Maureen Taylor

Photos, Family History, and AI Tools
The Photo Detective
(781) 492-4354
Currently accepting clients for...
- Family History Research
- Speaking / Presenting
- Writing /Publishing
- Other Speciality
Family History Research
- Family History Research
Speaking/Presenting
- Methodology & Resources
- Technology
- Writing & Publishing
- Available for virtual events
Writing/Publishing
- Author/Writer
Other Speciality
- House Historian / Local History
- Photograph Analysis
Maureen Taylor, The Photo Detective® is sought out by clients all over the world to help them solve their photo mysteries. Her pioneering work in historic photo research has earned her the title “the nation’s foremost historical photo detective” by The Wall Street Journal and appearances on The View, The Today Show, Pawn Stars, and others. Join Maureen as she discusses historical photos and how they fit into your family history on her podcast, The Photo Detective. From ancestor identification to photo preservation, it covers it all. Featuring special experts from genealogy, fashion history, photo history, and photo restoration.
Testimonials
- There is no one else I would trust for insight and knowledge on phones other than Maureen. Simple by just giving her details of a photo, what is it a picture of? What kind of type of photo is it. I know Maureen will have the answers.
- I used Chatgpt and Perplexity but Maureen brought new insights to my photo problem.
- Maureen is the nation's foremost photo detective (Wall Street Journal)
- The combination of Maureen's photo
identification expertise and genealogy
experience make her a valuable resource.
Add to this her enthusiasm to help and it
makes working with her a pleasure - Wish I could’ve taken more of Maureen’s sessions. This was informative and fun
- I love your podcasts! I am learning a lot and I enjoy listening on my way to and from work.
- I just received your latest email and it was like a smack in the head. Not because I store my photos in storage units, but because I just realized in my previous emails I never told you how you inspired me to inspect my photos and to care for and restore them.
Additional specialities or search keywords
Podcasting
Podcasting
Publications/Media
Books & Major Publications
- Descendants of John Lippitt of Providence and Warwick, Rhode Island (2021), Newbury Street Press (co-authored with Christopher C. Child)
- Research in Rhode Island (with Diane Boumenot) (2018), National Genealogical Society Research in the States Series
- World War II Rhode Island (2017), History Press (with Christian McBurney, Brian L. Wallin, Patrick T. Conley, John W. Kennedy)
- Contributed: “The Rise of Day Nurseries in Providence”;“Reflection, Relief, and Rowdiness: Rhode Islanders React to the End of World War II”
- The Last Muster Series, Kent State University Press
- Volume 2: Faces of the American Revolution (2012)
- Volume 1: Images of the Revolutionary War Generation (2010)
- Marvin Heiferman, editor, Photography Changes Everything (2012), Aperture; Smithsonian Institution
- Contributed: “Photography Changes Our Connection to Family History”
- Picturing Rhode Island: Images of Everyday Life, 1850–2006 (2007), Commonwealth Editions
- John Hannavy, editor, Encyclopedia of Nineteenth-Century Photography, (2007)
- Contributed: “Photographic Jewelry”
- The Avery Family: The Ancestors and Descendants of Christopher Avery, (2004) Newbury Street Press
- D. Brenton Simons and Peter Benes, editors, The Art of Family: Genealogical Artifacts in New England (2002), New England Historic Genealogical Society
- Contributed: “Tall Oaks from Little Acorns Grow: The Family Tree Lithograph in America”
- Runaways, Deserters, and Notorious Villains, Picton Press
- Volume 2 (2001, with John Wood Sweet)
- Volume 1 (1995)
- Through the Eyes of Your Ancestors (1999), Houghton Mifflin Co.
- Rhode Island Passenger Lists (1995), Genealogical Publishing Co.
- Register of Seamen’s Protection Certificates From the Providence, Rhode Island Custom District 1796–1870 (1995), Genealogical Publishing Co.
Articles & Essays
- “Never Give Up; It is Better to Hope than Once to Despair: Providence, Rhode Island, and the Daguerreotype.” The Daguerreian Annual (1995)
- “Nature Caught at the Twinkling of an Eye: The Daguerreotype in Providence.” Rhode Island History 42 (November1983)
Media & Digital Projects
- The Photo Detective Podcast (2017–Present), 300K+ downloads
- Old Providence (OldPVD.com) (2019–Present), Crowdsourced digital history project
- A Revolutionary Trio, Verissima Productions
- Eleazer Blake: Witness to the Revolution
- Agrippa Hull: A Renaissance Freeman
- Molly Ferris Akin: Pacifist or Patriot
- Historical Expert: Chasing Silver: The Story of Gorham (PBS)
- Curator: Sites and Stories Explored Through Community Engaged Art and Scholarship, Providence Preservation Society (2018–2019)
- Project Manager, BostonFamilyHistory.com, Boston History Collaborative
Editorial & Contributor Roles
- Contributing Writer (2015–Present): Small State Big History (smallstatebighistory.com)
- Contributing Editor (2001–Present): Family Tree Magazine
Lectures
- The Power of Perplexity.ai
- Your AI Family History Assistant
- Finding Family History Related Images
- Revitalize Your Memories:DIY Photo Improvement
- Tackle Your Photos: How to Avoid Overwhelm
- Preserving Your Family Photographs
- Who's Little Joe? Photo Identification 101
Research Time Periods
- 21st Century
- 20th Century
- 19th Century
- 18th Century
Honorifics/Credentials
SaveMetadata.org (2020–2023)
SaveMetadata.org (2020–2023)
Degrees
BA (History)
MA (History)
Certificate of Graduate Study (Advanced Study of Creative Writing)
BA (History)
MA (History)
Certificate of Graduate Study (Advanced Study of Creative Writing)