Find the Oldest Family Photo Possible
Search family albums, ask relatives, carefully examine dates, paper, and clothing styles, then scan or photograph the oldest family photo you can find.
Step-by-step guide to find the oldest family photo possible
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Step 1
Choose a comfy flat workspace to spread out your materials.
Step 2
Bring all the materials from the list to your workspace.
Step 3
Ask an adult to help you contact relatives to see if they have very old photos to look at.
Step 4
Open one family album at a time and lay it flat on the workspace.
Step 5
Use gloves or a clean soft cloth to carefully lift any loose photos.
Step 6
Look on the front and back of each photo for written dates or names.
Step 7
Use the magnifying glass to read tiny writing and write any dates or names in your notebook.
Step 8
Study the paper texture and clothing styles and write a short note guessing which photos might be oldest.
Step 9
Put a sticky note on each photo you think could be the oldest and label why in your notebook.
Step 10
Ask an adult to help you carefully photograph or scan the photo you believe is the oldest.
Step 11
Share your finished creation on DIY.org by posting the photo and a short note about how you decided it was the oldest.
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
What can I use instead of archival gloves, a magnifying glass, or a scanner if I don't have them?
Use clean cotton or nitrile dishwashing gloves or a soft clean cloth to handle photos, use your smartphone camera zoom or a reading app instead of a magnifying glass to read tiny writing, and follow 'Ask an adult to help you carefully photograph or scan the photo you believe is the oldest' by photographing with the phone if you lack a scanner.
What should I do if a photo is stuck to the album or starts to tear when I try to lift it?
Stop and ask an adult to helpâthey can gently ease a stuck photo with a thin spatula or photograph the photo in place rather than risking damage, following the step 'Use gloves or a clean soft cloth to carefully lift any loose photos' and then record notes in your notebook.
How can I adapt this activity for younger children or older kids who want more challenge?
For younger kids, focus on simple tasks like opening albums flat, looking on the front and back for names or dates, and placing sticky notes, while older kids can study paper texture and clothing styles, write detailed guesses in the notebook, contact relatives, and scan photos to post on DIY.org.
How can we extend or personalize this project after we find the oldest photo?
Turn your findings into a labeled family timeline or scrapbook using your notebook notes and the scanned or photographed image from 'Ask an adult to help you carefully photograph or scan the photo you believe is the oldest,' include the sticky-note reasons, and share the expanded story on DIY.org.
Watch videos on how to find the oldest family photo possible
The Life of a Photograph | National Geographic
4 Videos
The Life of a Photograph | National Geographic
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Stories Behind the Most Famous Photos in History
This Photograph Could Be Older Than the Camera Obscura
Facts about family history research
đ§Ÿ Cabinet cards and albumen prints from the late 1800s often include studio backmarks or mounting styles that help date old family photos.
đ Clothing stylesâlike women's crinolines or men's frock coatsâare great visual clues for estimating a photo's decade.
đȘ Daguerreotypes (popular in the 1840sâ1850s) are unique, mirror-like metal imagesâthere's no negative to make copies.
đ The earliest surviving permanent photograph, "View from the Window at Le Gras," was made by NicĂ©phore NiĂ©pce around 1826â1827.
đ ïž Tintypes (also called ferrotypes) were inexpensive metal-plate photos widely used at fairs and during the U.S. Civil War because they were quick and durable.
How do I help my child find the oldest family photo?
What materials do I need to find and preserve the oldest family photo?
What ages is this activity suitable for?
What are the benefits and safety tips for finding old family photos?
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