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Question:I have a couple tin photographs that i found in my Grandmothers home while cleaning it to put it on the market. They were in a box with a couple old family bibles and other photographs. I am trying to place faces with names but unfortunately I am not certain who they are as i cannot tell what time period the pictures are from and my grandmother is no longer alive. If anyone thinks that they can tell what time period the photos that i have are from i would greatly appreciate the help. Like i said they are on tin in black and white. I would be glad to send you the photos to look at or post them to a photo site for viewing. Thanks in advance.


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I have a couple tin photographs that i found in my Grandmothers home while cleaning it to put it on the market. They were in a box with a couple old family bibles and other photographs. I am trying to place faces with names but unfortunately I am not certain who they are as i cannot tell what time period the pictures are from and my grandmother is no longer alive. If anyone thinks that they can tell what time period the photos that i have are from i would greatly appreciate the help. Like i said they are on tin in black and white. I would be glad to send you the photos to look at or post them to a photo site for viewing. Thanks in advance.

Just guessing... 1880s to maybe 1900ish. Some that I have, are known to be of persons who died in early 1890s, and style is very close. As one site points out.. box cameras for home use were invented around the turn of the century, so people could take their own pictures. Other photos I have of 1900-1920 time frame were often the 'postcard' type.. I think it was more popular in that era.
If I recall correctly, Phoebe died in the 1870s, and one of her daughters was the one who 'held on' to the family treasures? The people here look to be in their 20s, maybe 30s, so I would think of that generation.. young adults around the turn of the century.
The fantastic thing with today's technology is that you have the image that can be enhanced with a photo editor, without risking the original. Are you having much success finding distant relatives? Not impossible that they will have other photos that you can use to compare.

I cannot thank you enough for your help earlier. I was able to find (with relative certainty) ancestors dating all the way back to england on my Grandfather's mothers side. I have slowed on the tracing of the tree until i can put names to a lot of the pictures i have. Report It


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  • They should be of mid 18th century.

    You mention Bible's, have you checked inside the bibles because sometimes they use to write in bible of old.

    My husbands side had a Bible which was bought in the UK went out to India in the 1850's or before & has his Gg/fathers children written inside the pages all 18 children, amazing & now the bible is back on UK soil so worth checking the bible's out too, will have a look at your photo's & reply again soon,

    good luck

    The photo's look like the 1860-1880's time period wise, nice one's too ;0)

    I would say late 1800s, but I'm not an expert. Those are beautiful photographs by the way. I wish I had photos that old in my family.

    I would say between 1840 and 1900, I worked in a costume museum when I first started work. I really love the old black and white/ sepia photographs, I find them enchanting.

    I note you (yes?) have written 'think this is Phebe Wallace/Dickson and William Dickson'. Have you checked on Gen. sites on the Web?

    Lesson to all of us...label your photographs!

    Agreed, ca. late 1800's.
    Addendum: Pulled up quite a few links by simply entering Phebe Wallace.

    late 1800s

    There are some amazing people at this forum
    http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php...
    who can date photos with great accuracy, often to within a couple of years and will give you a breakdown of why. They've given me great assistance in the past.

    "Generally, yes, you can tell the time period by the dress. There are several really good books at your local library that will give your pictures a time and date. Whatever you do --- DON'T LET THEM OUT OF YOUR HANDS!!! There are crooks out here who will take what you have and make it their own. Be careful.....Please!

    Here is a site I found that is kind of interesting. It may prove helpful in dating your photos... The clothing in yours look similar to one dated 1870 on the website.