DIG MEMPHIS MYSTERIES
Unsolved Mysteries
We need your help! Below are images from our digital archive that are missing important details. See if you can help us fill in some of the gaps.
DIG MEMPHIS MYSTERIES is a multi-week series of mysteries, all centered around a common theme. If you suggest an answer, please share with us how you solved the mystery. Include your name, and we’ll give you credit on the record in the DIG archives. To keep up to date with all DIG MEMPHIS MYSTERIES, follow us on Instagram at @digmemphishistory!
10/30/2023:
This week is our final mystery in the Fall series focusing on newly digitized materials. The photos come from a collection that was used in the 1987 WHBQ-TV Black History Month public service announcements. The library made copies of these black and white photos of distinguished Black Memphians, filling 6 folders that had been waiting to be digitized.
Today’s #MysteryMonday post focuses on a gentleman who is featured in a number of these photos. The unidentified man seems to have taken an important trip, serving as an ambassador of some kind. In the photos he poses with his hosts, receives as lei, and accepts gifts, including a model boat with the label “Bon Voyage.”
Do you recognize this man? Can you help us fill in the context surrounding his trip?
If you can provide any details on information about these images, please let us know in the comments box!
After this week, we’ll be taking a pause to investigate the submissions we’ve received for our Fall mysteries. Stay tuned for an update on which mysteries have been solved and be sure to follow us on Instagram for updates!
10/23/2023:
Are you ready for some football? Football themed mysteries, that is. This week’s newly digitized photos were gifted together by Gordon Fox and are all part of the M Files mini collection: Sports in Memphis. Can you help us identify these athletes, their teams, or their sport?
This photo of an early football team comes with plenty of clues! The back of the photo includes a list of names: Row Bottom. L to R: Bill Turner, Lee Ford, Bill Aden, Harvey Luckelt(?). 2nd Row: Rex Latting, Burt Munson, (?) Fox, Bob Scrivener(?), Aex Yebron (?)-Standing. Back Row: Emery Shaplow, Bill Fowler [City Engineer], Lee McCourk [Fescher L. Cement Co.], Allen Sperry. Do you know what team these upside-down triangle and striped uniforms represent? Any idea what year this is?
Looking closely at the center of this image, we can tell this is another football team. Some of their uniforms match the upside-down triangles from photo 1. Do they play for the same team? The same school? Do you recognize any of the players? Can you tell us the year?
This photo holds a few mysteries. Our only clues can be found on their uniform logo which features the letter “M” in an upside-down triangle, inside a circle. Do you recognize those uniforms? What team do they play for? What sport do they play? Are any of those faces familiar to you?
This image comes with fewer clues as there are no names or uniforms to help us identify these equestrians. Do you recognize any of their faces?
10/16/2023:
Today’s #MysteryMonday photos continue our Fall series highlighting newly digitized materials – this time with a focus on streetscapes! We have two photos that were donated separately and with little information attached to them. Take a close look at each of them and use the clues you see to help us uncover more information about these Memphis locations. We’ll be adding more “streetscapes” mysteries to our Memphis Streetscapes Collection. You can find a link to all “Unmapped Images” on the collection’s homepage!
This photo of an unidentified group people and a Model T on a Memphis street was included with a few other photos, including pictures of passengers aboard the old James Lee Riverboat. Those photos were from the late 1910s, and perhaps this image is from around the same time period. Do you recognize any of these faces? What about the street behind them? Where was this car parked? And can you help us determine when the photo was taken?
8/28/2023:
This week marks the final mystery in our summer series, and it’s a challenging one. Some of the more puzzling photographs are images with groups of unidentified people. We would love to provide additional indification and context for photographs such as this one, but we need help!
This picture shows a group of 17 unidentified men and women posing outside a building. It is one of two photographs with an attached handwritten note containing the name “Esther Washington Williams” and an address in Hempstead, N.Y. If you can figure out any additional details about the group pictured here, please let us know in the comments box!
After this week, DIG Memphis Mysteries will be taking a hiatus while we analyze all of the answers submitted over the last several weeks. Check back over the next few weeks to see which mysteries have been solved!
8/7/2023:
The archive contains many photographs capturing the various streets and neighborhoods of Memphis. Often, we can determine the location depicted by focusing on street signs, notable buildings and other city landmarks, but sometimes the photograph is more residential – as seen here.
The title of this image is simply, “Residential Street.” The description gives a little more information, including the fact one of the mailboxes has a name and number visible: H.E. Padgett, with the number 3814. However, we were unable to determine the street name at the time this item was digitized. If you can provide any additional information about the street or H.E. Padgett, please let us know in the comments box!
2/13/2023:
This week’s mystery brings us another stretch of unlabeled houses in Memphis – this time in Midtown. The title given to this image is, “Midtown houses”, and then only description is, “Houses line a residential street in Midtown.”
This time we’ve got a couple of mysteries that need solving. First, where was the photographer standing when this photograph was taken? And second, what time frame (year or decade) was this? If you can help us by providing any additional details for the archival record, please let us know!
2/06/2023:
The above image titled, “Memphis houses”, was taken November 2, 1969. We know the date, but we do not know the location. The description attached to the photograph states, “A photo of a row of houses, possibly taken on Vance Avenue. A café is on the left.”
Perhaps the café is a clue to locating this stretch of Memphis houses. Do you recognize this street or any of these homes? If so, please let us know in the comments box!
The description accompanying this image only states, “Building with columns & four boys next to the steps.” Without any obvious identifying markers, like signs or letters, it’s not immediately clear where this building is/was located.
Can you help us determine what building this is and where it was located? If you have any ideas, please let us know in the comments box or click ‘Contact Us’ on DIG Memphis to provide any additional details you may know.
12/13/2021:
Next week marks the official beginning of winter! Before we head into the winter months, we have one more week of autumn mysteries. In honor of the fast approaching Christmas holiday, we’re sharing a series of photographs depicting various Christmas parties. If you see anyone you recognize, please let us know!
Do you recognize anyone captured in these photographs? Let us know in the comments box or click ‘Contact Us’ on DIG Memphis to provide any additional details you may know.
11/22/2021:
In honor of the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, we’re sharing a couple photographs that highlight family, friends, and food! Here are two mysteries from the archive that are lacking identifying information. If you see anyone you recognize, please let us know!
The first picture above comes from the M Files Collection and was included in a folder of unidentified photographs. A handwritten note in the folder read: “From home of Juanita Dockins, Prescott St., Memphis, TN. Died in Memphis 1990s. Husband Louis P. (L.P.) Dockins. Died in Memphis 1990s. Daughter Monetha Killion. Gift of Mike Hartsfield.” Perhaps some of the people mentioned in the note are portrayed in the photograph, but we are not certain!
The second photo comes from The George W. Lee Collection, and only includes a descriptions stating, “Photo of three females and one male posing and enjoying cookies.”
Do you recognize anyone captured in these portraits? Let us know in the comments box or click ‘Contact Us’ on DIG Memphis to provide any additional details you may know.
11/15/2021:
DIG Memphis contains a large number of professional portraits, but many of them are unlabeled. Here are a handful from the archive without any indication of who was photographed. You can see more by browsing the ‘Portraits‘ subject tag. If you see anyone you know, please let us know!
The pictures above come from a variety of collections, and like last week, the one thing they have in common is that the subject is unidentified. Click each thumbnail to see a larger version and access the link to the full record in DIG.
Do you recognize anyone captured in these portraits? Let us know in the comments box or click ‘Contact Us’ on DIG Memphis to provide any additional details you may know.
11/11/2021:
In honor of Veterans Day, we’re sharing photographs of those who have served in the past. There are many images of veterans in the DIG Memphis Archives, but not all of them are properly identified. Click through the gallery below to see just a few, and then head over to DIG Memphis to see more.
The pictures above come from a variety of collections and span multiple decades. The one thing they have in common is that the subject in the photograph is listed as unidentified or unknown. Click each thumbnail to see a larger version and access the link to the full record in DIG.
Do you recognize any of the people being photographed? Let us know in the comments box or click ‘Contact Us’ on DIG Memphis to provide any additional details you may know.
11/01/2021:
Native American family”. Pink Palace Photograph Collection, DIG MEMPHIS (Digital ID: PP062)
November is Native American Heritage Month. To celebrate the history, traditions, and culture of indigenous communities, today we’re shining a light on the collection of Native American photographs found in DIG Memphis
Most of the Native American material in the archive is part of the Pink Palace Photograph Collection, which was gifted to MPL many years ago. Some of the photographs contain identifying information about the people pictured; however, many more are lacking descriptive details.
The picture above does not clearly indicate who is being photographed. There is a date on the back – June 10, 1956 – and a notation stating “Clark – The Memphis Museum”, but no further details are given.
The photographs in this collection were possibly collected as part of a bigger project. We invite you to explore the images in the Native American mini-collection and let us know if you recognize any of the photographs and can provide greater context to the images. Who were the people being photographed? Let us know in the comments or click ‘Contact Us’ on DIG Memphis to provide any additional details you may know.
10/25/2021:
Along with the crisp air and falling leaves, Fall usually ushers in a period of festivities filled with friends and family. DIG Memphis has a plethora of photographs depicting buildings and streets, but the archive is also full of faces – young and old, smiling or pensive, large gatherings and solo portraits. Many of the images that capture people are unlabeled, and unlike our mysterious buildings, the photographs often provide very little clues as to who is being photographed.
This Fall, we’ll be diving into the collection and spending some time with the mysterious faces included in the archive. It may be a long shot, but if you recognize anyone depicted in these photographs, please let us know!
This first image comes from our Saul Brown Photograph Collection. Brown worked as a staff photographer for the Memphis Press-Scimitar for twenty years, retiring in April of 1980 as the newspaper’s chief photographer. After retirement, Brown continued taking publicity photographs for various Memphis theaters as well as images of public figures, personal friends, and Memphis and its residents.
The haunting image above is titled, “Woman with candlestick“, and it seemed like an appropriate way to kick off our series on the Monday before Halloween. It’s possible the photograph was taken as a promotional shot for a local theater production. Perhaps the woman was an actress…? If you’ve seen this image before or you recognize the woman pictured, let us know in the comment box!
11/16/2020:
The data accompanying this image indicates that the photograph was taken in 1962. Beyond that, we don’t really know much about where this photo was taken. The description on the digital record simply states, “A photo of Colonial Road.” Do you know where this photo was taken on Colonial Road?
11/09/2020:
Many of our unmapped images are from the Municipal Reference Library and depict scenes of construction during the 1930s. This picture of South Third Street was taken in May of 1938. The pavement in the street appears to be damaged. Trees and a hedge line the street, with business signs partially visible on the right. Can you locate this spot on South Third Street?
7/27/2020:
This picture, c.1900, shows Victorian-era houses lining a stretch of Washington Avenue. Nearly all of the grand homes along Washington have been lost over time, making it difficult to pinpoint exactly where this photograph was taken. Are you able to recognize any of the old homes seen here?
7/13/2020:
This photo shows the Speedway with trees and gardens along both sides. Can you help us pinpoint what spot along the Speedway is shown in this image?
6/29/2020:
These two photographs (each measuring 7.25 x 4.25 inches) labeled “Scenes on Union Avenue” show Victorian-era houses on Union Avenue. The notation “1900” is written in the lower right corner. Can you help us determine the coordinates or street addresses for each of these locations?
Explore more mysteries:
Resources:
Here are some resources that can help with your search.
City Directories 1849-1943 – Shelby County Registrar (link)
Commercial Appeal Archives 1894-Today – ProQuest (link)
Historic Shelby County – Aerial Maps (link)
Maps of Memphis (link)
Vehicle Registration Plates of TN – Wikipedia (link)