas at Brownsville. She married Samuel Nicholas Metcalfe, Jr. (1922-1985), of New Windsor, Maryland, in 1942. At that time, she worked as a secretary and lived in Charlottesville with her grandmother. Samuel was the son of Samuel N. and Carmen (Nichodemus) Metcalfe. He had graduated from the Staunton Military Academy and was a senior studying chemical engineering at the University of Virginia when he married. Frances and Samuel spent most of their married lives in Maryland. He served in the Merchant Marines during WWII, and after, he worked as a chemical engineer for the U.S. Government at Ft. Detrick for over 27 years before retiring in 1971. Over the years the couple had four children together: Samuel Nicholas Metcalfe III, Randolph Carlos Metcalfe, Lauve Louise Metcalfe, and Christopher Nicholas Metcalfe.
Identified in 2007 by Graham Connor who also noted, "Sister Identified".
Additional biographical information was compiled from public records.
The Frederick Post (Frederick, Maryland) published an article about their engagement on December 12, 1942, page 9. It included a photograph of Frances E. Keister.
Vormbrock, Frances Louise Gouchenour (1925-2004)
Portrait photograph of Frances Louise (Gochenour) Vormbrock wearing a necklace with her dress.
The glass plate negative of this image was stored in a box labeled "Oct 1943".
Identified as "Dolly Gochenour Vormbrock" in 2009 by June Hockman.
Identification updated in 2024 to Frances Louise Gochenour Vormbrock based on additional research. It is unknown where the name "Dolly" originated.
African Americans - Virginia - Shenandoah County
Photograph of Frances May (Cyrus) Corley as a young woman standing in studio. She is wearing a coat with a fur collar draped over her shoulders and a dress. She was born in Washington, DC to the late Philip Cyrus and Ethel (McAfee) Cyrus. Due to the early deaths of her parents, she was raised by her maternal grandparents, the late Roy W. McAfee, Sr. and Julia (Spinner) McAfee in Woodstock, Virginia. Frances attended elementary school in Woodstock, Virginia, and high school at Manassas Industrial School in Manassas, Virginia. Her first husband was Marion Kauffman. They had several children together. Frances was a certified nursing assistant. Her second husband was Allen Corley. The couple spent 45 years together before she died.
Biographical information was extracted from her obituary.
Frances Corley appears in Morrison Studio Collection images 008832, 010152, 010153, 021883, 025835, and 031832.
Photograph of Frances May (Cyrus) Corley as a young woman sitting in studio, wearing a patterned dress. She was born in Washington, DC to the late Philip Cyrus and Ethel (McAfee) Cyrus. Due to the early deaths of her parents, she was raised by her maternal grandparents, the late Roy W. McAfee, Sr. and Julia (Spinner) McAfee in Woodstock, Virginia. Frances attended elementary school in Woodstock, Virginia, and high school at Manassas Industrial School in Manassas, Virginia. Her first husband was Marion Kauffman. They had several children together. Frances was a certified nursing assistant. Her second husband was Allen Corley. The couple spent 45 years together before she died.
African American - Virginia - Shenandoah County
Portrait photograph of Frances Cyrus Corley. She was born in Washington, DC to the late Philip Cyrus and Ethel (McAfee) Cyrus. Due to the early deaths of her parents, she was raised by her maternal grandparents, the late Roy W. McAfee, Sr. and Julia (Spinner) McAfee in Woodstock, Virginia. Frances attended elementary school in Woodstock, Virginia, and high school at Manassas Industrial School in Manassas, Virginia. Her first husband was Marion Kauffman. They had several children together. Frances was a certified nursing assistant. Her second husband was Allen Corley. The couple spent 45 years together before she died.
The glass plate negative of this image was stored in a box labeled "June 1948".
Identified in 2025 by Roy Cooper, cousin of the subject.
Portrait photograph of Frances May (Cyrus) Corley in a graduation cap and gown. She was born in Washington, DC to the late Philip Cyrus and Ethel (McAfee) Cyrus. Due to the early deaths of her parents, she was raised by her maternal grandparents, the late Roy W. McAfee, Sr. and Julia (Spinner) McAfee in Woodstock, Virginia. Frances attended elementary school in Woodstock, Virginia, and high school at Manassas Industrial School in Manassas, Virginia. Her first husband was Marion Kauffman. They had several children together. Frances was a certified nursing assistant. Her second husband was Allen Corley. The couple spent 45 years together before she died.
The glass plate negative of this image was stored in a box labeled "Feb 1946".
Identified in 2024 based on Roy Allen Cooper's identification of image 008832.
Photo of two separate portrait photographs of Frances May (Cyrus) Corley. She was born in Washington, DC to the late Philip Cyrus and Ethel (McAfee) Cyrus. Due to the early deaths of her parents, she was raised by her maternal grandparents, Roy W. McAfee, Sr. and Julia (Spinner) McAfee in Woodstock, Virginia. Frances attended elementary school in Woodstock, Virginia, and high school at Manassas Industrial School in Manassas, Virginia. Her first husband was Marion Kauffman. They had several children together. Frances was a certified nursing assistant. Her second husband was Allen Corley. The couple spent 45 years together before she died. The image on the left has a mark at the top where the photographer noted which of the two images he planned to print.
Additional biographical information was extracted from her obituary.
Hoffman, Frances Anne Stultz (1923-2010)
Portrait photograph of Frances Anne Stultz Hoffman.
The glass plate negative of this image was stored in a box labeled "Dec 1945".
Photograph of Francis Artz as a toddler.
Identified in 2005 by Frances Walker, friend of the subject.
Francis Artz appears in Morrison Studio Collection images 007133, 007134, and 007135.
Sailors - American - Virginia - Shenandoah County
Portrait photograph of Frances Chalmers Sheetz, known as "Chalmers", wearing his U.S. Navy uniform. The insignia on his uniform indicates he held the rank of Petty Officer 3rd Class and worked as an Aviation Machinist's Mate. Chalmers was the son of Abe and Ruth (Jennings) Sheetz. He served in the U.S. Navy from June 1943 to December 1945. He then worked at the American Viscose plant and married Betsy Ann Bowman, a waitress from Woodstock, in 1946. Shortly after Chalmers died, the Free Press newspaper published a column by Jim Morrison of Edinburg that said this about Chalmers: "The second event sadly was the passing of one of Woodstock's true icons, Francis Chalmers Sheetz. Chalmers was well known to all in Woodstock, and I never heard a harsh word from anyone directed toward him He was a very active person all of his life and I can't recall anyone his age at any time who was in better physical condition He was a postman but oh so much more than that."
The glass plate negative of this image was stored in a box labeled "Sept 1946".
Identified in 2009 by Nancye L. Bowman with help from Bill Getz. Nancye remembered he married her cousin, Betsy Bowman. Bill Getz knew the subject when he was young.
Free Press article referenced in the Description Field was published on September 13, 2007.
F. Chalmers Sheetz appears in Morrison Studio Collection numbers 003891, 017777, and 025155.
One page from F. Chalmers Sheetz's Naval Separation Packet appears in Morrison Studio Collection number 025348.
F. Chalmers Sheetz' U.S. Navy Discharge Certificate appears in Morrison Studio Collection number 026059.
Francis Chalmers Sheetz Separation From the Navy
Recording & registration - Virginia - Shenandoah County
Photograph of the form titled, "Notice of the Separation From U.S. Naval Service" signed by Francis Chalmers Sheetz, in Bainbridge, Maryland, in December 1945. Francis was born on February 27, 1917, in Woodstock, Virginia. He was working for the American Viscose plant in Front Royal when he was drafted in June 1943. The form includes his duty stations (Navy Pier in Chicago, Illinois, Airborne Radar Op. School in Memphis, and an assignment in Jacksonville, Florida), his dates of service (June 1943 - December 1945), and a description of his service. It also noted he was single and hoped to obtain a Machinist Apprenticeship in Woodstock.
Photographs of F. Chalmers Sheetz appear in Morrison Studio Collection numbers 003891, 017777, and 025155.
Francis Chalmers Sheetz' U.S. Navy Discharge
Photograph of the document certifying that Aviation Machinist's Mate Third Class Francis Chalmers Sheetz was honorably discharged from the Navy in Shelton, Virginia, on December 14, 1945.
Additional U.S. Navy Separation document for Francis Chalmers Sheetz appears in Morrison Studio Collection number 025348.
Francis D. French & Emma E. (French) Randel
Photograph of Francis Douglas French and his older sister, Emma E. (French) Randel. Their parents were Warren Ballenger and Lena (Sheetz) French. Other siblings (not pictured) included Warren B. Jr., Millson, Orrin, Ellen, Lena, and Sally. F. Douglas French lived most of his life in Woodstock. He married Marian Bashaw and had nine children: Carolyn (French) Long, Marian (French) Logan, Christine (French) Price, Amy (French) Barbour, Shelly (French) Schechtel, F. Douglas Jr., Martin, William, and Timmy French. Emma married James B. Randel, Jr. who died in New Jersey in 1985. Their children were: James III, Nathan Warren, Ellen, Carrie, and Sally.
Identified in 2002 by Lena French Fuller, who had the same photograph at home and who also referenced the photo as being on page 327 of the book, "The Frenches of Woodstock".
F. Douglas French appears in Morrison Studio Collection numbers 004090, 028446, and 029349.
Palmer, Francis Ephraim "Eph" (1904-1984)
Portrait photograph of Francis E. Palmer. Francis Palmer is sometimes known as F.E. Palmer or "Eph" Palmer. Palmer was the business teacher at Massanutten Military Academy (MMA) during the 1930s and early 1940s. After the Second World War, he established and operated Shenandoah Business College in Woodstock.
Identified in 2002 by both J. Hockman and James E. Morrison, Sr. The subject was a family friend of Mr. Morrison.
Francis E. Palmer appears in Morrison Studio Collection images 001410 and 015777.
Portrait photograph of Francis E. Palmer wearing the uniform of a Massanutten Military Academy (MMA) Captain. Francis Palmer is sometimes known as F.E. Palmer or "Eph" Palmer. Palmer was the business teacher at MMA during the 1930s and early 1940s. After the Second World War he operated Shenandoah Business College in Woodstock.
Identified in 2024 by library staff utilizing the 1940 Massanutten Military Academy yearbook and additional photographs of Francis E. Palmer from the Morrison Collection.
Portrait photograph of Francis Eugene Donkin, a Massanutten Academy Cadet. According to the 1924 Massanutten Academy yearbook "Helmet" his nickname was "Ted."
Identified in 2024 utilizing the 1924 Massanutten Academy yearbook "Helmet."
Francis Donkin appears in Morrison Studio Collection images 007870, 013192, 020092, and 020118.
Portrait of Massanutten Military Academy (MMA) Cadet Francis Eugene Donkin wearing his school's uniform. This photograph was used in the 1924 "Helmet", MMA's yearbook. Cadet Donkin was from Chicago, Illinois, and his nickname was "Ted". After graduating from MMA in 1924, he attended Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia.
Photograph of Francis Lorain Bowman when he graduated from high school in 1923. Francis Lorain Bowman was one of many children born to Charles Curtis and Dooney Edna (Furr) Bowman. He was a member of the St. Luke United Church of Christ near Timberville and attended Virginia Polytech Institute (VPI) (now called Virginia Tech) and Washington-Lee University. His wife was Gladys (Heishman) Bowman (1916-2001) whom he married in 1939.
The glass plate negative of this image was stored in a box labeled "Aug 1925".
Identified in 2013 by Mary Ruth Parsons, a niece of the subject, who knew this image was his 1923 graduation.
Francis Loraine Bowman's College Transcript
Photograph of the college transcript issued to Frances Loraine Bowman, of Mount Jackson, by Virginia Polytechnic Institute (now called Virginia Tech) for his freshman and sophomore year. The grades show an improvement that released him from being on academic probation.
ca 1962 based on the date the transcript was issued.
Portrait photograph of Francis Wolfe wearing a suit and tie. He was a Sergeant in the Virginia State Police force.
Identified in 2007 by Graham Conner, who remembered attending kindergarten in the subject's mother's house. Her name was Mary Wolfe.
Enslaved Person-Virginia-Shenandoah County