1. Using photographs in family history

2. It is so frustrating that old family photographs often come with no identifying information.
Putting names to faces is a common family history project.
Old photos offer clues. Clothes, hairstyles and backgrounds may lend us ideas by the very type of the photograph may help with dating it.

3. The size and format also offer evidence as formats only lasted for a limited period of time.
So the three key features are:
The mount or packaging
The image itself
The occasion or reason why it was taken
However before we look at these three the key to dating your photograph is first to identify its type:

4. 1830s to 1850s - Metal Daguerreotypes
Appeared as early as the late 1830s and remained popular until the 1850s.

5. Cases: Daguerreotype images were very delicate and easily damaged so they always come in protective cases often made of leather and silk or velvet-lined.
Plates: Highly polished silver plates which depending on the angle they are viewed can appear either positive or negative or even like a mirror.

6. Tarnish: The silver plate would tarnish if exposed to air so most were sealed under glass. Often there is tarnish at the edges of these photographs.
Size: Though produced in a range of sizes most were quite small, usually around 2 x 3 inches.

7. 1853 to 1880s - Glass Ambrotypes or Collodion positives
First appeared around By the 1860s they had largely disappeared from most high-street studios.
They did remain popular with itinerant open-air photographers until the 1880s because portraits could be produced within a few minutes while the sitters waited.

8. Case: Collodion positives are often confused with daguerreotypes because of the similar size and often supplied in a protective case or frame.
Glass negative: They were made by taking a glass negative and backing it with black cloth, paint or varnish to produce a positive image.

9. Image: Unlike daguerreotypes, collodion positives always appear as a positive image whatever angle you view them.
Quality: Collodion positives were much cheaper than daguerreotypes and that is often reflected in the use of cheaper compressed paper or card used for cases rather than silk or leather.

10. 1855 to c1940s - Ferrotypes or Tintypes
Popular in the USA but not as popular in Britain until the 1870s.
Material: created on thin iron sheet coated with black enamel and can be identified by using a magnet.
Image: Images are reversed as in a mirror because they are not produced via a negative. They are very dark grey-black and the image is usually pretty poor.

11. Case: Often found in cheap papier-mâché cases or cardboard mounts, but today found loose.
Size: About 2 x 3 inches.
Rust Spots: Due to their being made of thin iron sheets, ferrotypes often show evidence of rust spots or blisters on the surface where the enamel has started to lift off.

12. Late 1850s to c1910 - Albumen prints and Cartes de visite
Patented in France in 1854 the carte-de-visite was first advertised in Britain in and remained popular well into the 20th century.

13. They can be found in large numbers both loose or in family albums.
Their long life means they can be difficult to date.
Dating can be done by:
looking at the subject’s dress
the photographer’s name and address
the changes in cardboard mount can also help.

14. Size: Usually small paper prints about 3
Size: Usually small paper prints about 3.5 x 2 inches pasted onto standard-sized cardboard mounts. Some were 4 x 2.5 inches. The sizes remain unchanged throughout.
Mount: Relative thickness of the cardboard mount may indicate a rough date. The thinner the earlier.
Shape: This too can aid in dating. Early cartes in the 1860s usually have square corners. In the 1870s rounded corners were introduced.

15. 1866 to c Cabinet cards
In 1866 a new format was introduced and remained popular until WW1.
Size: this was a larger version of the carte de visite with paper prints measuring about 5.5 x 4 inches pasted onto standard sized cardboard mounts of about 6.5 x 4.25 inches.

16. Mount: Usually thicker than most cartes de visite.
Edges: By the 1880s had bevelled edges and often finished in gold or silver.
Colour: The colour of the cardboard mount also helps date the photograph as cream mounts were always popular, but bolder, dark colours such as black, dark brown, green or burgundy began to appear in the 1880s and 1890s.

17. C1900 to 1950s – Postcards
Although picture postcards first appeared in the in the 1890s, it was not until the early 20th century the format was used for commercial portraits.
Postcards very quickly took over from cartes and cabinet cards becoming most popular in the 1950s.

18. Some were taken by amateur photographers who could buy sensitised cards for printing on.
In 1903 Kodak introduced a popular folding camera to take postcard-sized prints.
This made it possible for anyone who could afford it to take their own shots.

19. Size: A standard size of 5. 5 x 3
Size: A standard size of 5.5 x 3.5 inches was established in 1899 but there were variations.
Postmark: If legible this may offer a date but does not guarantee the same date as the photograph was taken.
Reverse: After 1902, postcard backs were divided by a central line, one side for address and the other for a short message.

20. From the late 19th century portable cameras such as the Brownie were popular for low-cost photography.
On photographs you can find clues to status, occupation and location in helping put names to faces.
Studio portraits often have the photographer’s details on the reverse or under the picture. Fashion and uniforms hold vital hints.