A Southern Photo Mystery
The story of a photograph is so much more than its simple details. This is a carte de visite (CDV) image. The mounted size of a CDV is 2.125 x 3.5 inches. The slight oval shadow on this picture signifies it was once in an album...
Read MoreGenealogy Clues in Civil War-Era Photographs Premium
Do you want to learn more about a Civil War-era photograph? Fortunately, the clues are right there, revealed in the subtle details. Here's how to find them!
Read MoreHistorical Fact or Fiction?
Last week I wrote about ways to spot manipulated photos in your family collection. My inspiration was an exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum in New York City. Mathew Brady is the most well-known photographer of the Civil War. His studio documented well-known figures of the period as well as ordinary...
Read MoreJuly/August 2012 Photo Detective: Military Mystery Premium
What can you learn from a WWII veteran's Army photos taken in the South Pacific?
Read MorePhoto Mystery: Mother or Baby?
Marla Hathhorn sent in this picture with a simple question. On the back someone wrote, "Ann Hicks." But is Ann Hicks the baby or the mother?
Read MoreCivil War Roll Call, Part 2
I hope you enjoyed last week's gallery of Civil War soldiers. I have several more to share with you this week. Merle Ladd's ancestor Lemuel Ladd (below) lost his life at Blackburn's Ford, near Manassas, Va. on July 18, 1861. He served with the 12th New York.Roxanne...
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Drum Roll for the Civil War
I'm deep into research and writing for Family Tree Magazine's forthcoming new book on Life in Civil War America. I'm busy working on the Afterword on Civil War photography. I love having a project I can immerse myself in. Last week The Genealogy Insider...
Read MoreThe Big Picture Premium
Every picture tells a tale—sometimes you just have to tease it out. Here’s how my 10 best photo-identification tips helped solve your photo mysteries.
Read MoreCalling the Shots Premium
Having trouble attaching names to the faces in your family portraits? Fill in the blanks with our step-by-step photo-identification guide and worksheet.
Read MoreWhich Immigrant is It?
I've been asked to determine which wife is in a picture or which child, but this is the first inquiry that referred to an immigrant-ancestor mystery. Jeanette Bias told me that "she knows everything about her family," just not who's in this picture. It's a scan of a cousin's...
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