Mining the 1880 Census Mother Lode: Insanity and Idiocy
 |
| Image by PhotoTree.com |
If you’re a passionate
family history buff like us, everyone from your mother to your Great Aunt
Sally knows that they can pawn off boxes of old family photos for you
to peruse to your heart’s content. Sifting through vintage photos can be a
family historian’s dream, that is, until you find out that you just can’t
seem to identify the time period in which certain photos were taken. Much like
genealogical resources and classes are helpful to discovering and sharing
your family story, knowing some photography history can also be beneficial when
it comes to identifying origins of vintage photos.
family history buff like us, everyone from your mother to your Great Aunt
Sally knows that they can pawn off boxes of old family photos for you
to peruse to your heart’s content. Sifting through vintage photos can be a
family historian’s dream, that is, until you find out that you just can’t
seem to identify the time period in which certain photos were taken. Much like
genealogical resources and classes are helpful to discovering and sharing
your family story, knowing some photography history can also be beneficial when
it comes to identifying origins of vintage photos.
The following common
types of vintage photos, their photographic processes and
characteristics could help you positively identify some of your
long-lost ancestors.
types of vintage photos, their photographic processes and
characteristics could help you positively identify some of your
long-lost ancestors.
Common Types of 19th Century Vintage Photos
 |
|
Image by PhotoTree.com
|
1. Daguerreotypes
 |
| Photo credit: The Art Part |
The daguerreotype was
created by Louis Jacques Mande Daguerre and is known by photography experts as
the first practical form of photography. Daguerreotypes were produced on a thin
copper metal support that had a polished coating of silver that was
mirror-like. Daguerreotypes were sealed in glass for protection. In
America, daguerreotypes were often placed in hinged, wooden cases with paper or
leather coverings.
created by Louis Jacques Mande Daguerre and is known by photography experts as
the first practical form of photography. Daguerreotypes were produced on a thin
copper metal support that had a polished coating of silver that was
mirror-like. Daguerreotypes were sealed in glass for protection. In
America, daguerreotypes were often placed in hinged, wooden cases with paper or
leather coverings.
- Height
of Popularity: 1839-1860 - Distinguishing
Features: They can either take on the look of a negative or a
positive depending on how the light hits them and the angle in which
you’re viewing them. Also look for their highly-polished silver support.
2. Salt Prints (Talbot’s
Process)
Process)
 |
|
Photo credit: sgarwood.com
|
In 1841, William Henry
Fox Talbot patented the process of salt printing — the first photographic
process that used sodium chloride to make photos more light-sensitive. Salt
printing was also the first process to utilize both a negative and a positive
allowing photographers to create prints of larger quantities.
Fox Talbot patented the process of salt printing — the first photographic
process that used sodium chloride to make photos more light-sensitive. Salt
printing was also the first process to utilize both a negative and a positive
allowing photographers to create prints of larger quantities.
- Height
of Popularity: 1839-1860 - Distinguishing
Features: This photo type can encounter serious fading problems,
so if you find a very faded old photo coupled with a smooth yet dull
surface, lack of fine detail and a silver image inside the actual fibers
of the photo’s support paper, you could have a salt print on your hands.
3. Albumen Prints
 |
| Photo credit: Henry Art Gallery |
In 1850, Louis-Desire
Blanquart Evrard improved upon Talbot’s salt prints by introducing albumen
paper. Photographers would coat a thin sheet of paper with egg white which
would hold light-sensitive silver salt on the surface of the paper, preventing
image fading. Once it was dry, albumen prints were used just like salted-paper
prints and the image would form by the darkening properties of the sun on the
chemicals. Most of the surviving photographs from the 19th century are on
albumen paper.
Blanquart Evrard improved upon Talbot’s salt prints by introducing albumen
paper. Photographers would coat a thin sheet of paper with egg white which
would hold light-sensitive silver salt on the surface of the paper, preventing
image fading. Once it was dry, albumen prints were used just like salted-paper
prints and the image would form by the darkening properties of the sun on the
chemicals. Most of the surviving photographs from the 19th century are on
albumen paper.
- Height
of Popularity: 1855-1890 - Distinguishing
Features: Albumen prints take on a rich, purple-brown hue. When
you examine these photos, look for paper fibers through the albumen
overlay. You can also usually see a fine lateral cracking across the
glossy photo surface. The support is typically thin and also coated with
albumen.
4. Carte de Visite (CDVs)
 |
||
| Photo credit: Historical Indulgences |
Albumen prints were often
mounted on cardboard carte-de-viste (CDVs). Introduced in the 1850s in Paris,
France by Andre Adolphe Eugene Disderi, CDVs were very popular in both the
United States and Europe until the turn of the 20th century.
mounted on cardboard carte-de-viste (CDVs). Introduced in the 1850s in Paris,
France by Andre Adolphe Eugene Disderi, CDVs were very popular in both the
United States and Europe until the turn of the 20th century.
- Height
of Popularity: 1860-1890 - Distinguishing
Features: You can distinguish a CDV from other card mounts
mostly by the size: 2.5 x 4 inches (63 x 100 mm) — or slightly less at
times. Look also for the photographer’s imprint and the type of image
itself (most CDVs are portraits). All of these characteristics can help
you determine a correct date within just a few years of the photo’s
origin.
5. Ambrotypes
 |
| Photo credit: antiquephotographics.com |
In 1854, the ambrotype
became a popular photographic print method which used the wet-plate collodion
process to create a positive photograph on glass. Each photo was unique and
could not be duplicated — much like using a Polaroid camera.
became a popular photographic print method which used the wet-plate collodion
process to create a positive photograph on glass. Each photo was unique and
could not be duplicated — much like using a Polaroid camera.
- Height
of Popularity: 1854-Mid-1860s - Distinguishing
Features: Look for dark purple, blue or red glass support. These
photos may also be found presented on a mount with a case just like
daguerreotypes. You can easily distinguish a daguerreotype from an
ambrotype since ambrotypes always appear positive when viewing from any
angle.
6. Tintypes
 |
| Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons |
Introduced in 1856, the
tintype — also known as a melainotype or ferrotype — was produced on a plate of
thin metal. And just like the ambrotype and daguerreotype, the method didn’t
use negatives and was directly exposed in the camera. Some small tintypes were
also placed in cardboard mounts much like the CDV.
tintype — also known as a melainotype or ferrotype — was produced on a plate of
thin metal. And just like the ambrotype and daguerreotype, the method didn’t
use negatives and was directly exposed in the camera. Some small tintypes were
also placed in cardboard mounts much like the CDV.
- Height
of Popularity: 1856 – 1900 - Distinguishing
Features: Look for a thin, metallic plate holding the positive
image to distinguish a tintype from an ambrotype. Also try to look for
mount plates that are brown or red. The most common size to look for is 2
½ x 3 ½ inches.
7. Cabinet Cards
 |
| Photo credit: Image Event |
Introduced in 1866, the
cabinet card, like the CDV, was an albumen-coated, card-mounted photograph
which was also quite popular in America until the1890s.
cabinet card, like the CDV, was an albumen-coated, card-mounted photograph
which was also quite popular in America until the1890s.
- Height
of Popularity: 1870 – 1890s - Distinguishing
Features: Look for card-mounted photos that are 4.25 x 6.5 inches
(108 x 164 mm). Most are portraits and don’t include the name of the
subject. An extensive logo can typically be found on the back of the card.
8. Hyalotype
 |
| Photo credit: arthistoryresources.net |
Invented in the 1850s,
hyalotypes were used in “Magic Lanterns” where their positive images on glass
plates were projected onto screens. They were widely popular until modern
slides came along in the 1950s.
hyalotypes were used in “Magic Lanterns” where their positive images on glass
plates were projected onto screens. They were widely popular until modern
slides came along in the 1950s.
- Height
of Popularity: 1875-1950s - Distinguishing
Features: If you come across old family slides, just know that
the most common size of a hyalotype is 192 mm x 83 mm. They were also
always produced in black and white, yet some could be hand-tinted.
Have you come across any
of these popular vintage photo types during your research? Let us
know in the comments! Now that you’re equipped with vintage photo knowledge,
you may be able to add those previously unknown ancestors and their stories to
your Crestleaf
Family Tree!
of these popular vintage photo types during your research? Let us
know in the comments! Now that you’re equipped with vintage photo knowledge,
you may be able to add those previously unknown ancestors and their stories to
your Crestleaf
Family Tree!
Thanks to
Crestleaf for this post!
Like what you read? Subscribe to the
Genealogists.com blog above and automatically receive our next article.
Genealogists.com blog above and automatically receive our next article.
© 2015, Genealogists.com, All rights reserved
Related posts
