Photo Detective
Final Words on the Triplets
For the last two weeks I've written about a photo owned by Judy Linnebach. It depicts a couple and their three triplets. In the first installment, Motherhood Times Three, I discussed multiple births in the 19th century. They were a lot more common than I thought! In last...
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Mother Hubbard
Last week I featured Judy Linnebach's picture of a 19th-century couple and their triplets. If you have a photo of a pre-1900 set of triplets, I'd love to post it in this space. Just about everyone who commented mentioned a multiple birth in their family. I can't wait to see...
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Motherhood Times Three
Judy Linnebach sent me this haunting photo of a couple and their three babies. That's right, triplets! I don't have all the answers yet, I'm still working on it. I'll post the second installment next week. This image has obviously been enhanced by the photographer—the man's beard, her hair and...
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A Women’s History Month Salute: Spanish American War Style
Surrounded by recuperating soldiers and orderlies during the Spanish American War is Mary L. Keeler. Learn about the experience of women nurses during this time period.
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The Photo Detective Has Flown the Coop
I'm happy to report I'm in London at the Who Do You Think You Are? Live family history show. I'll be presenting a class on “More Than Scraps and Paste: Scrapbooks and Family History,” and I’ll be back next week with photos and details from this incredible three-day...
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A Success Story: A Graduation Class Identified
Months ago, I wrote a Photo Detective column for the March 2010 issue of Family Tree Magazine called "The Graduates." It was about the chance discovery of a photograph stuck behind the lath in a bathroom wall in Sandi Alex's house in Camas, Washington. This...
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Friends and Neighbors
A couple of weeks ago, I presented several lectures at the San Luis Obispo Genealogical Society conference. I had great time and got to look at some interesting pictures. Roma Miller showed me this snapshot. This was in Roma's box of photos from her step-grandfather's family mixed in...
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The Search for Annie Moore
If you don't know who Annie Moore is, you haven't been following Megan Smolenyak's research on her. For several years, Megan has been intrigued by her. Annie Moore was the first person to step foot on Ellis Island when it opened Jan. 1, 1892—a pretty significant first. There...
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A History of Hair: Using Hairstyles to Understand Our Ancestors
Understanding the history of hair will help you determine dates for photos—and give you more insight into your ancestors' personalities.
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How to Win the Family Photo Lottery
I've lost track of exactly how long I've been writing this column. The first edition of my book Uncovering Your Ancestry Through Family Photographs was published in 2000, and I started this column in February of the following year. That means you've been reading about identifying family photographs...
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