Help dating Negatives

CGA'82

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• Oct 22, 2025

• #1

Hello, I recently bought about 48 Kodak negatives and am trying to date them.

The negative Images are 2 1/2 X 4 1/4 and few have v at the clear edge and a few have written #'s 2255.

 

MattKing

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• Oct 22, 2025

• #2

Welcome to Photrio.
Are the negatives individual, or are there two or more attached? Is there any indication that they are Kodak film negatives?
They sound like the size for 116 - which was made between 1899 and 1984 - or 616 - which was made between 1931 and 1984.

 

OP

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• Oct 22, 2025

• #3

Thank you for your reply. The negatives came in a very dilapidated yellow Kodak envelope with a man standing behind a women with a camera. A Kodak box(V620) image at the bottom of envelope.
The negatives are singles images not attached. They are mostly of the Coast Guard Academy content b&w. Thanks again!

 

MattKing

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• Oct 22, 2025

• #4

It might help if you shared some images of them - including the envelope.
If you show us backlit digital images of the negatives, including the edges - something like these: https://www.photrio.com/forum/resou...nsparencies-for-troubleshooting-purposes.461/

 

OP

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• Oct 22, 2025

• #5

Here are 2 examples, I hope the images come thru.

 

OP

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• Oct 22, 2025

• #6

This is the front and back of the envelope.

 

MattKing

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• Oct 22, 2025

• #7

You may need to re-size the images before uploading them - I aim for jpegs, with the longest dimension being 1000 - 1200 pixels.

 

OP

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• Oct 22, 2025

• #8

Yellow envelope

 

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OP

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• Oct 22, 2025

• #9

Other side yellow envelope

 

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OP

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• Oct 22, 2025

• #10

CG Academy with the "V" at the top edge.

 

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• Oct 22, 2025

• #11

Top edge #2255.

 

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MattKing

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• Oct 22, 2025

• #12

Here is an inversion of that single negative:

 

MattKing

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• Oct 22, 2025

• #13

I think I can read the name "Tharp" in pencil in the spot for the name on the envelope. I don't know if that means something to you.
I also think I see "616" in pencil on the negative, but as posted above, that only narrows it down to about 50 years!
The envelope has an ad for "Verichrome" film, which was made between 1931 and 1956, but labs were known to keep using envelopes like that until they ran out of them - they wouldn't necessarily have been removed from service in 1956.

 

OP

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• Oct 23, 2025

• #14

Wow! That is unbelievable what you have done. Thank you Matt and all. This was someone's history that got sold(my guess) at an estate sale. I collect old Coast Guard Academy items(being a graduate) and will donate them to the Academy museum. The more I learn about these items the better connection they will have for others- I hope. Thank you all.

 

OP

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• Oct 23, 2025

• #15

Tharp- may be Edward R. Tharp who graduated in 1944 from the CG Academy. He recieved a Bronze Star on D-Day aboard the Samuel Chase.

 

MattKing

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• Oct 23, 2025

• #16

You are welcome.
I think you will find that Photrio is full of people who love trying to solve historical mysteries.
Hope you decide to stay around.

 

loccdor

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• Oct 23, 2025

• #17

Quite awesome.

 

Sirius Glass

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• Oct 23, 2025

• #18

Welcome to Photrio!

 

OP

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• Oct 23, 2025

• #19

MattKing said:

You are welcome.
I think you will find that Photrio is full of people who love trying to solve historical mysteries.
Hope you decide to stay around.

Click to expand...

Very cool place you have here. I might have a few more other items coming... Thanks again!