See ‘A Day in the Life of an Anthracite Miner’ through 1940s art tour in Scranton on Jan. 7
From a press release:
To kick off Anthracite Mining Heritage Month, the Lackawanna Historical Society will host a program by local historian Charles Kumpas entitled “A Day in the Life of an Anthracite Miner: The Remarkable Coalmining Artwork of Remo Trieste Russo” at the society’s headquarters, the Catlin House, in Scranton on Sunday, Jan. 7 at 2 p.m.
Kumpas will provide a “guided tour” of the working life of an anthracite miner using a series of 12 paintings done by artist and Scranton native Remo Russo. In the mid-1940s, Russo worked for six weeks as a dues-paying union mine laborer and made recollection drawings of scenes from the mines each night. In 1948, he completed this series of paintings, taking the viewer from outside the colliery to the working coal face, the bath house, and the eventual rise back to the surface. For his presentation, Kumpas will use each scene to help narrate life inside a coal mine.
Kumpas is a previous member of the board of the Anthracite Heritage Museum in Scranton and former editor of The Miner’s Lamp. Now retired, he spends his time researching mining documents and anthracite artifacts.
This program is part of a month-long celebration of Anthracite Heritage and the kickoff for the 250th anniversary of anthracite, marking the first use of anthracite by blacksmith Obadiah Gore and the beginning of the great Age of Anthracite.
This program is free and open to the public. For more information, contact the Lackawanna Historical Society (232 Monroe Ave., Scranton) at 570-344-3841 or e-mail lackawannahistory@gmail.com.
Founded in 1886 as the Lackawanna Institute of History and Science, the Lackawanna Historical Society provides the community with a record of local history through its museum and library collections, exhibits, and programs. In 1942, from the bequest of George H. Catlin, the society established its permanent home at Catlin’s 1912 residence. In 1965, Lackawanna County designated the Lackawanna Historical Society as the official county historical society, and the society continues to serve the county as a center for local history resources.
Photo of ‘Loaded Cars Up’ by Remo Russo
