Readers Identify ‘Mystery’ Members In Old Photograph
(Courtesy Photo)
WHO ARE THEY?: This photo was published on the Community page of the April 21, 2008, Tyler Morning Telegraph, showing fashionable — but mostly unidentified — members of the Tyler Woman’s Forum, possibly from the 1940s. Following its publication, readers identified all but one member. They are believed to be (standing, from left) Beulah Vanderpool, Myrtis Daniel, Dolly Riviere, Vera Bryant, Judy George, unidentified woman, Juanita Miller, Geneva Grainger and Ruth Hazel Murphey. Seated, from left, are Margie Dilbert and Grace Murphey.
By JACQUE HILBURN
Feature Writer
A public appeal to identify models featured in a long-ago style show at the Tyler Woman's Building is almost complete.
Feature Writer
A public appeal to identify models featured in a long-ago style show at the Tyler Woman's Building is almost complete.
All but one of the women has been recognized and identified from a "mystery" photograph published April 21, said Mary Ruth Greenwell, publicity chair of the Tyler Woman's Forum.
"The phone started ringing shortly after 8 a.m.," said Mrs. Greenwell. "Before 10 (a.m.), I had all of them identified but one."
Callers, who identified mothers, sisters, neighbors and friends, indicated the photograph was snapped in the early 1940s.
Information gleaned from the phone calls on the women's identities was verified by Mary Jane McNamara with the Smith County Historical Society, said Mrs. Greenwell.
The identities of the women are said to be:
Standing: (left to right), Beulah Vanderpool; Myrtis Daniel, Tyler Woman's Forum president from 1943 to 1944; Dolly Riviere; Vera Bryant; Judy George; unidentified; Juanita Miller; Geneva Grainger; Ruth Hazel Murphey.
The woman whose name remains a mystery was said to be Sue Wiggins or Sue Wiggins Cook, but no one knows for sure, said Mrs. Greenwell.
The unidentified woman can be seen standing on the back row, fourth from the right.
In October 2007, the Tyler Woman's Building marked 75 years of continued use since its dedication in October 1928.
The Tyler Woman's Forum that owned, maintained, and operated the building until 1996, when ownership was transferred to Tyler Woman's Building Inc., a non-profit organization.
Members consider it the first significant civic project undertaken by the women of Tyler.
During World War II, the building played an important part in helping citizens support the war efforts. Women would gather at the building to roll bandages, collect metals, promote canning, grow victory gardens, and sell war bonds.
The Smith County Historical Museum owns the original photo of the style show.
A copy of the photo, with the new identities of the models, will be placed in the Forum's archives.
Anyone with information about the unidentified woman is asked to call Mrs. Greenwell at 903-595-1659.
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