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'Dead Fred's Genealogy Photo Archive' is a free and fun research website devoted to helping people visualize their heritage. It currently has data on 22,927 surnames but the content is interesting to scroll through even if you're not related to any of them.

Whether it's a portrait of a Swedish mail carrier from 1900 or a French woman with a baguette in Paris half a century later, these shots provide vivid insights into how people looked and lived in the past.

More info: deadfred.com | Facebook

#1

Graduation Day 1939

Graduation Day 1939

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Rebelliousslug
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They look beautiful, and so proud. Who knew graduation photos have been a thing for so long

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#2

Stoney First Nation Member, Guide Samson Beaver With His Wife Leah And Their Daughter Frances Louise, 1907

Stoney First Nation Member, Guide Samson Beaver With His Wife Leah And Their Daughter Frances Louise, 1907

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The founder of this archive, Joe Bott, is of German descent. Interestingly, the origins for the name of the project can be traced to his great-great-grandfather who lived during the reign of Frederick III, a German Emperor and King of Prussia for 99 days between March and June 1888

By paying homage to Fredrick, the author aims to honor his own lineage and provide a venue by which people can tie the living present with the quiet past.

#3

Protesting The High School Dress Code That Banned Slacks For Girls, Brooklyn C.1940

Protesting The High School Dress Code That Banned Slacks For Girls, Brooklyn C.1940

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#4

Loti-Kee-Yah-Tede-The Chief’s Daughter Laguna Pueblo, New Mexico. 1905 Photo By Carl E. Moon

Loti-Kee-Yah-Tede-The Chief’s Daughter Laguna Pueblo, New Mexico. 1905 Photo By Carl E. Moon

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Raised in the Fairview section of Camden in Southern New Jersey, Joe Bott is married to Laurie Bott and has four children named Nathan, Jeremy, Matthew, and Andrew.

A husband, father, grandfather, and Manager of Research and Development at Tyson Foods, Inc., the avid photograph collector and mastermind behind 'Dead Fred's Genealogy Photo Archive' began developing the idea for the archive after accumulating thousands of old photos over the past 30 years.

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Eventually, Joe decided to transform his hobby into a full-time activity for his retirement and eventually got a few helping hands, too.

#6

Ladies Having Tea In The Scottish Highlands, Circa 1910

Ladies Having Tea In The Scottish Highlands, Circa 1910

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#7

5 Year Old Anne Frank .photographer Her Father Otto

5 Year Old Anne Frank .photographer Her Father Otto

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cecibenve avatar
There Is No Planet B
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Knowing what terrible fate awaits her and millions of other people, this innocent picture just breaks your heart😢

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Katy McMouse
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I know. Anytime I see the few images of her before they went into hiding, I think the same thing. It's hard to enjoy the image because of the heartbreak that you know is coming.

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Chewie Baron
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I do like how self assured she looks here. The only small comfort about her death is that thanks to her diary, she’ll always live on for as long as we have books. She’ll never be forgotten.

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LokisLilButterknife
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is heartbreaking. Her beautiful life and the life of so many other people was just tragically short by genocidal monster.

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Limey
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It is also a very stark reminder (as if we needed one) that the most normal of lives can be overturned and destroyed at the whim of one man and his cohorts… Just. Like. That.

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Maggie
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can hardly look at this, knowing what came later for her and her family.

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Zizzlestix
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A sad, sickening story. Poor young woman sold out by her neighbor.

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JP Purves
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think the family had a chance to emigrate to the U.S. (Otto Frank had worked there before his marriage), but Edith Frank didn't want to leave her family.

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#8

Settler Family, 1880s

Settler Family, 1880s

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#9

Portrait Of Inuit Girl, Nancy Columbia - By Gerhard Sisters - 1904

Portrait Of Inuit Girl, Nancy Columbia - By Gerhard Sisters - 1904

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One of the team members is Amanda Shertzer who develops the countless codes that govern 'Dead Fred's Genealogy Photo Archive' and ensures accurate and convenient searches for their visitors every time.

The other is copywriter Jeannette Balleza. She writes and edits promotional materials for the website and its related projects. With public relations as her primary focus, she assists in marketing and advertising efforts to both attract support and generate awareness for the site.

#11

1880 Fijian Man (Republic Of The Fiji Islands)

1880 Fijian Man (Republic Of The Fiji Islands)

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#12

This Photograph Was Taken In November 1909. It Shows Three Members Of The Payro Family Being “Photographed” By Their Cat: Edmund, Age 12, Ernest, Age 8, And Cecilia, Age 5

This Photograph Was Taken In November 1909. It Shows Three Members Of The Payro Family Being “Photographed” By Their Cat: Edmund, Age 12, Ernest, Age 8, And Cecilia, Age 5

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#13

Rural Mail Carrier In A Winter Uniform, 1900, Sweden

Rural Mail Carrier In A Winter Uniform, 1900, Sweden

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Learning about your family history can strengthen your sense of identity. Discovering more about your ancestors, celebrating family traditions, embracing your culture, and understanding where you came from can open your eyes to how beautiful and unique you are, boosting your sense of self-worth and belonging.

#14

1862 Us Union Soldier Cathy Williams. She Had To Pose As A Male To Be Enlisted..she Was Part Of The 38 Regiment,infantry Division And Was Called A Buffalo Soldier

1862 Us Union Soldier Cathy Williams. She Had To Pose As A Male To Be Enlisted..she Was Part Of The 38 Regiment,infantry Division And Was Called A Buffalo Soldier

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#15

"Sits Down Spotted"- Crow Nation, Fort Keogh, Montana, 1881

"Sits Down Spotted"- Crow Nation, Fort Keogh, Montana, 1881

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#16

Cutting A Sunbeam, England, 1886 By Adam Diston

Cutting A Sunbeam, England, 1886 By Adam Diston

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#17

Walking Her Dogs In The Hyde Park Dog’s Cemetery: The Final Resting Place To 1000+ Victorian-Era Pets Hides Inside The City Park

Walking Her Dogs In The Hyde Park Dog’s Cemetery: The Final Resting Place To 1000+ Victorian-Era Pets Hides Inside The City Park

The Hyde Park pet cemetery (originally the London Hyde Park Dog Cemetery and advertised as The Secret Pet Cemetery of Hyde Park) is a disused burial ground for animals in Hyde Park, London. It was established in 1880 or 1881 in the garden of Victoria Lodge, home of one of the park keepers. The cemetery became popular after the burial of a dog belonging to Sarah Fairbrother, wife of Prince George, Duke of Cambridge. Some 1,000 burials were carried out before the cemetery was generally closed in 1903; sporadic burials were carried out thereafter until 1976. Most of the animals are dogs, though some cats, monkeys and birds were also buried. The site is owned by the charity The Royal Parks and not open to the public except as part of occasional tours.

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Plus, there's another practical benefit of digging in the archives. Remember when you were filling out a patient history form for your healthcare provider and your mind went blank when it asked if cancer, high blood pressure, or diabetes ran in your family? Well, learning about your ancestors can help you avoid leaving those blank spaces in the future.

#18

"Daughter Of A Cornwall Copper Miner, 5x Bride, Free Australian Immigrant, Resident Of Far North Queensland, Mother Of 3, Laundress Worker, And Short-Term Resident Of New Zealand's North Island. All This In 55 Years Of Life

"Daughter Of A Cornwall Copper Miner, 5x Bride, Free Australian Immigrant, Resident Of Far North Queensland, Mother Of 3, Laundress Worker, And Short-Term Resident Of New Zealand's North Island. All This In 55 Years Of Life

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Jill Rhodry
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well this is quite curious - the image is held in Queensland State Library as: StateLibQld 1 68375 Woman seated in a chair at Cooktown, Queensland, 1880-1890 However, according to Lost Cairns & District FB page, this is Elizabeth Ann Burrows/Plane/Cruize/Liddy/Finn/Branson🤷‍♀️

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#19

Navajo Woman Weaving Blanket, Santa Fe, New Mexico Photographer: Christian G. Kaad 1900

Navajo Woman Weaving Blanket, Santa Fe, New Mexico Photographer: Christian G. Kaad 1900

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#20

Learning To Ride A Bicycle, Circa 1895. (Photo By William Gordon Davis)

Learning To Ride A Bicycle, Circa 1895. (Photo By William Gordon Davis)

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#21

Kentucky Pack-Horse Librarians: Appalachian Mountain Riders Deliver Books Through The Works Progress Administration (Wpa) Of The 1930s

Kentucky Pack-Horse Librarians: Appalachian Mountain Riders Deliver Books Through The Works Progress Administration (Wpa) Of The 1930s

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Eva Kašu
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I read a book about them...well, not very good, but the theme was awesome! (Jojo Moyes - The Giver of Stars)

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However, getting to know the people who came before us isn't just an essential introduction to our own country, ethnic heritage, and ancestry.

It's also a valuable tool when it comes to understanding the cultural identity of those who are different from us. Just look at these pictures, don't they make you want to learn about other regions, nations and their customs?

#23

Mother And Her Sisters: 1912 The Gaudreau Sisters Of Stanbridge East, Quebec, 1912

Mother And Her Sisters: 1912 The Gaudreau Sisters Of Stanbridge East, Quebec, 1912

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#24

John Merrick And His Three Daughters, Geneva ,marel, And Martha .1909

John Merrick And His Three Daughters, Geneva ,marel, And Martha .1909

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#25

Hop Pickers On Stilts In Faversham England 1920

Hop Pickers On Stilts In Faversham England 1920

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#26

Portrait Of Wasco Indian With Decorated Face, Feather And Bead Ornaments. - Wilder - 1903

Portrait Of Wasco Indian With Decorated Face, Feather And Bead Ornaments. - Wilder - 1903

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Luna Crow
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow, this hits close to home.. i don't think I've ever seen photos of any of the natives who lived in the area I grew up in.. and of course the history they feed white kids is all whitewashed. Now I'm curious to learn more about the Wasco and other tribes who were here long before..

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#27

Chimney Sweep Boys In Victorian England.c1880s A Horrible Tale

Chimney Sweep Boys In Victorian England.c1880s A Horrible Tale

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#28

Another Fashionable Day At Longchamp, France 1911

Another Fashionable Day At Longchamp, France 1911

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Barbra E. Nyberg
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The young woman in the foreground is wearing "modern" fashion and the ladies in the background dont seem to approve.

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#29

A French Woman With Her Baguette And Six Bottles Of Wine, Paris, France, 1945

A French Woman With Her Baguette And Six Bottles Of Wine, Paris, France, 1945

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#31

Washington, D.c., In 1919. Street Lunch Vendor

Washington, D.c., In 1919. Street Lunch Vendor

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#32

December 1936: "Christmas Dinner In Home Of Earl Pauley Near Smithfield, Iowa. Dinner Consisted Of Potatoes, Cabbage And Pie." Photograph By Russell Lee For The Farm Security Administration

December 1936: "Christmas Dinner In Home Of Earl Pauley Near Smithfield, Iowa. Dinner Consisted Of Potatoes, Cabbage And Pie." Photograph By Russell Lee For The Farm Security Administration

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Anne Jones
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I suppose the fact they had at least something to eat was no mean feat in those days.

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#33

Civil War Veteran Isador Banor, Who Lived To The Age Of 102 In Port Clinton, Ohio. He Was Born In 1811 When Napoleon Ruled Most Of Europe. He Died In 1913 -- Ten Years After The Wright Brothers Flew The First Airplane, And A Year Before The First World War Began

Civil War Veteran Isador Banor, Who Lived To The Age Of 102 In Port Clinton, Ohio. He Was Born In 1811 When Napoleon Ruled Most Of Europe. He Died In 1913 -- Ten Years After The Wright Brothers Flew The First Airplane, And A Year Before The First World War Began

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Mistiekim
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow - I grew up in Port Clinton. It’s pretty cool to see this photo. Never knew about him or his history in my area.

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#34

Another Fun Teen Slumber Party C1915

Another Fun Teen Slumber Party C1915

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#35

A “Pigeon Bus” From Wwi, Served As Collecting Point For Messenger Pigeons From The Front Lines

A “Pigeon Bus” From Wwi, Served As Collecting Point For Messenger Pigeons From The Front Lines

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#36

1917 In Miles City, Montana, Here Are Three Cowgirls At The Miles City Round-Up. They Are Clyde Lindsay, Mildred Douglas And Ruby Dickey

1917 In Miles City, Montana, Here Are Three Cowgirls At The Miles City Round-Up. They Are Clyde Lindsay, Mildred Douglas And Ruby Dickey

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#37

Peasant Girls Carry Water From A Sleigh To A Hut,russian Empire (1910s)

Peasant Girls Carry Water From A Sleigh To A Hut,russian Empire (1910s)

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#38

C1900 Victorian Woman Jumping Rope ( Or Levitating )

C1900 Victorian Woman Jumping Rope ( Or Levitating )

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#39

1923 Flappers , Lighting Up

1923 Flappers , Lighting Up

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Saint Thomas
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

TIL that "Flappers of the 1920s were young women known for their energetic freedom, embracing a lifestyle viewed by many at the time as outrageous, immoral or downright dangerous. Now considered the first generation of independent American women"

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#40

Preping For A Meal C1915

Preping For A Meal C1915

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Note: this post originally had 55 images. It’s been shortened to the top 40 images based on user votes.