Joel Anderson

Documentary and fine art photographer

Hard Coal: Family

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Location: Lykens, Pennsylvania

Nationality: United States

Biography: I grew up on a farm in Pennsylvania and later lived in California and New Mexico where I worked as an aerospace engineer. I eventually returned to rural Pennsylvania where I am working on documentary projects involving the changes in rural life... MORE

Shingara Mine Grandfather Bob ...as working a shift underground.

Shingara Mine

Grandfather Bob Sr in the changing room of the family's mine, as his grandson plays with coal from the stove. The child's father was working a shift underground.

Miner Buck and his wife Billie Jo

One of the last dirt race track...ughter after her muddy finish.

One of the last dirt race tracks in anthracite country, Big Al's is owned by a coal miner and continues the tradition of rough, flamboyant racing during off-duty hours both as racers and spectators. Children start learning early, racing in buggies and carts. Here Big Al washes his granddaughter after her muddy finish.

Hailey's Homework, D&a... underground and they go home.

Hailey's Homework, D&F Mine, 2013

Eight-year-old Hailey's dad is a coal miner. She is dropped off by her school bus each afternoon at the dirt road, blackened by coal dust, which leads to the mine. Sitting in her dad's truck, surrounded by suspended cables, loaders, trucks, and piles of coal, she quietly works on her schoolwork until he returns to the surface from underground and they go home.

Jordan and his father Kerry, c...F Mine, Schuylkill Co. PA 2013

Jordan and his father Kerry, co-owners of D&F Mine, Schuylkill Co. PA 2013

Retired Coal Miner, Lykens, Pe... brother died in that accident.

Retired Coal Miner, Lykens, Pennsylvania 2010

90-year-old retired miner who has a small museum of mining memorabilia in his garage, holding a 45-year-old photograph showing himself and others attempting to rescue trapped miners after an underground cave-in. His brother died in that accident.

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Private Story

Hard Coal: Family

Copyright Joel Anderson 2024

Updated Oct 2016

Location Pennsylvania

Topics coal, Documentary, Photography, Portraiture

They've been around mines since babyhood. Almost every man they respect is a miner. There is honor accorded to the men who do it in their world.

Joel Anderson

Jul 15, 2016

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