Name Them: Unidentified Missionaries in Historic Photographs
Explore an assortment of historic photographs featuring unidentified missionaries from around the world. Can you name any of them?
In continuation of our “Name Them” identification series, here are fifteen photographs of unnamed missionaries from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. If you can positively identify them, use our online Ask Us service to send us the name of the missionary (or missionaries) and their photograph’s number. (For example, “That’s my great-great-uncle __________ in photograph #4!”) Also, whenever possible, please include a citation for your source that will allow us to document and verify the photo description. With your help, we will be able to highlight individuals who have gone nameless for too long.
Additionally, if you ever come across any anonymous photograph in the Church History Catalog that you can identify, please click on the Ask Us link in the upper right-hand corner of the catalog and share your information with us.
1. “Unidentified group of missionaries”; the photograph’s mat bears the imprint “Tasma” from Newtown, Sydney, Australia. Contained in Edward F. Clark mission photographs, 1912–1914 (PH 8812).
2. “Unidentified missionaries” from the British Mission; contained in Junius F. Wells photograph collection, circa 1870s–1930 (PH 6873). The photograph’s reverse reads, “Sister / Thomas Crotch / Tily [Lily?]” / Pres Mja / Norwich Eng / Oct 1920.”
3. Unidentified missionaries from the Central States Mission in “Identification sheets, undated”; contained in Early missionaries and residents of Gilmer and Kelsey, Texas, circa early 1900s (PH 6674).
4. Unidentified missionary in “Netherlands Mission missionary portraits, circa 1909” (PH 6061). The photograph’s mat reads, “G. Hubers / Hengelo 101 / Deventer.”
5. “Unidentified missionary”; contained in New Zealand Mission photographs, circa 1906–1910 (PH 1910). The photograph’s mat reads, “W.R. Frost / George St. / Dunedin, N.Z.”
6. “Unidentified missionary”; contained in New Zealand Mission photographs, circa 1906–1910 (PH 1910). The photograph’s mat reads, “Arthur E. Watkinson / Art Studio / Wanganui.”
7. “Unidentified missionaries”; contained in New Zealand Mission photographs, circa 1904–1907 (PH 2025).
8. “Unidentified missionaries”; contained in New Zealand Mission photographs, circa 1904–1907 (PH 2025).
*Bonus points if you can translate the Maori written on the back of the photo.
9. Unidentified missionaries in “Photograph of Missionaries in the Northwest Mission, circa 1914–1915” (PH 8572).
10. “Portrait of Martin M. Jensen” with two unidentified missionaries from the Scandinavian Mission (PH 1700 620); Jensen stands in the middle. The photo’s mat reads, “H. Tönnies / Aalborg.” The photo also features handwriting; “Martin M. Jensen” is legible, as are the words “Geneva” and “Mantua”; the other words are unknown. (Can you read them?)
11. “E.L. Swalberg and two unidentified missionaries” in Sweden; contained in Scandinavian Mission photographs, circa 1903–1906 (PH 2629). The photo’s mat reads, “K. Sorensen & Co / Malmö.” On the photo’s back, E.L. Swalberg is identified as the man in the middle.
12. “Unidentified missionary Southern States Mission”; contained in Southern States Mission photograph collection, 1894–1905 (PH 3793).
13. “Unidentified missionary, sister missionary”; contained in Walter A. Kerr photographs, circa 1895–1911 (PH 1108). The photo’s mat reads, “Ottmar Heydecker / Hamburg, Steinstrasse 147 und / Kaiser Wilhelmstrasse 46.” Given the address and the date of the collection, it is likely that this sister missionary was serving in the Swiss and German Mission. Handwriting appears on the photo’s back that has not been deciphered.
14. “Unidentified missionaries, German Mission”; contained in Walter A. Kerr photographs, circa 1895–1911 (PH 1108). The photo’s mat reads, “Atelier Makart / Dresden – N.” Some suggested names for the men are handwritten on the photo’s back (“Orson Jones? / John Heppler / __________ / Bert / __________”).
15. “Unidentified missionaries, 1903-1906”; contained in Swiss and German Mission portraits, 1903–1906 (PH 2980). The photo’s mat reads, “Atelier Hertel / Hof Photograph / Weimar / Deinhardts Gasse 22.”