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Archiver > OHMIAMI > 2008-02 > 1202161149


From: Sharon Specht <>
Subject: Re: [OHMIAMI] Photographers in Piqua and safest way to labelpictures
Date: Mon, 4 Feb 2008 13:39:09 -0800 (PST)
In-Reply-To: <bc8.219aa2c7.34d8d38d@aol.com>


Just from my own experience with photos, I would suggest simply writing on the back in pencil. It doesn't bleed through, and it is still readable after 50 years.
Sharon

wrote:
I recently came across a bunch of family photos from all eras. There are
several that are marked "Piqua, Ohio" at the bottom with the photographer's name.
They are on heavy stock (heavier than a postcard). One lists "E.W. Mathews"
as the photographer. The other lists "Lawson V. Matthews." (Yes, they are
spelled differently.) Does anyone know when these photographers were in
business?

I assume the one with the E.W. Mathews mark is my grandmother who was born in
1884. The family moved to IL around 1890 and I'm trying to make sure this
photographer would be time appropriate.

The other one is her half brother (my aunt marked it on the back). He also
moved to IL around 1890 and died in 1912.

I also found an unsent postcard photo with no date. It pictures my great
great grandmother Elmira Love Smith, her sister Mary Elizabeth Love Parks (here
ID'd as "Aunt Libby Parks"), my great grandfather William J. Smith, and my
great uncle James Franklin Smith (known as Frank). William and Frank moved to IL
around 1890. Elmira died in 1912 in Piqua and was buried in Forest Hill. I
assume this was taken in Piqua during a visit as Frank appears to be an adult.
He was only 13 when the family moved.

In another envelope was a tintype of a woman that I assume is from this same
branch of the family, along with very small (about 1 inch by 1 inch) cardboard
photos of a young woman and two different men. I'm hoping as I find more
photos that I can identify these people from labeled pictures.

Now my archival question: what is the safest way to label old photographs?
When I worked for an arts organization, we were told never to write directly on
the back of a photo sent to the press but to attach a paper with a caption.
Many of these old cardboard type photos have handwriting on the back. Some
are not labeled at all. I'd like to put names on any I know so future
generations aren't as confused as I am.

Thanks for any help.

Margie


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