The Barkers of Branford: Life in America Through a Local Lens2

The teachers assigned to the one-room schoolhouse were often the newly hired teachers. After gaining experience, they often requested reassignment to the vacancies in the center schools where the class age range was significantly reduced.

In this photo there are five Wards, three Newtons, three Barkers, two Harrisons, two Van Wies, two Creems, and one Callahan, Bragg, Jones, Cherry and Shea. Attached are two close-ups of the class photo with the identities revealed.

Close-up with eight students:

top (L to R): Bertha Ward, Olive Barker, Mary Ward, Martha Barker, Sylvester Jones

bottom: Anna Barker, Bertha Newton, Lillian Whalen.

Close-up with six students:

top (L to R): Vincent Bragg, Raymond Newton, Clifford Cherry

bottom: ? Ward, Sidney Ward, Ida Ward

This image and the identities of most of the students and the teacher are contained in Ted Braun’s book “The Barkers of Branford: Life in America Through a Local Lens” (Google this title to see more excerpts). It is based upon the diaries of Llewellyn Barker (1850-1937) that were found in a Branford attic and span Abraham Lincoln to FDR. It is available for $30 at the Blackstone Library in Branford. Richly illustrated with over 200 photos, maps and illustrations, it traces not only the history of a family but also that of the town and the nation. Over 300 names appear in the diary and are referenced and indexed for easy access.