“The Dead Detective” is an ongoing visual-literary project that blends nineteenth-century photography, genealogical research, and creative storytelling. Through recovered portraiture and historical inquiry, Avery J. Klein works to identify and preserve the lives of those nearly lost to time. Rooted in her own Native (Muscogee Creek) ancestry and her longing for ancestral images, Klein reflects through the project her deep belief in the power of photographs to carry memory, identity, and intergenerational connection. As part of this work, she plans to host workshops that guide others in uncovering and preserving their own family stories, researching ancestors, and building meaningful connections with elders through legacy-based tools.