In this episode of The Photo Detective, host Maureen Taylor speaks with Brian Rhinehart, founder of CivilWarRecords.com, about uncovering lost Civil War history through archival research. Brian shares his journey from genealogy hobbyist to professional researcher specializing in Civil War records at the National Archives. He explains the misconceptions about military records, emphasizing that most are not available online. They discuss the rich details found in pension files, including personal letters, affidavits, and service histories, as well as the rare chance of finding soldier photographs. Brian also provides insights on tracking elusive ancestors through military, pension, and bounty records. If you’re struggling with your Civil War research, Brian’s expertise can help you find those missing pieces.

• Most Civil War records are not online – accessing them requires in-person research.

• Pension files can contain surprising details like letters, affidavits, and service records.

• Misconceptions about Civil War records—many expect photos or birth dates, but these are rare.

• Research tips—checking obituaries, veteran organizations, and associated soldiers for leads.

Related Episodes:

Episode 245: The Enduring Legacy of Tintypes: From Civil War Soldiers to Contemporary Artists 

Episode 60: Finding Pictures of Your Civil War Ancestors

Links:

• Civil War Records.com 
• Sign up for my newsletter.
• Watch my YouTube Channel.
• Like the Photo Detective Facebook Page so you get notified of my Facebook Live videos.
• Need help preserving your photos? Check out Maureen’s Preserving Family Photographs ebook 
• Need help identifying family photos? Check out The Family Photo Detective ebook
• Have a photo you need help identifying? Sign up for photo consultation.

About My Guest:

Brian Rhinehart is a professional genealogist and speaker and is the owner of CivilWarRecords.com.  He is a graduate of Boston University’s Certificate of Genealogy Research and is a regular researcher for the television show Finding Your Roots.  A direct descendant of eight Civil War soldiers, Brian specializes in research and record retrieval for Civil War and War of 1812 soldiers at the National Archives in Washington DC and has retrieved military files for hundreds of clients there.

About Maureen Taylor:

Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective® helps clients with photo related genealogical problems. Her pioneering work in historic photo research has earned her the title “the nation’s foremost historical photo detective” by The Wall Street Journal and appearances on The View, The Today Show, Pawn Stars, and others.   Learn more at Maureentaylor.com

Did you enjoy this episode? Please leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

The post Episode 259: Digging Into Civil War Pension Files with Brian Rhinehart appeared first on Maureen Taylor.

Welcome to the December 2024 solo episode of The Photo Detective with Maureen Taylor. In this episode, Maureen shares the story of Amy Barlow, who solved a photo mystery with Maureen’s guidance during a consultation. Amy’s photograph depicted a family standing in front of a store. Using resources like eBay, WorthPoint, city directories, Sanborn maps, and more, Amy unraveled the store’s history and connection to her family. Maureen highlights the personalized and collaborative nature of her consultations, where she provides guidance, homework, and insights into the historical, genealogical, and material contexts of family photographs. Maureen’s expertise bridges the gap between photos and family histories, from dating tintypes to identifying family snapshots. This episode is a reminder of the power of pictures in preserving and uncovering our personal pasts.

Related Episodes:

Episode 245 : The Enduring Legacy of Tintypes: From Civil War Soldiers to Contemporary Artists  

Episode 248: Genealogy Travel Tips: How to Plan an Effective Ancestral Research Trip 

Links:

• Sign up for my newsletter.
• Watch my YouTube Channel.
• Like the Photo Detective Facebook Page so you get notified of my Facebook Live videos.
• Need help preserving your photos? Check out Maureen’s Preserving Family Photographs ebook 
• Need help identifying family photos? Check out The Family Photo Detective ebook
• Have a photo you need help identifying? Sign up for photo consultation.

About Maureen Taylor:

Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective^Òhelps clients with photo related genealogical problems. Her pioneering work in historic photo research has earned her the title “the nation’s foremost historical photo detective” by The Wall Street Journal and appearances on The View, The Today Show, Pawn Stars, and others.   Learn more at Maureentaylor.com

Did you enjoy this episode? Please leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

The post Episode 254: Solving Family Photo Mysteries: A Journey with The Photo Detective appeared first on Maureen Taylor.

In today’s episode of The Photo Detective, guest Sharon Carmack introduces her groundbreaking book, Telling Her Story, a comprehensive guide to researching and writing about historical women. Sharon’s work, spanning 370 pages, is rich with resources, case studies, and examples that empower genealogists and family historians to uncover the hidden lives of women from the past. By using social history research, annotated essays, and speculative writing techniques, Carmack dispels the myth that women’s lives are impossible to document. Her book serves as a resourceful tool for anyone looking to explore and honor the stories of female ancestors.

• Includes strategies for using social history research and speculative writing.

• Provides case studies and examples of overlooked sources like court records and newspapers.

• Empowers genealogists to navigate and document the nuanced histories of women in their family trees.

Related Episodes:

Episode 105: Women in the Dark: Female Photographers in the U.S., 1850-1900

Episode 149: Rediscovered Photos of an American Medium with Sharon Carmack

Links:

• Warrencarmack.com
• Sign up for my newsletter.
• Watch my YouTube Channel.
• Like the Photo Detective Facebook Page so you get notified of my Facebook Live videos.
• Need help preserving your photos? Check out Maureen’s Preserving Family Photographs ebook 
• Need help identifying family photos? Check out The Family Photo Detective ebook
• Have a photo you need help identifying? Sign up for photo consultation.

About My Guest:

Sharon DeBartolo Carmack is a Certified Genealogist® with a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Nonfiction Writing, a Diploma in Irish Studies from the National University of Ireland–Galway, and a Diploma from the Spiritualists’ National Union in the UK. As part of the adjunct faculty at Salt Lake Community College, Sharon developed and teaches five online courses: Tracing Immigrant Origins, Writing Life Stories, Genealogy and Family History Writing, and Preparing for Certified Genealogist I and II. She is also the author of twenty-four books and hundreds of articles, essays, columns, and reviews that have appeared in nearly every major genealogical journal and publication. Some of Sharon’s books include Tell It Short: A Guide to Writing Your Family History in Brief, You Can Write Your Family History, and most recently, In Search of Maria B. Hayden: The American Medium Who Brought Spiritualism to the U.K., available on Amazon.com.

About Maureen Taylor:

Maureen Taylor, The Photo DetectiveTM helps clients with photo-related genealogical problems. Her pioneering work in historic photo research has earned her the title “the nation’s foremost historical photo detective” by The Wall Street Journal and appearances on The View, The Today Show, Pawn Stars, and others.   Learn more at Maureentaylor.com

Did you enjoy this episode? Please leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

The post Episode 250:Telling Her Story: How to Research and Write Women’s Histories with Sharon Carmack appeared first on Maureen Taylor.

In this fascinating podcast episode, Dr. Dean Kirby, a historian, journalist, and professional genealogist based in Manchester, England, shares his deep-rooted interest in the Manchester slums. Inspired by his discovery of his ancestor’s history in a Manchester slum, Kirby delved into extensive research, leading to his PhD and the book “Angel Meadow: Victorian Britain’s Most Savage Slum.” Kirby discusses the harsh living conditions in Manchester during the Industrial Revolution, including overcrowded homes and cellar dwellings. He also touches on the impact of the American Civil War on Manchester’s cotton industry, the notorious gangs known as scuttlers, and his passion for genealogy and historical research.

• Key Inspiration: Discovery of great-great-great grandfather’s history in Angel Meadow, a notorious Manchester slum.
• Research Focus: Manchester slums during the Industrial Revolution, leading to a PhD and the book “Angel Meadow: Victorian Britain’s Most Savage Slum.”
• Living Conditions: Overcrowded homes, cellar dwellings, and poor sanitation in 19th-century Manchester.
• Impact of American Civil War: Blockade of southern ports affected Manchester’s cotton industry, leading to starvation.
• Scuttlers: Notorious gangs of street fighters in Manchester with distinct attire and territories.
• Genealogy Tips: Use of poor rate books, prison archives, and newspaper records for historical research.
• Historical Insights: The connection between Manchester and the American Civil War, and the Peterloo Massacre of 1819

Related Episodes:

Episode 180: Photos, Memories, and English Genealogy with Emma Jolly

Episode 197: What You Need to Know about Heraldry with Dr. Nathaniel Taylor, FASG

Links:

• The Manchester History Club 
• Sign up for my newsletter.
• Watch my YouTube Channel.
• Like the Photo Detective Facebook Page so you get notified of my Facebook Live videos.
• Need help organizing your photos? Check out the Essential Photo Organizing Video Course.
• Need help identifying family photos? Check out the Identifying Family Photographs Online Course.
• Have a photo you need help identifying? Sign up for photo consultation.

About My Guest:

Dr Dean Kirby is an award-winning British investigative journalist, a non-fiction history author, family historian and a tour guide. Based in Manchester, he has a PhD in urban history and is an associate of the UK’s body for professional genealogists, the Association of Genealogists and Researchers in Archives. His interest in family history was sparked when archaeologists dug up his Irish ancestor’s home in one of Manchester’s worst slums – the inappropriately named district of Angel Meadow. Dean now runs the professional family history research service www.manchesterfamilyhistory.com which helps families around the world research their Manchester and Lancashire roots. He also writes the Manchester history newsletter www.manchesterhistory.uk, which reveals forgotten stories from the streets of the Victorian city. His debut book, Angel Meadow: Victorian Britain’s Most Savage Slum, has been in the Amazon bestseller lists.

About Maureen Taylor:

Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective^Òhelps clients with photo related genealogical problems. Her pioneering work in historic photo research has earned her the title “the nation’s foremost historical photo detective” by The Wall Street Journal and appearances on The View, The Today Show, Pawn Stars, and others.   Learn more at Maureentaylor.com

Did you enjoy this episode? Please leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

The post Episode 238: Uncovering Manchester’s Dark Past: Dr. Dean Kirby on Angel Meadow and the Victorian Slums appeared first on Maureen Taylor.