What Is My Ancestor’s Maiden Name? 5 Tips for Finding Out
Finding the maiden names of your female ancestors can be a real challenge. We've assembled five tips to help you track them down.
Read More
Using Women’s Collars to Date Old Family Photos
The last two images blog reader Kimble DaCosta sent me are from the same period, but show off two different collar styles: one from the mid- to late 1870s and the other from the late 1870s to early 1880s. Both photos are tintypes. You can read the first two installments...
Read More
Big Hats in Family Photos
Ronnie O'Rourke's great aunt Mary (Mamie) Smith (b. 1892) wears an enormous hat in this family portrait. Her grandson identified her in the image, but now the family wants to know who's standing with her. Her hat and dress are quite stylish for this outdoor event. The presence of the...
Read More
Genealogy Q&A: Researching WWII Women’s Army Corps Members Premium
Our genealogy expert discusses how to trace members of the WWII Women's Army Corps.
Read More
Clothing Clues for Women in Old Photos: Bloomers
In 1849, a group that advocated reform dress for women advised them to wear "Turkish dress." That meant a billowy pant that ended below the knee, worn beneath a shorter dress. This illustration is from sheet music composed by William Dressler in 1851. He called his piece "The Bloomer...
Read More
Solving Old Photo Mysteries: Clues in Curls
Eunice Amelia Paulk (1842-1913)Jana Last knows a lot about her ancestor Eunice. She was born in Ohio, lived in Washington, Iowa, and eventually moved to California. At 19, she was a teacher in common school, a job she likely held until she married in 1876. You can read...
Read MoreSign up for the Family Tree Newsletter
Plus, you'll receive our 10 Essential Genealogy Research Forms PDF as a special thank you!
Get Your Free Genealogy Forms
"*" indicates required fields
Tracing Women Ancestors in World War I Premium
Discover the experiences of your female ancestors who nursed soldiers and served on the home front during World War I.
Read More
Women at Work: Switchboard Operators
Somewhere in these two pictures is Carilyn Bernd's maternal grandmother, Delma Ragan. Delma was born in 1902. She married Leo Ragan in 1922 and gave birth to twins in 1924. Just three years later, she died at age 25. At some point, Delma was a telephone switchboard operator...
Read More
Hats and Hair
Last week the focus was work hats for men. This week it's all about the ladies. When I go photo shopping, I love to find more than one image of the same person. I have two images of this woman—one in a hat and one without her hat...
Read More
Wacky 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...
Read More