Image Searching

 

I Googled “genealogy” and chose one of the results on the first page.  There are many options for pictures regarding genealogy, including slides from powerpoints that provide helpful research data.  There are also lots of amusing comics about genealogy.

Lee, Vic. Pardon My Planet. 2008. King Features Syndicate. Retrieved from Google Image Search, https://www.google.com/imghp?hl=en&tab=wi&authuser=0&ei=kwA5VpOQMYax-wHMmL2YAQ&ved=0CBUQqi4oAQ

 

I searched in the Immigration collection of the Library of Congress American Memory project for the term “Genealogy” and found a great picture of a sod house in Loup County, Nebraska.  Many of the collections would be helpful for genealogists in this database, because they nearly all have a historical slant to them, and there are family trees of American presidents, pictures of letters, and other historical documents that would be of interest to a researcher.

I chose this image because a large number of pioneers lived in houses such as these, and it’s interesting to think that one of your ancestors might have lived in one.

 Nebraska State Historical Society, [Digital ID, e.g., nbhips 12036] . Retrieved from The Library of Congress American Memories Project,  http://memory.loc.gov/

Searchwise, I like Google images better.  It's easy to see a large number of images quickly, and to quickly search alternate keywords for better options.  Genealogy researchers enjoy looking at comics and old photographs, and I've had many patrons find pictures of their ancestors that they were unaware existed.

Contentwise, you have to be careful about Google image search.  It can devolve into inappropriate images amazingly quickly.  The Library of Congress's website has images which were selected and uploaded, so it's safe for anyone to search, and the accuracy and veracity of the images has been (hopefully) authenticated.  Anyone on Google can put anything they want on their pictures, even claim pictures of complete strangers as their ancestors, so you have to be extra careful in verifying any information you find on that search engine.