Identifying Historical Photographs: Clues for Genealogy Researchers

Until the invention and dissemina tion of photography in the mid- 19th century, only a small portion of the population in Europe and America could afford to have portraits made. Before 1850, having one’s likeness transferred to a two-dimensional work of art meant commis-sioning an artist to draw or paint it. Only the wealthy could afford this luxury. Then came the photograph, and the world changed forever. Photography brought instant and affordable portraiture to the masses, and the popularity of the medium soared. By the 1850s and ’60s, photographers had set up elaborate studios outfitted like salons in expensive homes. In the American West, itinerant photographer