Saturday, January 19, 2019

2018 Family History Highlights

Happy New Year!

As was head into 2019 – I wanted to pause and highlight some of my favorite family history experiences from my family history journey over the last year.

MB Boutiques Family History Consulting Services


Last fall I had the opportunity to provide family history consulting services for an adopted individual. Using DNA results, the individual's non-identifying adoption paperwork and traditional research methods I identified the individual’s birth parents. It was a very rewarding experience to help someone learn more about their family history. I really enjoyed working on this project and currently have openings to take on new family history research, genetic genealogy and adoption clients in 2019.

Vising Florida for Christmas


In December my husband and I stayed in New Smyrna, Beach Florida for a few weeks before heading to Davenport, Florida to spend Christmas with my father. Families are often spread far and wide in our modern world - so it was really nice to spend time with family members we don't get to see very often.

MB Boutiques: FL | New Smyrna Beach &emdash; New Smyrna Beach | Sunrise
New Smyrna Beach, Florida
Photo Credit: Bob Davis, MB Boutiques
It was a lovely vacation – the ocean is one of my favorite places to visit. If you would like to view the other amazing photographs my husband took in New Smyrna Beach you can visit the MB Boutiques New Smyrna Beach photo gallery.

While in Florida, we also had the opportunity to visit with my Great Aunt Dorothy Elizabeth McDonald Davies and Great Uncle William Loraine McDonald - the siblings of my paternal grandmother Mary Eugenia McDonald. We had a wonderful visit and took several photographs to highlight the occasion!

MB Boutiques: The McDonald Collection &emdash; 2018 - William Loraine McDonald & Dorothy Elizabeth McDonald Davies
McDonald Siblings William Loraine McDonald & Dorothy Elizabeth McDonald Davies
Photo Credit: Bob Davis, MB Boutiques
MB Boutiques: The McDonald Collection &emdash; 2018 - William Loraine McDonald, Dorothy Elizabeth McDonald Davies & David Anthony Murosky
McDonald Siblings William Loraine McDonald & Dorothy Elizabeth McDonald Davies 
photographed with their nephew David Anthony Murosky
Photo Credit: Bob Davis, MB Boutiques
MB Boutiques: The McDonald Collection &emdash; 2018 - William Loraine McDonald, Dorothy Elizabeth McDonald Davies & Michelle Marie Murosky
McDonald Siblings William Loraine McDonald & Dorothy Elizabeth McDonald Davies 
photographed with their great niece Michelle Marie Murosky
Photo Credit: Bob Davis, MB Boutiques
MB Boutiques: The McDonald Collection &emdash; 2018 - Dorothy Elizabeth McDonald Davies, Michelle Marie Murosky & Kerri Davies
Dorothy Elizabeth McDonald Davies photographed with her great niece Michelle Marie Murosky 
and her daughter Kerri Davies 
Photo Credit: Bob Davis, MB Boutiques
MB Boutiques: The McDonald Collection &emdash; 2018 - Dorothy Elizabeth McDonald Davies & Kerri Davies
Dorothy Elizabeth McDonald Davies photographed with her daughter Kerri Davies 
Photo Credit: Bob Davis, MB Boutiques


Research highlights from 2018: 


There were twenty five articles posted at the research site last year. Many of these articles were wedding announcements located for members of the Selker family. There were also old family photographs shared and other research articles.

Guth Research Update: Anton Guth & Theresia Rösch Family 


The third post in the Guth Research Update Series was shared last year. The series is focused on the ancestors of two German born brothers – Francis Xavier and Leopold Guth who settled in Clarion County, Pennsylvania in the mid 1800's. Over a two year period the family was extensively researched with the assistance of Ute Brandenburg the owner of German Script Experts. I am thrilled to finally share the validation of the original research completed by Jr. Janet Staab many years ago. The Guth Research Update Series will also feature previously unknown Guth family members.


Wedding Announcement: Joseph William Selker & Frances Philomena Guth 


The wedding announcement for the couple was published in The Clarion Democrat on Thursday, November 6, 1890 - Page 5:

MB Boutiques: The Selker Collection &emdash; The_Clarion_Democrat_Thu__Nov_6__1890 Selker-Guth Wedding
The Clarion Democrat
Thursday, November 6, 1890 - Page
 5

Wedding Photos: Frederick William Selker & Eleanor E. Herman 


A cousin graciously shared a photograph from the wedding of Frederick William Selker & Eleanor E. Herman. This photograph helped to identify a previously an unknown wedding snapshot that was also from the wedding of Frederick William Selker & Eleanor E. Herman.

MB Boutiques: The Selker Collection &emdash; 1933 - Wedding of Frederick William Selker & Eleanor E. Herman
1933 - Wedding of  Frederick William Selker & Eleanor E. Herman
Left to Right: Ambrose John Selker (Best Man, Brother of the Groom), Naomi Herman (Maid of Honor, Sister of the Bride), Frederick William Selker (Groom) and Eleanor E. Herman (Bride).

1945 - McDonald Family Gathering


The photographs from a McDonald family gathering in 1945 are some of my favorites. The photographs feature three generations of the McDonald family.

MB Boutiques: The McDonald Collection &emdash; 1945 - McDonald Family Gathering
1945 - The McDonald Family
(Left to Right): Kathryn Joan McDonald, Mary Eugenia McDonald holding her son James Arthur Murosky, Barbara Jean Murosky, Charles Eugene McDonald, Eleanor Lucille McDonald holding Mary Helen Murosky.

Wedding Snapshots: Arthur Murosky & Mary Eugenia McDonald


My grandparents Arthur Murosky and Mary Eugenia McDonald were married on August 9, 1941. In addition to the formal portraits taken to commemorate the event - family members took snapshots the day of the wedding. The grouping of snapshots includes individuals from both sides of the family.

MB Boutiques: The Arthur & Mary Eugenia Collection &emdash; Arthur Murosky & Mary Eugenia McDonald Wedding
Flower Girls Marian Elaine Murosky and Dorothy Elizabeth McDonald

Wedding Portrait: Mary Selker & Bernard Martin Browsky


The formal wedding portrait of Mary Selker & Bernard Martin Browsky was an unknown portrait for several years. The portrait was from the Frances Philomena Selker Collection and the original is 8x10 – so I suspected this portrait was most likely a family member of Frances Philomena Selker.

The Matron of Honor, Anna Gertrude Selker, was the first individual identified. Last summer the Best Man, Frederick William Selker, was also identified. Last fall the wedding announcement for Mary Selker & Bernard Martin Browsky was located. From the wedding announcement: The bride was attended by her sister, Mrs. Ann Shannon of Brookville, and her brother, Frederick Selker, of Clarion, was Mr. Browsky's best man.
MB Boutiques: The Selker Collection &emdash; 1932 - Wedding of Mary Selker & Bernard Martin Browsky
1932 - Wedding of Mary Selker & ernard Martin Browsky
Left to Right: Bernard Martin Browsky (Groom), Frederick William Selker (Best Man), Rev. A.A. Fisher, Anna Gertrude Selker (Matron of Honor). The Bride, Mary Selker, is seated.

Locating the wedding announcement solved the mystery of who the bride and groom were in the mystery wedding portrait and offered context to why Frances Philomena Selker had a copy of the portrait  – Mary Selker is her sister.

Unknown Photo Gallery - Additional Photographs Added 


The unknown Photo Gallery was updated with additional images. Each image has a caption that can be viewed in the individual page view. The caption will include any known details about the image. There are navigation arrows to the far left and right in the individual page view. When viewed from a computer - each image has a unique website address. That website address can be used to share a direct link to the image.

A sampling of photographs from the Unknown Collection:

MB Boutiques: The Unknowns &emdash; Unknown Child
Unknown Child
Cabinet Card

MB Boutiques: The Unknowns &emdash; Unknown - Clarion, PA
Unknown Girls
Photo may have been taken in Clarion, Clarion County, Pennsylvania
MB Boutiques: The Unknowns &emdash; Unknown
Unknown Girls Formal Portrait 
Weber Studios - Erie, PA
MB Boutiques: The Unknowns &emdash; Back: This picture was taken in Meyersdale
Unknown Couple
Label on Back: "This picture was taken in Meyersdale"
MB Boutiques: The Unknowns &emdash; Unknown
Unknown Girl

The family history research site has surpassed 125,000 page views! Thank you so much for Reading!

-Michelle