Chosen Families #1: Wedding Parties From Mount. Carmel,PA

“You know, the thing about family is that you can choose it. And I choose you.”

― Writer Brynne Rebele-Henry

Genealogy has always played a huge focal point in my life. As the focus of my future career path, and even my tattoo, it plays such a vital role in my sense of identity in knowing who I’ve come from. Some of my most prized possessions today account for the centuries old photograph collection I’ve acquired from various family members. These people are known, and in context, correlate to a member of my family.

However, often met with unfortunate circumstances, or even mutual disinterest, old photographs often get separated from those who once knew them. These photos can travel further from their place of origin, and become altogether removed from their identities. Along many trips to consignment stores, I witness this frustrating situation as genealogist over and over again: old photographs in loose piles amongst seas of other faces. I’ve even seen members of the same family sold separately from one another.  Sigh.

My goal of the Chosen Families blog project is twofold; using the power of genealogy to understand their origins, tell their stories, and hopefully return them to their loved ones. Secondly, is to welcome them into a family they can call home once more–as part of my chosen family. 

The first photographs I’ve chosen in this series are a pair of wedding photographs. Sadly, no identifiable information was included with these. However, they are from the same photographer in Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania: S. A. Miller Studio. Understanding the history of the area as well as whatever existing information is available for the photographer will help tell their stories.

Mount Carmel is located in ​​Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. The township was formally incorporated  in 1862, as was a hotbed for coal mining.Owing to the rich deposits of anthracite coal under and surrounding Mount Carmel, coal mining began in the area during the late 1840s and continues on a smaller scale even to this day. In 1891, nine coal mining operations were located in Mount Carmel (Jones). Many ethnic groups had established in the region. During the 1870s, it was a crucial time for immigration into the United States.Across Pennsylvania, people came from predominately eastern or southern European ethnic origins. According to FamilySearch this includes large concentrations of those specifically of  “Slavs, Poles, Italians, Jews, Russians, and Greeks.” Interestingly, it was also amongst one of the earliest towns in the United States to establish an electrical light system. Thomas Edison is said to have placed one of his first generator plants in the town in 1883. 

(More Information on Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania historically can be found here: https://www.visitcentralpa.org/data/uploads/contentblock/mountcarmelWT.pdf) 

Information on S. A. Miller is somewhat limited for the time being, as there is no formal written timeline account on him or his work. S A. Miller was a photographer in Mount Carmel during the early 1900s. His studio was located at one time at 36 E. Third St.  Research online yielded a dated photograph from 1901 of a wedding photograph similar to the cabinet card I have. Others from that same time period and style are also present on the page of the Mount Carmel Historical Society.  In an article from Aug 11 1903, S. A Miller was described as having “excellent work” with “no cause to wonder at the recognition which has been so generously accorded to him.” A new roof was placed on his studio as of September 1903. The final article I found states a firm called Downey and Jones had purchased his studio as of the 24th of May, 1912.  This puts the time period of the photographs from approximately 1900 to approximately 1912. 

In the first unknown photograph, is a couple in traditional wedding attire. The woman has a dress with multiple pleats along the front, and a flower bouquet, as well as what appears to be other flowers hanging below it in her grasp. Her hair is styled high, with a veil framing her face. The man is a plain suit, flower adored on his chest, with light curly hair and shiny leather shoes.  In the second larger photograph,  it features a large wedding party of 12.These people could be siblings, from either the bride of the grooms side, or just general members of the wedding party.  The bride and groom are seated on a long bench, with the rest of their party surrounding them. The bride is wearing a flowy dress adorned with ribbons. Like her, the wedding party wears matching corsages of delicate flowers. These photographs were so striking to me because they represent the beginning of a journey for the couples, their marriage one of the most important moments in their livelihoods. 

If you or your family member recognizes these individuals, please feel free contact me at my email address jrebelogenealogy@gmail.com.