Old photos are a treasure indeed and, if you have one (or more), you want to be sure you keep your collection in the best possible condition for future generations to enjoy. We’ve gathered our ten best tips of what NOT to do with your old photographs so they survive to be treasured by your family’s next designated historian.
Photo scanning apps do a surprisingly good job of preserving old photos and records on the go. See how these three free options helped us reveal long hidden details in an old family photo.
Do you have a family tree mystery that might be solved by a medical record? I do. My grandfather had an aunt who immigrated from Norway to North Dakota in 1915. She was married in 1917 and our records show that her husband died around 1920. We cannot find records of her after her marriage in 1917, but oral family history says that she may have spent some time in an asylum.
By Alexandra Mendez-Diez Even when we find what we’re looking for in historical archives it can often feel like there is something missing from the results. A big part of why we conduct genealogy research is to get to know those that came before us, and to feel more connected to where we come from. …
Your Ancestors Probably Prepared Meals from These Old American Cookbooks Read More »
By Tony Bandy From official documents and family snapshots to handwritten letters and more – incorporating scanned images and documents into your genealogy research can be rewarding on many levels. However, the process of digitizing them can often be difficult. You may find yourself wondering: what format(s) should I use/not use to store old family …
Digitizing Family Photos and Records: What’s the Best Format to Use? Read More »
PhotoScan uses your phone (or tablet’s) camera and flash to quickly scan a photo or document and then applies various filters to provide the best results — including glare reduction, cropping and perspective correction. Once photos or documents are scanned they can easily be stored in your Google Photos account (or anywhere else that you back up your photos) and can, of course, be saved to your family tree or shared with others.
Have you ever been to a family gathering where someone unexpectedly pulled out an old family photo album or dusty box of records and you found yourself completely unprepared to record the treasures? How about a trip to a library or research center where you found way more great material than you expected, but could do little …
These 3 Smart Devices Let You Record Genealogy Documents, Photos and Stories Anywhere Read More »
One of the most enjoyable things about doing family history research is discovering what your ancestor did to earn a living. But, very often, we find ourselves scratching our heads trying to figure out exactly what an old occupation actually consisted of. Like snobscat… or a mudlark… or an ealdorman. In last week’s list of 25 free …
What’s a Snobscat? You’ll Need a List of Old Occupations to Find the Answer Read More »
Do you have an old family photo you can’t identify? Are you unsure of the time period or place a photo was taken in? Perhaps you want to connect with others who are researching a specific ancestor you have an image of? If so, Google Image Search offers a unique way to explore your family …
Google Image Search for Genealogy: How to Use Your Family Photos to Expand Your Research Read More »
This post was contributed by Crestleaf. If you’re a passionate family history buff like us, everyone from your mother to your Great Aunt Sally knows that they can pawn off boxes of old family photos for you to peruse to your heart’s content. Sifting through vintage photos can be a family historian’s dream, that is, until you find …
19th Century Photo Types: A Breakdown to Help You Date Old Family Pictures Read More »