Family Gatherings: Images From Our Collective Past

Last Updated May 23, 2015

The Library of Congress has an expansive collection of historical images available online. Many show the daily lives of our ancestors and reveal exciting glimpses into our collective past. Thanks to efforts by the US government to document America’s people and cultural movements, many of these image descriptions retain names, ages, dates and other details about those recorded–a potential goldmine for a lucky genealogist.

Enjoy this small selection of photographs we’ve dug out from the collections and take a moment to search for yourself. Whether you locate a family member, or uncover an enticing bit of history, you’ll be glad you did.

Please note: All names and descriptions are recorded as they appear on the Library of Congress website.

African American family posed for portrait seated on lawn, 1899 or 1900
African American family posed for portrait seated on lawn, 1899 or 1900
Untitled photo, possibly related to: Friends of the deceased's family at an annual memorial meeting in the family cemetery. In the mountains near Jackson, Breathitt County, Kentucky. 1940
Untitled photo, possibly related to: Friends of the deceased’s family at an annual memorial meeting in the family cemetery. In the mountains near Jackson, Breathitt County, Kentucky. 1940
An African American family at home, 1890
An African American family at home, 1890
Mass[achusetts] Mills. Jo Veal and family. Father and three boys in the mill. Family record shows him born August 20, 1901, and he went to work (4 mos. ago) just over 11 years old. His wages are not necessary. See the family group. Also photos taken in the mill. Location: Lindale, Georgia. 1913
Mass[achusetts] Mills. Jo Veal and family. Father and three boys in the mill. Family record shows him born August 20, 1901, and he went to work (4 mos. ago) just over 11 years old. His wages are not necessary. See the family group. Also photos taken in the mill. Location: Lindale, Georgia. 1913
Johnie William Bumgarden (boy in front and part of his family). His birth record in the family bible says born May 7th, 190[2?] Just past his 10th birthday, is learning to doff. Got a regular job. 35 cents a day. Been at it a few weeks. Cannot write very well. Says he is 12 years old. Father said 5 of the family formerly worked in the mill making $28 a week. They take boarders which bring them $5 a week. A total of $33 a week. (Later the father said the record in the bible was put in wrong.) Rock Hill. S.C. Location: Rock Hill, South Carolina. 1912
Johnie William Bumgarden (boy in front and part of his family). His birth record in the family bible says born May 7th, 190[2?] Just past his 10th birthday, is learning to doff. Got a regular job. 35 cents a day. Been at it a few weeks. Cannot write very well. Says he is 12 years old. Father said 5 of the family formerly worked in the mill making $28 a week. They take boarders which bring them $5 a week. A total of $33 a week. (Later the father said the record in the bible was put in wrong.) Rock Hill. S.C. Location: Rock Hill, South Carolina. 1912
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Family of B. F. Clark, 219 N. 4th Street. This family has worked in 8 different mill villages in the past five years. Clark was a prosperous farmer, before that, but his farm ran down. He says mill families get the habit of moving from place to place. "And mills are writing all the time, giving great inducements and trying to fool you too." Some of the families around here have moved much more than we have. Moving eats up a heap of money." The father and all in group except mother and baby are in the mill. Home bare and ill-kept. Location: Columbus, Mississippi.1911
Family of B. F. Clark, 219 N. 4th Street. This family has worked in 8 different mill villages in the past five years. Clark was a prosperous farmer, before that, but his farm ran down. He says mill families get the habit of moving from place to place. “And mills are writing all the time, giving great inducements and trying to fool you too.” Some of the families around here have moved much more than we have. Moving eats up a heap of money.” The father and all in group except mother and baby are in the mill. Home bare and ill-kept. Location: Columbus, Mississippi.1911
Cordova people and dogs, between ca. 1906 and 1915
Cordova people and dogs, between ca. 1906 and 1915
Albernesi Family, 126 W. Eagle St. Left to right: Frank Albernesi, 5 years old. Libori Albernesi, 15 years old, Joseph Albernesi, 13 years old. Family goes to country in summer to pick fruit. Location: Buffalo, New York (State), 1910
Albernesi Family, 126 W. Eagle St. Left to right: Frank Albernesi, 5 years old. Libori Albernesi, 15 years old, Joseph Albernesi, 13 years old. Family goes to country in summer to pick fruit. Location: Buffalo, New York (State), 1910
Group gathering tobacco on farm of Daniel Barrett, Spottsville, Ky., Star Route. He is a renter. Boys all belong to other families and will go to Bluff City School, Div. 3, Henderson Co., when work is over. School opened 2 weeks ago, and the boys expect to be out several weeks more. 10-year old boy, Edward Goldsberry carries and drops the sticks. 11-year old Aubrey Hazeland is piling the tobacco (in front). 13-year old Dolph Hazeland piling (behind Aubrey), and 14-years old Willie Goldsberry is spiking the tobacco. Location: Henderson County--Spottsville, Kentucky, 1916
Group gathering tobacco on farm of Daniel Barrett, Spottsville, Ky., Star Route. He is a renter. Boys all belong to other families and will go to Bluff City School, Div. 3, Henderson Co., when work is over. School opened 2 weeks ago, and the boys expect to be out several weeks more. 10-year old boy, Edward Goldsberry carries and drops the sticks. 11-year old Aubrey Hazeland is piling the tobacco (in front). 13-year old Dolph Hazeland piling (behind Aubrey), and 14-years old Willie Goldsberry is spiking the tobacco. Location: Henderson County–Spottsville, Kentucky, 1916
The Arnao family of berry pickers in the fields of Truitt's farm. This is an Italian family coming from Phildelphia and now ready to go to Carmel, N.J. to continue picking. The family consists of: 1 child 3 years of age, 1 child 6 years of age, 2 children 7 years of age, 1 child 9 years of age, 1 child 10 years of age, 1 child 11 years of age. All of whom pick. Location: Cannon, Delaware. 1910
The Arnao family of berry pickers in the fields of Truitt’s farm. This is an Italian family coming from Phildelphia and now ready to go to Carmel, N.J. to continue picking. The family consists of: 1 child 3 years of age, 1 child 6 years of age, 2 children 7 years of age, 1 child 9 years of age, 1 child 10 years of age, 1 child 11 years of age. All of whom pick. Location: Cannon, Delaware. 1910
Arnao family, 831 Catherine St., Rear # 2. Whole family works. Jo is 3 years old. Boy is 6 years old, Girl is 9 years old. We found this family, children and all working on Hichens farm, Cannon, Del., May 28th 1910, before school closed. See photos #1582, #1586, and labels. This is the fourth week of school and the mother said they would be here for 15 or 20 days more. Whites Bog, Browns Mills, N.J. Sept. 28, 1910. Witness, E.F. Brown. Location: Browns Mills, New Jersey, 1910
Arnao family, 831 Catherine St., Rear # 2. Whole family works. Jo is 3 years old. Boy is 6 years old, Girl is 9 years old. We found this family, children and all working on Hichens farm, Cannon, Del., May 28th 1910, before school closed. See photos #1582, #1586, and labels. This is the fourth week of school and the mother said they would be here for 15 or 20 days more. Whites Bog, Browns Mills, N.J. Sept. 28, 1910. Witness, E.F. Brown. Location: Browns Mills, New Jersey, 1910
Cass Lake, near Pontiac, Michigan. Evening meal in the Westerberg home. Left to right, Mrs. Karl Westerberg, Eric and his son, Karl; Mrs. Eric Westerberg, and Karl Axel Westerberg. The tradition of the Swedish hospitality is observed in America, and the family meal is always enjoyable in the Westerberg family, 1942
Cass Lake, near Pontiac, Michigan. Evening meal in the Westerberg home. Left to right, Mrs. Karl Westerberg, Eric and his son, Karl; Mrs. Eric Westerberg, and Karl Axel Westerberg. The tradition of the Swedish hospitality is observed in America, and the family meal is always enjoyable in the Westerberg family, 1942
Members of the Strohl family at a family reunion in Flagstaff Park near Mauch Chunk, Pennsylvania, 1940
Members of the Strohl family at a family reunion in Flagstaff Park near Mauch Chunk, Pennsylvania, 1940
Through help and supervision of home and field supervisors, diet and health of many RR (Rural Rehabilitation) families have been greatly improved. The Peacock family (RR four years) had for dinner (noon meal): sausage, cabbage, carrots, rice, tomatoes, cornbread, canned figs, bread pudding and milk. They did not know that picture would be made. Coffee County, Alabama 1911
Through help and supervision of home and field supervisors, diet and health of many RR (Rural Rehabilitation) families have been greatly improved. The Peacock family (RR four years) had for dinner (noon meal): sausage, cabbage, carrots, rice, tomatoes, cornbread, canned figs, bread pudding and milk. They did not know that picture would be made. Coffee County, Alabama 1911
The family of John Kelly who works in the Navy yard in south Boston. Their present tenement in Quincy is completely inadequate. They have been unable to move because every real estate agent has turned him down, claiming there was no reason why they should rent to large families when there is such a great demand for decent houses by hundreds of incoming shipyard workers, 1940
The family of John Kelly who works in the Navy yard in south Boston. Their present tenement in Quincy is completely inadequate. They have been unable to move because every real estate agent has turned him down, claiming there was no reason why they should rent to large families when there is such a great demand for decent houses by hundreds of incoming shipyard workers, 1940
Family group, workman and his family. Corpus Christi, Texas, 1940
Family group, workman and his family. Corpus Christi, Texas, 1940
Part of family of Charles H. Mitchell, sixty-three years old. Mitchell has rented farms in the past but, because of inability to get a farm, worked as hired hand. Sons have been able to find but very little work. Family is on unemployment relief in Estherville, Iowa, 1936
Part of family of Charles H. Mitchell, sixty-three years old. Mitchell has rented farms in the past but, because of inability to get a farm, worked as hired hand. Sons have been able to find but very little work. Family is on unemployment relief in Estherville, Iowa, 1936

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