One Photograph=Mystery Solved

Marie Kriss - b. Oct. 26, 1902, Baltimore, MD d. May 2, 1993, Harrison, MS

Google is our genealogy friend. When finding new ancestors, creating various Google searches is a must.

Mainly we find obituaries, engagement and marriage announcements, and other everyday events. But sometimes, we are lucky enough to stumble across someone famous. And of course, we love finding the infamous.

Using Google search "marie kriss"+biloxi I discovered this amazing photograph. It was located on The Library of Congress website. Title being "Marie Kriss, seven years old, shucks oysters and picks shrimp at Biloxi Canning Co., when not tending the baby. Makes 25 cents some days. Biloxi, Mississippi."

The photograph is part of the Lewis Hine Photograph collection. "In 1954 the Library recieved the records of the National Child Labor Committee, including approximately 5,000 photographs and 350 negatives by Lewis Hine."

Marie Kriss was my 1st cousin 2x removed. She was born October 26, 1902 in Baltimore, Maryland. Marie's mother, Mary Jerousek Kriss, was my 2nd great-aunt. 

For many years I was baffled why this particular line relocated to Mississippi. Upon immigrating from Bohemia, most Jerousek ancestors remained in Baltimore.

First record located for the family is the 1900 United States Federal Census. They are residing in Baltimore, Maryland. By the 1910 United States Federal Census, we locate them in Biloxi Ward, Harrison, Mississippi.

Clues from this photograph help with possible reason for Biloxi relocation. In the title we see Marie "shucks oysters and picks shrimp at Biloxi Canning Co". 

Back to Google we go. Search "baltimore"+"seafood"+bilox" brought me to the website Mississippi History Now. There we find a feature story called "The Seafood Industry in Biloxi: It's Early History, 1848-1930". 

The article talks about local Biloxi businessman, M. Dukate. "Once the canning factory opened, Dukate traveled to Baltimore, Maryland, to study oyster and shrimp canning methods used in that already booming seafood processing area".  

In the article, we learn the critical piece to solve the mystery. "The first workers in the factories were the migrant Bohemians from Baltimore whom Dukate had seen in that city". 

In 1900 United States Census, we see Joseph's occupation as "Captain" in the "Schooner" industry. Did he believe his skills would be in demand once relocated to Biloxi? Did he think he was moving the family to a better life? 

I would like to think their lives improved, But, the Mississippi History Now article paints a difficult existence for these workers. Following quote tells more of the story.

"Rows of shotgun clapboard houses, collectively refereed to as camps, had been built by the factories' owners to lodge the seasonal workers. Locals christened the seafood camps the "Hotel d'Bohemia."

Viewing the photograph of Marie, gives an idea of the family's life in Biloxi. Residing in one of the "camps". Marie is working inside and outside the home at seven years old. So hard to think about these young children in such dangerous conditions.

Interesting fact about Lewis Hine, the photographer of the picture. I found his story on History.com in an article called "These Appalling Images Exposed Child Labor in America". We learn Hine left his job as a New York City school teacher to expose the "exploitative nature" of young children. His efforts did not immediately change law, but his photographs drew public attention. 

And one of these important law changing photographs ... Marie Kriss. My ancestor.