Donaldson

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More Donaldson Pictures

Scanning and working through the photos of Dave & Betty Donaldson continues to be a gold mine. While many of the photos are more routine or mundane, once and a while a few pop up that are an insight into the past we did not previously have. Here are some of those photos. I hope there are even more yet to be found.

Dave Donaldson

Likely in southern California, Dave looks like a young teenager. Dave was born in 1928, I guess he is about 12-14 in the photo.

Maxine, Gladys, Dave, Dena and Dora Donaldson

This photo is fun as it shows a glimpse into the young Donaldson family kids. I don’t have many photos of my Grandma Gladys and every extra one gives more reality to her childhood. Dave was born in 1928, I am guessing he is about 7 or 8 here. Even though Dena and Dora are twins, you can tell they are not identical. I still cannot tell them apart though. I love the wallpaper advertisement in the back ground. It looks like the boonies, but close enough to town to have a large sign advertising wallpaper.

“family Long Beach Calif 1932”

What is the Donaldson family doing in Long Beach, Los Angeles, California in 1932? What is the occasion? Who were they visiting? The neighborhood looks nice. They are dressed nice too.

Dave & Betty Donaldson in Jackson, Wyoming

It looks like a fun ride, but Betty also seems to be holding on extra tight.

Young Milo Ross

This photo is a bit of an enigma to me. I believe this is a pre-war Milo Ross. I haven’t seen this photo before. But why would Dave & Betty have it in their possession, how did they get it if it predates my Grandma Gladys? The hat is similar to some other photos I have seen.

Milo Ross planting
Milo Ross with planter

You can see both of these two photos have Grandpa with probably the same hat. The last one, with the horse in the field, probably dates this into the 1930s. I don’t know how to track down that planter and date it. But I am guessing late 1930s, maybe early 1940s.

Here is another with the same gun.

Milo Ross with gun
John Telford, Jan Birch, Richard Michaelson, Milo Ross

This photo was a delight. Another young photo of my Dad with his first cousins. I am guessing he is 6 or 7, so about 1950-1951.

My Great Grandma Berendena Van Leeuwen Donaldson with Eddie, Irene, Mary, and John Telford
Dena Michaelson and Berendena Donaldson at Will Rogers house (that I believe burned down in 2025)
Dena Donaldson and Dena Michaelson at their home in California. Interesting partial reflections in the water on the sidewalk.
David Donaldson and friends in San Francisco.

This photo appears to be a postcard of sorts. Here is the back of it.

The back gives us more information. The date – 11 December 1917. Taken at 225 Market Street, San Francisco, California. Jack and Byron both appear to have signed their names, but the rest of the writing is David’s. David and Jack are from Ogden, Utah. Byron is from Evanston, Wyoming. I don’t know which is Byron and which is Jack. I also cannot tell Jack’s last name and have been unable to locate something that matches. Kielman? Kiefman? Kilfner?

I located Byron Powell, born 21 July 1894 in Winters Quarter, Carbon, Utah and died 12 September 1957 in Ogden. Byron registered for the military draft in Uinta County, Wyoming, which includes Evanston in 1917-1918.

Dena, Dave, Dora, Maxine, David inside vehicle, and Gladys Donaldson on a trip

Again, I don’t know for certain which is Dora and which is Dena. But another fun photo of my Grandma I did not have before.

I don’t know where this photo is from, but I believe it is somewhere in southern Utah. Probably near or in Zions National Park.

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Rainbow Bridge

I continue to scan many of the photos belonging to Dave and Betty Donaldson. Some of the photos are a group or series, like this one. I don’t know why, but this one stood out enough for me to do a post on it.

Dad often helps me name some of the individuals in photos, or at least he looks at them. He does not always know who people are in the photos. When skimming these photos, he made the comment, “If you looked at the sign in sheet on the top of that arch, my name is there.” He told me it was one of the stops on a Boy Scout whitewater trip down the Colorado River in about 1957.

That trip was while the Glen Canyon Dam was under construction. They had to take their canoes out and hike around the dam construction and put back in below. When they were passing the canyon where Rainbow Bridge is located, they pulled out and hiked up the canyon. They then climb up on top of the bridge, which is a big no-no now.

These photos show a Rainbow Bridge much more accessible by water through the still filling Lake Powell.

As you can see in the photo below, these photos were likely taken in the middle to late 1970s. The dam did not fully fill until 1980! 17 years to fill! It has not been full since that time, continuing to decline due to prolonged drought.

It is an awe inspiring site to behold.

Dave Donaldson and Irene Telford

I do not know anything more than what the photos tell. Family trip to Lake Powell? Who is the instigator? Rented boat?

Irene Telford, children, and Betty Donaldson

Irene is the daughter of Sterlin Delaino Telford Jr and Maxine Donaldson. David and Maxine are siblings to my Grandmother, Gladys Donaldson Ross. I scanned this photo just recently of Irene and Mel Rawlinson. I believe the daughter’s name is Shelly.

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1957 Jamboree and 1958 Colorado River

As I worked through the photos of Dave and Betty Donaldson, I stumbled on some pictures sent from Dad. Dad, Milo Paul Ross, attended the 1957 Boy Scout Jamboree in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. I thought I would share those photos along with some other items I have scanned related to that trip. Since there were a couple of photos from the 1958 High Adventure Trip, I thought I would include those too.

First, be aware that the Great Salt Lake and Lake Bonneville Councils published a book about their trip. “Onward for God and My Country” was the motto. I have scanned the entire book – it is provided below.

JamboreeDownload

The book says the trip occurred in July 1957. The book provides plenty of photos of the highlights. These few photos show what Dad thought was interesting enough to take pictures.

The trip took them east through a variety of states. Included was Chicago, Detroit, and Palmyra. Stops included the Sacred Grove and Smith Farm. Albany, Springfield, Boston, and New York City.

Dad does not recall the names or even knowing anyone in the photos at Jamboree.

I remember Dad talking about the Statue of Liberty. They climbed the stairs to the crown. He also indicated that at that time they let some of them climb to the torch. It was a very memorable experience. He also mentioned the Empire State Building and Independence Hall in Philadelphia. Vice President Nixon addressed the Scouts.

Kammeyer’s supported the Jamboree.

For those LDS Scouts, Harold B Lee and Delbert L Stapley spoke to the boys on Sunday. Here is a letter Dad wrote home while there.

I previously wrote about Dad and scouting. Here is his Eagle Scout picture.

Milo Paul Ross achieved Eagle Scout

Here is a note Grandpa made about this picture.

Milo Ross, Bill McBride, Leon Taylor, Freddy Cox Eagle Announcement
Milo James Ross commented about Milo Paul Ross receiving his Duty to God award on 27 April 1959
Duty to God Award
Letter from Church Headquarters

Here are a couple of the photos from the Colorado River rafting trip. Dad thinks there are more photos. He does not remember or recognize any of the individuals in the photos.

Dad remembered they had to pull out of the river to go around the Glen Canyon Dam construction.

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Both of these were trips of a lifetime. Neither have been forgotten.

Another clip, I don’t know the year or time.

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School Days – Ogden, Utah

David Donaldson is on the back row, fourth from the left. Beatrice Carol Payne is in the middle row, sixth from the left.

This photo has “David school third grade” written on it. Since David William Donaldson was born in 1928, I am guessing this photo was probably taken in 1937. I think that would have been the end of his third grade year.

I tried to see if the columns looked familiar for some of the old Ogden, Utah, schools. I couldn’t find one that seemed to match. It is a fun picture to see the kids mostly in overalls.

In discussions on an Ogden Facebook page, some people shared photos of the old Lincoln Elementary School. It was east of Washington Avenue and north of 3rd Street. I have not found any great pictures of the building to really confirm or deny this was that old Lincoln Elementary School. The current Lincoln Elementary in Ogden is a much newer building at a different location.

Nothing else is known about this photo.

Dave would have turned 97 this year on 25 November.

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In Memoriam

Here is a little newspaper clipping in the possessions of my Great Great Grandmother Mary Elizabeth Williams Donaldson. It seems fitting she might have saved this clipping because she was a widow for almost 38 years. She did remarry after William Scott Donaldson died, but she outlived her next husband too.

“Among my books and souvenirs,

“I spend my time with you;

“And in my silent solitude,

“I see my dreams come true.

“I know you are not really there;

“And yet, you seem to be;

“Because the very thought of you

“Is comforting me.

“I hold you in my arms again

“And look into your eyes,

“And all the words you whisper

“Are the ones I memorize.

“Your name appears on every page,

“When I attempt to read;

“And you are every picture of

“My courage and my creed.

“You are the music of my mind,

“My happiness of heart;

“And we are still together, though

“We seem to be apart.

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Golden Gate International Exposition

The Golden Gate International Exposition, held on Treasure Island in San Francisco, was the 1939-1940 World Fair to showcase technology and culture. It is fun to see evidence that my Great Grandparents made the trip.

World Fair Post Card

“Airplane View from Oakland

“Showing San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, Golden Gate Bridge and Golden Gate International Exposition.

“In 1939, San Francisco, Oakland and the cities around the Golden Gate invite the world to join them in celebrating the completion of the world’s two largest bridges, spanning San Francisco Bay to the East Bay, and northward to the vast Redwood Empire.

“In the foreground of this picture is an architectural sketch by Chesley Bonestell of the Golden Gate International Exposition. Forty million dollars will go into the staging of California’s World Fair, which will open February 18, 1939, for a period of 228 days.

Dave, David, and Dena Donaldson at the Golden Gate Exposition

I tried to pinpoint more of where this photo was taken. But much of the World Fair is no longer there. I am fairly certain that is the Tower of the Sun in the background, but nothing else seems to line up with the limited maps.

Dave Donaldson at Treasure Island
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Navy Air Show – 1945

Back (l-r): Bob Reading, Smo Smolinsky, Dick West, Jack Seabolt, Norm Reid, Bill Plunkett, Skull Nelson, Wes Harper, Junior Locher; Front: Jack Simmerman, Bob Johnson, Mike Michaelson, Al Thorngren, Norm Schram, Hoot Nejdl, Ted Wallover.

I continue to scan photos that belonged to my Great Uncle and Aunt, Dave and Betty Donaldson. This one had names typed on the back. Chauncey “Mike” Michaelson married my Grandma’s sister, Dena Donaldson on 7 December 1943 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.

This photo says “Navy Air Show” at “NAS Santa Rosa, Calif.” on 31 March 1945. Dena and Mike had a son born 29 October 1944 in Brigham City, Utah.

The back of the card has the names written on it. I assume it is accurate as it was likely from the time, but the handwriting gives further definition. I can also tell there are a number of nicknames, so I wasn’t able to find most of the people listed in the photo. Either the name was too common or the name given is not sufficient.

Wes Harper – could be Wesley Raymon Harper (1922 – 1982) of Larned, Kansas.

Bob Johnson – could not find anyone that seemed to fit.

Junior Locher – could be Junior Lewis Locher (1919 – 2003) of Glasgow, Virginia.

Chauncey De Orr “Mike” Michaelson (1922 – 2006) of Montpelier, Idaho.

Hoot Nejdl – could not find anyone that seemed to fit.

Skull Nelson – could not find anyone that seemed to fit.

Bill Plunkett – could not find anyone that seemed to fit.

Bob Reading – could not find anyone that seemed to fit.

Norm Reid – could not find anyone that seemed to fit.

Norm Schram – could be Norman Hayner Schram (1922 – 2011) of Pontiac, Michigan.

Jack Seabolt – could not find anyone that seemed to fit.

Jack Simmerman – could not find anyone that seemed to fit.

Smo Smolinsky – could not find anyone that seemed to fit.

Al Thorngren – could not find anyone that seemed to fit.

Ted Wallover – could not find anyone that seemed to fit.

Dick West – could not find anyone that seemed to fit.

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Even more 8th Street in Ogden

I first wrote of the Donaldson house at 629 8th Street in Ogden, Utah in 2017, and followed up with another post in 2021. I continue to work through photos from Dave and Betty Donaldson and found some new ones I wanted to share.

This first one is fun as not only does it have a car parked beside the home, but you can see a woman through the passenger window. I am not sure who the face belongs, but it could be my Grandmother Gladys Maxine Donaldson Ross. You can also see some snow on the ground behind and no homes visible across the street.

This one, is really one of many photos, in front of the home includes the beautiful Wasatch Mountains in the background.

And this one is in the front yard and also clips the north facing northeast corner of the house with David Delos Donaldson holding a child. Not sure who the child is, but it adds another glimpse of the neighborhood. In the 2017 post, I didn’t really get a street photo. Maybe I need to stop and get a fresh photo from that angle.

Is it Dena, Dora, Gladys, or Maxine? I don’t think it is Dave, but sometimes the boys dressed like girls too.

This next one is fun as it shows how deep the snow got in December 1933. The whole family his bundled up, but some also appear in dresses.

Date written on back: 1 December 1933

This next photo is definitely an earlier time based on the car. I don’t know who is on the porch, I think it might be Dave.

This last one doesn’t add much, but a fun photo of the front of the car with the twins.

Another photo.

And this photo that I appear is from the back.