Family Research

[Man with child], ca. 1909, v1981.283.3.103; Burton family papers and photographs, ARC.217; Brooklyn Historical Society.

The photo of the week is from around 1909 and depicts a man holding a baby outside a Brooklyn home. This photograph comes from the Burton family papers and photographs collection which contains personal documents and photographs from the Burton family. To me, family photographs can convey genuine, intimate interactions and evoke feelings of affection and comfort that resound in loving families. I admire how this photograph captures a tender moment between the man and baby—a moment that, perhaps, only a loving family member could fully appreciate.

Material in the Burton family papers and photographs collection dates from 1870 to 1949 and includes 189 photographs of the Burton family. The photographs include William W. Burton, his wife Virginia Baptist Burton, their son and daughter-in-law Percival Burton and Josie E. Newcombe Burton, and the Newcombe family. Many of the photographs in this collection are contained in two albums. In addition to photographs, this collection includes manuscript materials including deeds, titles, mortgages, bonds, and family correspondence. To see more photographs from this collection, check out this gallery.

Family and genealogy research is one of the most popular research topics at Brooklyn Historical Society. If you’re interested in diving into your own family research, check out our Family Research Guide.

Interested in seeing more photos from BHS’s collection? Visit our online image gallery, which includes a selection of our images. Interested in seeing even more historic Brooklyn images? Visit our Brooklyn Visual Heritage website here. To search BHS’s entire collection of images, archives, maps, and special collections visit BHS’s Othmer Library Wed-Sat, 1:00-5:00 p.m. library@brooklynhistory.org