Be Sure to Visit my new 1900 Galveston Storm Website at: http://freepages.genealogy.rootseb.com/~barnette 

PHOTOGRAPHS HAVE A PEDIGREE, TOO

 Following a long line of  processes attempting to capture images of time, Louis Jacques Mande Daguerre created the first daguerreotype photograph in 1837. Two years later he introduced his process to the Academy of Sciences in Paris. By the 1844 the daguerreotype had awed the people of the world and over three million had been produced in the United States.

 The daguerreotype craze slackened as people became dissatisfied with the expensive cost, difficulty in viewing the image and the required long sittings. During the mid 1850's the ambrotype began replacing it's predecessor. The ambrotype's popularity was short lived due to the invention of melainotypes or ferrotypes, better known as tintypes.

 Tintypes were photographs produced on tin, the result of a patented process of coating an iron plate with collodion. This process was patented in 1856 by an Ohio chemistry professor, Hamilton Smith and was the only photographic format invented by an American. Tintypes were in use from 1856 until the mid 1930's.

 In the mid 1850's paper prints on card stock became popular as cartes de visites, cabinet cards and stereographs. In the 1880's prints on plain paper brought about candid photography where individuals could take photographs anywhere and anytime they wished. By 1900 the Eastman-Kodak company was mass marketing the very popular Brownie camera for $1. From there modern photography matured. 

PHOTOGRAPHY MUSEUM

 The George Eastman House in Rochester, New York holds one of the best collections of photography and photographic artifacts in the world. Their website at http://www.eastman.org/ has an historical timeline of photography file that depicts what was going on in the photographic world from 1700 to present. The timeline explains what advances were being made and by whom.

 The website, also, contains information and digital images of photographs from all time periods, motion pictures and information about conservation of photographs and other images, including digital images.

LEARN CHEROKEE CULTURE

 The Cherokee Culture Society of  Houston is sponsoring a two day-twelve hour course on Cherokee culture. Taught by Cherokee Nation certified teachers, Marjorie Lowe and Deborah Scott, the course will explain the rich history of the Cherokee, it's mythology and how to conduct Cherokee genealogical research

 The course will be conducted on Saturday August 19 and Saturday August 26 from 10 A.M. to 4 P.M. It will be held Challenger Seven Memorial Park near NASA Road 1.

 For more information contact Vicki Henrichs at 713-974-3945 or by email at vhenrichs@earthlink.net.

FGS IN SLC

 The Federation of Genealogical Societies conference is fast approaching. This year's festivities are being held September 6-9 in the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City.

 The FGS conferences are known for their highly informative lectures, and wide variety of genealogical books, supplies and computer exhibits. In addition,  genealogical networking is at its most vibrant apex. Since this years conference is in Salt Lake City, it will be a great time to visit and conduct research at the best genealogical library in the world, the Family History Library.

 For more information about the conference and to register, visit the  FGS website at http://www.fgs.org  or call toll free -1-888-FGS-1500.

NEWS FROM THE BOOKSHELF

 Maureen  A. Taylor has compiled a very informative book to help photo aficionados and those with old identified and unidentified photographs laying around the house. UNCOVERING YOUR ANCESTRY THROUGH FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHS: How to Identify, Interpret and Preserve Your Family's Visual Heritage is available for $18.99, plus postage from F&W Publishers, 1507 Dana Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45207.

 The book offers step by step instructions how to identify and date different types of family photographs. It will teach one how recognize the type of photograph, compare facial features of people, determine the date,  discover the location, and in some instances, identify the photographer who took the picture. The book includes case studies using actual photographs to illustrate how poses, props, dress and setting can lead to new genealogical discoveries.

 The book is a great primer and guide for anyone interested in learning about the types of photographs and how to identify the people and places found in them.