Samuel Witter vs. Samuel Witter: Separating Same Name Men, War of 1812 by Elizabeth Shown Mills, CG, CGL - replay of today's webinar now online for webinar members

Samuel Witter vs. Samuel Witter: Separating Same Name Men, War of 1812 by Elizabeth Shown Mills, CG, CGL - replay of today's webinar now online for webinar members

The recording of today's members-only webinar by Elizabeth Shown Mills, CG, CGL, FASG, FUGA, FNGS, "Samuel Witter vs. Samuel Witter: Separating Same Name Men, War of 1812” is now available to view at www.FamilyTreeWebinars.com for those with a webinar membership.

Webinar Description

Online research today is immensely rewarding. Major genealogical data sites and software perform automatic searches for us and suggest documents bearing the names of people we are pursuing. However, every document we collect presents an identity issue we have to resolve before we can validly use it to build our family tree. This presentation demonstrates why, using three men named Samuel Witter whose descendants have all claimed for him the same War of 1812 service. As Mills separates the three Samuels, she explores the standards that govern our development of evidence, the Congressional laws that must guide our decisions, and the strategies needed to differentiate between men and correctly assign military service.

View the Recording at FamilyTreeWebinars.com

If you could not make it to the live event or just want to watch it again, the 1 hour 25 minute recording of "Samuel Witter vs. Samuel Witter: Separating Same Name Men, War of 1812” is now available to view in our webinar library when signed in as a webinar member.

Webinar Memberships/Subscriptions

Webinar Members get:

  • On-demand access to the entire webinar archives (now 1,990 classes of genealogy education)
  • On-demand access to the instructor handouts (now 7,587 pages)
  • On-demand access to the live webinars' chat logs
  • 5% off all products at www.FamilyTreeWebinars.com (must be logged in at checkout)
  • Access to all future recordings for the duration of their membership
  • Chance for a members-only door prize during each live webinar
  • Access to register for bonus members-only webinars
  • Ability to view which webinars you are registered for
  • Use of the playlist, resume watching, and jump-to features

Introductory pricing:

  • Annual membership: $49.95/year

Become a webinar member here.

Register for our upcoming webinars (free)

Print the 2023 webinar brochure here.


Register for Thursday's "The Best of ESM" series members-only webinar — Samuel Witter vs. Samuel Witter: Separating Same Name Men, War of 1812 by Elizabeth Shown Mills, CG, CGL

2023-05-25-register

Online research today is immensely rewarding. Major genealogical data sites and software perform automatic searches for us and suggest documents bearing the names of people we are pursuing. However, every document we collect presents an identity issue we have to resolve before we can validly use it to build our family tree. This presentation demonstrates why, using three men named Samuel Witter whose descendants have all claimed for him the same War of 1812 service. As Mills separates the three Samuels, she explores the standards that govern our development of evidence, the Congressional laws that must guide our decisions, and the strategies needed to differentiate between men and correctly assign military service.

*** This class requires an active webinar membership to attend. ***

About the presenter

ElizabethShownMills2022-144x144Across a long career, Elizabeth Shown Mills, CG, CGL, FASG, FUGA, FNGS, has been an innovator of research methods and strategies. Published widely by academic and popular presses, she edited a national-level scholarly journal for 16 years, taught for 13 years at a National Archives-based institute on archival records and, for 25 years, headed a university-based program for advanced researchers. A past president of both the American Society of Genealogists and the Board for Certification of Genealogists, Elizabeth is the author, editor, and translator of 14 books and over 600 articles in the fields of genealogy, history, literature, and sociology. She has delivered over 1,000 lectures internationally, has appeared on radio and TV talk shows on three continents, and was featured in BBC’s 20th and 30th anniversary specials on the novel Roots.

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Webinar time

The webinar will be live on Thursday, May 25, 2023 at:

  • 2pm Eastern (U.S.)
  • 1pm Central
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  • 11am Pacific

Or use this Time Zone Converter.

Here's how to attend:

  1. Register at www.FamilyTreeWebinars.com today. It's free!
  2. You will receive a confirmation email containing a link to the webinar.
  3. You will receive a reminder email both 1 day and 1 hour prior to the live webinar.
  4. Calculate your time zone by clicking here.
  5. Check your GoToWebinar connection here.
  6. Click on the webinar link (found in confirmation and reminder emails) prior to the start of the webinar. Arrive early as the room size is limited to the first 1,000 arrivals that day.
  7. Listen via headset (USB headsets work best), your computer speakers, or by phone. 

We look forward to seeing you all there!


How Do I Keep All This Stuff Straight: Organizing Your Research— free replay of today's webinar by Billie Stone Fogarty, M.Ed. now available for limited time

How Do I Keep All This Stuff Straight: Organizing Your Research— free replay of today's webinar by Billie Stone Fogarty, M.Ed. now available for limited time

The recording of today's webinar by Billie Stone Fogarty, M.Ed., "How Do I Keep All This Stuff Straight: Organizing Your Research” is now available to view at www.FamilyTreeWebinars.com for free for a limited time.

Webinar Description

Don’t let the “stuff” of genealogy overwhelm your space or your computer files. Organized research can save you time and money and help guide you to the next big breakthrough!

View the Recording at FamilyTreeWebinars.com

If you could not make it to the live event or just want to watch it again, the 1 hour 23 minute recording of "How Do I Keep All This Stuff Straight: Organizing Your Research" is now available to view in our webinar library for free for a limited time.

Webinar Memberships/Subscriptions

Webinar Members get:

  • On-demand access to the entire webinar archives (now 1,989 classes of genealogy education)
  • On-demand access to the instructor handouts (now 7,587 pages)
  • On-demand access to the live webinars' chat logs
  • 5% off all products at www.FamilyTreeWebinars.com (must be logged in at checkout)
  • Access to all future recordings for the duration of their membership
  • Chance for a members-only door prize during each live webinar
  • Access to register for bonus members-only webinars
  • Ability to view which webinars you are registered for
  • Use of the playlist, resume watching, and jump-to features

Introductory pricing:

  • Annual membership: $49.95/year

Register for our upcoming webinars (free)

Print the 2023 webinar brochure here.


Register for Webinar Wednesday — How Do I Keep All This Stuff Straight: Organizing Your Research by Billie Stone Fogarty, M.Ed.

2023-05-24-register
 
Don’t let the “stuff” of genealogy overwhelm your space or your computer files. Organized research can save you time and money and help guide you to the next big breakthrough!
 
About the presenter

BillieFogarty-144x144Billie Stone Fogarty, a full-time professional genealogist, is the past president of the Association of Professional Genealogists, Vice President of the Oklahoma Genealogical Society, and a state-wide elected member of the Oklahoma Historical Society Board of Directors. A sixth generation Oklahoman, she has 18 documented ancestors who were in Oklahoma before it was a state. An educator and frequent speaker at national and state genealogy conferences, she is also former president of the Genealogical Speakers Guild. Billie is active on the regional, state, and local level in advancing genealogical research and open records access as the Oklahoma liaison for the Records Preservation and Access Committee.

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With our Google Calendar button, you will never forget our upcoming webinars. Simply click the button to add it to your calendar. You can then optionally embed the webinar events (and even turn them on and off) into your own personal calendar. If you have already added the calendar, you do not have to do it again - the new webinar events will automatically appear.

Webinar time

The webinar will be live on Wednesday, May 24, 2023 at:

  • 2pm Eastern (U.S.)
  • 1pm Central
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  • 11am Pacific

Or use this Time Zone Converter.

Here's how to attend:

  1. Register at www.FamilyTreeWebinars.com today. It's free!
  2. You will receive a confirmation email containing a link to the webinar.
  3. You will receive a reminder email both 1 day and 1 hour prior to the live webinar.
  4. Calculate your time zone by clicking here.
  5. Check your GoToWebinar connection here.
  6. Click on the webinar link (found in confirmation and reminder emails) prior to the start of the webinar. Arrive early as the room size is limited to the first 1,000 arrivals that day.
  7. Listen via headset (USB headsets work best), your computer speakers, or by phone. 

We look forward to seeing you all there!


Fishing in Your Match List with MyHeritage DNA Tools - free replay of today's webinar by Paul Woodbury, MEd., AG now available

2023-05-23-image500blog

The recording of today's webinar by Paul Woodbury, MEd., AG, "Fishing in Your Match List with MyHeritage DNA Tools” is now available to view at www.FamilyTreeWebinars.com for free.

Webinar Description

MyHeritage’s AutoClusters are a great way to start exploring the clusters of your genetic cousins and narrow in on potentially pertinent genetic cousins, but sometimes AutoClusters can only take you so far. Learn to leverage MyHeritage’s Theories of Family Relativity, shared matching and DNA match labeling to isolate pertinent genetic cousins for a research question and solve your family history mysteries.

View the Recording at FamilyTreeWebinars.com

If you could not make it to the live event or just want to watch it again, the 1 hour 17 minute recording of "Fishing in Your Match List with MyHeritage DNA Tools" is now available to view in our webinar library for free.

Webinar Memberships/Subscriptions

Webinar Members get:

  • On-demand access to the entire webinar archives (now 1,988 classes of genealogy education)
  • On-demand access to the instructor handouts (now 7,578 pages)
  • On-demand access to the live webinars' chat logs
  • 5% off all products at www.FamilyTreeWebinars.com (must be logged in at checkout)
  • Access to all future recordings for the duration of their membership
  • Chance for a members-only door prize during each live webinar
  • Access to register for bonus members-only webinars
  • Ability to view which webinars you are registered for
  • Use of the playlist, resume watching, and jump-to features

Introductory pricing:

  • Annual membership: $49.95/year

Register for our upcoming webinars (free)

Print the 2023 webinar brochure here.


Register for Tuesday's MyHeritage Webinar Series webinar — Fishing in Your Match List with MyHeritage DNA Tools by Paul Woodbury, MEd., AG

2023-05-23-register
 
MyHeritage’s AutoClusters are a great way to start exploring the clusters of your genetic cousins and narrow in on potentially pertinent genetic cousins, but sometimes AutoClusters can only take you so far. Learn to leverage MyHeritage’s Theories of Family Relativity, shared matching and DNA match labeling to isolate pertinent genetic cousins for a research question and solve your family history mysteries.
 
About the presenter

PaulWoodbury-144x144From a young age, Paul Woodbury fell in love with genealogy research. To pursue his passion for this field, he studied genetics and family history at Brigham Young University. To aid in his desire to share his knowledge with others, he has also received a masters degree in instructional design and educational technology from the University of Utah. Paul is an accredited genealogist in the France region through the International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists. Paul currently works as a Research Team Manager at Legacy Tree Genealogists where he has helped to solve hundreds of genetic genealogy cases. In addition to genetic genealogy, Paul enjoys French research.

Test Your Webinar Connection

To ensure that your webinar connection is ready to go, click here.

Can't make it to the live event?

No worries. Its recording will be available for a limited time. Webinar Subscribers have unlimited access to all webinar recordings for the duration of their membership.

Add it to your Google Calendar

With our Google Calendar button, you will never forget our upcoming webinars. Simply click the button to add it to your calendar. You can then optionally embed the webinar events (and even turn them on and off) into your own personal calendar. If you have already added the calendar, you do not have to do it again - the new webinar events will automatically appear.

Webinar time

The webinar will be live on Tuesday, May 23, 2023 at:

  • 2pm Eastern (U.S.)
  • 1pm Central
  • 12pm Mountain
  • 11am Pacific

Or use this Time Zone Converter.

Here's how to attend:

  1. Register at www.FamilyTreeWebinars.com today. It's free!
  2. You will receive a confirmation email containing a link to the webinar.
  3. You will receive a reminder email both 1 day and 1 hour prior to the live webinar.
  4. Calculate your time zone by clicking here.
  5. Check your GoToWebinar connection here.
  6. Click on the webinar link (found in confirmation and reminder emails) prior to the start of the webinar. Arrive early as the room size is limited to the first 1,000 arrivals that day.
  7. Listen via headset (USB headsets work best), your computer speakers, or by phone. 

We look forward to seeing you all there!


New 8-class Microsoft PowerPoint Series Available Now

New 8-class Microsoft PowerPoint Series Available Now

Become a better Microsoft PowerPoint user with our new 8-part PowerPoint series by Seema Kenney.  You'll learn tips that will have you working faster and like a pro.

The 8-class series - Microsoft PowerPoint

  1. Introduction to and Overview of Microsoft PowerPoint  (free through May 24, 2023)
  2. Formatting PowerPoint Text
  3. Graphics in Microsoft PowerPoint
  4. Charting in Microsoft PowerPoint
  5. From Presentation to Movie: Adding Motion to PowerPoint
  6. Advanced Formatting Options in PowerPoint
  7. Advanced Tools in Microsoft PowerPoint
  8. Presenting with Microsoft PowerPoint

We're working hard to give our webinar subscribers the educational classes they need to maximize their genealogical research!

The first class in the series is free to all through May 24, 2023. The remaining seven are new bonus classes in the webinar library. The webinar previews are always free for non-members to watch.

New to webinars and online education? Learn more about our upcoming online genealogy education classes at Legacy Family Tree Webinars.

The individual classes

1. Introduction to and Overview of Microsoft PowerPoint

PowerPoint is part of the Microsoft Office Suite. It is similar to other programs, yet different as well. This presentation will introduce you to the program as well as the personalization options available to make the program do more work for you

Introduction to and Overview of Microsoft PowerPoint

_WatchVideo Free through May 24, 2023

2. Formatting PowerPoint Text

Formatting your presentation goes beyond Fonts, Bold, and Italic. Learn how to use the Font and Paragraph icons to quicken your work as well as special touches that will make your presentation more memorable.

Formatting PowerPoint Text

_WatchVideo

3. Graphics in Microsoft PowerPoint

We are a visual society. Adding Graphics (ClipArt, Photos, Shapes, SmartArt, WordArt) to your PowerPoint presentation helps make your point. This session will cover inserting, layering, grouping, and modifying the many graphics available within Microsoft PowerPoint.

Graphics in Microsoft PowerPoint

_WatchVideo

4. Charting in Microsoft PowerPoint

Charts are a great way to display information in PowerPoint. In this session we’ll cover types of charts, the tools available for editing and customizing your charts, and the options for animating your chart for the added element of surprise!

Charting in Microsoft PowerPoint

_WatchVideo

5. From Presentation to Movie: Adding Motion to PowerPoint

Ready to turn your PowerPoint into more of an action film? Adding animations to your slides and transitions between your slides sets you up for converting your presentation to a movie.

From Presentation to Movie: Adding Motion to PowerPoint

_WatchVideo

6. Advanced Formatting Options in PowerPoint

Advanced formatting options for PowerPoint in this session will include Tables, Screenshots, Videos, Audio, Action Buttons, and Hyperlinks. In addition, this is where we’ll discuss the use of PowerPoint designs.

Advanced Formatting Options in PowerPoint

_WatchVideo

7. Advanced Tools in Microsoft PowerPoint

Wrapping up our exploration of PowerPoint, we need to review output options, comments, headers and footers, working with multiple files, and Masters!

Advanced Tools in Microsoft PowerPoint

_WatchVideo

8. Presenting with Microsoft PowerPoint

This session will review the tools for preparing to present as well as those available while presenting with Microsoft PowerPoint.

Presenting with Microsoft PowerPoint

_WatchVideo

Seema Kenney

A Seema Kenney wife, mother of 3, and entrepreneur, Seema is an active member of several societies and part of the NERGC planning committee. Based on over 20 years of research, her known roots are deep in New England as well as England, Germany, and Sweden. DNA research has now added The Netherlands to that list.

Not a member yet?

Legacy Family Tree Webinars provides genealogy education where-you-are through live and recorded online webinars and videos. Learn from the best instructors in genealogy including Elizabeth Shown Mills, Judy Russell, J. Mark Lowe, Thomas MacEntee, Cyndi Ingle, Paul Woodbury, and many more. Learn at your convenience. On-demand classes are available 24 hours a day! All you need is a computer or mobile device with an Internet connection.

Subscribe today and get access to this BONUS members-only webinar AND all of this:

  • All 1987 classes in the library 
  • 1,578 pages of instructors' handouts
  • Chat logs from the live webinars
  • Additional 5% off anything at FamilyTreeWebinars.com
  • Chance for a bonus subscribers-only door prize during each live webinar
  • Additional members-only webinars

It's just $49.95/year.

Subscribe


Your 19th & 20th Century Mexican Ancestors in the U.S. — free replay of today's webinar by Colleen Robledo Greene, MLIS now available for limited time

2023-05-19-image500blog

The recording of today's webinar by Colleen Robledo Greene, MLIS, "Your 19th & 20th Century Mexican Ancestors in the U.S.” is now available to view at www.FamilyTreeWebinars.com for free for a limited time.

Webinar Description

Historical records and social history paint a rich picture of the lives of our Mexican ancestors who were in the U.S. after the mid-19th century. A new border, new laws, a violent revolution, two world wars, and changing economic and political conditions significantly impacted your Mexican ancestors who came to or were born in the United States. Sharing a border, and sharing a long common history in certain regions of the U.S. has presented situations unique to those of Mexican descent compared to other immigrant and ethnic groups.

View the Recording at FamilyTreeWebinars.com

If you could not make it to the live event or just want to watch it again, the 1 hour 45 minutes recording of "Your 19th & 20th Century Mexican Ancestors in the U.S." is now available to view in our webinar library for free for a limited time.

Webinar Memberships/Subscriptions

Webinar Members get:

  • On-demand access to the entire webinar archives (now 1,987 classes of genealogy education)
  • On-demand access to the instructor handouts (now 7,578 pages)
  • On-demand access to the live webinars' chat logs
  • 5% off all products at www.FamilyTreeWebinars.com (must be logged in at checkout)
  • Access to all future recordings for the duration of their membership
  • Chance for a members-only door prize during each live webinar
  • Access to register for bonus members-only webinars
  • Ability to view which webinars you are registered for
  • Use of the playlist, resume watching, and jump-to features

Introductory pricing:

  • Annual membership: $49.95/year

Register for our upcoming webinars (free)

Print the 2023 webinar brochure here.


Register for Friday's Mexico Research Series webinar — Your 19th & 20th Century Mexican Ancestors in the U.S. by Colleen Robledo Greene, MLIS

2023-05-19-register
 
Historical records and social history paint a rich picture of the lives of our Mexican ancestors who were in the U.S. after the mid-19th century. A new border, new laws, a violent revolution, two world wars, and changing economic and political conditions significantly impacted your Mexican ancestors who came to or were born in the United States. Sharing a border, and sharing a long common history in certain regions of the U.S. has presented situations unique to those of Mexican descent compared to other immigrant and ethnic groups.
 
About the presenter

ColleenGreene-144x144Colleen Robledo Greene, MLIS, is an academic librarian, college educator, and tech nerd who has been researching her family history since 1997. She is the Digital Literacy Librarian at California State University, Fullerton, and also teaches an online graduate-level genealogical research methods course for San Jose State University. Colleen is a nationally recognized speaker and educator specializing in methodology, Mexican & Hispanic research, libraries and archives, and technology.

Test Your Webinar Connection

To ensure that your webinar connection is ready to go, click here.

Can't make it to the live event?

No worries. Its recording will be available for a limited time. Webinar Subscribers have unlimited access to all webinar recordings for the duration of their membership.

Add it to your Google Calendar

With our Google Calendar button, you will never forget our upcoming webinars. Simply click the button to add it to your calendar. You can then optionally embed the webinar events (and even turn them on and off) into your own personal calendar. If you have already added the calendar, you do not have to do it again - the new webinar events will automatically appear.

Webinar time

The webinar will be live on Friday, May 19, 2023 at:

  • 2pm Eastern (U.S.)
  • 1pm Central
  • 12pm Mountain
  • 11am Pacific

Or use this Time Zone Converter.

Here's how to attend:

  1. Register at www.FamilyTreeWebinars.com today. It's free!
  2. You will receive a confirmation email containing a link to the webinar.
  3. You will receive a reminder email both 1 day and 1 hour prior to the live webinar.
  4. Calculate your time zone by clicking here.
  5. Check your GoToWebinar connection here.
  6. Click on the webinar link (found in confirmation and reminder emails) prior to the start of the webinar. Arrive early as the room size is limited to the first 1,000 arrivals that day.
  7. Listen via headset (USB headsets work best), your computer speakers, or by phone. 

We look forward to seeing you all there!


Introduction to and Overview of Microsoft PowerPoint – Class 1 of 8 — free replay of today's webinar by Seema Kenney now available for limited time

Introduction to and Overview of Microsoft PowerPoint – Class 1 of 8 — free replay of today's webinar by Seema Kenney now available for limited time

The recording of today's webinar by Seema Kenney, "Introduction to and Overview of Microsoft PowerPoint – Class 1 of 8” is now available to view at www.FamilyTreeWebinars.com for free for a limited time.

Webinar Description

PowerPoint is part of the Microsoft Office Suite. It is similar to other programs, yet different as well. This presentation will introduce you to the program as well as the personalization options available to make the program do more work for you. This webinar is the first in an eight-part series. The remaining seven BONUS webinars are available now in the legacy library. Members can login the access the bonus webinars.

View the Recording at FamilyTreeWebinars.com

If you could not make it to the live event or just want to watch it again, the 1 hour 21 minute recording of "Introduction to and Overview of Microsoft PowerPoint – Class 1 of 8" is now available to view in our webinar library for free for a limited time.

Webinar Memberships/Subscriptions

Webinar Members get:

  • On-demand access to the entire webinar archives (now 1,986 classes of genealogy education)
  • On-demand access to the instructor handouts (now 7,571 pages)
  • On-demand access to the live webinars' chat logs
  • 5% off all products at www.FamilyTreeWebinars.com (must be logged in at checkout)
  • Access to all future recordings for the duration of their membership
  • Chance for a members-only door prize during each live webinar
  • Access to register for bonus members-only webinars
  • Ability to view which webinars you are registered for
  • Use of the playlist, resume watching, and jump-to features

Introductory pricing:

  • Annual membership: $49.95/year

Register for our upcoming webinars (free)

Print the 2023 webinar brochure here.


Register for Webinar Wednesday — Introduction to and Overview of Microsoft PowerPoint – Class 1 of 9 by Seema Kenney

2023-05-17-register
 
PowerPoint is part of the Microsoft Office Suite. It is similar to other programs, yet different as well. This presentation will introduce you to the program as well as the personalization options available to make the program do more work for you.
 
About the presenter

SeemaKenney-144x144A wife, mother of 3, and entrepreneur, Seema is an active member of several societies and part of the NERGC planning committee. Based on over 20 years of research, her known roots are deep in New England as well as England, Germany, and Sweden. DNA research has now added The Netherlands to that list.

Test Your Webinar Connection

To ensure that your webinar connection is ready to go, click here.

Can't make it to the live event?

No worries. Its recording will be available for a limited time. Webinar Subscribers have unlimited access to all webinar recordings for the duration of their membership.

Add it to your Google Calendar

With our Google Calendar button, you will never forget our upcoming webinars. Simply click the button to add it to your calendar. You can then optionally embed the webinar events (and even turn them on and off) into your own personal calendar. If you have already added the calendar, you do not have to do it again - the new webinar events will automatically appear.

Webinar time

The webinar will be live on Wednesday, May 17, 2023 at:

  • 2pm Eastern (U.S.)
  • 1pm Central
  • 12pm Mountain
  • 11am Pacific

Or use this Time Zone Converter.

Here's how to attend:

  1. Register at www.FamilyTreeWebinars.com today. It's free!
  2. You will receive a confirmation email containing a link to the webinar.
  3. You will receive a reminder email both 1 day and 1 hour prior to the live webinar.
  4. Calculate your time zone by clicking here.
  5. Check your GoToWebinar connection here.
  6. Click on the webinar link (found in confirmation and reminder emails) prior to the start of the webinar. Arrive early as the room size is limited to the first 1,000 arrivals that day.
  7. Listen via headset (USB headsets work best), your computer speakers, or by phone. 

We look forward to seeing you all there!


Do You Read Your Photographs?

Do You Read Your Photographs?

I recently came across a Minnesota Historical Society LibGuide that really interested me. In their LibGuide, Photographs: Research & Ordering, they include a section on "images as primary sources." This got me thinking about how often we take our historical photos and really study them. Analyzing them for clues that may not be apparent from a cursory look.

Not all photos may require careful study. But in cases where photos show multiple people, an unknown background, an activity, or something else you are curious about, carefully analyzing the image should be done, just as we could analyze documents. This can especially be important when using a non-relative related photograph to provide historical or social context.

Minnesota Historical Society recommends "reading" photos by asking questions such as :

  • "What do you already know about the photo?
    • Photographer?
    • Location?
    • Date?
    • Caption or other written description?
  • Look at the entire photograph
    • What is the subject matter? (Portrait, building, event, etc.)
    • What is happening in the photo?
  • Look at individual parts of the photograph
    • What is in the Foreground? The Background?
    • Where is your eye drawn first? What less-obvious things do you notice?
    • Examine people, objects, signage, setting, time, etc...
  • What does the photo say to you? To others?
    • Are the people in the photo expressing certain emotions?
    • Does it evoke certain emotions in the viewer?
  • Why was the photograph taken, and who is the audience?
    • For a documentary or journalism purpose?
    • For sale (as a postcard, poster, etc.)?
    • To advertise something?
    • As an artistic expression?
  • What decisions did the photographer make when taking this picture?
    • Is it posed?
    • Why did they take the photo at that exact moment? What happened right before the photo was taken? Right after?
    • Did the photographer make the choices they did (perspective, focus, angles, etc.)?
    • Was the photo edited, cropped, or colorized? What did that change?
  • What questions do you have after viewing the photo?" [1]

Using this methodology, let's consider a historic photograph and what more can be learned from it.

I am an American
Courtesy: Library of Congress. https://flic.kr/p/2mKNnx5

Take a minute, even if you know what this photo is about, to "read" the photo.

What is shown in the photo?

  • A building that appears to contain a grocery-type store called Wanto Co. A sign reading Grocery can be found at the top left. Fruits and vegetables are listed in the left-side window.
  • A car is parked next to a mailbox.
  • A sign that reads, "I am an American."

What is the purpose of this photograph, and who is the audience? This most likely is not a family photo. It appears to be more of a documentary photo. The photographer seems to have taken it to document a moment in time.

Just looking at the photograph itself, we don't know the answer to who the photographer is or why they took the photo. Research into newspapers and city directories might provide us with a clue about Wanto Co. Adding information about the car might help to date the photo.

We may ask why a sign stating I Am An American is added. Why would this be important to announce to a community?

If we go to the website Flickr the Commons and see the page for this photo uploaded by the Library of Congress, we read that the photo was taken by Dorthea Lange, who spent some time taking photographs for the US government. The description states:

Oakland, Calif., Mar. 1942. A large sign reading "I am an American" placed in the window of a store at [401 - 403 Eighth] and Franklin Streets on December 8, the day after Pearl Harbor. The store was closed following orders to persons of Japanese descen[t]

The description tells us more. We can assume that the store owner was of Japanese descent. This information can lead us to other questions about the time period, the owner, and his store. Googling adds even more to this story, including information about the sign commissioned by Tatsuro Matsuda, whose family owned the store, and the taking of the photo. You can read more in the article The Wanto Co Family.

Start Reading Your Photos

It's said that a photo is worth a thousand words, but when we take time to read it, we may find more information than what's on the surface. What questions do you consider as you "read" your historic photographs? Have you ever used those questions to learn more about the photos?

[1] "Images as Primary Sources," Photographs: Research & Ordering (https://libguides.mnhs.org/photos/primary: accessed 1 May 2023).

 

Gena Philibert-Ortega is an author, instructor, and researcher. She blogs at Gena's Genealogy and Food.Family.Ephemera. You can find her presentations on the Legacy Family Tree Webinars website.

 


Name Changes and the Law - free replay of tonight's BCG webinar by Judy G. Russell, JD, CG, CGL now available for limited time

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The recording of today's webinar by the Board for Certification of Genealogists and Judy G. Russell, JD, CG, CGL, "Name Changes and the Law” is now available to view at www.FamilyTreeWebinars.com/BCG for free for a limited time.

Webinar Description

Names weren’t changed at Ellis Island, but in courts, legislatures and elsewhere both formally and officially — and on the fly. As genealogists, we need to know why names were changed, and how those changes might be recorded, if we want to have a chance at finding out what’s in a name.

View the Recording at FamilyTreeWebinars.com

If you could not make it to the live event or just want to watch it again, the 1 hour 8 minute recording of "Name Changes and the Law" is now available to view in our webinar library for free for a limited time.

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Register for Tuesday's BCG webinar — Name Changes and the Law by Judy G. Russell, JD, CG, CGL

2023-05-16-register
 
Names weren’t changed at Ellis Island, but in courts, legislatures and elsewhere both formally and officially — and on the fly. As genealogists, we need to know why names were changed, and how those changes might be recorded, if we want to have a chance at finding out what’s in a name.
 
About the presenter

JudyRussell-144x144A genealogist with a law degree, Judy G. Russell is a lecturer, educator and writer who enjoys helping others understand a wide variety of genealogical issues, including the interplay between genealogy and the law. She has a bachelor’s degree in political science and journalism from George Washington University in Washington, D.C. and a law degree from Rutgers School of Law-Newark, and holds Certified Genealogist and Certified Genealogical Lecturer credentials from the Board for Certification of Genealogists. She has worked as a newspaper reporter, trade association writer, legal investigator, defense attorney, federal prosecutor, law editor and, until her retirement, was an adjunct member of the faculty at Rutgers Law School. Judy is a Colorado native with roots deep in the American south on her mother’s side and entirely in Germany on her father’s side. Visit her website at www.legalgenealogist.com.

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Spies, Slackers, and Aliens: Records of the American Protective League — free replay of today's webinar by Michael L. Strauss, AG now available for limited time

2023-05-12-image500blog

The recording of today's webinar by Michael L. Strauss, AG, "Spies, Slackers, and Aliens: Records of the American Protective League” is now available to view at www.FamilyTreeWebinars.com for free for a limited time.

Webinar Description

Organized in Chicago, IL in 1917 by citizens who believed the United States Department of Justice was understaffed and not up to the task of fighting against espionage. They grew to a volunteer force of more than 250,000 members. The APL was given absolute power to stop ordinary citizens in the streets by checking whether men were legally registered for draft, or were sympathetic to the Germans, or those unregistered aliens living in the United States. Long believed to be a pseudo-patriotic organization. The APL documented both members and their activities in rich genealogical and historical details at the time the United States entered World War I.

View the Recording at FamilyTreeWebinars.com

If you could not make it to the live event or just want to watch it again, the 1 hour 16 minutes recording of "Spies, Slackers, and Aliens: Records of the American Protective League" is now available to view in our webinar library for free for a limited time.

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