For years, Civil War Photo Sleuth (CWPS) has been dedicated to helping historians, genealogists, and enthusiasts identify the unknown faces of the past. Through a unique combination of facial recognition technology, crowdsourced research, and expert analysis, we’ve built a community passionate about preserving the legacy of Civil War soldiers and civilians. Thanks to the tireless efforts of our members, previously unidentified photographs have been linked to names, stories, and family histories, ensuring that these individuals are not lost to time.
We are thrilled to announce an exciting new chapter for Civil War Photo Sleuth. As part of our ongoing mission to expand access, improve resources, and serve our growing community, CWPS is transforming into a nonprofit organization—The Photo Sleuth Foundation. This move allows us to provide better tools, more educational opportunities, and stronger partnerships with museums, archives, and historical institutions. By making Photo Sleuth a nonprofit, we ensure that our work remains dedicated to historical preservation, research, and public engagement—without commercial interests.
We want to take a moment to express our deepest gratitude to every member of the community. Your contributions—whether through uploading photos, identifying soldiers, sharing research, or spreading the word—have been the heart and soul of this project. Your passion and dedication have helped turn CWPS into a thriving hub for Civil War photographic research, and we cannot thank you enough for being part of this journey as we expand our mission to embrace other eras.
As we move forward, here’s what you can expect from the new and improved application:
- Enhanced Research Tools: We are expanding our database and using cutting-edge AI to enhance search capabilities, boost accuracy, and streamline the user experience.
- Expanded Educational Resources: More articles, tutorials, and webinars to help members deepen their research skills and understanding of 19th-century photography.
- Stronger Collaborations: We aim to build closer partnerships with historical societies, libraries, and institutions to bring even more images and records into the fold.
- Community Growth and Support: With nonprofit status, we will be able to seek grants and donations that will help sustain and expand our work, ensuring long-term success.
As we embark on this next phase, your support is more important than ever. Whether you’ve been with us since the beginning or are just discovering Civil War Photo Sleuth, we invite you to continue this journey with Photo Sleuth. There will be new opportunities to volunteer, donate, and participate in our mission to bring history to life, one photograph at a time.
Thank you for being part of this incredible community. Together, we are giving a face to history and ensuring that the stories of those who lived through one of the most defining moments in American history are never forgotten.
Stay tuned for updates, and as always—keep sleuthing!
The Photo Sleuth Team
Kurt Luther, Vikram Mohanty and Ron Coddington
The Photo Sleuth Foundation 