Shattuck, Wesley La Motte (see La Motte Studio)→

/

LA MOTTE STUDIO On October 4, 1907, the Petaluma Argus-Courier reported on the front page that W. L. Shattuck, who had recently arrived into Petaluma, had purchased Brown’s photographic studio on Main Street, and that after its renovation, it would be known as La Motte Studio. Later in the year, an advertisement for La Motte Studio claimed that it provided, “Platinums in Sepia or Black and White, also Platinas”. It also declared their motto to be, “prompt delivery and satisfactory work”, and that the proprietor was W. M. Gray. There is no documentation verifying that W. L Shattuck or W. M. Gray were professional photographers. Shattuck may have simply been an investor, and Gray a manager. The photographer who created the La Motte Studio’s portraits is unidentified.

The Petaluma Argus-Courier reported on October 4, 1909, that Gray had sold the La Motte Studio to George L. Brady of Watsonville who had not announced his plans for the future. The address of the La Motte Studio was recorded as both 164 and 818 Main Street.

Active in Petaluma: October 4, 1907 - October 4, 1909

Bibliography: Petaluma Argus-Courier, October 4, 1907, p. 1; December 25, 1908, p. 6; October 4, 1909, p. 3. Petaluma Daily Morning Courier, January 9, 1908, p. 1.

Click on any thumbnail for an enlarged version and additional information.

La Motte Studio

/

LA MOTTE STUDIO In October 1907, Wesley La Motte Shattuck (b. 1873 Iowa, d. 1935 Los Angeles, California) purchased the Brown Studio at 818 Main Street and renamed it La Motte Studio. Both Shattuck’s place of business and residence are listed as 818 Main Street in the 1908 Petaluma City Directory. Beginning in 1896, this location served as the Healy Ground Floor Gallery and subsequently as a studio for Thorsten Lawson and Charles S. Brown. Shattuck owned the studio for less than a year. On July 3, 1908, the Petaluma Daily Morning Courier reported that Mr. Shattuck sold his photography gallery to E. D. Weston; however, only three months later, Weston sold the gallery to William M. Gray of Telluride, Colorado. In December 1908, an advertisement for La Motte Studio claimed that Gray’s motto was “prompt delivery and satisfactory work” and that he provided “Platinums in Sepia or Black and White, also Platinas”. On October 4, 1909, the Petaluma Argus-Courier reported that William M. Gray had sold the La Motte Studio to George L. Brady of Watsonville, who renamed the business “The Brady Studio”. By July 1910, Gray had opened a photography studio in Albuquerque, New Mexico at 215 West Central Avenue.

Petaluma Argus-Courier, December 25, 1908, p. 6

The La Motte Studio remained in the same location on Petaluma’s Main Street throughout its years of operation. However, the City of Petaluma changed the Main Street address numbers, consequently, the studio’s address was recorded as 818 and later as 164.

Active in Petaluma: Shattuck managed the studio between October 1907 and July 1908., Weston between July 1908 and October 1908, and Gray between October 1908 and October 1909.

Bibliography: Petaluma Argus-Courier, October 4, 1907, p. 1; July 6, 1908, p. 6; August 8, 1908, p. 4; October 26, 1908, p. 5; December 25, 1908, p. 6; Jan. 30, 1909, p. 8; October 4, 1909, p. 3; January 2, 1909, p. 3; June 2, 1909, p. 1; Aug. 10, 1910, p. 5. Petaluma Daily Morning Courier, Oct. 5, 1907, p. 1; Oct. 15, 1907, p.4; January 9, 1908, p. 1; July 3, 1908, p. 1; Oct 24, 1908, p.1; June 14, 1909, p. 1; Oct. 1, 1909, p. 1; Oct.2, 1909, p. 1; September 7, 1912, p. 4. Albuquerque Journal (New Mexico), July 19, 1910, p.3.

Click on any thumbnail for an enlarged version and additional information.