Hello from the Tonkawa Historical Society!I’d like to talk about family photos for a moment. Most of us have boxes or albums stored away at home somewhere. As photographs are passed down through family generations, we often find ourselves with a collection of faces from the past; some we recognize and some we do not.One way to piece together the mysteries and keep these ancestor’s stories alive is to start with dating the photograph. Here are several tips to help you date your photographs:1. Check for written cluesThis might seem most obvious but if you can’t seem to find a name or date look for the photographer’s studio name. If so, you could do some research on the history of the studio.2. Analyze the fashion and hairstylesWe can tell a lot by looking at length of skirts and the way the women are wearing their hairstyle. Hats and glasses are other items that might give away some clues.3. Study the background of the photo.Look for cars, businesses or even kitchen decor to find out what decade you might be looking at.4. Consider the type of material the photo is made from. Is it a tintype? A cabinet card? Glossy paper? Is it black and white?There are many good resources easily found on Amazon that can help you determine the age of your photos.“Tracing your Ancestors through Family Photographs” by Jayne Shrimpton“Dating Old Photographs” by Halvor MoorsheadIf you have the time, take a look through your photos that you will pass on to your kids or family. Make some notes! Attach some pages of memories if you have them. Provide all the information that you personally can. Your family will be so thankful you did!