This is a scrapbook of ideas. One can hardly call it a blog, but I maintain it to file away thoughts I find interesting, like shiny pebbles.

Mystery of lost photos

Update: Mystery has been solved!

Found these great photos in a mall parking lot here in Toronto over the weekend. Both feature school photos of kids and their teacher, along with kids’ signatures on the back. Where are these kids now? What about the teacher? Why were these photos left in the parking lot?

Grade 10, 1967, Ms. McLiath

In high-res (1.3Mb)

Signatures of the kids

In high-res (1.6Mb)

J.R. Wilcox Public School, 1959

In high-res (1.7 Mb)

Back of the second photo

In high-res (1.2 Mb)

Not much is known about the first school. There is a distinctive school entrance plaque in the first photo which mentions September 19, 1926 and Henry Cockshutt, the lieutenant-governor of Ontario at the time. The writing on the back indicates that it was taken in 1967.

Ms McLiath or McHath

The second photo was taken in November of 1959 and the school in question is JR Wilcox. This lady seems to be the teacher, Ms. McLiath or McHath (sp?) – I think they look similar enough to be the same person. I am assuming that these photos were owned by the teacher because of the signatures. However, maybe all of the students signed each photo? Do you see any similarities in any of the students?

Interestingly enough, both photos also feature mirrored signatures (John Lang and Chris).

Reverse signatures

Any Internet detectives wishing to take on this case? I figured I can try to find the teacher and mail the photos back to her.

Update: Created a Flickr page housing all the photos.

May 19th, 2009 at 11:28 am · Share

LB

Glen Watson is the Principal of J. R. Wilcox Community School
(416-394-2388) and he may have records showing who she is/was – the second photo has a class room number on the board which would help identify the teacher.
http://www.new-media.ca Valentine

Thanks, that’s a great idea! I’ll give them a call and see where that leads me.
LB

no worries! let me know if you hear anything, i’m all intrigued now…
Carol Morgan

I am in this picture…omg please write me..would love to tell you the faces I remember from the photo and the teacher I think was Ms. Mcgrath?? I think she was Miss MacDonald when i was in her class…
http://new-media.ca Val

Amazing, I sent you a quick email with some details – you can have the photo.
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