Jewish family memory
How to identify unknown people in photographs
Collect clues and independent recollections, then record the evidence for each proposed identity. Similarity alone is not proof.
By Pinkas · Updated September 28, 2026
A practical first step
Ask relatives separately before circulating a confident label. Compare dates, ages, locations, and inscriptions; record who suggested each name and how certain they are.
An example to follow
'Possibly Esther; identified by Miriam in 2026 based on the house' preserves a useful lead without turning it into an established fact.
Keep the record useful for the next relative
Save the original item or recording, the source of each claim, and the date you added the note. Label estimates and disputed details. Decide who should have access before inviting other people to help.