Who is this person?

[RJNorton]

Who is this lady?

[RJNorton]

Clue #1: This person had a connection to John Wilkes Booth.

[Anita]

Fanny Brown. One of five ladies photos found in Booth's diary after he was shot?

[RJNorton]

Great guess, Anita, but it's not Fanny Brown.

[Anita]

Trying again. Actress Helen Western, Booth's girlfriend.

[Dave Taylor]

It is very coincidental that Roger chose this picture for a mystery photo. Anita is right that it is actress Helen Western. Helen and her sister Lucille acted alongside John Wilkes Booth. One of the CDV photographs found on Booth when he was killed has been identified as Helen Western but I do not believe this identification to be accurate. If you compare images of Helen with the veiled woman from Booth’s pocket, it’s clear that they are not the same person. For about two years I’ve been trying to find the actual identity of this woman in Booth’s diary. I scoured the theater collection of the Harry Ransom Center in Austin looking at images of Booth’s acting contemporaries hoping for a match but struck out. However, just last week, a hunch I had paid out. While driving from Texas to Illinois for my parents’ 50th wedding anniversary I stopped in Missouri for a brief research trip. I looked through a collection of papers and photographs that has convinced me that I finally found the actual identity of the woman wrongly identified as Helen Western. Once I get back to Texas, I’ll be writing something up for my site about it.

[RJNorton]

Kudos, Anita! And thank you to Dave for all the incredible research he does!

[Anita]

(06-24-2026 12:28 AM)Dave Taylor Wrote:  It is very coincidental that Roger chose this picture for a mystery photo. Anita is right that it is actress Helen Western. Helen and her sister Lucille acted alongside John Wilkes Booth. One of the CDV photographs found on Booth when he was killed has been identified as Helen Western but I do not believe this identification to be accurate. If you compare images of Helen with the veiled woman from Booth’s pocket, it’s clear that they are not the same person. For about two years I’ve been trying to find the actual identity of this woman in Booth’s diary. I scoured the theater collection of the Harry Ransom Center in Austin looking at images of Booth’s acting contemporaries hoping for a match but struck out. However, just last week, a hunch I had paid out. While driving from Texas to Illinois for my parents’ 50th wedding anniversary I stopped in Missouri for a brief research trip. I looked through a collection of papers and photographs that has convinced me that I finally found the actual identity of the woman wrongly identified as Helen Western. Once I get back to Texas, I’ll be writing something up for my site about it.

Dave, this is exciting news. I'll be tuned in to see what you've uncovered!

[Steve]

(06-24-2026 12:28 AM)Dave Taylor Wrote:  It is very coincidental that Roger chose this picture for a mystery photo. Anita is right that it is actress Helen Western. Helen and her sister Lucille acted alongside John Wilkes Booth. One of the CDV photographs found on Booth when he was killed has been identified as Helen Western but I do not believe this identification to be accurate. If you compare images of Helen with the veiled woman from Booth’s pocket, it’s clear that they are not the same person. For about two years I’ve been trying to find the actual identity of this woman in Booth’s diary. I scoured the theater collection of the Harry Ransom Center in Austin looking at images of Booth’s acting contemporaries hoping for a match but struck out. However, just last week, a hunch I had paid out. While driving from Texas to Illinois for my parents’ 50th wedding anniversary I stopped in Missouri for a brief research trip. I looked through a collection of papers and photographs that has convinced me that I finally found the actual identity of the woman wrongly identified as Helen Western. Once I get back to Texas, I’ll be writing something up for my site about it.

I can't wait for the article Dave! I have to admit I've had some doubts about the woman being Helen Western as well but usually just figured the veil and the way the photograph was shot might have obscured her hair and features.

Of course there are the Booth survived conspiracy theorists who claim the woman is Kate M. Scott based off that forged letter about her supposed affair with Booth. But if you look at an 1862 photograph of Scott, she looks nothing like the veiled woman:

https://sparedshared13.wordpress.com/201...e-m-scott/

I hope a firm identification of the woman can end that type of nonsense.