Gifted and Talented spring nominations

This is a wonderful time of year to get in your car and take that genealogical trip that you have been planning to do for years It is a good time to visit and interview relatives, perform research in libraries, explore cemeteries, visit courthouses and locate old family photographs

As we search for the facts about our relatives and ancestors, we should research the photographs that we collect How many times have you heard about people throwing old photographs into the garbage or placing them in garage sales or flea markets because they could not be identified?

I suggest that if photographs are part of your ancestral archive, even if they are not identified, save them Photographs can be compared for likenesses and perhaps with time and research, you will be able to identify the subjects.

Here are some helpful tips to the process of identifying and cataloging family photos:

1 Besides the human image, what other identifying clues are there in the photographs Are there any notes, dates or locations somewhere in the photo? Check the back and the bottom of the photo for imprints of the photographer. Since this was a form of advertisement, photographers often included their location Normally, people went to a studio to have photographs taken, however, don’t

2 Can you identify the time period of the photograph by the ages of the subjects, the style of clothing, props (furniture), hairstyles, interiors of houses? Look for a favorite book, toy or some other personal object

3. Ask relatives about the people in the photographs or their settings Write down any hints about who they think the subject might be

4. Measure the photograph. The size of the photographs can indicate time periods when specific sizes were popular Cabinet cards were mounted on a card and typically measured 4 25x6 5 inches and were popular from about 1866 to 1900 Cartes-de-visite were also card mounted, but were smaller, typically 2.4x4 inches They were introduced in the mid 1850s and were popular until almost 1900 Other types of photography such as ambrotypes, daguerreotypes, tintypes and postcards also give clues as to timeframe A previous column covered all of these types.

5 What is the condition of the photograph? Is it falling apart, torn, or faded? Is it an original or a photocopy? Consider scanning photos that are in poor condition so as to preserve the image before any more damage is done

6. If you are not in possession of the original, who has it? If it is in the possession of a relative, museum, or library, find out what their procedures or feelings are about allowing you to have it duplicated or scanned

There are several websites that will be most helpful in your search The George Eastman House web page contains a photographic timeline and searchable database pertaining to

Parents and teachers of students in grades 1st, 3rd, 4th, and 5th - 7th who wish to nominate their child/student to be screened for possible placement in the Howe ISD GT Program for the 2015-2016 school year may pick up a nomination packet from their campus office beginning Feb 23, 2015

Nomination forms must be filled out completely and returned to the HES or HMS office by Friday, March 6 at 12:00 noon.

For more information, contact Tamela Shadden, Howe Elementary School, at 903532-3320 photographers http://wwweastman org Or go to http://phototechmag com/issue/marchapril-2013 This site contains numerous examples of each type of photography along with information on the procedures, the history of photography, info on dating photos, and a photo gallery.

So pack up the family and take some day trips to discover your ancestors.

Dr. Georgia Caraway, former director of the Denton County Museums for 14 years, will be clearing out the building at 107 East Haning Street It is crammed full of antiques and stuff The sale will begin Friday March 6 at 9:00 a m and go into the evening and Saturday March 7 from 9 a m On Saturday everything will be ½ price Caraway is opening the Howe Mercantile on Howe’s Founders Day, April 25 She has also written Tips, Tools, & Techniques: Caring for Your Antiques and Collectibles and four Denton history books