Wedding Portrait: Frances W. McDonald & Anthony Fromknecht

Frances Winifred McDonald and Anthony A. Fromknecht were married on September 14, 1946. The wedding took place in Erie, Erie County, Pennsylvania.  When the couple married Frances was 26 years old and Anthony was 31 years old.

Formal Wedding Portrait
Frances Winifred McDonald and Anthony A. Fromknecht
(L-R)  Unknown (Groomsman), Unknown (Groomsman), 
Mary Eugenia McDonald (seated Matron of Honor and Sister of the Bride), 
Anthony Fromknecht (Groom),  Frances Winifred McDonald (Bride), 
Loraine Anthony McDonald (Father of the Bride), 
Kathryn Joan McDonald (Bridesmaid and Sister of the Bride), Unknown (Groomsman),
Winifred O. Fromknecht (Bridesmaid and Sister of the Groom)

One interesting fact is that Kathryn Joan McDonald was the only unmarried attendant. May Eugenia McDonald, the sister of the bride, married Arthur Murosky on August 9, 1941. Winifred O. Fromknecht, the sister of the groom, married Homer H. Heberle on November 14, 193.

The couple applied for their marriage license on August 31, 1946 in Erie, Erie County, Pennsylvania. Their marriage license was issued on September 3, 1946.  The couple's marriage was recorded on September 14, 1946. The duplicate was returned September 16, 1946.

The application for marriage license offers some interesting details about the Anthony and Frances' life in 1946. The first page in the file is the Application for Marriage License.

Application for Marriage License for 
Anthony A. Fromknecht and Frances W. McDonald

Anthony was born January 23, 1915 in Erie, Erie County Pennsylvania. His father Joseph J. Fromknecht  was born in Erie, Erie County, Pennsylvania. His mother Mary Loesch was also born in Erie, Erie County, Pennsylvania. The marriage license application indicates that Anthony was working as switchboard installer. He was living at 3221 Old French Rd. Joseph J. Fromknecht was recorded as a laborer and Mary Loesch was recorded as a housewife.

Frances was born March 18, 1920 in Clarion, Clarion County, Pennsylvania. Her father Loraine Anthony McDonald Vowinkle, Clarion County, Pennsylvania. Her mother Frances Philomena Selker was born in Clarion, Clarion County, Pennsylvania. Loraine and Frances relocated to Erie, Erie County, Pennsylvania in the 1920's in search of work. The marriage license application indicates that Frances was working as a secretary. She was living in her parents home at 317 East 27th Street. Loraine Anthony McDonald was recorded as a laborer and Frances Selker was recorded as a housewife.

There are some known details about how Frances and Anthony met. Frances was friends with Anthony's sister Winifred O. Fromknecht. Winifred introduced her close friend to her brother.

The original copy of the wedding portrait is in the care of Janet Fromknecht the daughter of Frances W. McDonald and Anthony A. Fromknecht. From the Frances Winifred McDonald Collection. The photograph is shared with permission.  Photographer Unknown. Editing and digital restoration by Michelle M. Murosky.

Loraine Anthony McDonald and Frances Philomena Selker are my great grandparents. Frances W. McDonald and Kathryn Joan McDonald are my great-aunts. They are the the sisters of Mary Eugenia McDonald my paternal grandmother.

References:

1. "Pennsylvania, County Marriages, 1885-1950," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-159363-19641-74?cc=1589502 : 24 June 2016), 004480664 > image 634 of 834; county courthouses, Pennsylvania.
2. "Pennsylvania, County Marriages, 1885-1950", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VF73-L11 : 24 June 2016), Arthur J. Murosky and Mary Eugenia Mcdonald, 1941.
3. "Pennsylvania, County Marriages, 1885-1950", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KMC2-H39 : 24 June 2016), Homer H Heberle and Winifred O Fromknecht, 1943.