Brady Studio

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Petaluma Argus Courier, June 14, 1910, p. 2.

BRADY STUDIO was established in October 1909 when Martha N. Hazelbacker Brady and George L. Brady purchased the La Motte Studio located at 164 Main Street from William Gray. The Brady Studio was relocated to 170 Main Street over the Gem Theater some time prior to 1912. The management of the Brady Studio was taken over by Mark C. Voorheis in September 1912. The Brady Studio was the meeting place of the Petaluma Camera Club which appears to have been sponsored by the Bradys, Voorheis, and Gustav Adolph Goehner. The Brady Studio was purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Albert Salb of San Francisco in April 1913.

Martha N. Hazelbaker Brady and George L. Brady were married June 8, 1907 and arrived into Petaluma October 1909 from Watsonville, California. Only a few months after their arrival, the couple opened the Brady Studio. The Petaluma Daily Morning Courier reported, “Mr. and Mrs. Brady have been in the photographic business for some eighteen years and come to Petaluma thoroughly equipped to do first class work.” In May 1911 the Petaluma Argus-Courier reported that “Mr. and Mrs. G. L. Brady, photographers, will attend the Eastman School of Professional Photography to be held in the Palace Hotel, San Francisco. May 23, 24, 25, where demonstrations will be made in all lines of the profession.” An announcement published in the Petaluma Daily Morning Courier on July 22, 1912, and signed by “Mrs. Geo. R. Brady”, stated: “Several months ago Mr. Brady, the photographer, on account of failing health, was compelled to give up active participation in the business and go to a warmer climate. During this time we have been endeavoring to secure the services of a first class photographer. We are glad to announce that we have finally succeeded in securing M. C. Voorhies[sic], recently of Sacramento…” The birth and death dates of Martha have not been determined. George died at the age of 50 on August 15, 1918, in Fresno, California.

Mark C. Voorheis (b. 1868 Michigan, d. 1940 San Jose, California) arrived into Petaluma from Sacramento. He was recruited by Mr. and Mrs. Brady to replace them due to Mr. Brady’s failing health. In a Petaluma Daily Morning Courier announcement written by Mrs. Geo. L. Brady and published July 22, 1912, it was stated, “Mr. Voorhies [sic] is thoroughly experienced in photography, and competent to turn out the very best quality of work, having been with such workers as Otto Boye, of San Francisco and with leading studios in other cites. We are prepared to give the people of Petaluma and vicinity the very best quality of work at reasonable prices.” In 1913 the Petaluma Argus-Courier stated, “Mr. Voorheis has recently added new lenses of the highest quality to the outfit, and has also installed an Electric Portrait Printing Cabinet, which makes him independent of the weather or daylight in the finishing department…The equipment in the enlarging department is also being perfected to facilitate the handling of the increasing business in the line of Portrait enlarging. Mr. Voorheis’ ability in artistic photography is well known, having been for several years associated with such leaders in photography as W. A. Pryor of La Crosse, Wis., and L. A. Doyer of Bucyrus, Ohio…”

Active in Petaluma: The Brady Studio was operated by the Bradys between October 1909 and September 1912. Voorheis took over the operation of the studio September 1912 and sold it to Albert Salb in April 1913.

Bibliography: Fresno Morning Republican, Aug. 17, 1918, p. 5 and 6. Petaluma Argus-Courier, October 4, 1909, p. 3; June 14, 1910, p.2; “Will Attend School",” May 22, 1911, p. 1; “Camera Club Notice,” May 10, 1912, p. 5, 8; Feb. 1, 1913, p. 4; May 9, 1913, p. 10. Petaluma Daily Morning Courier, Oct. 2, 1909, p.1; July 22, 1912, p. 4; August 10, 1912, p. 1; August 26, 1912, p. 1; Sept. 7, 1912, p. 4; Feb. 2, 1913, p. 2; April 18, 1913, p.5, 8; April 19, 1913, p.5.

Unfortunately, the PHL&M owns no portraits attributable to Martha Brady, George Brady or Mark Voorheis.

Brown, Charles S.

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CHARLES S. BROWN was born in 1865 and arrived into Petaluma from Modesto, California. In February 1906, he established the “Brown & Poste Studio” in Petaluma at 818 Main Street, the space previously occupied by photographer Thorsten Lawson who purchased the space from photographers Edwin and Ada Healy. Poste’s identity has yet to be determined; however, according to the Petaluma Argus-Courier February 24 announcement, Poste would operate the studio until Brown’s arrival from Modesto. Both Brown’s place of business and residence are listed as 818 Main Street in the 1906 and 1907 Petaluma City Directory. On October 7, 1907, the drill team of the Petaluma Lodge of Fraternal Brotherhood was photographed in full uniform at Brown’s Studio. This group portrait has not been found. It was among Brown’s last portraits because, just a few days earlier, it was reported that the studio had been purchased by Wesley La Motte Shattuck and renamed La Motte Studio.

Petaluma Argus-Courier, Feb. 24, 1906, p.3.

Petaluma Studio: “Brown & Poste Studio”, 818 Main Street, Petaluma, California.

Active in Petaluma: February 1906 - October 1907

Bibliography: Petaluma Argus-Courier, February 24, 1906, p. 3; May 22, 1906, p. 3; October 6, 1906, p.8; October 4, 1907, p. 1; October 7, 1907, p.4. Petaluma Daily Morning Courier, March 3, 1906, p. 1.

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

Butler, Edward Payson

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Petaluma argus, July 16, 1862, p.3.

EDWARD PAYSON BUTLER was born in 1834 in Clinton, Pennsylvania, and died in 1923 in Saratoga, California. Butler was an ambrotype and paper photographer, and in January 1862, he took over the photographic gallery of Giles Pease Kellogg located within Petaluma’s Phoenix Block and renamed it “Butler’s Ambrotype and Photographic Gallery”. Butler marketed himself as Kellogg’s successor and proclaimed in his advertisements, “In order to meet the demands of the times, I am now taking pictures of all styles, in the very best manner, at the following reduced rates: medium ambrotype pictures, taken for $1.00 to $1.50 each. Photographs, full size $3.00 for the first and $1.00 for each additional one. Album and card pictures, $4.00 per dozen. Daguerreotypes copied and pictures inserted in rings and lockets, in superior style. Views of buildings taken at short notice. Pictures of children taken in the best manner. Entire satisfaction guaranteed.” This was followed by an invitation to call and examine specimens of his work at his residence on the second floor of the Washington Hotel.

According to the Petaluma Argus, Butler co-partnered with Bryan Johnson in December 1862, and they worked together at the gallery until April 1863, when Johnson took sole possession of the business and renamed it “Johnson’s Premium Pioneer Photographic Gallery”. Butler departed Petaluma in May 1863 and continued his work as a photographer in the California cities of Watsonville, San Francisco, and Santa Cruz, as well as in the Nevada cities of Virginia City and Reno.

During his two years in Petaluma, Butler served as a member of the community’s “First Fire Company” and volunteered his artistic skills by serving on the “Committee of Arrangements” for the decoration of the Petaluma Engine Company’s New Year Ball held in McCune’s Hall.

Petaluma Photographic Studio: Butler opened his “Butler’s Ambrotype and Photographic Gallery” in July 1862 within Petaluma’s Phoenix Block, second floor, Main Street, and departed Petaluma May 1983.

Active in Petaluma: January 1862 - April 1863

Bibliography: Carl Mautz, Biographies of Western Photographers, A Reference Guide to Photographers Working in the 19th Century American West, Expanded and Revised Edition, 2018, p. 110. Peter E. Palmquist and Thomas R. Kailbourn, Pioneer Photographers of the Far West, Stanford University Press, 2000, p. 143. Petaluma Argus, July 9, 1862, p. 3; July 16, 1862, p. 3; Dec. 24, 1862, p.2; Dec. 31, 1862, p. 2. Petaluma Weekly Argus, July 13, 1877, p. 1. Sonoma County Journal, Jan. 17, 1862, p. 2; Jan. 31, 1862, p. 2. Sonoma Democrat, Dec. 6, 1862, p. 4, column 5; Jan. 31, 1863, p. 3; Feb. 7, 1863, p. 2. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/33093840/edward-payson-butler.

Unfortunately, the Petaluma Historical Library & Museum owns no portraits that can be definitively attributed to this important, early photographer; however, several early ambrotypes of Petaluma pioneers without an identified photographer may have been created by him. These portraits can be found by typing “Butler” in the search bar above.