Photographs can provide researchers with a window to the
past. Looking at family photographs will remind you that your ancestors
were real people. You may also see your likeness in an ancestor's photo.
The first step is to locate and identify photos, noting
as much information as possible about who or what appears in the photo.
For obvious reasons, the process of identifying and taking care of family
photographs is one of the essential elements for family historians.
You should carefully analyze old photos looking for family traits of
each person, clothing styles, jewelry, military service, and other details.
Sometimes the name of the photographer is shown and the city where the
photo was taken; this information may provide valuable clues.
You should organize photographs in good quality, acid-free
photo pages, folders, or boxes. Archival quality materials are available
at bookstores, photo stores, and craft stores. You should remove family
photos from magnetic (self-adhesive) photo pages since they will not
provide long lasting protection and will cause your photos to fade.
Bring your photos to your oldest living relatives who
may be able to identify family photographs. Use a soft pencil or archival
pen and write on the back. You want to identify the people in the photos,
as well as when and where the photos were taken. Faded photos may be
restored at a photo shop if desired, or by creating a digital copy with
a scanner. Adobe Photoshop 5.0 or 5.5 is a good software program for
photo enhancement (brightness, contrast) though a lower-priced alternative
will likely do the trick. Digital images can be easily indexed for future
use, or can be used in conjunction with research organization software,
such as Personal Ancestral File. Scanned photos may also be sent to
relatives as e-mail attachments.
Do you have old black and white tintypes, daguerreotypes,
or faded photos? Two Web sites that are useful in describing and dating
photos are:
You may be able to find portraits of your ancestors,
or photos of places where they lived or worked, in public libraries,
university libraries, or historical societies. Sketches of individuals
and farms are often included in local histories and published biographies.
The Denver Public Library, for example, has approximately 65,000 digital
photos in its Western History/Genealogy Department. These photos may
be searched on the Internet.
Images include Native Americans, early railroads, mining, towns, and
western pioneers. Also, Brigham Young University's Harold B. Lee Library
has a large collection of early Utah photographs in Special Collections
and Manuscripts.
The Utah State Historical Society in Salt Lake City has a statewide
photo collection.
These are only a few specific examples of what is available. Check with
your county and state historical societies for photograph collections
of interest.
Both the National Archives and Records Administration and the Library of
Congress in Washington, DC have thousands of photos
that are national in scope. Private libraries, such as the LDS Church
Historical Department in Salt Lake City and the Western Reserve Historical
Society in Cleveland, Ohio,
have countless photographs and manuscripts.
Collecting and identifying family photos may prove
to be a valuable family history activity. Hidden clues await discovery
in these treasure troves.
Tips for Family Historians
Search for old family photos by contacting as many living
relatives as you can.
When you visit your relatives, ask them to help you identify
names of people in old family photographs, as well as when and where
the pictures were taken.
Preserve your photos in archival quality, acid-free folders
or boxes.
Scan your photos, store them into your computer, and
keep backup copies on ZIP disks. For more ideas, see the book by Larry
Ledden, The Complete Guide to Scanning (Westfield, NY: Family Technologies,
1998).
Cyndi's List, Photographs & Memories
has additional details and Internet links for this subject.
Kip's Tips
