OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION

Creator: James A. and Lucinda (Bowers) Boyer
Title: James A. Boyer Collection
Dates: 1850s-1910s
Quantity: 40 digital images
Location: As of 2009, original photographs are in the possession of James A. and Lucinda (Bowers) Boyer. Digital images are stored electronically by Greene Connections administrator, Candice Buchanan (63 W. Franklin St.; Waynesburg, PA 15370), and are available to view online at www.greeneconnections.com.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF JAMES A. BOYER

James Alexander Boyer descends from Samuel Woods and his wife, Martha McCoy, of Rogersville, Greene County, Pennsylvania. His direct line is as follows:

Samuel Woods [1803-1887] and his wife, Leah Divers [1805-1885]
Dr. Samuel D. Woods [1848-1930] and his wife, Alice Coughanour [1849-1926]
Alfred Hood Woods [1875-1960] and his wife, Mary Ellen Hill [1879-1954]
Virginia Woods [1904-1986] and her husband, Paul Brownfield Boyer [1908-1964]

The James A. Boyer Collection includes oil paintings, loose photographs, handwritten and typed correspondence, and a photograph album, all of which were recovered from the home of Dr. Samuel D. Woods [1848-1930] and his wife, Alice Coughanour [1849-1926], after more than 75 years of storage. At the time of recovery the home was being sold after 105 years of continuous family ownership.

Many oil paintings were recovered including those of family members, some of which are self-portraits. The majority of the paintings were done by Alfred H. Woods [1875-1960], but some are by other relatives including Alfred’s father, Dr. Samuel D. Woods [1848-1930]. Likewise many of the photographs were taken by Dr. Samuel D. Woods [1848-1930] while in Rogersville, Waynesburg and the surrounding area. Professional images from area photographers are also included.

The photograph album contains many unidentified images believed to be connected to the Coughanour side of the family and including Hamilton, Woods, Yohe, and possibly Jones, relations. An inscription inside the front cover reads, “Presented to Grandpap / By / Bulger & Snider / Dec. 25, 1887.” Several handwritten inscriptions and a handful of funeral cards specifically name the Elliott, Hamilton, Miller, Woods and Yohe families. It is possible that the album may have passed from Hester (Coughanour) Yohe [1858-1938] to the family of her elder sister Alice (Coughanour) Woods [1849-1926] and brother-in-law Dr. Samuel D. Woods [1848-1930], with whom she lived out her last years in Connellsville, Fayette County, Pennsylvania.

The James A. Boyer Collection passed with the ownership of the Dr. Samuel D. Woods home in Connellsville, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, as follows, Dr. Samuel D. Woods [1848-1930] and his wife, Alice Coughanour [1849-1926], to their son Alfred H. Woods [1875-1960] and his wife, Mary Ellen Hill [1879-1954], to their descendants Samuel D. Woods, Mary Frances (Woods) Myers, Virginia (Woods) Boyer [1904-1986], and Alfred William Boyer, until the majority of the collection was recovered by James A. Boyer and his wife, Lucinda (Bowers) Boyer. A few paintings, late photos, letters, and legal documents remain in the possession of Paul D. Boyer, Alfred William Boyer and James Alexander Boyer (great-grandsons of Dr. Samuel D. Woods), and Roger Myers (great-great-grandson of Dr. Samuel D. Woods).

The collection has been divided into multiple series. The Album 1 Series has been maintained in original order, while the remaining series have been initially arranged according to family. Additional photos continue to be added to the end of the series as they are shared for scanning. For best results, use the BOYE Collection Index to look for specific individuals or subjects.

*The Album 1 Series (Catalogue Code: AN001) photographs have been maintained in original order.

*Additional Series to be added.

RELATED MATERIALS

See BAKM – Margaret Leah (Waddell) Baker Collection.
See CGSP – Cornerstone Genealogical Society Collection (See AN005 - Abigail (Woods) Hoge Series).

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Accession Information
Digital images were made in 2006 for the Greene Connections: Greene County, Pennsylvania Photo Archives Project, but the original photographs in this collection remain in the possession of James A. and Lucinda (Bowers) Boyer, as of 2009.

Processing Information
Processed by Candice Buchanan, 2009. Indexed by Candice Buchanan, 2009.

Preferred Citation
See each photograph for specific citation.

Restrictions
Photographs may be reproduced and used for family and genealogical/historical purposes. The only request made in exchange for this service is that the appropriate citation information be included with any photo reproduction, this includes both digital and physical presentations. See each photograph for specific citation.

INDEX

This Collection has been indexed. The index provides detailed listings for all known photograph subjects. Unidentified photographs are not included in the index.