Black and white photograph of a group of 11 men and 5 women posed on a sidewalk. Paul Harris is in the front row, second from left. Framed by HI Burrowes Co., Portland, Maine.

It was taken at a luncheon of Portland, Maine Rotarians at which Commander Donald B McMillan outlined "Five years of continuous research in the Arctic with the establishment of a permanent station at Kowk in Labrador."

The Article appeared in "The Rotarian" in November 1926. A full list of those included in the photograph is shown and includes both Paul and Jean Harris.

PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN AT PORTLAND, MAINE

A copy of this photograph with caption is shown in the Rotary Global Fellowship History Library Section under “Odds and Ends” (A story about Portland, Maine, November 1926)

Caption on Photograph

The Caption reads as follows:

“Five years of continuous research in the Arctic with the establishment of a permanent station at Kowk in Labrador was the scheme outlined by Commander Donald B. MacMillan at a luncheon of Portland, Maine, Rotarians. This group picture shows him with some of the other prominent guests.

Back row (left to right) Representative Carroll L Beedy; Ralph B Redfern, president of Portland Rotary; Abraham Bromfield, dog driver of the MacMillan expedition; Mrs Carroll L Beedy; Mrs Ralph B Redfern; Harry A Brinkerhoff, city manager; Percival P Baxter, ex-Governor; Norman Russell of Newburyport, Mass., Rotary District Governor.

Front row (left to right) Neal W. Allen, chairman Portland City Council; Paul P Harris of Chicago, founder of Rotary; Cyrus H. K. Curtis of Philadelphia; Mrs Paul P. Harris; Commander Donald B MacMillan of Freeport; Mrs Letitia N. Fogg of Freeport; Mrs Cyrus H. K. Curtis; and John Jaynes, engineer of the Bowdoin.”

Notes by PDG Ian H Campbell (Dist 1230)

Representative Carroll L. Beedy was Maine Representative from 1921 to 1933.

Harry A. Brinkerhoff’s period of Office as city manager has nor been verified.

Percival P Baxter is referred to as “ex Governor”. He served three times in the Maine House of Representatives between 1906 and 1918. He served twice as State Senator in 1908 and 1920. In that latter term he served as President of the state senate and as it’s chief executive. Soon after his election as President the Governor died and Baxter automatically succeeded him. He also served for a further two-year term as Governor from 1922 to 1924. He was therefore Governor from 1920 to 1924.

Neal W. Allen was a member of a prominent Portland family who gave public service or many years. His period as chairman of Portland City Council has not been verified

Cyrus H K Curtis was the Publisher of the Saturday Evening Post and he died in 1933.

Mrs Letitia N. Fogg of Freeport was the sister of Donald Baxter MacMillan.

The “Bowdoin” named after Commander MacMillans old College was the Schooner, launched in 1921 in which he sailed on many of his Polar expeditions.

Establishing possible date of photograph

Donald Baxter McMillan completed his five-year Crooker Land voyage in 1917 (1913 to 1917) and published his book “Four years in the White North” in 1918 which dates the photograph after 1917.

Mention of John Jaynes, engineer of the Bowdain. This establishes the date as being 1921 or later as the Schooner Bowdain was built and launched in 1921.

Carroll L Beedy was Maine Representative from 1921 to 1933 which dates the photograph between 1921 and 1933

Reference to Ralph B Redfern as President of Portland Rotary may be significant as the name “Rotary International” was adopted in 1922, replacing the “International Association of Rotary Clubs.” If so, this may date the photograph as after 1922 which would fit in with Carroll L Beedy’s period of Office

Percival P Baxter is referred to as “ex Governor”. He served three times in the Maine House of Representatives between 1906 and 1918. He served twice as State Senator in 1908 and 1920. In that latter term he served as President of the state senate and as it’s chief executive. Soon after his election as President the Governor died and Baxter automatically succeeded him. He also served for a further two-year term as Governor from 1922 to 1924. He was therefore Governor from 1920 to 1924 which dates the photograph on or after 1924

Cyrus H K Curtis was the Publisher of the Saturday Evening Post who died in 1933.

The above tends to indicate that the photograph was taken between 1924 and 1933 most likely in the earlier part, which ties in with the November 1926 date shown in the Library photograph)

(thanks to PDG Ian H Campbell, D1230 Scotland)

This ongoing project is the work of RGHF historian Basil Lewis, first posted 7 April 2006 This section is maintained by RGHF webmaster Paul D. McLain. If you can help identify or supply more information about anything on this page, please contact us at www.historycomment.org

We acknowledge the assistance of DG 11/12 David Templin, ROTARY/One (RGHF Member), Neil Dahlmann of Rotary Club of Highland Park in District 6440, and Jack Selway, USA, with providing photos used in this section.

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