Shows
The Photo DetectiveHow Forever.com is Revolutionizing Digital Memory PreservationIn this episode, Maureen Taylor speaks with Glen Meakem, founder and CEO of Forever.com. Glen shares his inspiration for starting the company in 2012—recognizing a gap in long-term, secure, digital storage for family memories. Forever offers users a permanent digital home to store and share photos, videos, and documents with guaranteed access for future generations. Unlike other cloud platforms, Forever emphasizes ownership, privacy, and permanence, supported by a sustainable financial model. Glen also discusses their digitization services, metadata functionality, and commitment to customer support and continuous innovation, highlighting Forever’s mission to preserve memories for lifetimes to come.
2025-06-0833 minThe Photo DetectiveThe Art of French Wallpaper: RISD Museum's Stunning Historical ShowcaseIn this episode of The Photo Detective, host Maureen Taylor welcomes Emily Banas, Associate Curator of Decorative Arts and Design at the RISD Museum, to explore the captivating world of French wallpaper. Their discussion centers on The Art of French Wallpaper Design exhibition, diving into the artistry, craftsmanship, and cultural legacy behind these historical wall coverings.The RISD Museum’s collection of 18th and 19th-century French wallpaper—originally acquired in 1934—is showcased for the first time in decades, highlighting woodblock-printed designs from 1770–1840.The collection was assembled by French artist Charles Ard and American author Francis Wilson Ard, who sourced...
2025-04-2022 minThe Photo DetectiveA History of the American Bookstore with Author Evan FrissIn this episode of The Photo Detective, Maureen Taylor welcomes historian Evan Friss, author of The Bookshop: A History of the American Bookstore. Friss dives deep into the evolution of bookstores in America—from colonial times to the digital age. He shares fascinating insights into their cultural, political, and communal roles throughout history. Early American bookstores were cultural and political hubs, vital for disseminating revolutionary ideas and classic literature, despite also selling sundry items. Bookstores evolved from general goods shops to genre-specific havens—feminist, radical, and neighborhood staples—such as NYC’s famous “Book Row.” Bookstores act as “third spaces,”...
2025-04-0633 minThe Photo DetectiveFamily Photos and Preserving Your MemoriesIn the March 2025 episode of her solo podcast, Maureen Taylor, the Photo Detective, discusses a variety of personal and professional experiences related to photo management and genealogy. She begins by addressing the shutdown of MemoryWeb, a platform she used extensively, detailing her efforts to safeguard her photos by enhancing metadata and descriptions before downloading them. Maureen also shares insights from a productive meeting with Forever.com executives about potential metadata improvements. She reflects on the emotional power of photographs, recounting how revisiting family photos led to discoveries and a deeper connection to her past. Additionally, Maureen talks about being...
2025-03-2323 minThe Photo DetectiveDiahan Southard’s ‘Monday Minutes’: Transforming Personal Reflections into Genealogical GoldIn this episode of the podcast, host Maureen Taylor is joined by Diahan Southard, known for her expertise as “Your DNA Guide.” Diahan discusses her new book, “Monday Minutes,” which is inspired by her popular newsletter. The book is a collection of reflections on everyday moments and thoughts, aimed at connecting deeply with her audience beyond the realm of genealogy.Key Highlights:Origin and Impact: “Monday Minutes” started as a simple, fun email experiment to connect with Diahan’s customers on a personal level.Content and Themes: Each Monday, D...
2025-03-1621 minThe Photo DetectiveThe Photo Marketplace Shift: What It Means for Your MemoriesIn this episode, Rick Voigt, co-founder and CEO of Vivid-Pix.com, joins Maureen Taylor to discuss the evolving photo marketplace and its impact on genealogists and everyday users. They explore the recent shutdown of FileShadow, the risks of relying on digital storage providers, and the importance of backing up precious memories. Rick shares insights from his 40-year experience in the photo industry, including lessons from Kodak and Polaroid’s shifts. They emphasize best practices for preserving digital and physical photographs, ensuring long-term access to family history. Plus, they highlight tools like Vivid-Pix for enhancing and organizing images effectively....
2025-03-0224 minThe Photo DetectiveDigging Into Civil War Pension Files with Brian RhinehartIn this episode of The Photo Detective, host Maureen Taylor speaks with Brian Rhinehart, founder of CivilWarRecords.com, about uncovering lost Civil War history through archival research. Brian shares his journey from genealogy hobbyist to professional researcher specializing in Civil War records at the National Archives. He explains the misconceptions about military records, emphasizing that most are not available online. They discuss the rich details found in pension files, including personal letters, affidavits, and service histories, as well as the rare chance of finding soldier photographs. Brian also provides insights on tracking elusive ancestors through military, pension, and bounty...
2025-02-0926 minThe Photo DetectiveFileshadow News. Photos of Famous People. Photo Detecting CluesIn this January 2025 solo episode of her podcast, Maureen Taylor, the photo detective, shares news for users of Fileshadow.com. She also shares insights into her professional life, detailing her expertise in analyzing historical photographs to assist in dating them and incorporating them into family histories. She discusses a recent project involving a photograph from Providence, and how she used various historical resources to accurately date it, along with providing updates on the photo marketplace and tips for digital photo management.Maureen Taylor works with clients to help integrate historical photographs into their family histories, keeping up-to-date with...
2025-01-2617 minThe Photo DetectiveSolving Family Photo Mysteries: A Journey with The Photo DetectiveWelcome to the December 2024 solo episode of The Photo Detective with Maureen Taylor. In this episode, Maureen shares the story of Amy Barlow, who solved a photo mystery with Maureen’s guidance during a consultation. Amy’s photograph depicted a family standing in front of a store. Using resources like eBay, WorthPoint, city directories, Sanborn maps, and more, Amy unraveled the store’s history and connection to her family. Maureen highlights the personalized and collaborative nature of her consultations, where she provides guidance, homework, and insights into the historical, genealogical, and material contexts of family photographs. Maureen’s expertise bridges...
2024-12-2219 minThe Photo DetectiveThrough the Lens: Unveiling Family StoriesIn this episode, Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective TM explores the power of a photo through a series of case studies. She introduces a new photo storytelling option for clients.The Power of a PhotoDecoding the ContextThe Emotional LandscapeIntegrating TechnologyCase Study: Putting it into Practice. Related Episodes:Episode 237: How Storied.com Transforms Family History into Captivating Stories Episode 185 Genealogy on TikTok with Gwyneth.Stories Links:Sign up for my newsletter.Watch my YouTube Channel.Like the Photo Detective Face...
2024-11-2418 minThe Photo DetectiveThe Beginner's Guide to Cemetery Sleuthing with Author Erin MoultonErin Moulton discusses her book, “The Beginner’s Guide to Cemetery Sleuthing, Scavenger Hunt,” which is uniquely designed as a workbook. Moulton, a local history librarian at Derry Public Library, shares her journey from genealogy enthusiast to cemetery researcher. The book serves as a practical guide for collecting key details from cemeteries, which can then be further explored in archives for deeper genealogical research.Erin Moulton’s book is structured as a workbook to enhance the learning experience through hands-on activities.Techniques in the book include how to extract and interpret data from headstones, such as names, dates, and symb...
2024-11-0323 minThe Photo DetectiveGenealogy Travel Tips: How to Plan an Effective Ancestral Research TripExploring family history is a personal journey, often sparked by familial influences and nurtured through personal curiosity and research. My mother’s passion for family history was contagious, influencing my own exploration of our ancestry. This shared interest led us on numerous adventures, uncovering the stories and places connected to our lineage, from Quebec to New Hampshire.Key Points:Personal Influence: My mom’s enthusiasm for family history played a pivotal role in my interest in the field.Ancestral Homeland Visits: Living close to Quebec allowed us to v...
2024-10-2714 minThe Photo DetectiveTrailblazing Women Behind the Camera: A Deep Dive with Katherine ManthorneIn this episode of the podcast, Katherine Manthorne returns to discuss her book “Women in the Dark: Female Photographers 1840 to 1900.” The conversation explores the overlooked contributions of female photographers during the early days of photography, highlighting their innovative approaches and resilience in a male-dominated field. Manthorne shares insights into her research process, which began at flea markets and led to the discovery of numerous female photographers through their photo cards and studio stamps. The discussion also touches on the societal conditions that allowed women to enter the field of photography, the unique challenges they faced, and the significant yet unre...
2024-10-1330 minThe Photo DetectiveUncovering History with Kurt Deion: A Journey to Every Presidential GraveKurt Deion, author of Presidential Grave Hunter, shares his lifelong journey of visiting every U.S. president and vice president’s grave. Sparked by early interests in presidential history and inspired by books and family trips, Kurt’s unique quest began in childhood. His book combines memoir and historical facts, recounting adventures and discoveries at burial sites. Besides graves, Kurt has explored presidential libraries, capturing memories through photographs. He continues his historical pursuits, researching and visiting various historical figures, reflecting his deep passion for public and presidential history. Kurt’s fascination with presidential history began at age seven, spurred...
2024-10-0628 minThe Photo DetectiveThe Enduring Legacy of Tintypes: From Civil War Soldiers to Contemporary ArtistsJoin Maureen Taylor, the Photo Detective, in a solo episode where she delves into the fascinating world of tintypes. This episode covers everything from their historical emergence in 1856 to their resurgence via modern itinerant artists. Discover why tintypes remained popular through the 19th century and explore their unique characteristics, including their affordability, durability, and the fact they are made on iron, not tin. Maureen also shares insights on identifying and preserving these precious pieces of history.Episode Highlights:History and Popularity: Explore the origins of tintypes in 1856, their peak...
2024-09-2913 minThe Photo DetectivePreserving Your Legacy: Insights from Amanda Meeks of Permanent.orgIn this episode of The Photo Detective, host Maureen Taylor speaks with Amanda Meeks, the Community and Partnerships Manager at Permanent.org. They discuss the recent developments at Permanent.org, focusing on the Legacy Lab, a new program designed to help users create and publish public archives. The Legacy Lab includes an email course that breaks down the archiving process into manageable tasks, emphasizing legacy planning and the importance of preserving history. They also touch on the Byte for Byte program, which offers storage grants for community archiving projects, and the new gifting feature for storage.
2024-09-1520 minThe Photo DetectiveThe Hidden History of Pockets: A Conversation with Hannah CarlsonIn this episode, Hannah Carlson, author of “Pockets: An Intimate History of How We Keep Things Close,” discusses the historical and social significance of pockets. Inspired by a personal experience where she had no pockets during an emergency, Carlson explores how pockets have evolved from medieval times to modern days, highlighting their gender disparity. She delves into how pockets in women’s clothing were often inadequate or non-existent, contrasting with men’s standardized pocketed garments. Carlson also examines pockets in historical contexts, like women’s sports and military uniforms, and how pockets have influenced and reflected societal norms and gender rol...
2024-09-0831 minThe Photo DetectiveUncovering the Past Through Postcards with Maureen TaylorIn this solo episode of Maureen Taylor’s podcast, “The Photo Detective,” Maureen delves into the captivating world of postcards. She explores their historical significance and practical uses, both as travel memorabilia and valuable tools in family history research. The episode highlights the evolution of postcards from the early 1900s, including the introduction of Kodak’s folding pocket camera that could take postcard-sized photos, to the legislative changes in 1907 allowing messages on the back. Maureen shares her personal experiences and tips on collecting postcards, emphasizing their role in documenting local history and personal stories.Historical Evolution of Postcard...
2024-08-2518 minThe Photo DetectiveThreads of Life: Unraveling the Rich Tapestry of Sewing with author Clare HunterClare Hunter, author of “Threads of Life,” joins Maureen on The Photo Detective podcast. A Scottish native with a background in theatre, community art, and creative writing, Clare discusses her book, which intertwines memoir and history, highlighting the social, emotional, and political significance of sewing. “Threads of Life” explores the profound impacts of needlework beyond its traditional domestic roles, demonstrating its importance in various social and historical contexts. Clare shares anecdotes from her personal life and research, emphasizing sewing’s transformative power in both personal and communal settings.Clare Hunter’s journey from theatre to writing, leading to her debut bo...
2024-08-1132 minThe Photo DetectiveDiscovering Civil War Ancestors Through Photography: Tips and Tools for Family HistoriansThis solo episode of the “Photo Detective” podcast delves into the intriguing task of discovering photographs of Civil War ancestors. Host Maureen offers a wealth of strategies and resources that not only cater to finding Civil War soldier images but also generalize to uncovering historical family photographs. Emphasizing the personal connections and untold stories each photo can reveal, she provides a comprehensive guide to enhancing your family history through visual documentation.Key Points from the Episode:Networking with Relatives: Beyond immediate family, connect with distant relatives found through online family trees and DNA...
2024-07-2817 minThe Photo DetectiveHow Storied.com Transforms Family History into Captivating StoriesIn this episode of “The Photo Detective,” host Maureen Taylor welcomes Kendall Hewlett, CEO of Storied.com, to discuss the revolutionary platform that fills a crucial gap in the family history industry by emphasizing the importance of storytelling over mere data collection.Inspiration Behind Storied.com: Kendall Hewlett created the platform to focus on the storytelling aspect of family history, inspired by research showing that knowledge of family stories increases resilience in children.Unique Features: Storied.com offers an end-to-end family history platform where users can build family trees, document stories, and produce hardbound book...
2024-07-0727 minThe Photo DetectiveHow to Manage and Remove Duplicate Photos for Genealogy ProjectsIn this solo episode of Ask Maureen, I’ll address a common genealogist’s dilemma: managing and organizing digital photos, including handling duplicates. Whether you’re a seasoned genealogist or a beginner, mastering photo organizers and duplicate detection tools can simplify your work and enhance your family history projects.Key TopicsImportance of photo organizers for genealogistsKey features to look for in photo organizing softwarePopular photo organizing tools and their benefitsStrategies for effective photo organization and duplicate detectionTips for maintaining an organized digital photo collection Related Episodes:Episode...
2024-06-2317 minThe Photo DetectiveNavigating the New Era of AI in Genealogy with Steve Little and Mark ThompsonIn this episode of the Photo Detective Podcast, Maureen was joined by Mark Thompson, a professional genealogist and IT expert, and Steve Little, AI Program Director at the National Genealogical Society. Main Discussion Points:Comparisons of AI's current impact to the dot-com era.The role of small companies and startups in driving AI innovations.Potential applications of AI in genealogy and historical research.Ethical Considerations:Discussion on privacy issues related to AI.Ethical use of AI in processing sensitive genealogical data.Future of AI in Genealogy:Predictions on AI's evolving role in re...
2024-05-0545 minThe Photo DetectiveUnlocking Family Secrets: Expert Tips on Interviewing Relatives for GenealogyIn today's solo episode, Maureen Taylor, the Photo Detective, delves into the essential practice of interviewing relatives for family history research. Following the feedback from newsletter subscribers and podcast listeners, this episode focuses on the collective wisdom and personal insights shared on this topic. We will explore the nuances of conducting effective interviews, the importance of capturing oral histories, and how these personal accounts enrich our understanding of family lineage and heritage.Introduction to the importance of interviewing relatives for family history research.Summary of listener and subscriber advice on conducting interviews.Tips for preparing for an interview...
2024-04-2820 minThe Photo DetectiveTracing Your Roots: Key Strategies for New GenealogistsIn this solo episode, Maureen shares invaluable advice from her listeners, guiding beginner genealogists on their journey to trace their ancestry. From the critical importance of verification to the joy of discovering untold family stories, Maureen navigates through the collective wisdom of her audience, offering a treasure trove of tips and insights for anyone embarking on their genealogical quest.Overview of the episode’s theme: collecting advice for beginner genealogists from experienced listeners.Discussion on the importance of documenting family history accurately and avoiding assumptions.Insights into the challenges and rewards of genealogical research, including unexpected discoveries and th...
2024-03-3120 minThe Photo DetectiveDiscovering the World Through Lenses: Dr. Michael Pritchard and the History of PhotographyMaureen Taylor is thrilled to have Dr. Michael Pritchard on the podcast. He’s a celebrated historian and the author of A History of Photography in 50 Cameras. They discuss cameras, history, and the art of capturing moments.Introduction to Dr. Michael Pritchard: His background and expertise in the history of photography.Discussion on “A History of Photography in 50 Cameras”: Insights into the book’s approach to storytelling through cameras.Evolution of Camera Collecting: Trends in camera collecting from the 1980s to the present.The Importance of the Camera Obscura: Discuss the significance of this device in the history of photo...
2023-12-2426 minThe Photo DetectivePermanent Digital Storage Solutions with Tammy Kirby of Forever.comIn this episode, Maureen Taylor talks with Tammy Kirby, a Senior Lead Ambassador at Forever.com. Their conversation delves into the innovative world of Forever.com. As someone who transitioned from traditional scrapbooking to embracing the digital era, Tammy offers a unique perspective on how Forever.com is redefining how we store and preserve our digital memories. She explains its distinct features compared to other cloud storage solutions and how it ensures the longevity and safety of our digital legacies.Tammy Kirby’s Background and Introduction to Forever.com:The concept and functionality of Forever.com as more th...
2023-12-1025 minThe Photo DetectiveDress Codes and Fashion Rules Through History with Richard Thompson FordIn this episode, Maureen talks with Richard Thompson Ford, author of “Dress Codes: How the Laws of Fashion Made History.” They explore how fashion has been used throughout history as a way to reinforce class structures, gender roles, and social norms. Though dress codes are not as overt today, Richard explains how unwritten fashion rules still dictate what we wear.The “Straw Hat Riot” of 1922 erupted over men wearing straw hats past September 15thHigh heels originated as a masculine fashion, first worn by Persian horseback riders to lock into stirrupsThe flapper look in the 1920s was the first successf...
2023-11-2637 minThe Photo DetectiveThe Encyclopedia of Things with creator Elisabeth SmolarzThis week on the podcast, Maureen is joined by Elisabeth Smolarz, who created the Encyclopedia of Things. They discuss the items that define our lives and why we keep them. Related Episodes:Episode 187: Building a Story with the Ancestry.com AppEpisode 180: Photos, Memories, and English Genealogy with Emma Jolly Links:Elisabeth SmolarzSign up for my newsletter.Watch my YouTube Channel.Like the Photo Detective Facebook Page so you get notified of my Facebook Live videos.Need help organizing your photos? Ch...
2023-10-2230 minThe Photo DetectiveCollecting Photographs with Greg French of Greg French Early PhotographyThis week Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective TM, is joined by Greg French.Greg is an antique photograph enthusiast who buys and sells his images, as well as lending images to projects such as the 1991 book “American and the Daguerreotype, as well as placing a rare stereoview of Abraham Lincoln’s second inauguration in the Library of Congress. Greg and Maureen talk about photo collecting, photo identifying, and all about what it means to be a photo enthusiast in this week’s episode. Related Episodes: Episode 20...
2023-10-0827 minThe Photo DetectiveThe Story Behind Twentieth Century Skirts with Dr. Kimberly Chrisman-CampbellThis week Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective, is joined by Dr. Kimberly Chrisman-Campbell, an award-winning fashion historian and curator from Los Angeles, as well as the author of multiple books on fashion history.The two discuss skirts and how one piece of clothing can help us learn about history and how the skirt showed changes in ideals toward women and fashion, as well as how we present ourselves to the world based on what we wear. Related Episodes:Episode 210: The Dress Diary of Anne Sykes wit...
2023-09-1029 minThe Photo DetectiveMeet Me At The Biltmore with Author Amanda BlountIn this week’s bonus episode, Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective, is joined by author Amanda Quay Blount.Amanda has recently been taking the literary scene in Rhode Island (and beyond) by storm, as she recently published Meet Me at the Biltmore, a historical look at The Biltmore Hotel in Providence, Rhode Island, which has been around for over 100 years, and seen many famous visitors, including John F. Kennedy and The Rolling Stones.In this episode, she and Maureen discuss the hotel, Amanda’s writing process, what it means to fall in love with a hist...
2023-09-0323 minThe Photo Detective216 From Bustles to Broadway with Heather RadkeThis week Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective, is joined by Heather Radke, whose first book Butts: A Backstory, has taken the world by storm. Don’t let the title fool you – this book takes a deep look into women’s history and fashion. From bustles to Broadway to Coco Chanel, the two dive into the meaning of fashion and how it has shaped not only our history, but also our media, our photos, and so much more.Related Episodes:Episode 155: Ancestral Handbag History Episode 127: Toxic Dr...
2023-08-2927 minThe Photo DetectiveMourning Jewelry Curiosities with Amanda SothThis week on the podcast, Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective, is joined by Amelia Soth. Amelia is a Wisconsin-based writer who has been writing the column “Cabinet of Curiosities” for JSTOR, which focuses on historical oddities.Maureen and Amelia discuss her process in writing and finding these stories and how the nuanced parts of history can often lead to great discoveries.Related Episodes:Episode 150: Victorian Mourning CuriositiesEpisode 61: Mourning Jewelry: Fact and Fiction Links:Cabinet of Curiosities on JSTOR...
2023-08-2027 minThe Photo DetectiveEgyptomania and Your Family Photos: Fashion RepeatsThis week Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective, is joined by fashion historian Darnell-Jamal Lisby, who is currently the Assistant Curator of Fashion at the Cleveland Museum of Art, and the first to take this role.They discuss the latest exhibition, “Egyptomania: Fashion’s Conflicted Obsession,” and how the fascination with this time period has led to fashion influence throughout the centuries, as well as how it can impact your family photos. Darnell-Jamal and Maureen also delve into the history of fashion, fashion inspiration, and how something in our society and culture inspires and change trends. Relate...
2023-08-0620 minThe Photo DetectiveHistory through Fiction with Colin MustfulThis week on the podcast Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective, is joined by Colin Mustful, author, publisher, and founder of History Through Fiction.He and Maureen discuss the differences between historical fiction, and what Colin calls “History Through Fiction,” where individuals write high-quality fiction that is rooted in historical research – or, as they call it on the podcast – history with footnotes! It’s a way to tackle history that encourages its readers to place themselves in the story – all within a historical context. This is a wonderful conversation on this “new” genre and how you can go about quer...
2023-07-0922 minThe Photo DetectiveSeeing Double: Talking Look-alikes with Francois BrunnelleThis week on the podcast, Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective is joined by Francois Brunelle. Francois is a professional photographer and author, who resides in Montreal.Francois and Maureen discuss his fascinating project “I’m Not a Lookalike” where Francois photographs individuals who look similar – and then compares them. These individuals are not related and typically have never met. The idea is to show how sometimes we can have physical similarities to someone we don’t even know.Francois has been working on this project since 2000 – making it 23 years since he first began. It’s a critical loo...
2023-06-0423 minThe Photo DetectiveThe Family Photo DetectiveThis week on the podcast Maureen is doing a solo episode! This episode is an intimate look at Maureen’s life and behind-the-scenes of how she became The Photo Detective. Additionally, Maureen details her journey over the past year as she’s updated her book Family Photo Detective, from getting the publishing rights to going through to update all links and book sources, to how the republishing of the updated edition has helped her continue in the work she’s always set out to do: help families underst...
2023-05-2114 minThe Photo DetectiveAn Underutilized Resource: The Newberry LibraryThis week Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective, is joined by Will Hansen, the Director of Reader Services and Curator of Americana at the Newberry Library in Chicago. Will and Maureen discuss several collections at Newberry Library, including their 1.6 million books, 600,000 different maps, and one collection with 44 glass lantern slides that document the great migration of African Americans from the South to the North. The two also discuss a fan favorite – postcards! There are currently 600,000 unique postcard images within the library.Related Episodes:Episode 99: Finding Photos on the Smithsonian Learning Lab
2023-05-0722 minThe Photo DetectiveNumbers to Names: A Holocaust Photo DatabaseThis week on the Photo Detective Podcast, Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective, is joined by Daniel Patt, a software engineer and descendant of three holocaust survivors. It’s this familial relation that inspired Daniel, in his spare time, to create an artificial intelligence platform called “From Numbers to Names” that aids those descended from individuals who faced the Holocaust to discover connections and photos of their loved ones. The project also aims to help identify the millions of unidentified faces in the Holocaust photo and video archives. It’s a project that all listeners should hear about...
2023-04-0229 minThe Photo DetectiveFound in an Attic, Returned to Family with Trevor MatteaThis week on The Photo Detective podcast, Maureen Taylor, the Photo Detective, is joined by Trevor Mattea. Trevor shares how finding a photo in his home’s attic helped inspire him to find who that photo belonged to – meaning the descendants of the people in the photo. This episode examines the intimate journey that can come from these so-called “orphan photos” and what a reunion looks like. Trevor reached out to Maureen for advice on what to do with the photo, and the two recount those steps and how to approach one of these ownerless photos to help find...
2023-03-3119 minThe Photo DetectiveThe Many Shades of Blue: Cyanotypes with Sabine OckerThis week Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective, is joined by Sabine Ocker, a photo collector and photo historian with over 500 snapshot albums in her collection. The two dive into cyanotypes as a popular format with young women attending one of the 7-sister colleges, as well as their shared love of the cyanotype process, and Sabine’s collection of women’s cyanotype snapshot albums. Related Episodes:Episode 196: Early Color Photos and More: The American Museum of Photography Episode 193 Stereographs with Pascal MartineLinks:
2023-03-2627 minThe Photo DetectiveChatGPT and Image Generators: What You Need to KnowThis week Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective, is joined by Carol Cox, the founder and CEO of Speaking Your Brand, a coaching and training company. Carol and Maureen tackle one of the biggest topics out there right now: writing with artificial intelligence. Specifically, the two discuss the new ChatGPT AI-- what it does and how it can be used. Their conversation might spark some ideas on how you can use it for your genealogy work. They also talk about image generators that use AI with surprising results.Related Episodes:Bonus Episode: Tintypes Made...
2023-03-1928 minThe Photo DetectiveRecipes on Gravestones with Rosie GrantThis week Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective, is joined by Rosie Grant, a part-time digital librarian at the American Jewish University, who recently went viral for her work with finding recipes on gravestones. The two discuss Rosie’s TikTok account ghostlyarchive and how these recipes imprinted on gravestones help continue to tell the story of someone who has long passed, as well as keep their special recipes alive for generations to come.Related Episodes:Episode 105: Women in the Dark with Katherine Manthorne Episode 49: Women Patriots with Mary...
2023-03-1226 minThe Photo DetectiveThe Story Behind President Lincoln's PortraitThis week Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective, is joined by Leonard Marcus, a leading writer about children’s books and the people who create them. The two discuss Leonard’s book Mr. Lincoln Sits for his Portrait and how Abraham Lincoln not only had a huge influence on the world of portraits – but how he may be responsible for some of the most famous photos today – all for believing in the technology behind a new device – the camera.Related Episodes:Episode 166: Picturing Frederick DouglassEpisode 167: Victorian Photo Studio Secrets
2023-02-1925 minThe Photo DetectiveTips for Organizing with Darla DeMorrow owner of HeartWork OrganizingThis week Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective, is joined by Certified Professional Organizer and owner of HeartWork Organizing, Darla DeMorrow. The two discuss how to organize a photo collection, and what it means to do so. They look at the work of a professional organizer, and how digital and tangible photos can be approached in organizing – as well as what Darla does professionally within the world of organizing.Related Episodes:Episode 179: How to Organize Photos Before Scanning with Nancy Desmond of MemoryWeb.meEpisode 164: Taking Care of Your Ho...
2023-01-2231 minThe Photo DetectiveOrganize with FileShadow.comThis week Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective, is joined by Jeff Looman, a software developer who is the Vice President of Engineering at FileShadow, Inc. FileShadow is a software platform that categorizes your files based on metadata and content. It’s a secure vault for all of your files. The two discuss how saving our images and documents, collaboration with family and friends, and preserving our digital footprint are critical components to preservation. Related Episodes:Episode 134: Unlocking the Shoebox : Digitize, Identify and Organize Family PhotosEpisode 95: How...
2023-01-0834 minThe Photo DetectiveA Conversation with Kenyatta D. BerryThis week Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective, is joined by Kenyatta D. Berry, author of The Family History Toolkit, and host of PBS’ Genealogy Roadshow.The two discuss professional genealogy, and how stories that have been forgotten in history are often the ones that can teach us the most. They also delve into what it means to have your family history, and why you should share it. Related Episodes:Episode 190: Writing Genealogical Crime Mysteries with Nathan Dylan GoodwinEpisode 176: Ancestor Trouble with Author Maud Newton
2022-12-1824 minThe Photo DetectiveA Sewing Girl's Tale with John Wood SweetThis week Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective, is joined by John Wood Sweet, a professor of history at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, and author.The two discuss his book The Sewing Girls Tale: A Story of Crime and Consequences in Revolutionary America and how narrative nonfiction helps us, the reader, get a glimpse into the past in ways we may have never thought were possible.Related Episodes:Episode 191: Mathew Pearl on Narrative Non-Fiction and The Taking of Jemima BooneEpisode 166: Picturing Frederick Douglass
2022-12-0438 minThe Photo DetectiveWhat You Need to Know About Heraldry with Dr. Nathaniel TaylorThis week Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective, is joined by Dr. Nathaniel Taylor, the Editor and Publisher of The American Genealogist. As a former medieval and modern history professor, Dr. Taylor’s genealogical research spans from medieval Spain all the way to colonial New England and Virginia. Through this, Dr. Taylor has become an expert in heraldry.The two discuss what heraldry means, how to learn about its customs and traditions, and how Dr. Taylor’s knowledge of heraldry has helped him in his genealogy work. Related Episodes:Episo...
2022-11-2028 minThe Photo DetectiveEarly Color Photographs and More: American Museum of Photography™This week Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective, is joined by Bill Becker, who is the curator of The American Museum of Photography, as well as an award-winning author, and Emmy-award winner for his writing and production work. The two discuss the importance of imagery, storytelling, and preservation through images.Related Episodes:Episode 173: Cabinet Cards of Broadway and Silver Screen StarsEpisode 167: Victorian Photo Studio SecretsLinks:American Museum of PhotographyThe Daguerreian SocietySign up for my newsletter.Watch my Yo...
2022-11-1334 minThe Photo DetectiveImperfect History with Curator Sarah WeatherwaxThis week Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective, is joined by Sarah Weatherwax, Senior Curator of Graphic Arts at the Library Company of Philadelphia. Sarah has worked at the Library Company for nearly thirty years. From political cartoons to incredible daguerrotypes, these images are preserved for generations to come at the Library. In addition, the two discuss visual literacy and how this can be key for working with any type of image.Related Episodes:Episode 182: The Archive Lady, Melissa BarkerEpisode 165: Reading the Clues in World War I...
2022-11-0628 minThe Photo DetectiveKatherine Howe on Writing from the Salem Witches to Gloria VanderbiltThis week, Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective, is joined by New York Times bestselling author Katherine Howe. Katherine and Maureen discuss how history and major events in our past have inspired Katherine’s work. To her surprise, her genealogy yielded an unexpected connection to some of her charactersRelated Episodes:Episode 190: Writing Genealogical Crime Mysteries with Nathan Dylan GoodwinEpisode 189: Mathew Pearl on Narrative Non-Fiction and the Taking of Jemima BooneLinks:Katherine HoweSign up for my newsletter.Watch my Yo...
2022-10-3031 minThe Photo DetectiveBiograph: A Facebook Alternative with Co-founder Aaron GreenbergThis week Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective, is joined by Dr. Aaron Greenburg, who is the co-founder of Biography, a platform that reinvents the way we tell stories. The two discuss the art of storytelling, how to share those stories, and how Biograph can help. Related Episodes:Episode 187: Building a Story with the Ancestry.com AppEpisode 98: Collect Photo Stories with StoryGloryLinks:BiographSign up for my newsletter.Watch my YouTube Channel.Like the Photo Detective Facebook Page so you g...
2022-10-2323 minThe Photo DetectiveStereographs with Pascal Martiné of Stereosite.comThis week Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective, is joined by Pascal Martine. The two discuss Pascal’s collection of wooden stereo photo viewers, both handheld and tabletop, as well as how his collection began out of a love for the nostalgia he had for his childhood Viewmaster. In 2019, he built his own stereo rig in order to take modern stereo photos and then documented his journey on social media.Related Episodes:Episode 173: Cabinet Cards of Broadway and Silver Screen Stars with David ShieldsEpisode 170: Snapshot Cameras in Your Family with Peter Dumas...
2022-10-1627 minThe Photo DetectivePhoto Reminiscence Therapy and Family Photos with Rick Voight of Vivid-PixThis week Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective, is joined by Rick Voight, CEO and Co-founder of Vivid-Pix. Maureen and Rick discuss how he and Vivid-Pix are working with Photo Reminiscence Therapy in order to help individuals with cognitive decline, or memory issues. This process is a way of helping individuals reconnect with their past, with the latest technology from Vivid-Pix.Related Episodes:Episode 126: Passed and Present–Keeping Memories of Loved Ones Alive with Allison GilbertEpisode 37: What’s New with Vivid-Pix RestoreLinks:
2022-10-0920 minThe Photo DetectiveMatthew Pearl on Narrative Non-Fiction & The Taking of Jemima BooneThis week Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective, is joined by New York Times bestselling author, Matthew Pearl. He and Maureen discuss the differences between fiction and non-fiction writing, and how little details from our history can change the course of the stories that we tell.Related Episodes:Episode 189: Historical Fiction Revealed with Carrie Deming of the Dog-Eared BookEpisode 190: Writing Genealogical Crime Mysteries with Nathan Dylan GoodwinLinks:Matthew Pearl’s websiteTruly AdventurousSign up for my newsletter.Watch my YouTube Ch...
2022-10-0225 minThe Photo DetectiveWriting Genealogical Crime MysteriesThis week Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective, is joined by author, genealogist, and educator Nathan Dylan Goodwin. Nathan and Maureen discuss how writing, genealogy, and historical fiction intersect, and what it means to write for each. His successful Forensic Genealogist series features a mystery-solving genealogist Morton Farrier who applies genealogical research techniques to crimes.Related Episodes:Episode 176: Ancestor Trouble with author Maud NewtonEpisode 94: Dead Still: Postmortem Photography and Crime Fiction on Acorn TVLinks:Nathan Dylan GoodwinSign up for...
2022-09-1825 minThe Photo DetectiveHistorical Fiction Revealed with Carrie Deming of The Dog Eared BookThis week Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective, is joined by Carrie Deming, the owner of The Dog Eared Book in Palmyra (NY). Carrie and Maureen discuss historical fiction, its rise in popularity, especially on social media, and how there are many different genres of historical fiction that not many know about. It’s a great conversation about the fans behind not only historical fiction, but books in general, too. She’s created New Book Tuesday on her TikTok channel. Related Episodes:Episode 120: Good Pictures: Amateur Photography and Our FamilyEpi...
2022-09-1132 minThe Photo DetectiveReading with Robin's Historical Fiction PicksThis week Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective, is joined by Robin Kall, who has been the host of “Reading with Robin,” for the past two decades. She chronicles “can’t miss” authors, and facilitates discussions on some of the most popular books of the present day. She and Maureen decide to dive into one of their shared favorite topics: historical fiction. The two discuss what makes books popular, and why we’re drawn to inserting ourselves into these stories, much like we would when looking at an ancestor’s photo.Related Episodes: Episode 168: We're All Relat...
2022-09-0424 minThe Photo DetectiveBuilding a Story with the Ancestry AppThis week Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective, is joined by Jordan Lundskog, a Product Manager at Ancestry.com. The two discuss using the new story feature in the Ancestry.com app. A partnership with Photomyne allows users to add and edit photos within the app. Jordan explains how it all works and how easy it is to create a story.Related Episodes:Episode 177: Wild about Wildcards with Amy Johnson CrowEpisode 98: Collect Stories with StoryGloryLinks:Ancestry.comSign up for...
2022-08-2125 minThe Photo DetectiveFashion History on Twitter with Dr. Kate StrasdinThis week Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective, is joined by Dr. Kate Strasdin, author and honorary deputy curator at the Totnes Fashion and Textile Museum. She was behind the exhibition in Bath, England, that was named one of the top twelve exhibitions of the year by Vogue Magazine.The two discuss historical fashion, and how our ancestors worked with textiles to modify their wardrobes, as well as how we can preserve these garments, and even how the people of the past tried to.Related Episodes:Episode 85: Pin-Up Photos...
2022-08-1431 minThe Photo DetectiveGenealogy on TikTok with Gwyneth.StoriesThis week Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective, is joined by Gwyneth of Gwyneths.Stories on TikTok. For the past year, Gwyneth has been tackling family history stories by making videos for her followers on the platform. While a relative “newcomer,” to family history, she’s found a passion and love for the storytelling she can do through genealogy. Related Episodes:Episode 181: Clothing Care at the New Canaan Historical SocietyEpisode 176: Ancestor Trouble with Maud NewtonLinks:Sign up for my newslet...
2022-08-0721 minThe Photo DetectiveByte4Byte: Permanent.org's Grant for Non-ProfitsThis week, Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective, is joined by Amanda Meeks, Community and Partnerships Manager at Permanent.org. The two discuss Permanent’s initiative, Byte4Byte, which provides digital storage grants for non-profits across the country, as well as internationally, to enable them to save and share collections. Any size group can apply for grants and internship support.Related Episodes:Episode 161: Creating a Digital Archive with Permanent.orgEpisode 95: How to Save Your Family Archive on Permanent.orgLinks:By...
2022-07-2421 minThe Photo DetectiveHistory Galore at the Maine Memory Network with Kathy AmorosoThis week, Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective, is joined by Kathy Amoroso, the Manager of Information Technology at the Maine Historical Society. She also serves as the Outreach Coordinator of the Maine Memory Network (MMN), a collaborative project with historical societies and other historical non-profits across the state. Anyone can access the site, and they encourage users to share their Maine recollections. Kathy and Maureen discuss the different records that MMN has, all of which can inspire your own research.Related Episodes:Episode 84: U.S. Naval Photo Collections: Online...
2022-07-1723 minThe Photo DetectiveThe Archive Lady Melissa BarkerThis week Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective, is joined by Melissa Barker, who is known affectionately as The Archive Lady and is a Certified Archives Manager and Public Historian, currently working at the Houston County Tennessee Archives & Museum. The two discuss how archives and genealogy overlap, how you can preserve your ancestor’s heritage through archives, and how sometimes an archive can help you discover something about your ancestor that you never knew.Related Episodes:Episode 56 Disaster Preparedness for the Family ArchiveEpisode 82: Building an Arc...
2022-07-1039 minThe Photo DetectiveClothing Care at the New Canaan Historical SocietyThis week Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective, is joined by Michael Murphy, Librarian, and Archivist, as well as Charlotte Engel, who is the clothing historian from the New Canaan Historical Society. The two have been making the rounds on TikTok lately for using behind-the-scenes footage to educate their followers more about exhibits and historical clothing. The two also dive into how they care for historical clothing in an effort to preserve it and help educate future generations about the past through clothing.Related Episodes:Episode 127 Beautiful but Deadly: Toxic...
2022-07-0323 minThe Photo DetectivePhotos, Memories, and English Genealogy with Emma JollyThis week Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective, is joined by Emma Jolly, a professional genealogist and historical researcher, based in Edinburgh, Scotland. She and Maureen dive into British ancestry, and how you can begin your research, or even elevate it for those records you may be missing. She was one of the researchers on an episode of the Wedding Detectives on the BBC.Related Episodes:Episode 31: A World War I ResourceEpisode 132: The Wedding DetectivesLinks:Emma JollyThe Wedding DetectivesSign...
2022-06-1927 minThe Photo DetectiveHow to Organize Photos Before Scanning with Nancy DesmondThis week Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective, is joined by Nancy Desmond, one of the co-founders of MemoryWeb, a platform dedicated to helping individuals save and store their family photos. In this episode, they discuss how to organize photos before uploading – which makes the process easier and even more fun for those digging into their photo collections. Related Episodes:Episode 134: Unlocking the ShoeboxEpisode 50: Scan Your Photos with Mitch GoldstoneLinks:Sign up for my newsletter.Watch my YouTube Channel.Lik...
2022-06-1226 minThe Photo DetectiveAn Iconic WWII Photo IdentifiedThis week Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective, is joined by Lawrence Verria, whose first book The Kissing Sailor, takes a look at an iconic World War II photo and how to identify it. In the perfect intersection between history and photo identification, Maureen and Lawrence discuss this famous photo, and how even a photo icon can leave plenty of mystery, and twists and turns to discover the answers. Related Episodes: Episode 75: One Man's World War I JourneyEpisode 105: Women in the Dark: Female Photographers, 1850-1900Links: Sig...
2022-06-0520 minThe Photo DetectiveAncestor Trouble with Maud NewtonThis week Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective, is joined by author Maud Newton – who recently published Ancestor Trouble: A Reckoning and Reconciliation. She and Maureen dive into what it means to have a skeleton in the closet, or an ancestor who didn’t live up to the same standards we do. It’s the embarrassing and shameful actions of our ancestors – and what to do about it – that drive this conversation. Or, as we discuss in the episode, “Everybody’s family is different and everybody’s family has something, even if they don’t admit it.”Related Episodes...
2022-05-1530 minThe Photo DetectiveCabinet Card Photos Transformed Into Art with Tom ButlerThis week, Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective, is joined by Tom Butler, an artist whose work may be controversial to some listeners. Tom uses unidentified cabinet cards to create art, often altering the original image to enhance them, which begs the question if he is destroying the image, or creating something even better than before.Related Episodes:Bonus Episode: Stitching on Pictures with Stitchography by EmmaEpisode 153: Ellis Island Immigrant Photo IdentifiedLinks:Sign up for my newsletter.Watch my...
2022-05-0824 minThe Photo DetectiveA Case of Mistaken Identity: Sue's Wedding Photo ReunionThis week, Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective, is joined by Greg Kozlick, who helped reunite a woman with long-lost wedding photos – in the story of a photo reunion that’s sure to tug on the heartstrings. Related Episodes:Episode 32: The Man Behind Dead FredBonus: Lost history Discovered in the Recycling with Paul MoarLinks:Returning the SlidesSign up for my newsletter.Watch my YouTube Channel.Like the Photo Detective Facebook Page so you get notified of my Facebook Live video...
2022-05-0112 minThe Photo DetectiveCabinet Cards of Broadway and Silver Screen Stars with David ShieldsThis week Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective, is joined by David Shields, Carolina Distinguished Professor at the University of South Carolina. The two discuss his work with cabinet cards, Motion Picture Photography, and the history of stars of the silver screen as told through images. Related Episodes:Episode 169: How to Spot a Daguerreotype Copy Episode 166: Picturing Frederick DouglassLinks:David Shield collection on PinterestSign up for my newsletter.Watch my YouTube Channel.Like the Photo Detective Facebook Page so...
2022-04-1734 minThe Photo DetectiveVintage Photo Finds with B. Wells DouglasThis week Maureen Taylor, the Photo Detective, is joined by B. Wells Douglas, a professional photographer who has quite the following on the social media platform TikTok.B. Wells looks at slides that he’s found and digs deeper into their meaning, looking at who is in the photographs, and trying to examine why they may have been taken, who is in the photos, and what story they tell. He also dives into what it means to be able to afford camera equipment, and how our ancestor’s socioeconomic status often influences just how many photo...
2022-04-1022 minThe Photo DetectiveMake Your Ancestors Talk with MyHeritage.com's LIVE StoryMaureen Taylor, The Photo Detective, is joined this week by Daniel Horowitz, Genealogist for MyHeritage. Daniel visits the podcast to discuss some of MemoryWeb’s new features, which are taking the internet by storm, or as he says, are “Cool and controversial all the same time.” With these new features, you can actually hear your ancestor “read” their life story back to you with a voice generated by MyHeritage. In addition, other new features are being developed and introduced in order to help attract new genealogy enthusiasts, as well as other new tools that MyHeritage has recently rolled out...
2022-04-0323 minThe Photo DetectiveSnapshot Cameras in Your Family with Peter DumasThis week Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective, is joined by Peter Dumas who owns Picture This Antiques in Massachusetts. While he initially began working with vintage print advertising, he now has expanded to sell antique and vintage cameras.Peter and Maureen discuss cameras, snapshots, and photography with vintage cameras, as well as how the progression of digital technology has helped the expansion of the camera industry. They specifically look at the history of Kodak, Epson scanners, and Polaroid cameras, as well as how camera collecting can be a wonderful hobby. Related Episodes:
2022-03-2023 minThe Photo DetectiveHow to Spot a Daguerreotype Copy with Erin WatersThis week Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective, is joined by Erin Waters, who has taken over the family business of FineDags.com, a website that’s dedicated to helping individuals purchase daguerreotypes and understand more about their history. Maureen and Erin talk about how to spot paper photocopies of daguerreotypes Related Episodes:Episode 105: Women in the Dark: Female Photographers in the US 1850-1900Episode 122: Reproducing History and Protecting the Past: One Cased Image at a TimeLinks:FineDags.comSi...
2022-03-1323 minThe Photo DetectiveWe're All Related with A.J. JacobsThis week Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective, is joined by AJ Jacobs, who is the author of multiple New York Times Best Sellers. He and Maureen talk about how we’re all related – somehow. AJ’s work delves deep into how we’re all interconnected, and not only what that means, but how we can use that principle to approach our everyday lives. Related Episodes:Episode 153: Ellis Island Immigrant Photos IdentifiedEpisode 162 Preserving Your Life with Gaylord ArchivalLinks:Sign up for my...
2022-03-0627 minThe Photo DetectiveVictorian Photo Studio SecretsMaureen Taylor, The Photo Detective, is joined today by Dave Wilson, who owns a Victorian Photography Studio in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Dave focuses on creating authentic tintypes and ambrotypes, focusing on small details from recreating Victorian poses, clothing, and style in the images. He explains his process for getting a photo “just right,” how he uses his camera to get the best side of his subjects, and how he goes about the chemical process for all of his work. Related Episodes:Episode 114: Modern Tintypes with Photographer Josh WoolBonus Episode Tintypes Made for M...
2022-02-2023 minThe Photo DetectiveReading the Clues in World War One Snapshots with Curator Lora VogtMaureen Taylor, The Photo Detective, is joined this week by Lora Vogt, who is the Curator of Education at the National WWI Museum and Memorial. She and Maureen discuss what was happening during WWI, and how photographs, amateur photographers, civilians, and soldiers, helped document a time that felt chaotic and ever-changing around them. They delve into the importance of photography and how it can be stabilizing in a word that’s only constant is change. Related Episodes:Episode 75: One Man’s World War One JourneyEpisode 31: An Online World War One...
2022-02-0633 minThe Photo DetectiveTaking Care of Your Home Movies with Becca BenderThis week, Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective, is joined by Becca Bender, the Curator, and Archivist of Moving Image and Audio Collections at the Rhode Island Historical Society. The two discuss the necessity of preserving home movies for genealogists, and how movie preservation gives insight into the lives of individuals in the past. Related Episodes:Episode 75: One Man’s World War I JourneyEpisode 65: Lost Films Needs Your Help! with Eli SavadaLinks:Sign up for my newsletter.Watch my YouTube Channel.Like the Photo Detective Facebook Page so you get...
2022-01-2338 minThe Photo DetectiveSaving the Sounds of Our Past with the New York Public LibraryThis week Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective, is joined by Danielle Cordovez, who is a senior librarian for the Music and Recorded Sound Division at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. She and Maureen discuss how sound and music are achieved, and why that matters. They discuss how something as simple as a sound recording can show us how a generation speaks, and fill in clues that we may not know about our past. Related Episodes:Episode 137: Using Twitter for a Photo ReunionEpisode 127 Beautiful but Deadly: Toxic Fashion and C...
2022-01-1622 minThe Photo DetectivePreserving Your Life with Gaylord ArchivalThis week Maureen Taylor, the Photo Detective, is joined by Ariel Servadio, from Gaylord Archival, who helps museums and conservation professionals preserve our cultural heritage. Ariel and Ronda Buck developed YourStory™, a collection of the same archival-quality materials professionals use to make it simple for genealogists to preserve their own family history.Save 25 % on your Gaylord.com purchase with coupon code PD25 Save $10. on a single photo consult on MaureenTaylor.com with coupon code podcastRelated Episodes:Episode 109: Portable Photo Preservation with ShotboxEpisode 103: Collect, Preserve and Share with Colle...
2022-01-0924 minThe Photo DetectiveCreating a Digital Archive with Permanent.orgThis week Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective, is joined by Amberly Russell, the Preservations Services Manager for the Permanent Legacy Foundation. Permanent is a platform dedicated to allowing individual users to preserve their photos, just as a museum would, through a digital platform. Related Episodes:Episode 95: How to Save Your Family Archive with Permanent.orgEpisode 92: What You Need to Know About Metadata with Christopher Desmond of MemoryWeb.meLinks:Sign up for my newsletter.Watch my YouTube Channel.Like the Photo Detective Facebook Page so you get notified of m...
2022-01-0223 minThe Photo DetectiveAsk Maureen December 2021Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective, is back with her monthly “Ask Maureen” series in which she answers questions submitted by her followers about photos and photo-related items.In this month’s episode, Maureen tackles:How to donate material to an archiveShould you keep the folios that come with photosResearching a photo mystery from Moldavia… and more!Give the episode a listen and find out the answers to these questions. Related Episodes:Episode 156 Ask Maureen November 2021Episode 152: Ask Maureen October 2021Links:Sign up for my newslette...
2021-12-2622 minThe Photo DetectiveFind Your Family Farm on VintageAerial.comThis week, The Photo Detective, Maureen Taylor, takes a look back at one of her favorite podcast episodes from the past year as she examines VintageAerial.com, a project dedicated to chronicling the rural areas of the United States. Maureen is joined by Fritz Byers, President, and CEO of VintageAerial.com, and Lance Roper of Customer Engagement as they discuss the need for preserving these areas and how the site has become dedicated to chronicling over 18 million images, all available for public use. Related Episodes:Episode 108: Researching the Ships of Our An...
2021-12-0535 minThe Photo DetectiveAsk Maureen November 2021Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective, is back with her monthly “Ask Maureen” series in which she answers questions submitted by her followers about photos and photo-related items.In this month’s episode, Maureen tackles:How to tell if a painting frame is old, new, or importantHow to store and preserve glass slidesHow to scan in images with low resolutionWhat lantern slides are… and more!Give the episode a listen and find out the answers to these questions. Join Maureen on her Facebook at the end of every month to submit your questions and have them answered...
2021-11-2817 minThe Photo DetectiveAncestral Handbag History with Curator Jessica HarpleyThis week, Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective, is joined by Jessica Rose Harpley, an Assistant Curator at The Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Specifically, Jessica works in the Department of Performance, Furniture, and Textiles. Maureen and Jessica discuss one of Victoria and Albert’s latest exhibits which Jessica helped curate. Called, “Bags: Inside Out” the exhibit examines the role that bags, be it handbags, briefcases, and yes, the Queen’s tiny purses are mentioned, and what role they have played throughout the centuries in regards to fashion. From frivolousness to practicality, this episode looks at these accessori...
2021-11-2132 minThe Photo DetectiveWalking Sticks and Canes in Family PhotographsThis week, the Photo Detective, Maureen Taylor is joined by Anthony Moss, a rabologist, or collector of walking sticks. He is the joint chairman of The Antique Walking Cane Society, a member of The International Society of Cane Collectors, based in the United States, and a speaker at Canemania, an international cane convention. I’m sure with a biography like that, you’re pretty sure what this podcast episode is about. After Anthony’s wife purchased him two canes, he became obsessed and started to collect them. We talk about walking sticks as an accessory, as a necessi...
2021-11-1534 minThe Photo DetectiveAsk Maureen October 2021 In this month’s episode:*What did cabinet cards, cost?*What are the numbers on the back of snapshots?*What about writing on the back of photographs?*How can I determine if two photos are of the same person?Related Episodes:Episode 138: Ask Maureen July 2021 EditionEpisode 125: Ask Maureen April 2021 EditionLinks:Vivid-Pix RestoreSign up for my newsletter.Watch my YouTube Channel.Like the Photo Detective Facebook Page so you get notified of my Facebook Live videos.Need help organizing you...
2021-10-3117 minThe Photo DetectiveAsk Maureen: September 2021This month’s Q & A is a themed podcast on postcards. Thank you to everyone that mailed me a postcard! Related Episodes:Episode 143: Ask Maureen September 2021Episode 138: Ask Maureen July 2021Links:Sign up for my newsletter.Watch my YouTube Channel.Like the Photo Detective Facebook Page so you get notified of my Facebook Live videos.Need help organizing your photos? Check out the Essential Photo Organizing Video Course.Need help identifying family photos? Check out the Identifying Family Photographs Online Course.Have a photo you need help...
2021-09-2526 minThe Photo DetectiveAsk Maureen: August 2021 EditionEvery month Maureen does a live Q & A on Facebook and YouTube answering questions submitted by listeners. Have a question? Email her at photodetective@maureentaylor.comThis month’s questions:How did Maureen become The Photo Detective?Summertime hazards for photosDisaster planning tipsDid snapshots get mounted on card stock? Related Episodes:Episode 138: Ask Maureen. July 2021 EditionEpisode 125: Ask Maureen. April 2021 EditionLinks:Sign up for my newsletter.Watch my YouTube Channel.Like the Photo Detective Facebook Page so you get notified of my Facebook Live videos.Need...
2021-08-2922 minThe Photo DetectiveAsk Maureen July 2021 EditionEvery month, Maureen tackles photo identification, photo preservation questions from those submitted through social media and email. You can submit a question through photodetective@maureentaylor.comThis month’s questions:After scanning portraits, what to do concerning saving or discarding the card stock photo frame/folders. Will that card stock damage the photo long-term?What should I use to mark the back of un-mounted tintypes?I inherited family pictures that are incredibly old. Many of them are in old scrapbooks that are slowly deteriorating with age. I know there are facts written on the back of ma...
2021-07-2515 minThe Photo DetectiveAsk Maureen: May 2021Each month Maureen answers questions from listeners. When scanning cabinet cards, do you only do one scan of the entire front of the card which would include the border & photographer logo, or do you also make a 2nd scan of just the photo itself?Carol asked: I have a picture of my GG grandmother (1829-1901). She is elderly in the picture & wearing small hoop earrings. It appears that her ears are pierced. Was it common in the 1800s for an older woman to have pierced ears? Did they go out of fashion in the twentieth century?Does MyHeritage own m...
2021-05-3017 minThe Photo DetectiveAsk Maureen: April 2021At the end of every month, I answer questions from listeners.How do I safely remove photos from a spiral-bound album?The kind with the sticky page covered with a sheet of cellophane Celia, that’s called a magnetic album and they were really, really popular and you can still buy them today.There are so many family tree sites. How do we know which one might be best for us? Well, it depends because they’re all a little bit different.What is the best way to scan pictures from a ye...
2021-04-2524 minThe Photo DetectiveAsk Maureen: March 2021 EditionIn this monthly podcast, Maureen shares questions received via email and through social media.Can you tell us about changing exposure times for photographic portraits and why people didn’t smile for pictures?Do you have a good resource for looking up photographer names by location and years they were active?Is there a good resource for dating children’s clothing styles?How can I preserve a rusty tintype?Can you determine the financial status of a person in a portrait?What can you do with deteriorating Polaroids?Related Episodes:Episode 117: Ask Maureen February 2021Ep...
2021-03-2820 minThe Photo DetectiveAsk Maureen: February 2021 EditionIn this episode, I answer your photo questions submitted through my social media accounts and via email.I have dozens of large photo albums that were put together by my grandfather and father from the 1980s to the present. Do I take all the photos out of the pages (4/page) or scan the whole page?I am trying to identify people in a large group photo. What is a good procedure for “blowing up” individual faces and comparing them to other photos of possibly the same person?How many backups of digital photos are a good idea?When did...
2021-02-2819 minThe Photo DetectiveAsk Maureen: January 2021 EditionIn this new series, you ask the questions and Maureen answers. You can email her questions at photodetective@maureentaylor.com In this edition she talks about an interesting Spanish-American War image, a type of skirt worn by women in the 1920s, and how to resize images. It’s a potpourri of photo related inquires.Related Episodes:Episode 80: Photo Fun While Stuck in the HouseLinks:View the Spanish American War image.Sign up for my newsletter.Watch my YouTube Channel.Like the Photo Detective Facebook Page so you get notified of my Fa...
2021-01-3110 min
The Photo DetectiveFamily History VideosIn this episode of Ask Maureen, Maureen Taylor, the Photo Detective, shares:What do you see in a photo?Photo Preservation TipsNext Month I have a big surprise. A new class. It's in response to the survey many of my readers participated in.Listen in on Extreme Genes to a discussion on houses in photos and on their new Patreon site for a discussion of Reverse Genealogy and Photographs.Thank you for listening.ResourcesSchedule a Photo Consult with Maureen.Join Maureen on Instagram for photo identification and preservation tips.Extreme Genes and their n...
2017-09-2620 min