AVERY J. KLEIN

This was a wild find honestly lol #ancestry #oldphotos #doppleganger #lookalike #history #ancestors

My favorite @abersonstyle shots from the most recent shoot 🖤 #averyjklein

This weekend finds in Tulsa, OK #antiquestorefinds #haulvideo #ancestors #oldphoto #history

I’ve never had anything like this happen… While searching for the same studio stamp on @ebay — I was shocked to find an undeniable younger portrait of Samantha. At last, the two portraits are reunited. 🤍🕊️ Samantha Webster was born March 15, 1834 in Geneva, Ohio and married David Russell Alden in 1853. They had 2 children, a daughter Estella “Stella” May Alden (b. 1855) and a son Hiram W. Alden (b. 1859.) The family moved to Kansas around 1870. Her daughter, Stella May Alden, married Clinton Orestes Kinne in 1872, but a short illness caused her death at the young age of 27. Her son, Hiram W. Alden, became an accomplished musician and later a recognized figure in hospitality, associated with the Nadeau Hotel in Los Angeles, the Albemarle in San Diego, and the Hughes Hotel in Fresno. The couple relocated to California, residing in the hotels where their son Hiram worked; however, in 1890, David Russell Alden passed away at the age of 63. After her husband’s death, Samantha stayed with Hiram for the next 28 years, until her passing in 1918 at the age of 84. (These are the only surviving portraits of Samantha and David Russell) #ancestors #oldphoto #storytelling #history #lookalike

I’m excited to announce my first live event for @thedeaddetective this March 14th at @carsonhousetulsa ! For those who don’t know, I’ve spent the last 3 years researching and identifying people in antique photographs. It was my late grandmother Patsy who planted the seed for this entire project. She held the photographs of those who came before us with reverence, and with a camera in hand, she was always the one capturing us. She understood that photographs hold presence. I’ve always believed photographs bridge the gap between past and present, connecting us across generations. That belief is what drove me to combine genealogical research and storytelling, sharing my findings as @thedeaddetective on TikTok. This past November, one of my more personal posts went viral, and the flood of messages I received showed me I wasn’t alone in this. Thousands of people responded to this work, sharing their own longing for a connection to the person in the photo, desperate to learn their stories. That response made it undeniable: this is my life’s work. On March 14th, I’m bringing what you’ve seen on a screen into a physical space. Join me at Carson House Tulsa (1401 S Carson Ave) for an evening where I share my process for identification using some of my favorite findings as well as YOUR own submitted unidentified photographs. I’ll show you how to date photos, my go-to genealogical platforms, and deconstruct every detail to find the clues that unlock their identity. This is an RSVP-only event. Tickets are free or a donation-based admission that supports the project. For full details and registration, visit the link in bio🙏 #tulsa #tulsaok #oklahoma #genealogy #ancestry ge

I 🖤 @abersonstyle

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This felt right ☀️

Lately with @abersonstyle 🖤 Loulou de Saison #photography

🕊️ My grandmother Patsy is the heart of this work, and this project carries her spirit. I know she is smiling down, guiding me with the same love and encouragement that first set me on this path. I’m honored to share that I’ve been selected as one of 20 recipients of the Artists Creative Fund (ACF) for 2025. Supported by the George Kaiser Family Foundation, this program uplifts Tulsa-based artists with funding, visibility, and professional development. This grant will support The Dead Detective, my ongoing visual-literary project blending 19th-century photography, genealogical research, and creative storytelling. Stay tuned, as I’ll be hosting workshops to help others interested in uncovering and preserving their own family roots, sharing all my resources in researching ancestors, and sparking meaningful connections with elders through legacy-based tools. I’m grateful to @gkff and @cachecreate for their support. ❤️ Please follow @thedeaddetective and @artistscreativefund for updates along the way!

Toteme with @abersonstyle 🖤 . . h&mu @the.editbyshawnaburroughs model nicole w/ @brinkmodels photography @avery.jpeg

I was honored to do an artist portrait for one of my best friends @iamcaty / her solo show Here and There opens tomorrow, Friday July 11th from 6-8pm at @carsonhousetulsa 💛 #catysmith #averyjklein #tulsa #oklahoma #artist #artistportrait