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.

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!

McDonald Siblings William Loraine McDonald & Dorothy Elizabeth McDonald Davies
Photo Credit: Bob Davis, MB Boutiques

McDonald Siblings William Loraine McDonald & Dorothy Elizabeth McDonald Davies 
photographed with their nephew David Anthony Murosky
Photo Credit: Bob Davis, MB Boutiques

McDonald Siblings William Loraine McDonald & Dorothy Elizabeth McDonald Davies 
photographed with their great niece Michelle Marie Murosky
Photo Credit: Bob Davis, MB Boutiques

Dorothy Elizabeth McDonald Davies photographed with her great niece Michelle Marie Murosky 
and her daughter Kerri Davies 
Photo Credit: Bob Davis, MB Boutiques

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:

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.

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.

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.

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.

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:

Unknown Child
Cabinet Card

Unknown Girls
Photo may have been taken in Clarion, Clarion County, Pennsylvania

Unknown Girls Formal Portrait 
Weber Studios - Erie, PA

Unknown Couple
Label on Back: "This picture was taken in Meyersdale"

Unknown Girl

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

-Michelle

Unknown Photo Gallery - Additional Photographs Added

Additional photographs were recently added to the Uknown Collection Photo Gallery. The Unknown Collection includes unlabeled photographs that were included in the various family photo collections. The gallery currently contains 125 old photographs.

Some of the photographs were included in the Helen Tillie Bukowski Collection, The Frances Philomena Selker Collection or the Mary Eugenia McDonald Collection. There were also images from several families mixed together.

Visit the Uknown Collection Photo Gallery to view the photographs.  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:

Unknown Child
Cabinet Card

Unknown Girls
Photo may have been taken in Clarion, Clarion County, Pennsylvania

Unknown Girls Formal Portrait 
Weber Studios - Erie, PA

Unknown Couple
Label on Back: "This picture was taken in Meyersdale"

Unknown Girl

Cabinet Card of Unknown Child

This photograph of an unknown child was included in the Frances Philomena Selker Collection. The original image is approximately 6.75 inches x 5.25 inches mounted on a hard board like paper. The portrait is landscape and is similar to a cabinet card.

Unknown Child
Full Portrait with Borders

The bottom corner of the original is stamped with the studio name and Clarion, Pennsylvania. The studio name may have been Lewis.

Cabinet card type photographs were first introduced in the United States in 1866. Cabinet cards were a frequently used from 1878 - 1879.  As it took trends longer to reach smaller cities and rural areas cabinet cards were used into the early 1900's.

Cabinet card type photographs with dark colors, like the dark green shown above, were popular from 1884 - 1895. Cabinet card type photographs with the photographer's name imprinted on the card stock, similar to above, were popular from 1894 -1900.

The child photographed could possibly be a son of Joseph William Selker and Frances Philomena Guth. The couple lived in Clarion, Clarion County, Pennsylvania and would have been able to afford to have a formal portrait taken of their child. The earliest this photograph would have been taken is 1894 as the photographer's name was imprinted on the card. If the boy pictured is a son of Joseph William Selker and Frances Philomena Guth the boy could possibly be:

• Leopold George Selker, Sr. born 28 September 1891. 
• William C. Selker born 5 November 1892. William died young at age 9 on 18 November 1902.
• Edward C. Selker born 28 March 1894.
• Frederick William Selker born 15 October 1896.

It seems unlikely the photograph was taken in 1894 as the boy in the photograph appears to be older than 3 years old. The boy also does not appear to be older than 7 years old. The photograph could be any of the boys depending on when it was taken:

• If the photograph was taken in 1896 or 1897 the boy pictured would most likely be Leopold George Selker, Sr., photographed at 5 or 6 years old, or William C. Selker, photographed at 4 or 5 years old. 
• If the photograph was taken in 1899 or 1900 the boy pictured would most likely be Edward C. Selker, photographed at 5 or 6 years old. 
• If the photograph was taken in 1901 or 1902 the boy pictured would most likely be Frederick William Selker, photographed at 5 or 6 years old. 

Unknown Child 
possibly a son of Joseph William Selker and Frances Philomena Guth

From the Frances Philomena Selker Collection. Photographer Unknown. Editing and digital restoration by Michelle M. Murosky.

Joseph William Selker and Frances Philomena Guth are my 2nd great-grandparents. Leopold George Selker, Sr., William C. Selker, Edward C. Selker and Frederick William Selker are my 2nd Great Uncles. Frances Philomena Selker is my great-grandmother. Her daughter Mary Eugenia McDonald is my paternal grandmother . 

Sources:

1. Clark, Gary W. 19th Century Card Photos KwikGuide. PhotoTree.com Page 38.
2. Clark, Gary W. 19th Century Card Photos KwikGuide. PhotoTree.com Page 42.
3. Clark, Gary W. 19th Century Card Photos KwikGuide. PhotoTree.com Page 43.

1940's - Lillian, Joe, & 'Boodoo'

The following snapshots of Lillian and Joe with their collie "Boodoo" were mixed in with other family photographs. Several of the photographs have handwritten labels. Ironically two photographs appear to have been taken on leap day - February 29, 1948.

It is currently not known who Lillian and Joe are. The location of the photographs is also unknown. Lillian also appears in photographs from the Murosky side of the family. Visit the post Family Photos: July 1945 Murosky Family Gathering to see other photographs of Lillian.

Unknown Photograph
Lillian and "Boodoo" February 29, 1948

Joe and "Boodoo"'
The back is labeled "Joe and "Broodoo" 8 months old
February 29, 1948 

Joe and "Boodoo"

Unknown Photograph
Lillian and "Boodoo"

These photograph were mixed in with other family photographs. The photographs are most likely from Helen Tillie Bukowski Collection as Lillian is included in other Murosky family photographs.  Photographer Unknown. Editing and digital restoration by Michelle M. Murosky.

Anna Gertrude Selker - Wedding Attendant

November 9, 2018 Post Correction. The formal wedding portrait has been identified. For details on how the portrait was identified see the post Wedding Announcement: Mary Selker & Bernard Martin Browsky. The bride is Mary Selker and the Groom is Bernard Martin Browsky. The officiant is Rev. A.A. Fisher. 

April 28, 2018 Post Correction. The man in the second photograph has been identified. The post was updated to include his name. The man is Frederick William Selker the brother of Anna Anna Gertrude Selker.  Another Selker descendant had a copy of the photograph with the two siblings that was labeled. The Bride and Groom are still unknown.

Mary Selker, a daughter of Joseph William Selker and Frances Philomena Guth, was born August 15, 1902 in Clarion, Clarion County, Pennsylvania. She married Bernard Martin Browsky on October 24, 1932.

Frederick William Selker, a son of Joseph William Selker and Frances Philomena Guth, was born October 15, 1896 in Clarion, Clarion County, Pennsylvania. He married Eleanor E. Herman on June 19, 1933.

Anna Gertrude Selker, the youngest daughter of Joseph William Selker and Frances Philomena Guth, was born August 11, 1907 in Clarion, Clarion County, Pennsylvania. At age 21, she married Francis Thomas Shannon Sr. on August 21, 1928.

Anna is included in a series of unknown wedding photographs as a wedding attendant. The other individuals in the photographs are currently not identified. The back of one of the photographs is stamped "Carl and Don Clarion, Pa". The portrait has been identified as the wedding of Mary Selker and Bernard Martin Browsky.

Wedding of Mary Selker & Bernard 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.

Wedding Snapshot
Selker Siblings: Frederick William Selker and Anna Gertrude Selker
The back of the photograph is stamped "Carl and Don Clarion, PA"

These photographs were included in the Frances Philomena Selker Collection. Frances Philomena Guth appears to have passed the photographs down to her daughter Frances Philomena Selker. Frances' daughter Mary Eugenia McDonald ended up with her mother's photo collections which is time were handed down to me. Photographer Unknown. Editing and digital restoration by Michelle M. Murosky.

Frederick William Selker is my 2nd Great Uncle. Mary Selker and Anna Gertrude Selker are my 2nd Great Aunts. Frederick, Mary and Anna are the siblings of Frances Philomena Selker my great grandmother. My paternal grandmother, Mary Eugenia McDonald, is the daughter of Frances Philomena Selker.

Bill

This group of photographs is part of The Unknown Photograph Collection. The photographs have been shared with the hope that in time some of the individuals will be identified. 

A grouping of unknown photographs that are labeled as "Bill". The handwriting on each photographs is similar. The identity of Bill and the location where the photographs were taken is currently unknown.

The first photograph shows a man chopping wood with a barn in the background

The second photograph shows barn with the same roof line in the background

The third photograph shows a man dressed up adjacent to a large pile of snow. 

The man in the third photograph has similar features to an identified photograph of William Murosky taken later in his life.

Identified Photograph of William Murosky

Photographer Unknown. Editing and digital restoration by Michelle M. Murosky.

1951 - Bridge Construction Photographs

These two photographs of a bridge under construction were included in the photography collections from my family. The were mixed in with photographs from Erie County, Pennsylvania and Clarion County, Pennsylvania.

The men in the photograph and the location of the bridge are currently unknown. The photographs were taken in late May and early June 1951. The only hint at the location is the caption on the back of the one photograph which indicates "Jim & fellows on bridge at Lovells".

The back of the photograph reads: "May 31, 1951”

The back of the photograph reads: "Jim & fellows on bridge at Lovells'. Early June, 1951".

Photographer Unknown. Editing and digital restoration by Michelle M. Murosky.