Young and McKay, Lady Photographers of Marshall, Michigan

There was a photography studio named Young and McKay in the city of Marshall, Michigan, for at least thirty years from approximately 1900 to 1930.

This is an authentic, antique photograph of three unidentified young ladies, photographed in about 1910 in the studio of Young and McKay, Marshall, Michigan. The three lady scholars are in dresses with pin-tucked yokes, tonal embroidery and high collars. They have gold watches on long chains and the latest hair styles, two with bows. The lady on the left has a ring on her left hand, but likely these three are young teachers or professors.

The oval image measures 3 ½" x 2 ½" and is mounted on an off-white heavy card board mount which measures 7" x 5" with beveled edges. The artists' mark is a signature "Young and McKay" below the image in ink. On the reverse is written: "Marshall, Mich."

On the 1900 Federal Census for Michigan, in Calhoun County and city of Marshall are two lady photographers living and working at 514 W. Prospect Street. Christie A. McKay, Photographer, was born March 1860 in Canada, and Adell F. Young, Photographer, was born December 1860 in Wisconsin. Young & McKay were boarding with John H. Houston who owned the house. Living with them was Christie A. McKay’s mother, Jane McKay, widow, who was born August 1834 in Canada and according to census, four of her six children survived.

In 1910, Young and McKay are partners in a photo gallery at 310 W. Green Street in Marshall, MI. McKay has herself listed as Proprietor and Young is Partner in Photo Gallery.

By the 1920 census, Young and McKay, Photographers, together owned the shop at 118 Park View in Marshal, MI. (The house at 310 W. Green Street where Young and McKay lived in 1910, was in 1920, owned by Herman Markle.)

In 1930, the studio’s address is 226 Green St. in Marshall. They were renting from Charles J. Johnson and wife, Louise.

How Christie A. McKay and Adell F. Young met and went into business together is unknown, but by the 1880 Federal Census for Michigan, the families of both women are living in or near the village of Romeo in Macomb County, MI. At the age of 20, Christie McKay was living with her parents and two younger sisters in Romeo, where she was working as a dressmaker. Adell F. Young, also age 20 in 1880, cannot be located at this time. And how they ultimately set up the photography studio in Marshall, Calhoun County, MI is not known.

Bio: Christie A. McKay, Photographer, was born March 1860 in Canada. She emigrated to the U.S. in 1865 with her parents and siblings, to Bruce Township in Macomb County, Michigan. She was the daughter of Charles McKay, born about 1827 in Canada and his wife Jane McKay, born August 1834 in Canada. Christie A. or Christianna McKay’s brothers and sisters were: William McKay born 1854 Canada, Catharine McKay born 1856 Canada, Margaret McKay born 1858 Canada, Amy McKay born 1863 Canada and lastly, Minnie McKay born 1866 in Michigan. Censuses show that the McKays were from English-speaking Canada. (Image Serial No. 1012A)

Bio: Adell F. Young, Photographer, was born December 1860 in Wisconsin. She was the daughter of John Young, a Minister, who was born about 1830 in Pennsylvania and Elsa or Elsie S. Young, born about 1835 in Pennsylvania. The family seems to have moved to Lodi, Columbia County, Wisconsin in about 1855, to Otsego in Columbia County by 1870 and then by 1880 on to Macomb County, Michigan. Based on 1860, 1870 and 1880 census data, Adell F. Young’s brothers and sisters are theoretically: Eva and/or Kate Young born 1852 Pennsylvania, Ellen Young born 1853 Pennsylvania and married by 1878 to ____ Elliott, Robert A. Young born 1852 -1855 Wisconsin, Frank E. Young b 1857-1859 Wisconsin, John Young b 1869 Wisconsin, Zacc__ E. Young (male) b 1872 Wisconsin, and Minnie Young born 1874 Wisconsin.