Godfrey Family Picture Puzzle
Gwen Prichard and her cousin Libby Claypool have quite the family photo mystery. The image is a composite of what appears to be several generations worth of Godfreys. Several years ago I saw something similar, but that woman didn't have a clue about the identity of the people in the...
View DetailsA Possible Identity for the Lady
Last week I wrote about Jay Kruizenga's photo of a woman with long hair. He read the column and quickly wrote back to say thank you. It appears that the lovely woman with the long locks has a name!He believe that this picture was taken 1883-85 because the cardstock...
View DetailsMysterious Woman with Wavy Hair
Jay Kruizenga of DutchBlood.com sent in this photo of his family's mystery woman. Her long, flowing hair definitely makes an impression. She has really long full hair that must have created an enormous braid when pinned up. The photo was given to Jay by the daughter of his grandfather's...
View DetailsWacky Hair or Fashionable Foible?
I can't help it. I love the hairstyles and facial hair in photographs so much I'm actually thinking about a second volume of my Fashionable Folks: Hairstyles 1840-1900 book. The curls and whorls of nineteenth century styles definitely provide insights into your ancestor's fashion sense and their personality...
View DetailsWho’s That Girl?
Do you want a chance to win a trip for two to Belgium and a $1000 shopping trip to fashion icon Diane Von Furstenberg's boutique? All you have to do is register on the Red Star Line blog and solve a mystery. Anyone know the identity of this...
View DetailsWhat’s it Worth and What’s the Story?
Photos come in different shapes, sizes and mediums. They also come with stories. Let's take this image of Governor Blacksnake, aka Chainbreaker. I featured him in my book The Last Muster: Images of The Revolutionary War Generation. I'd found the image in the Extra Census Bulletin:...
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Photo Wishes Really Do Come True
There are two success stories this week: an answer for the contest winner and a current connection for a 20th century mystery!First, there is a solution to the picture of the men dressed like Indians that I covered in Contest Winner Mystery and Contest Winner Revisted. A few people...
View DetailsMen’s Neckwear in Old Photos (From My Mailbag)
In this era of digital imaging, it seems like everyone has a scanner. That's not entirely true, which is why the submission guidelines for this column, "How to Submit Your Photo" includes a mailing address. You can send me a letter and a copy of a photograph (NO...
View DetailsContest Winner Revisited
Last week I wrote about Juliann Hansen's photo of men dressed like Native Americans. It's definitely a mystery. No real breakthroughs this week. Genealogy Insider Diane Haddad found another collection of Cincinnati Butcher Supply Company material at the University of California at Davis. A small group of material was donated...
View DetailsPhoto Detective: Photo Genesis Premium
Family Bibles often contain much more than scripture: You might find interior pages inscribed with genealogical information, valuable letters or documents related to family business or, sometimes, a few family photos stored between the pages. The combination of photographs, genealogy and the details of the Bible's ownership can tell a...
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