Framed or unframed, desk size to sofa size, printed by us in Arizona and Alabama since 2007. Explore now.
Shorpy is funded by you. Patreon contributors get an ad-free experience.
Learn more.
This photo is part of an album that was purchased at a garage sale in Colorado Springs. Its contents give no clue as to its Colorado connection however it's believed there is a connection to a Ruth E. Swope as her name is often abbreviated as R. Swope or R.E.S. throughout the album. Location most frequently mentioned is Marion, Ohio. View full size.
Per the 1930 Federal Census there was a Ruth E. Swope, age 11, living in Marion, Ohio, which would have put her birth around 1918-1919. She was the daughter of Albert E. Swope (31) and Goldie O. Swope (30). In 1937, the date of the photo, Albert, Goldie and Ruth E. Swope were living at 291 Marion Ave, Marion OH. In 1948 Ruth E. was a secretary at Standard Oil in Marion OH and was still living at 291 Marion Ave with both parents.
The current Social Security Death Index has a Ruth E. Swope, born July 19, 1918, who died at age 90 on July 25, 2008 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The record states that her SSN was issued "in Ohio" before 1951. I also found a record in Colorado indicating that her full name was Ruth Evangeline Swope. There was no indication that she ever married or had children. Her parents both passed away in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Albert died in 1980 and Goldie Olive (Cotner) Swope in 1994. Ruth E. had a sister Jean "Petie" (Swope) Nielson who died in 2009 in Nebraska and another sister, June, who preceded her in death.
This information below is from a 1993-1994 directory:
Name: Ruth E Swope
Address: 2471 Yorktown Rd
City: Colorado Springs
State: Colorado
Zip Code: 80907
Phone Number: 719-633-5036
Although not proof positive, with the Ohio & Colorado Springs connection in the SSDI and the age matching the Ruth E. from Marion, it seems likely that this is the Ruth E. Swope mentioned in the photos. Her death in 2008 must have precipitated the images ending-up at a garage sale. Perhaps the above address will help you reconnect the photos to a family member.
On Shorpy:
Today’s Top 5