Weekly Planner: Re-Examine Old Family Photographs

Often when we look at old family photographs, we develop a kind of tunnel vision. We look at the faces and tend to ignore everything else. Take another look. This time grab a magnifying glass and look closely at the background, searching for clues. Check out family heirlooms, things hanging on walls, clothing, house numbers, cars, or whatever else you see in the picture. Write down what you see. You may find clues that can help put a date on undated photographs. Plus, the background details can add interest to your family history.

5 thoughts on “Weekly Planner: Re-Examine Old Family Photographs

  1. I have learned alot from using your tips on finding out the extras in a photo. My husband’s family is a totally involved family of MARFAN’s desese. My own husband and son died very early in life because of it. The Dr’s were interested in how far back we could trace the condition. By carefully examining the pictures of the ancestors for long fingers, etremely deep set eyes, unusually long legs and arms I was able to connect
    maternal and paternal families who intermarried in 1800’s in Kentucky, who might have also had Marfan’s. Not only have we learn why we might have is this medical condition. We have been able to have other branches of our lines tested early. Thanks for all the lessons you have taught, you may have have helped save a life. All my thanks. Julie Judd Clark

  2. How very true – focus on the details. I’ve been endeavoring to get the stacks of paper in my home sorted – so just yesterday was looking at a photo of my great-grandfather – it was probably from about 1890. I had seen that picture a number of times – never noticed that this young boy was posing with a sword.
    Also, I recently took another careful look at a photo of my grandmother from about 1920. I noticed that she had watch she was wearing around her neck – as a pendant. I took a closer look – and I think I have that watch! Just a few days before – I was wondering who the watch had originally belonged to – because it looked way too feminine to be a man’s pocket watch. I guess I found my answer.

    Carol Clarke

  3. If you go the the copier store and get some of these pictures enlarged, you will see things that were right before you eyes but you were not really seeing. I had this happen with the interior of a store in a small town. I would look from the enlargement to the original and there that item would be right before my eyes. Saturday, I took 5 real photo postcards from my own collection to be enlarged. One grandfather is suppose to be in a photo of a quarry but which man. I have not identified him for sure but I know which ones he isn’t. In another my other grandfather stands outside the train station where he was the agent. Also in the picture are one of my uncles as a boy or maybe my Dad and some other person. I have to look at other photos now to see who the boy is.

    To Carol Clark, take your picture and have it enlarged. I think that you will know for sure about your watch.

    The other 3 picture are group pictures with my Dad. Now I have a larger image. Also, each of my daughters gets an enlargement.

  4. As I scan family pictures and put them into my photo application, I enjoy enlarging them and perusing the back ground, cars, homes and the clothes, jewelry etc. Recently, I have been enlarging some of the small 2X3 photos of my parents families and showing them to cousins. It is much easier to see an 8X10 and things “jump out” quicker.

  5. I was looking, with my mother, at a photo of her as a toddler in the 1920s. She pointed out a car in the background that I hadn’t even noticed. It was their family car, and she remembered the make and model, details about the innovative windows, and how it felt to ride in it. If you look at photos with older family members, get them to comment on the details – they can be rich.

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