These lads and lassies were members of the Upper Grades during 1948-49 year at Whitney School.

Thanks to Betty Grant Robbins for identifying the ladies in front. They are (l-to-r): Connie Cunningham, Lois Kendrick, Betty Grant, Mary Daniels (Teacher), Louella Straub, Marilyn Cripps, and Aleta Schmecel.

Thanks to John Miller, I think we've identified most of the boys (l-to-r): Gordie Walcott, John Couch, Jan Miller, unknown, and Gene Walcott. Alas, the lad ducking behind Gordie Walcott may never be identified!

Any additions/corrections would be appreciated. Contact us at Galey Media. Thanks.

These are Ruth Ann Connell's 3rd and 4th Graders in 1948-49. A smaller group -- and perhaps we'll have good luck in identifying these shining faces!

I think I see a procedural pattern in school pictures at Whitney School -- put the boys in the back!

Brother John Miller has tentatively identified three of the boys: the tallest lad with the "bird-nest" haircut is Larry Baldwin; the boys on the far right are Bill Connell and Dick Kendrick, respectively.

Ruth Ann Connell tells us that she believes this photo was taken in 1947-48, her first year of teaching at the Whitney School (Dawes County Dist. #62). These were the Lower Room students -- grades one through four. Ruth Ann was just 17 years old and had a teaching certificate from two years of "Normal Training" at the University of Nebraska School of Agriculture at Curtis. She had to pass a battery of subject area examinations required by the state. Additionally, she attended summer school sessions at Nebraska State Teachers College at Chadron in 1947.

Front row (l-r): Karolyn Baldwin, Aleta Schmechel, Karyl Kendrick, Barbara "Toni" Grant, Delores Konrath, Nancy Henry, Dorine Cripps, Jimmie Konrath, Kenny Cullers and Shirley Derrick. Back row: Sharon Cripps, Bill Connell, Larry Baldwin, Pat Archuletta, Ruth Ann Wilson (teacher), Ramon Archuletta, Dick Kendrick, Donald Wilson, and Gene Walcott. Thanks to Ruth Ann Connell of Chadron for sharing this great photograph and identifying everyone.

Thanks to Michael Cartwright for helping us identify everyone in this 1956 photograph. In front (left-to-right) are: Marie Dooley, Karen Galey, Jeanette Couch, Mary Cottrell, and Gloria Jiminez; middle row: Neil Daniels, Ernest Jiminez, Elizabeth Jiminez, Margaret Galey, John Dooley, and Robert Cottrell; back row: LaVern Fox, Wayne Cottrell, Michael Cartwright, and teacher Mrs. Alvin (Josephine) Johnson.

Here's another class photograph -- this one from 1957 -- affording an opportunity for folks to help identify a few of the students. Click on the photograph to see a larger image; this might help you in identifying some of these kids.

Those that we do know include: front row (l-to-r): Tom Dooley, (Unknown) Jiminez, Lonnie Douthit, Delores Buckley, Rodney Ingwerson, and Marie Dooley. Middle row: Mrs. Josephine Johnson (teacher), Mary Cotrell, John Schleicher, Harlan Marlin, (Unknown) Jiminez, and Neil Daniels. Back row: Bob Connell, Karen Galey, (Unknown), (Unknown), David Schleicher.

This class photograph has been in our collection for quite some time, but it was somehow overlooked when we first assembled this School gallery. How could we have overlooked such a good looking bunch!

Seated in front are (left-to-right): Delores Buckley, Karen Galey, Ruth ?, Mary Cotrell , Marie Dooley. In the back are: Lonnie Douthit, Tom Dooley, (unknown), Neil Daniels, and teacher, Josephine Johnson.

This is one of several photographs provided by Bob and Ruth Ann Connell of Chadron, Nebraska. In earlier years, Bob was a student at the Whitney school; in later years, Ruth Ann was a teacher. They've been very helpful in locating old photographs and documents for Whitney Reflections. To see a larger version of this 1959 photograph, simply click on the image.

These folks were among the gathering in the Crawford City Park in about 1967, when Whitney School students/teachers gathered. In front are Edna (Pilster), Mabel (Burkitt) Kendrick, and Naomi Rankin; in the back are Virgil Couch, Calvin Lemons and Glen Kendrick.

Karen and I disagreed about where these photographs were taken. I had remembered them as being taken at a Whitney School reunion at Finnegan Park in Chadron. I recall attending a Whitney gathering there, and even snapping photographs, but it was likely a separate event. Karen and my brother John both say that these were taken in the Crawford City Park. So....I must....reluctantly......concede that they're right!

That appears to be Virgil Couch, Bob Galey, Ruth Ann Connell and Karen Miller rummaging through some artifacts of days gone by.

A pretty good-sized crowd is assembled for this gathering. It looks like Linda Galey at left and Shelley McCafferty looking at the book. Others in the photo are Virgil Couch and Bob Galey. Thanks to Shelley for helping us identify folks in the picture.






Return to Whitney Reflections