People > Photo Identification
Photo Identification
Help us reunite these people with their families. There's nothing more precious than a photo of a family member.
Please contact us if you have information about the photos shown below or if you have photos to contribute.
Please contact us if you have information about the photos shown below or if you have photos to contribute.
The images in the gallery below are photos of people and families believed to be from Norka or Kolb. The photographs are part of a collection held by Lois Klaus (Portland, Oregon) and were contributed to this website by Lynn Huber. It is likely that these photos originally belonged to Lois's father, Jacob Klaus, and are family members who remained in Russia.
Click on the thumbnail to view a larger image. Place your cursor over the thumbnail to see any known information.
Click on the thumbnail to view a larger image. Place your cursor over the thumbnail to see any known information.
The images in the gallery below are from various sources and represent people with known connections to Norka.
Click on the thumbnail to view a larger image. Place your cursor over the thumbnail to see a pop-up with any known information.
Click on the thumbnail to view a larger image. Place your cursor over the thumbnail to see a pop-up with any known information.
About Old Photos
Early photography often portrays serious and somber people. This wasn't because they were less happy than we are today. The many reasons range from poor dental health to long camera exposure times, which require stillness. Smiling people in photos were thought to be associated with undesirable behaviors.
From the mid-1800s to the early 20th Century, it was common in Europe and America to take and display postmortem photographs. They were often used to convey information about a family to those living far away and are part of many family collections. Attitudes changed after World War 1, and these photographs became less common.
From the mid-1800s to the early 20th Century, it was common in Europe and America to take and display postmortem photographs. They were often used to convey information about a family to those living far away and are part of many family collections. Attitudes changed after World War 1, and these photographs became less common.
Sources
Fabry, Merrill, "Now You Know: Why Do People Always Look So Serious in Old Photos?" Time Magazine (Online), 28 Nov 2016. Accessed 8 April 2025.
"People in the Victorian era frequently took photos of the dead." History Facts (Online). Accessed 8 April 2025.
"People in the Victorian era frequently took photos of the dead." History Facts (Online). Accessed 8 April 2025.
Last updated April 8, 2025