Name/Title
Photograph Album, c. 1918Entry/Object ID
2025.16.01Description
Album of photographs taken by Celia Elizabeth Colbert (later Johnson) (1893-1984) of South Windham, CT, c. 1918. Most of the photos are of her family and friends in Windham ans South Windham. In 1920, Celia married Carl George Johnson (1891-1925). They lived on Type Road in South Windham and had one child, Carl Leonard Johnson. After Carl died in 1925, Celia became Postmaster in South Windham; the post office was on Babcock Hill Road, where Celia also owned a general store. In 1918, Celia was 24 and lived at home with her parents, Timothy Colbert (born in Ireland) and Elizabeth Jennings Colbert (born in Nova Scotia), along with five siblings (Arthur, 26; Mary, 22; Tillie, 16; Dorothy, 14; and Harry, 11). Timothy Colbert was a machinist who worked in a machine shop (probably the one in South Windham), while Elizabeth was a housewife. In 1920, Arthur was also a machinist working in a machine shop, Celia was an inspector at a thread mill (almost certainly the American Thread Company in Willimantic), Mary was also an inspector at the thread mill, Tillie was a sales clerk at a five-and-dime (probably in Willimantic), and Dorothy and Harry were not employed. Inspectors at ATCO were considered skilled workers and were paid fairly well -- they operated the testing machines that measured the textile strength of manufactured thread, a task that required good math skills.Photograph Details
Type of Photograph
Black and white printSubject
Celia's friends and family, buildings in South Windham and Windham, transportation, nature scenes, and a few more distant locations.Context
Celia's photos depict everyday life in rural Connecticut in the early 20th century.Collection
Colbert-Johnson CollectionMade/Created
Artist Information
Artist
Johnson, Celia Elizabeth (Colbert)Role
PhotographerTime Period
20th CenturyPlace
State/Province
ConnecticutCountry
United States of AmericaContinent
North AmericaLexicon
Nomenclature 4.0
Nomenclature Secondary Object Term
Album, PhotographNomenclature Primary Object Term
AlbumNomenclature Sub-Class
MemorabiliaNomenclature Class
Documentary ObjectsNomenclature Category
Category 08: Communication ObjectsDimensions
Height
6 inWidth
8 inDepth
1 inColors
Color
BlackColor Notes
Both the covers and the pages are black.Condition
Overall Condition
Very GoodDate Examined
Jan 30, 2025Examined By
Eves, J.Provenance
Provenance Detail
Donated by a descendant.Copyright
Type of License
NoneCopyright Date
1918Reproductions
Notes
May be reproduced with permission of the Windham Textile and History Museum. Attribution: Windham Textile and History Museum (the Mill Museum), Willimantic, CT.Created By
historian@millmuseum.orgCreate Date
January 30, 2025Updated By
historian@millmuseum.orgUpdate Date
January 30, 2025
