IDENTIFYING PHOTOGRAPHS

GENEALOGY - PART IX

Pictures Tell A Story . . .

Don't you love it when you find an old picture? Maybe it's one of your grandpa or his grandma or one of the siblings. Any way you look at it, it's a treasure.

Chicago, IL

If we're lucky, an old photo may have names scribbled on the back but if we're not, then the picture itself may offer clues that can help you figure out who, when, and where.

Don't be too quick to use an obvious clue, such as this car, to date a picture. No matter how new the car may appear, it's not a reliable source and neither is clothing. Clothing and transportation will help to establish an era but you'll need more information before determining a date. Actually, the best you may be able to offer on any photo is a span of time from 18xx-19xx unless you have some family history from which to draw a conclusion.

For example, if it's a photo of a family with children, count the kids. Identify how many are male or female. Guesstimate their ages. Then look at your family charts to see who is close to these kids in age (maybe with one or two children not yet born). We had a similar scenario in our family recently. Because the mother was dressed in mourning black, we were able to surmise this family picture was taken in the early 1890s. She was not mourning the death of her husband, he was in the picture. It was her mother. It may seem odd to have a picture taken at such a time but, actually, it was a common practice back then. Most people did not own a camera (hard to believe in this day of "selfies") and many families only gathered for special occasions, therefore, families relied on travelling photographers to take pictures during special occasions. By the turn of the century, photography studios were becoming very popular in big cities and family portraits became a popular gift to send back to the old country to show how well the family in America was doing.

But back to the picture accompanying this post. I wanted to point out the difference in the size of the tires on the picture above. It made me wonder . . . is that how it was built? Look how the back wheels torque outward. Is that to get traction on muddy roads? That musing may have helped ID the photo . . . because it determined the road conditions of the communities in that era. I have to admit, I already knew the picture was taken in Chicago. The backdrop is a familiar landmark. But for now, it was a matter of checking volumes of records at the Chicago Historical Society on the history of city roads. I learned there was a certain period of time when few roads in downtown Chicago were improved for the automobile. Most roads in town and the surrounding area were still dirt. Another monumental transition was from horse to horseless buggy and from the condition of the road in front of the car, it's safe to say this picture was taken during that transition period. So, was the building coincidence? Infamous? Germane to dating this picture?

The background, meaning the building itself, offers many clues. For instance, the large livery door may indicate that it's still a working stable. The "Lincoln" signs on both sides of the door is another massive clue . . . I've seen this building before, in the paper. I believe this building is on Clark Street on Chicago's north side where the St. Valentine's Day massacre (orchestrated by Al Capone) took place.

We may have found the why to taking this picture. Keep in mind that often times, tourists will stop at famous or infamous places for a photo op. I think this may have been the case with this picture. Because I know who was driving the car, I was able to check other records to see if he was living in America or visiting from his homeland. This also helped us close in on a date! In summary, it takes more than one document to understand the history of a picture.

Here are five points to help organize a successful hunt:

1. CHECK THE BACK OF THE PHOTO - Look for notes, names, any information that may be on the back of the photo. Make a copy of it along with the photo and pass it around to the elders in your family. Someone may know something and be able to help you identify the picture.
2. TALK TO FAMILY - They may have a copy of the same picture with a different note on the back. DO NOT WRITE on the photo itself, though. The paper will be very delicate and, I'm sure, you'd like to pass the picture on to future generations with whatever history you may be able to glean.
3. SCAN THE BACKGROUND - Does anything look familiar? Any identifying buildings? Landmarks? Advertising?
4. SCAN THE FOREGROUND - Are people sitting around the dining room table? Do you recognize the china? Teapot? Grandma's pearls? Who has them now?
5. LOOK FOR PERSONAL ITEMS - If it's in a home, look at the artwork. Does something look familiar? Maybe something was painted or sculpted by the person in the photo. Recognize the percolator? A watch or necklace that was a gift for a special occasion?

Yes, it's a wonderful treasure to have a picture of a beloved relative but once you look beyond the face staring back at you, allow yourself to be caught up in the history . . . the mood of the world at the time it was taken . . . the personal circumstances that led to the picture in the first place. This may turn a frozen image into a living piece of family history.

Jo Ann V. Glim is a 40 year veteran of freelance writing and author of the Book "Begotten With Love." To learn more:

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