We’ve partnered with the National Portrait Gallery to add over 125,000 portraits from their collection to our website. To celebrate, we’re creating a special display at the National Portrait Gallery called The Nation’s Family Album and we want your family photos to be part of it.
We’ve partnered with the National Portrait Gallery to add over 125,000 portraits from their collection to our website. To celebrate, we’re creating a special display at the National Portrait Gallery called The Nation’s Family Album and we want your family photos to be part of it.
The Nation's Family Album
We’ve partnered with the National Portrait Gallery to add over 125,000 portraits from their collection to our website. To celebrate, we’re creating a special display at the National Portrait Gallery called The Nation’s Family Album and we want your family photos to be part of it.
We’ve partnered with the National Portrait Gallery to add over 125,000 portraits from their collection to our website. To celebrate, we’re creating a special display at the National Portrait Gallery called The Nation’s Family Album and we want your family photos to be part of it.
Explore the National Portrait Gallery on Ancestry®
Explore the National Portrait Gallery on Ancestry®
Discover British history and culture in this free collection of over 125,000 portraits.* From kings and queens to nurses and architects, browse the incredible range of portraits that span the 1600s to present day.
Discover British history and culture in this free collection of over 125,000 portraits.* From kings and queens to nurses and architects, browse the incredible range of portraits that span the 1600s to present day.
Find your ancestor
Find your ancestor
Could your ancestor's portrait be in the collection? To find out, simply enter their name below to search. You can have your own copy of any portrait by clicking the link on the image and purchasing directly from the National Portrait Gallery.
Could your ancestor's portrait be in the collection? To find out, simply enter their name below to search. You can have your own copy of any portrait by clicking the link on the image and purchasing directly from the National Portrait Gallery.
*Registration required to view records in featured collection. Terms apply.
Be part of The Nation’s Family Album
Be part of The Nation’s Family Album
Be part of The Nation’s Family Album
Your family photos could be in a special display at the National Portrait Gallery in 2023.
The National Portrait Gallery in London holds the most extensive collection of portraits in the world, and you could be a part of it. To launch our partnership, we're creating a special display at the gallery in 2023 called The Nation's Family Album. Submit your favourite family photo for your chance to feature in the display, we want to include as many as possible.
Submit images that represent what family means to you, thinking about the themes of belonging, connection, legacy and identity.
It could be your great-grandfather's military portrait, your family celebrating an important occasion, or even a picture you've painted of your aunt. Make sure you include the story behind the image, as we want to know why it's so special.
Start searching through your camera roll, old albums or even the attic and together we can create The Nation's Family Album.
The National Portrait Gallery in London holds the most extensive collection of portraits in the world, and you could be a part of it. To launch our partnership, we're creating a special display at the gallery in 2023 called The Nation's Family Album. Submit your favourite family photo for your chance to feature in the display, we want to include as many as possible.
Submit images that represent what family means to you, thinking about the themes of belonging, connection, legacy and identity.
It could be your great-grandfather's military portrait, your family celebrating an important occasion, or even a picture you've painted of your aunt. Make sure you include the story behind the image, as we want to know why it's so special.
Start searching through your camera roll, old albums or even the attic and together we can create The Nation's Family Album.
Submit images of your family
All submissions are subject to our "The Nation's Family Album" Project terms and conditions, see here.
Submission requirements
- Uploads can be photographs, paintings, drawings, or caricatures.
- Only one entry per person.
- Maximum of three images.
Discover how photographs can help your research
Discover how photographs can help your research
Discover how photographs can help your research
A picture speaks a thousand words
Putting a face to a name adds an extra connection when exploring your family history and also helps you spot traits and similarities. Photographs can also tell you more about the times your ancestors lived in, jobs they worked and more.
Pay attention to the little details
Research the hairstyles and fashion in the photograph to uncover your ancestors’ social backgrounds and the time frame of the picture. Surroundings can also help you pinpoint where the picture was taken.
Find clues in military photos
Pay close attention to rank patches, cap badges and medals as these can pinpoint your ancestor at a certain point in their military service or help you find specific record collections.
Add faces to names
Build on your family history research and bring to life your ancestors' stories by adding your own photographs to your family tree. Create a more complete picture of your family's past.
© Hulton Archives/Getty Images
© Hulton Archives/Getty Images
Explore the National Portrait Gallery collection
Explore the National Portrait Gallery collection