Glen Dungey, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, April 1917. Photo by Lewis Hine.

When I pick out a photograph to research, I never know what kind of a story I am going to uncover, and how it might differ from my assumptions about the subject based on my reaction to the photo and Hine's caption. That's one thing that makes this project so compelling. But equally compelling is how my research might affect the lives of the descendants I hope to contact. Almost all of those I have tracked down so far had no knowledge of the photo, and in many cases, no knowledge of the early lives of the parent, grandparent, aunt or uncle in the Hine photo. Providing them with this new information can bring up all sorts of family issues, or even reunite family members who have lost touch. Such was the case with Glen Dungey.

I first saw these photos in July of 2006, on the Library of Congress website. I had just started my project, and I was still learning the search process. I was attracted to the apparent bleakness of this boy's world, and the weary, disengaged expression on his face. Census information indicated that his parents were Harry and Nellie Dungey, and he had at least three siblings: Dean, Earl, and Eathel (correct spelling). I eventually found his Social Security death record, which recorded his birth date as December 2, 1903, which means that he was 13 years old in the Hine photos. He died in Oklahoma City on September 15, 1967. The following is an excerpt from his brief obituary:

"Glen Dungey, 64, died Friday in Doctor's General Hospital. Services are pending with Smith & Kernke Funeral Home. Dungey was born in Winfield, Kan., and moved to Oklahoma City in 1910. He was the retired former owner of Melody Cleaners for 25 years. Survivors include a sister, Eathel Cary, Baldwin Park, California." (Note: He would have been 64 in December).

After obtaining Eathel's obituary (she died in 2002), I tracked down one of her children, Robert Cary, and sent him the photos of his uncle. He had never seen them before. He told me that he did not remember ever seeing his uncle, and that his mother and Glen did not get along very well. He told me that, as far as he knew, Glen never married. I could not locate any other relatives, so I gave up my search and posted on my website what little information I had.

Glen Dungey, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, April 1917. Photo by Lewis Hine.

Glen Dungey, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, April 1917. Photo by Lewis Hine.