How to ID Strange Faces in Six Kinds of Old Group Photos
Whether an old family photo has two or 20 people (or more), it's considered a group portrait. When you find one in your collection, it may generate a groan rather than a cheer. Solving those types of picture mysteries is a challenge and a some might say a curse. You...
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Searching for Family Photos with Google
I have an ancestor, James Wilson, who drives me crazy. I bet you have a few of those too! It took decades to piece together what I know about him. Despite all this research, I still can't find a photograph of him or anyone in his wife's family. It's doubtful...
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World War I Uniforms for Little Boys
A few months ago I featured a picture of a little boy in a German style military uniform and discussed how boys could dress like the servicemen in their family. Paul Daraghy sent in three photos of his father wearing a miniature World War I uniform complete with belt and...
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A Memorial Day Tribute
Today we equate Memorial Day with the start of summer, but it's important to recognize it as a somber occasion as well. A few years ago I wrote about the roots of the holiday in Decoration Day 1868.This stereograph from the Library of Congress shows the first Decoration...
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Civil War Photo Clues Revisited
Last week's mystery photo featured a mother and daughter. Winston Cochrane owns the image and wanted to know if it depicts the daughter's wedding. I tentatively dated the image to circa 1868 until more details became available. The back of a card photo can reveal other facts. The presence of...
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Clues in a Civil War Era Photo
Winston Cochrane sent in this adorable photo of a mother and daughter. Mary Meaux and her daughter Nannie M. Cochrane posed for this image, which shows the close connection between the two. Winston would like to know if the daughter is wearing a wedding dress. She married in Louiseville, Ky...
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Photo Album Mystery: Whose Granddad is It?
Photo albums are always interesting to look at. You can find almost anything tucked into a album: I've seen locks of hair, swatches of fabric, colorful scraps of paper, postcards, family photos, and images of friends and famous folk. Most times it isn't clear as to who's who...
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Old Family Photos on Postcards
Frieda Tata submitted this lovely photo of two women and a girl for some advice. She knows the young woman on the right is her grandmother Mae Davis (born 1888 in Brownwood, Mo.). This is a photo postcard. One of the most common questions about...
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The Marsteller Old-Photo Mystery
Last week I outlined the mystery of the Ralph Marsteller photo. This week I'm back with more details. Let's start with some basics. What are they wearing?Clothing clues can be very helpful, BUT it's important to remember that there were lots of different styles every season and...
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Foreign Photos in the Family Album
This week I'm at the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies Conference. It's a huge event with folks attending from all over the globe. I love the international atmosphere and especially like looking at photographs taken around the world. Photos taken in foreign lands can be particularly challenging. Instead of...
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