For one reason or another, it may be necessary to remove photos from an album. I get that.
But the positioning of photos can contain clues and is information that should be preserved (scanning or digital camera/phone photos are fine). The photo on the upper right I knew contained my grandmother (holding baby) and her in-laws. From other pictures and based on his face, I was certain the boy standing up was my Dad’s older brother. I’m also reasonably certain the child my great-grandfather is holding is his second grandson my Dad’s first cousin.
Based on their ages and the fact that my Grandma is holding the baby, I’m almost 100% certain it’s my Dad she is holding.
And the picture to the left of it, must be my great-grandfather holding my Dad and apparently taken on the same day. If the photos had all been loose in a box, I probably could have figured it out in this case.
But the organization of the photo album helped.
I know that we all have photos that are loose. I realize that–so please don’t fill up comments with “but this doesn’t work when there are not scrapbooks. I know it doesn’t as I have my own boxes of photos.
But when there is a scrapbook and you are contemplating taking it apart…take pictures of the pages first…so you’ve kept whatever information there is in the organization.
This was recently shared on our Facebook page but thought it worth sharing as a Genealogy Tip of the Day.
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