This photograph of Mary Edwards Leach (1910-1992), probably taken in the 1940s, is stamped “Baker’s Pictures. 520 E. Nash Street, Wilson, N.C.” and thus reveals the location of this shot and these. Leach was the daughter of Stephen and Charity Bullock Edwards of Wilson and Greene Counties.
The location of the studio on East Nash suggests that Baker was African-American, but no one by that name — black or white — is listed in Wilson in Stephen E. Massingill’s Photographers of North Carolina: The First Century, 1842-1941.
[Update: see John H. Baker.]
Photograph in the collection of Hattie Henderson Ricks, now in possession of Lisa Y. Henderson.
Lisa, thanks for sharing the pictures of my grandmother Mary Edwards Leach and my great grandmother, Charity Edwards. My family is finding the information and pictures to be awesome.
Thanks so much, Greg! I’m so happy to hear from the families of the Wilsonians that I feature in my blog!
By the way, Mrs. Leach was my grandmother Hattie H. Ricks’ very dear friend.
Hello, I am a great granddaughter of Mary and great great granddaughter of Charity. =)
China
I am Mary Leach’ youngest son. NIce to meet you. Who are your parents?
Hi, nice to meet you too. My grandfather was Clyde. One of Mary’s sons?
Sorry, she didn’t have a son named Clyde. Was your grandfather’s sir name Edwards and was he born in Greene County, NC? If so, he might be a cousin of my grandfather.
Oh i’m so sorry. I must’ve gotten things mixed up. I’m not really 100% sure. I went on a random family search and this photo popped up and I remember seeing it as a kid. I’ll ask my family up here to see. Sorry to bother.
This photo is from my grandmother’s collection, which I’ve had since 2001. She and Mary Leach were good friends.