Compilers of history book looking for help identifying photographs

The compilers of a history book on the Nevada State Hospital are trying to identify this photograph and others. If you can help, contact Linda Chesnut at 417-448-1144 or at linda.chesnut@dmh.mo.gov. More photos will be in Saturday's Daily Mail.

The Nevada State Hospital history book, which is being prepared for publication, continues to create questions for which no answers are found, according to a press release on the book.

The Employee Relations Committee members, who are preparing the book, have received many photos and only one or two people are identified in them.

"It would be nice to have a name for all the individuals, so by publishing these pictures, perhaps some family member will be able to help us," said Linda Chesnut, committee chairwoman.

One of the photos -- found at the Bushwhacker Museum -- is from 1931 and no one has been identified.

The other group photo was submitted by Maxine Morris, Nevada, and her mother, Mabel Geary, is the lady with the flower printed on her smock and wearing glasses. She said she also feels the one standing is registered nurse Dora Betts. This was a class her mother attended in a room in the tunnels around 1952.

"We know we can get help from the Daily Mail readers," said Chesnut. "In one of the photos from a previous story in the paper, there was a lady shown supervising an aide and her family recognized her and contacted us.

"They did not know the picture even existed and her daughter willingly provided us a story about her mother and we were able to provide her with a copy of the picture."

Not only are they looking to identify individuals, they are also trying to identify one of the buildings. The use and location of the building with its roof just a few inches off the ground continues to be a mystery, said Chesnut.

Guesses have included an ice house, root cellar, or a smoke house for meat. Due to the barn in the background, it could possibly be located near Marmaduke Park.

The use of the Tubercular Cottages is known but existing records do not help in finding its location. There is also a barn in its background but there were many barns at one time on the state property. Again, it could possibly be toward Marmaduke.

"We are looking for answers and hope the readers will provide them -- it would help fill the gaps for us," Chesnut stated.

The history book will be an 8-1/2-by-11 hard-bound book with approximately 112 pages of history, personal stories, photos, and a cookbook section. Stories, photos and book orders at the pre-publish cost of $35 are still being taken by Linda Chesnut at 417-448-1144 or at linda.chesnut@dmh.mo.gov

She said she is also ready to start finding answers with your phone calls.