Exploring the History Behind Post-Mortem Photography

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In this episode, Robbie Gorr shares the eerie but beautiful history and art behind Victorian post-mortem photography. Plus, learn how to keep those original photo prints safe with Photo Detective Maureen Taylor.

Tree Talk (02:06)

Family Tree Magazine New Media editor Rachel Christian covers the latest genealogy news. May is National Photography Month, and Rachel provides some resources that can help you both preserve old photographs and take new ones.

Resources Mentioned in This Interview:

RootsTech Video Library – Everyday Photography and Visual Storytelling with Tracey Clark

RootsTech Video Library – Photos Capture the Story with Jens Nielsen

Library and Archives Canada – Preparing the 1931 Census

A Free, Downloadable Shot List for Genealogy

Your camera can be an indispensable genealogy tool! Download this free, handy shot list to keep track of your genealogy photo projects. This list covers essential shots for five key family history categories: gravestones, ancestral homes, family heirlooms, records and family portraits.

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Feature: Post-Mortem Photos (05:11)

May is National Photography Month, so in this episode we’re looking at family photos from many different angles.

Robbie Gorr is the author of a new online article at Family Tree Magazine.com called In Death, Immortal: The Victorian Tradition of Post-Mortem Photography. He shares the history of these unusual post-mortem photos and tips for how to find them.

Read “Understanding the Victorian Tradition of Post-Mortem Photography” by Robbie Gorr, linked below.

Resources Mentioned in This Interview:

Understanding the Victorian Tradition of Post-Mortem Photography

While a bit creepy by today’s standards, post-mortem photography has a rich history. Here is a detailed review of that history, as well as tips for finding such photos.

Family History Home: Preserving Prints (15:52)

Maureen Taylor, AKA Photo Detective, returns to the show to explain the best way to save and preserve original photo prints.

Sponsor Interview: Mylio.com (24:14)

Mylio.com and founder and CEO, David Vaskevitch explains how to use Mylio to organize and share photos. Subscribe today to receive free gifts valued at $80.

Resources Mentioned in This Interview:

Mylio

Editor’s Desk (28:41)

Family Tree Magazine’s eLearning Producer, Amanda Epperson, highlights Photo Editing for Family Historian, a one-week Family Tree University course starting on June 12, 2023, taught by Lisa Alzo.

Resources Mentioned in This Interview:

Family Tree University Course Registration

Listen to Lisa Louise Cooke’s Genealogy Gems podcast available at her website, and all major podcasting services, or download the Genealogy Gems Podcast app.