Sylvanus (Vanus or Vay) Griswold Morley was born June 7, 1883 to Benjamin F. Morley and Sarah Eleanor Constance De Lannoy. Sylvanus attended school at Harvard University, where he received bachelors and masters degrees in archaeology. In 1908, he married Alice Gallinger Williams, and they had one child, Alice Virginia Morley. Sylvanus and Alice got divorced around 1914. After finishing school, Sylvanus worked with the Carnegie Institute and investigated the ancient Maya in the Yucatan Peninsula. He also visited sites throughout Mesoamerica, including Copan, Tikal, Chichen Itza, and Uxmal. His interests included heiroglyphics, monumental architecture, and the Classic and Postclassic Maya. In 1927, Sylvanus G. Morley married Frances Rose Lou Rhoads, and she began to accompany him on excavations and they owned houses in Mexico and Sante Fe. In 1946, Morley wrote The Ancient Maya, a large volume detailing Maya archaeology. Sylvanus died on September 2, 1948 and Frances died March 15, 1955.

The Franklin Koons and Frances May Cook Rhoads family lived in Pekin and Rock Island, Illinios. Franklin Koons Rhoads was born October 23, 1867 in Pekin, Illinois to Samuel Rhoads and Anna Koons. Frances (Fannie) May Cook was born around 1880 to John Spafford Cook and Sarah Dexter. Franklin and Fannie got married April 27, 1892, and they had two children, Dorothy Mary and Frances Louella. Dorothy was born March 19, 1895 and Frances was born September 8, 1898. The family lived in Illinois for many years, near other family members. Frances May died March 28, 1924 and Franklin died March 27, 1943 in Rock Island, Illinois. Dorothy and Frances moved to Sante Fe, New Mexico in about 1920, and Dorothy lived there until 1986, when she died. In 1927, Frances married Sylvanus Morley, and spent her remaining years between Mexico and Sante Fe. Dorothy was a children's book author, and spent time with her sister in Mexico. The family had a Maya godchild named Dorita, who was featured in one of Dorothy's books. Frances died in 1955 and Dorothy died in 1986, both in Sante Fe. Both Franklin and Frances were amateur photographers, and took hundreds of photographs on family trips and other events.

Frances Louella Rhoads was born September 8, 1898 to Franklin Koons and Frances May Cook Rhoads of Pekin and Rock Island, Illinios. Frances had one older sister, Dorothy, and the family lived in Illinois for many years, near other family members. Dorothy and Frances moved to Sante Fe, New Mexico in about 1920, and Dorothy lived there until 1986, when she died. In 1927, Frances married Sylvanus Morley, and spent her remaining years between Mexico and Sante Fe, and would accompany him on excavations. The family had a Maya godchild named Dorita, who was featured in one of Dorothy's books. Sylvanus died in 1948 and Frances died in 1955 in Sante Fe.