Identify family photos
How to identify old family photos: a free worksheet
A familiar face, a handwritten name, a place someone remembers. Gather the clues in one place, keep possibilities separate from identifications, and leave a clear trail for the next person.
Start with the photo, its written clues and the people who remember it. Record what each source says, including uncertainty. This worksheet helps organize your own research; it does not recognize faces or verify an identity. No account is needed.
Guide and worksheet by Our Story · September 6, 2026
Make a photo worksheet ↓Your photo worksheet
Start with one detail; leave anything you do not know blank. Your entries stay in this tab while it is open. This tool does not upload a photo, send your notes, or save them to an account. Download or copy them before leaving or reloading.
Download a blank worksheet (.txt) to use away from this page.
Go to download and print ↓Family photo worksheet
Our Story · Notes and source claims, not a verified identification.
- Photo reference or filename
- Not recorded
- What you can see
- Not recorded
- Writing, stamps or captions
- Not recorded
- Date or date range, as recorded
- Not recorded
- Date assessment: Uncertain / not checked
- Place and the clue behind it
- Not recorded
- Identifications and their sources
- Not recorded
- Possibilities or conflicting accounts
- Not recorded
- Who contributed these notes, and when?
- Not recorded
- A question to ask next
- Not recorded
- Agreed audience or sharing notes
- Not recorded
Review before sharing. Anyone with a copy can read these notes. Keep the original photo and a separate backup. These notes do not update your Our Story archive.
What clues should I look for?
Describe what is visible before naming anyone: positions in a group, signs, buildings or objects. Copy inscriptions, stamps and captions exactly, and note where each appears. A name on the back is a source to record; it is not automatically the name of every person pictured.
The National Archives shows how markings, logos and captions can help trace a photograph’s origin. Keep those clues with the image, even if you cannot interpret them yet.
How do I keep an uncertain name or date?
Use phrases such as “possibly” and “recalled by,” then write down the person or record behind the suggestion. Keep the date as expressed: “summer 1962” conveys different knowledge from an exact day.
If two relatives disagree, keep both accounts and who supplied each one. Ask what helps them recognize the person or place. Avoid turning resemblance or a tentative estimate into a settled identity.
Fictional example
Caption: “Picnic, 1962.” Alex thinks the person on the left is Robin; Sam is unsure. Keep the caption, both recollections, and a question: “What helps you recognize the person on the left?”
What should I ask a relative?
Begin with what the photograph brings to mind. Give the person time to answer before offering your own theory. Ask which names they are sure of and which they would like to check. Record who contributed the recollection and when, and agree on who may see it.
Choose more family interview questions →How should I label and keep the original?
Give the worksheet a reference that also identifies the photo or its storage enclosure. Work from a copy where possible, and keep the original image and a separate backup.
The Library of Congress’s photograph-care guidance recommends marking housing materials in preference to the photograph, and avoiding adhesive tape, sticky notes and glue on photographs. Follow its handling guidance for the material you have.
Keep the photo and its story together
Download your worksheet first. In Our Story, add the photograph to Archive → Memories, keep the relevant notes with it, and review the people and audience after saving. These worksheet entries are not transferred automatically.
See how a private family archive works →The linked archival guidance informs this guide; the organizations have not reviewed or endorsed Our Story. Sources checked September 6, 2026.
Start with a memory you know.
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