Josephine Benchoff and Unidentified Girl
Files
Dublin Core
Title
Josephine Benchoff and Unidentified Girl
Subject
African Americans - Virginia - Shenandoah County
Benchoff, Josephine (1916-1938)
Description
Photograph of Josephine Benchoff and an unidentified African American girl in a wagon.
Josephine Benchoff was born in 1916 and paralyzed at a young age. She died May 11 1938. Her father was Howard Benchoff, Superintendent of Massanutten Military Academy and she spent her life living at their residence on school grounds.
The African American child is unidentified, but may have a connection to Katie McGuire Reed who was a domestic servant for the Benchoff family and helped care for Josephine.
Josephine Benchoff was born in 1916 and paralyzed at a young age. She died May 11 1938. Her father was Howard Benchoff, Superintendent of Massanutten Military Academy and she spent her life living at their residence on school grounds.
The African American child is unidentified, but may have a connection to Katie McGuire Reed who was a domestic servant for the Benchoff family and helped care for Josephine.
Creator
Morrison Studio
Source
Morrison Studio Collection - Shenandoah County Historical Society
Publisher
Shenandoah County Library
Date
ca. 1925
Contributor
Identified by Betty Page, who lived across the street from her in Woodstock (in Riddleberger Hall on the MMA campus) and who remembered Josephine had "beautiful blond, curly hair".
Betty Page identified the African American child as the daughter of Katie Reed. However, further research indicated this could not be Katie Reed's child since her only child died at age 5 before the death of her Husband Jacob in 1918.
Rights
IN COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE PERMITTED
Identifier
003170
Still Image Item Type Metadata
Original Format
Glass Negative
Collection
Citation
Morrison Studio, “Josephine Benchoff and Unidentified Girl,” Shenandoah County Library Archives, accessed November 11, 2024, https://archives.countylib.org/items/show/29344.
Comments