Do you have family photos you can’t identify?
Or you know who the people are in the photo but not the time period? I received copies of photos from a family member but most of them were not labeled so I didn’t know who they were but by looking for clues I was able to narrow it down. Your old family photos tell a story if you look closely at these clues:
What type of photo is it? Daguerreotype, Tintype, cabinet card? Even more contemporary photos had their characteristics. Do you have photos from the 1970’s that are fading? I do. The inks and dyes of that time period were not very stable and exposure to light, humidity and acidic material contributed to their fading. Lisa Lisson’s blog post reveals 5 historical photo types and the years they were created. https://lisalisson.com/5-types-of-old-photographs/
What is the style of clothing?
There are many websites that will help you to identify the clothing style. Colonial, Victorian, Romantic, World War I and II to name just a few. Clothing can reveal the social status or an important event. If you have a photo of a group of people, focus on the young women and their clothing. Young women are most likey dressed in the current fashion of the time.
This website has been particularly useful in my identification of family photos.
https://fashionhistory.fitnyc.edu/
What does the background of the photo tell you? Was the photo taken indoors, outdoors near a specific building or landmark, in a studio with a backdrop or with a chair? The background can tell you a lot about a photo. Pay close attention to the background. Use a magnifying glass to pick out small details.
Look at the following:
Architecture: The style of buildings can indicate the era and architectural trends of the time.
Objects and Artifacts: Objects including advertising signs, household items, and jewelry type and style can offer clues.
Activities: What people are doing in the background, are they working, playing tennis? On a lake? These can all be clues
Historical Events: The background may reveal insights into the time the photo was taken. Such as parades, an outdoor market, or large market with stalls, wartime activities, or a ball.
Advancements: The presence of technology, especially kitchens can reveal a time period, automobiles or communication devices, these are all clues to help you identify a photo.
Google photo identification helped me to realize that two of the photos I have were famous people. One was a cabinet card of Benjamin Harrison who was President of the US from 1889-1893. Open your browser to google search, click on the square next to the microphone on the right, and drag and drop your photo into the search bar.
Another resource is located online at the library of Congress has a great resource on its website:
Using Local and Family History Photographs to Tell the Stories of Your Ancestors
https://guides.loc.gov/local-history-and-family-photos/photographic-evidence
Photos tell a fascinating story of our family’s history, and the roles they played during their life. The clues they offer may tell you more than you ever imagined about who they were and how they lived.
Do you have a family photo you’d like to identify? Let me know if any of these tips help.
Photos:
Catherine Seitz Hoover – 1865 just one month after the death of Abraham Lincoln as the May Ball Goddess of Liberty
Colia Beach Seitz – Receptionist at Veto Plumbing in Washington DC
Seitz family member WWI