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Anthropology/Different Years or Different People

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Expert: - 12/30/2009


Question

A combination of Anna
Hi Ralph,

I have 'inherited' the daunting task of family Genealogist. I really have no expertise at all but at least I am very interested and willing.

The first big problem that I encountered has to do with three photographs of a woman believed to be my Grandmother. I know for sure that the two oldest photos are of her. It is the youngest photo, circa 1905 to 1910, that is in question. Most of our family believe that the photo on the far left is NOT my Grandmother, but my Great-Grandmother. I disagree because my Great-Grandmother died at the age of 33 in 1893 and since this photo depicts a younger woman of say 15 to 20 years of age, the photo would have had to be in the early 1880's and we had a period clothing expert tell us that the style of clothing is from the early 1900's. In addition, the photographer listed on the front, although almost illegible, indicated the 1895 to 1915 period.

The two men shown on the other photo may be of my Great-Great-grandfather, some 35 years apart. I know that the photo of the younger man IS my Great-Great-Grandfather, but I do not know about the older one, except that they are from the same source.

Can you please help us? Thank you in advance, and Regards, Ken.  

Answer
Hi Ken,

Though this is some what out of my area of expertise, I can recommend that you speak to your local police department's forensics unit and see if they can do a facial comparison.  This can be done with all of the pics you have to identify younger versions of known photos.  I would say  that the young photo of Anna is pre 1900 and possibly from the mid 1890's based on the nature of  the hair style which is earlier then 1905, I believe.   Not having the pics of the other people like your GGrandma, or your GGrandfathers, I can not comment on them.  Who is the oldest member of the family still alive and see what they can remember.  This is very hard to do if many of them have passed on.  That is why it is so important to label pics that you have from the 40's thru the 90's and be sure to print off the digitals that you may have taken since the mid 90's and label them too.

Also, join www.ancestors.com and www.familytree.com,  Then look for relatives from t hat time frame and others who may be "lost", track them down and see if they remember these people.  

Good Luck, and a very Happy Healthy and Prosperous New Year!!
    Questioner's Rating
    Rating(1-10)Knowledgeability = 10Clarity of Response = 10Politeness = 10
    CommentHi Ralph, Thank you very much for your help on a very difficult request. I will follow-up with your suggestions after the holidays. Thanks again and have a HAPPY NEW YEAR, regards, Ken.


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Ralph Salier

Expertise

Business Anthropologist. Business negotiations in multiple cultures and working with multiple cultures in the business arena. Broad understanding of business practices and business "ethics" in different parts of the world.

Experience

25+ years in international procurement and negotiations.

Organizations
ISM

Education/Credentials
MA Anthropology, Proximics

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