How to Organize and Display Your Family's Genealogy Photographs
If you have a box of old family photos calling out to be organized and displayed, it's time to get busy. Learn about your family as you organize your old photographs.
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Things You'll Need
- Archival photo albums
- Archival adhesive
- Archival clear plastic protectors
- Index cards
- Large surface to work on
- Scissors
Instructions
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Make index cards to use as markers for each generation. The first index card should read "Generation 1" in the center, with "Mom" and "Dad" in the upper corners. This represents your first generation of photos that will be included in the albums. If you are starting with yourself, this would be you. If you are starting with your parents or grandparents, they would be Generation 1.
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Arrange the cards in a family tree pattern, with each generation above the next.
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Begin sorting the photos. Place each photo of known relatives next to its designated index card. If you have photos of people you can't identify, make a pile for those as well.
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Identify the unknown people. Start by asking family members if they can identify the photo. If they cannot, you will have to use some detective techniques.
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Search genealogy databases for your family tree to compare what other people have gathered. You can also post the photos to on a website used for this problem; others can look at the photos and see whether they can identify the people.
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Look at the photos themselves for clues. Many photographers included not only have the studio name, but also the city where the photo was taken. If your family is spread out geographically, this can help to narrow down who the person is. As a last resort, you can also go by family resemblance to narrow it down which branch of the family people might be identified with.
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Now that you have the photos grouped by generation, decide how you want to display them. Depending on the number of photos, you can display the photos all in one album, you can group them family lines ones -- for the mother's side and one for the father's side -- or you can group them by generation.
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Put your photos in albums. Use an archival album, paper and sheet protectors to keep the photos safe. Sort the photos from youngest to oldest so the photos are in chronological order of the person's life. Try grouping pictures of siblings together on one page. Label who each person is and write down any additional information that you have on that person. The more information, the better.
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Include newspaper clippings, death or birth certificates, personal letters, and cards in the albums. The more information that is put together, the more helpful it will be to future generations.
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Store your information electronically. Many software programs are available for genealogical research. Scan your photos and make a family website so everyone in your family can access the information.
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Tips & Warnings
Newspaper will disintegrate even in an archival environment because of the inks used. Make photo copies of the originals and put those in the album so you will always have what was written.
For older photos, handle them as little as possible. Oils on your fingers will accelerate the deterioration. Wear cotton gloves to protect them.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Hemera Technologies/PhotoObjects.net/Getty Images
