Old Family Photos: Fraternal Organizations
Blanch Flanigan owns not one but two images of family in dress that identifies them as members of a fraternal organization. These secret societies were very popular in the 19th century. They offered men brotherhood, work opportunities and a shared mission. Symbolism varied. The three interconnecting rings of the Independent...
Read MorePart 2 of an Italian Photo Mystery
Last week I introduced Eileen Poulin's mysterious photos on tin and showed you one of the two images of her Italian relatives. Poulin's mother left her the pair with a note regarding the identity of the individuals in the photos—but the details are confusing: On the paper with the above...
Read More“Downton Abbey” and Family Photos
I can't resist the pull of a period piece be it a television series or a movie, so it's no surprise that last night I sat down to watch the first episode of Season 3 of PBS' "Downton Abbey." There were a lot of moments relevant to both family...
Read MoreTwelve Months of the Photo Detective
It's time to look back at the year. Every week I write a Photo Detective blog post—that's 52 columns in 12 months. It's a lot of free photographic advice and tips. Here are my month-by-month 2012 favorites.JanuaryLast New Year's I offered advice on sharing images online, tackled a photo...
Read MoreGenealogy Fashions: Is Your Ancestor’s Hat Back in Style?
Fashion is looking back not merely to the 1970s, but all the way to the 1920s and even 1880s, at least as far as hats are concerned. Last Sunday's New York Times fashion supplement featured advertisements showing old-fashioned-looking hats by designers Louis Vuitton and Donna Karan. Even the Bloomingdale's ad...
Read MorePhoto Contest Submissions
A big thank you to everyone that submitted photos to our contest. The deadline has now passed and I'm gradually working my way through all the images to pick the winning image. The winner will receive a copy of my book, The Family Photo Detective, and the image...
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Graduation Caps
It's the last week for hats. It's also your last chance this month to save 10% on Fashionable Folks: Bonnets and Hats 1840-1900. Use HAT10 as the coupon code when ordering from Family Tree Shop. I've blogged about a lady in a fancy hat, a young man in a...
Read MoreHats Off to the Men
First it was work hats, then fancy hats for ladies, but what about everyday hats for men? Go ahead. Take a guess: When do you think this young man posed for this image? My mother has an expression, "what's old is new." It's all about how fashion...
Read MoreHats and Hair
Last week the focus was work hats for men. This week it's all about the ladies. When I go photo shopping, I love to find more than one image of the same person. I have two images of this woman—one in a hat and one without her hat...
Read MoreA Month’s Worth of Hats
It's almost spring! So let's celebrate with a look at different styles of hats. Last fall, I finished my book Fashionable Folks: Bonnets and Hats, 1840-1900 and it's available in the Family Tree Shop store with 10% off this month if you use the coupon code HAT10 when you...
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