How to Submit Your Mystery Photo to the Photo Detective
Do you have shoeboxes filled with unidentified family photographs? Let photo historian Maureen A. Taylor lend a hand.You can submit a mystery photograph for Taylor to analyze online in the Photo Detective blog or in Family Tree Magazine's print Photo Detective column.See the Photo Detective blog for examples...
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Military Memories
In honor of Memorial Day, I'll mention two items appropriate for the occasion. First, if you enjoyed the books Dating Old Photographs and More Dating Old Photographs (Moorshead Magazines), then you're going to love the new one in the series. Dating Military Photographs will let you compare all your mysterious...
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Fraternal Insignia
Linda Matthews was just one of the people who answered my call for pictures of ancestors in fraternal uniforms. She inherited this wonderful photo of her cousin Carl Lager. Carl was born April 23, 1854, in Sweden, and died Feb. 15, 1935, in Henry County, Ill. According to...
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Fraternal Membership Clue
David Farmer wrote asking about a photo of his paternal grandfather. It's on metal and depicts Charles Birchfield Farmer in his work clothes. Charlie Birchfield Farmer was a farmer. He stands in front of a barn and an old wheel. Tucked into his overalls is a pistol, and slung across...
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Locks and Lace
I couldn't resist posting this photo submitted by Cyndi Fraser. This little boy is Charles E. Lamson, born November 20, 1899 in Minnesota. Sears Roebuck's sold similar blouses for 50 cents. Thank you Cyndi!
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Curly Locks: A Trend Revealed
I asked for it. I posted a request for images of curly-headed tots and now I've got several. Thank you!! They confirm my hypothesis about boys and hair. It appears that in the early 20th century, there was a trend—little boys with long hair and hair bows. They look just...
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Family Portraits: Boy or Girl?
Elva Martin sent me this picture to help settle a family reunion disagreement. See the child in the second row on the far right? The one with a bow in the hair? Do you think this is a boy or a girl?The picture is an example of confusing details...
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New Discovery in Photo History
This story is so good I couldn't wait until next week to blog about it. The April 17 New York Times ran a story, "An Image is a Mystery for Photo Detectives." This is one mystery I wish I was actively working on. Turns out William Fox Talbot probably...
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Belieu Babies
Within moments of posting last week's column on the pictures of Catherine Denison Belieu and her babies, I received an e-mail from Midge Frazel, Denison family historian. Turns out there's nothing simple about those Belieu kids. Did Catherine have 11, 12 or 13 children? It's still being debated. I wrote...
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Family Travels and Family Photos
Every family has significant events documented in photographs. For immigrant families, that usually meant taking a group picture before a loved one left home. The immigrant also often sent pictures home to show he'd arrived in one piece and was happy. In some families, photographs don't actually document the travels...
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