I’m Susan Eastin. I’ve been collecting antique photographs for more than two decades. Throughout this time I’ve developed a specialty for uncovering their stories using image magnification and photo enhancement. The details I’m able to find are researched using databases that include genealogy and newspaper records.

If you’re wondering why genealogy plays a key role in my research, I have a simple explanation. Many businesses that existed more than a century ago incorporated the owner’s name. For example, Wm. A. Fudricker Livery Stable. As a result, the signage you see on buildings from that time will often include this important detail. When I search ancestry records for name variations, I can add terms such as blacksmith, merchant, tailor, butcher, etc., to help me get me closer to pinpointing a possible location.

Unless a photo is identified, it’s often at risk of being lost, damaged, or simply discarded. My goal is to figure out the history behind a photo so I can place it in the hands of a collector or organization that has a connection to the people or place it portrays. This helps ensure the image is preserved for future generations.

The photos I own and research are listed for sale on eBay – where collectors and organizations often search for items of interest. The proceeds from these sales allow me to purchase more photographs for my research and help cover the subscription costs of my research tools. You can visit my eBay store at Century Old Stuff.

Not all images featured here are my own. I’ll occasionally write about a photo I found online that caught my eye. These will include a photo credit.

If you’d like to help my “Identify the Past” project, please consider buying me a coffee. Every gram of caffeine will help!