The story behind the project, and the people who make it run.
Our mission
Every year, thousands of personal photographs are separated from their families — ending up in estate sales, antique shops, and flea markets, nameless and unclaimed. Behind each one is a real person who was loved, who had a story, and who deserves to be remembered.
Faces Found exists to reunite those photographs with the people, families, and communities they belong to — or at least to give them a home where they can be seen, appreciated, and kept alive.
We're a community of genealogists, historians, antique hunters, and everyday people who believe that a face in a photograph is never just a face. It's a thread back to something real.
Our first goal is always to keep these images alive and accessible. Commerce is secondary — a way to sustain the community, not the point of it.
No algorithm beats a community. Genealogists spot surnames in photographer marks. Historians date images by uniform insignia. Locals recognize a storefront. We build the space; you bring the knowledge.
These are real people. We treat every photograph with care, describe subjects respectfully, and prioritize reconnecting images with living families whenever possible.
You don't need to be a genealogy expert to contribute. If you have a found photograph, a hunch, or just an appreciation for history, you belong here.
The process
A community member finds a photograph — at an estate sale, antique shop, thrift store, or passed down from an unknown relative. They photograph both the front and back and note where and when it was found.
The finder submits the photo through our submission form, including any writing on the back, the photographer's studio mark if present, and an estimated era based on clothing and style.
The photo enters the collection and the community gets to work. Members post clues, theories, and findings. The discussion often surfaces details the original finder missed entirely.
Photos are marked identified, partially identified, or unidentified. When a living family is found, we do everything we can to get the image back to them. All photos remain in the collection as a permanent record.
Questions
No — if you've found a photograph and have it in your possession, you can submit it. We ask that you're the physical holder of the original.
We connect the finder with the family directly and encourage the original photograph to be returned or donated. The digital record stays in the collection as part of the historical archive.
Copy sales are coming soon. When available, a portion of every sale goes back to the original finder, and a portion supports the community.
Yes. Browsing and submitting are always free. We're a community first.
Browse the collection, submit a photograph, or join the community conversation.