Who Is This?
March 28, 2014 by Luanne
One of the most frustrating aspects of this whole family photo/genealogy project is not being able to identify some of the photos. It’s bad enough to see the names and not know what the people looked like, but to actually have a photo in hand and not know which person or persons it represents is just maddening.
Take this one, for example.
This photo is from my the photographs my grandfather gave me, so these people were part of the Zuidweg/DeKorn/Paak family. But who were they? Is there a way to collect clues from the photo?
What do you notice about the photo?
And what could I investigate to learn more about it?
Like this:
Like Loading...
Related
Posted in DeKorn, Family History, Genealogy, Kalamazoo history, Kalamazoo late 1800s - early 1900s, Michigan history, Netherlands history, Paak, Peek, Photography early 20th century, Photography late 19th century, Zuidweg | Tagged DeKorn, DeKorn family, DeKorn genealogy, Dutch Genealogy, early 1900s, family history, genealogy, history of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo history, Paak genealogy, Peek family, Zuidweg surname | 38 Comments
This photo is from my the photographs my grandfather gave me, so these people were part of the Zuidweg/DeKorn/Paak family. But who were they? Is there a way to collect clues from the photo?
The Family Kalamazoo 
You may have already done this…but check with living relatives from his side…they might have the same picture. That is how I found the names of some of mine. Also, there are genealogy forums that have shared pics. GenForums is one of them.
Mrs P, I just heard the other day about a couple of these sites, but not this one. I’ll have to try it! I don’t know of any other relatives who have photos like this. I seem to have more than anybody. Thanks for your ideas!!
Yes it is aggravating we have some pictures of relatives from years ago and no one to tell us who they were.
Jim, how frustrating! Maybe you could try one of these sites where you can post old photos in case . . . . I will end up doing it and I’ll try to post here and let you know how it goes.
Thank you hope it does help you. Jim
I wonder what the big blank space was for. Autographs? Your grandfather had cool collection of pictures!
WJ, stellar question. I have no idea! Yes, WHY so much white space? Was it a certain type of camera, for instance? About the shape of a type of Christmas card haha.
What immediately impressed me is the eyes of the gentleman, in fact, his whole facial demeanor. I’d LOVE to meet this guy. He just looks very positive and happy-go-lucky, with a little spark of a practical joker. Great twinkling eyes. She, with her mouth turned down and her face practically a scowl, looks like she’s very practical and probably spent her life reigning him in!! It’s true, you know. Opposites do attract.
So you have no way of knowing if these are relatives, or friends of your grandfather? That’s quite frustrating. But here’s my encouragement: Count your blessings. At least you have pictures. I have very, very few. And am sometimes envious when I hear about the drawers or chests full others have. So we all deal with envy and frustration. It’s just the causes are different. Good luck tracing them down.
Wonderful powers of observation and description! And a great story to boot! Yes, I have pictures and feel very blessed by them. Thank you for your good wishes! We will see. I am on the trail now of George Paak, wondering if it could be him. Do you understand clothing of the late 1800s and early 1900s? I am wonder what time period the clothes are from. Also, how old do they look to you?
Thanks for stopping by!!!
My only thought is to look for other family members with similar features. As the previous commentator said, the man has very distinctive eyes. Do you know anyone else with eyes like that in your family? The woman has very thick lips. I’d look for that trait on some other family pictures.
The other clue is the clothing. It can at least give you a sense of the date, or do you already know that? It looks like it could be early 20th century, no?
I’ve never tried those photo sites—let us know how it goes. I’ve got a whole bunch of “mystery photos!” It just seems like such a long shot—but I guess you never know!
Good luck!
Amy, good ideas here. Now that you are asking me to focus on facial features, the man would probably be a blood relative, but not the woman. I think I probably have eyes similar to his–and so do some of my relatives. how old do they look to you? Do they both have gray hair? She clearly has gray hair because she has dark coloring and would have had dark hair before it began going gray. He gives the impression of a blond, but if he’s gray he could have had dark blond or brown hair originally.
I am terrible with knowing the date of clothing. Just awful. Everything between 1860 and 1920 looks the same to me ;).
As I’m chatting on here, I wonder if he’s a Paak. I’ll post a photo of my Paak great-great-grandmother. https://thefamilykalamazoo.wordpress.com/2013/02/04/meet-the-mother-of-cora-jennie-and-joseph/alice-paak-dekorn/
Oh, I definitely see a resemblance to your Paak GGGM! He does look fair, even if the hair is gray or white. The light eyes make him look very fair. I am not sure about the woman’s coloring.
I am bad at clothes also! But I bet one of those photo sites could definitely help with that. Is there any indication of the photo studio? I assume you have looked on the back of the picture.
Yes! I am glad you can see the resemblance, too. And I think the other sisters have similar looks.
Also, as far as age—I’d say 50s? They don’t look old to me (they look younger than I do around the eyes and mouth, I’d say), but people aged differently in the olden days before sun-worshipping. Definitely not in the 70s or beyond though.
George Paak was born in 1850. He was between wives 1900-1906. So let’s say it’s a wedding photo for wife #2 in 1906. That would make George 56, but it would make her too old as she was 8 years older than he (born 1842, if my records can be trusted). But a wedding photo would make sense, ya? In 1908 (apparently he was in the habit of burying wives) he married wife #3. She was born in 1862. So it was 1908, she would be 46, right? And he would be 58. Is that possible? I think yes for her. For him? There is a lot of light on his face, and it could be erasing some of his wrinkles. They had a daughter who married and had quite a few children, so there might be descendents today who could identify the photo or at least see if there are family resemblances.
The ages are so hard to determine. The photo could even be touched up. Although she hardly looks dressed like a bride, if she was 50+, I guess that’s understandable. She could be older than he is from the photo. I’d try the descendants. They might be able to identify him even if not her.
Now I’m talking to myself here. Amy’s questions made me wonder if this could be George Paak. He had 3 different wives, so if I can narrow down what year these clothes are and how old these people look, I might be able to figure out if it could be George. if you take a look at this Alice https://thefamilykalamazoo.wordpress.com/2013/02/04/meet-the-mother-of-cora-jennie-and-joseph/alice-paak-dekorn/ see if you think there is a resemblance.
Also, I have portraits of all the Paak girls, but not one that I know is George.
Are you able to scan the reverse side? If it’s a Dutch photo, there could be the name of a studio on the back. The place name could be a big clue!
Yvette, I scanned this one so long ago, that I have to figure out where the original is. One day I will pull out the photos I scanned and go through and scan the backs, which I should have done to begin with!!! I agree about the place name!!! Thanks!
I’m wondering about the back side and the folder. Any clues there? I heard someone recently share that they scan the backs of photos even if they look blank. Often in photoshop they can alter things until they see faint pencil writing that had faded to the naked eye but shows up when you adjust things. Good luck!
I need to pull out the photo and look at the back. What? Really? That would be amazing, wouldn’t it? GREAT idea.
I hope you find something helpful!
Me too! Thank you!
Luanne, I totally get your frustration with the unknowns. I have so many pictures that belonged to my mother, but she didn’t give a flip about the photos and never labeled anybody!
Your photo this post is fabulous, btw.
Keep after it – your work has been incredible and intriguing, too.
That must be completely frustrating. Do you suspect that a lot of them are friends and neighbors, as well as relatives. I think that would make it all so much more difficult. There are very few of my photos that are not actual relatives, so that helps narrow things down. Thanks so much for your encouragement, Sheila! It helps because sometimes I wonder why I do it ;)!
My Mom has gone through the same with a lot of our family photos. It is especially frustrating in one of the branches of the family as there were many similar names and similar faces.
I did break through a brick wall on one of my branches tonight. But, need to do a lot more research to verify some of it.
That sounds really exciting, Steven! I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you on this new breakthrough!
When there are a lot of siblings, it’s really difficult.
Hi! Family Tree magazine just had an article about identifying people in daguerreotypes and tintypes. It might help with ideas for your photo. It’s in the Jan/Feb 2014 edition, It is titled “Photographic Memories” and starts on page 42. I could scan it for you, if you’d like. I notice there’s another article about it on the magazine’s website but you have to pay to read the entire article. Hope this helps and Good Luck. ~ Nathan
Nathan, thank you so much! I’ll see if I can find it!
Thanks so much for the follow. I went to school at WMU and stayed on after I graduated, so I know Kzoo like the back of my hand.
Nate, that’s so exciting! But you’re in Chicago now?
Yes, I left Kzoo in 2001 for Ann Arbor, and left AA for Chicago in 2002. Been here ever since. It’s a great city.
Ugh, I can’t find it. Do you think you could scan it for me? I would really appreciate it. Let me know, but if it’s too much trouble, I understand!
Morning! I have the scan ready for you; I just need to know where to send it.
Have you been able to locate Edgar Dean Lawrence? I believe he teaches or taught at Central Bible College in Springfield, MO. I can’t find an email, but probably you could get one from the school? Anyway, good luck!
Oh, I looked and didn’t see anything.You are a better Googler than I am! Thanks, Amy!
My pleasure! I was so excited to see that you and he had connected. I get so much pleasure when I find a relative, so I figured you must also. Good luck! And report back.
Hi Luanne. I don’t have much time to join this thread in detail but would like to offer some ways I date photos. I try to use the styles of clothing to get a general time frame. Types of bodices, cravats, collars, jackets, etc. can give clues. Since this isn’t a full length photo it’s more difficult. I’d guesstimate late 19th century (1880s-1900 or so).