1939-1948: LaRue Personal Reel 1 - [Mervin Jr. & LaVere's Wedding / Michèle's 1st Baby Movies / Merv Sr. & Jo]

The home movies on this reel were shot by Mervin LaRue Sr. and include significant milestones that occurred in the 1940s for his son Mervin Jr. (who can also be spotted holding a camera). On May 20, 1945, Mervin LaRue Jr. married I. LaVere Wellington. Their wedding took place at St. James United, a Presbyterian church in Chicago. Mervin Jr. and LaVere delivered their first children—twin girls, Michèle and Jan—on April 3, 1948, though only Michèle survived (Jan died on April 5). The film captures new mother and father, LaVere and Mervin Jr. and grandma Johanna (Jo) Wartman LaRue holding baby Michèle and playing with her in their Chicago apartment. Also included on this reel are a variety of domestic scenes from the period compiled by Mervin Sr., roughly ranging from the dates 1939-1948, including Mervin Jr. playing a game of chess and handling a camera, family members posing for the camera at home, Mervin Sr. and Jo playing softball and picnicking (with unidentified acquaintances), and concluding with travel footage of Mervin Sr. and Jo on a trip to Omaha, Nebraska.