Vestal, Amelia Nancy Ayers (1852-1930) (2 of 2)
/Petaluma Photo Parlors’ Portrait Photograph of Amelia Nancy Ayers Vestal
PHOTOGRAPHER / PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO:
JOSLIN & COMPANY was established by the photographer Amon James Tuft Joslin. He was born in 1839 in Rockwood, New York, and died in 1913 in San Benito County, California. He established the Petaluma Photo Parlor under the name of Joslin & Company in November 1893, and left the studio, departing for Chico, California in April 1897. (For additional information on Joslin and Company and to view all portraits produced by the studio in the collection, click on its name in blue above.)
THE SITTER:
Name: Amelia Nancy Ayers Vestal
Description: In this head-and-shoulders portrait, Amelia Nancy Ayers Vestal looks up and to her right with a confident gaze. She is attired in a high-necked satin blouse and a jacket with very large lapels and wide gathered sleeves. She has a mound of short curls at the crown of her head, and the remainder of her hair has been combed to the back of her head.
Biographical Note: In 1852, Amelia Ayres was born in Illinois to early Petaluma pioneers William Ayers (1829-1899) and Martha Wade Ayers (1829 or 30 - 1890). Her parents brought her to California as an infant and raised her in Annaly and Petaluma. Later in her life, she lived in Santa Rosa. On July 2, 1874, she married Lemuel H. Vestal (1841-1923). Together, they had at least three children: Lena E. Vestal Hall (1877-1968), Warren Eugene Vestal (1883-1973), and William Thomas Vestal (1885-1947). Amelia was buried in the Santa Rosa Odd Fellows Cemetery.
Family Affiliation: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/231487662/amelia-n-vestal. This website has numerous portraits of additional Vestal and Ayers family members.
Bibliography: Petaluma Argus, “The Ayers Reunion,” May 28, 1908, p. 2. Santa Rosa Republican, Jan. 13, 1930, p.2; Jan. 14, 1930, p. 3.
THE PHOTOGRAPH:
Format / Size: cabinet card, approximately 10.75 x 16.5 cm
Medium: gelatin or collodion photographic print mounted on cardstock
Description, front: Handwritten in script in pencil along the bottom edge of the card is: “Amelia Nancy Vestal”.
Description, back: Handwritten in script in pencil along the top edge is: “Amelia Nancy Vestal”. Handwritten in script in black marker along the bottom edge is: “Amelia Nancy Vestal”.
Date: November 1893 - April 1897
Condition: This cabinet card is in good condition.
Owner: The Cyndi Logan Collection, digital copy by permission.
Reproduction rights: The Petaluma Museum Association makes no assertions as to ownership of any original copyrights to the digitized images here reproduced. These images are intended for personal or research use only. Any other kind of use, including, but not limited to commercial or scholarly publication in any medium or format, public exhibition, or use online or in a web site, may be subject to additional restrictions including but not limited to the copyrights held by parties other than the Association. USERS ARE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE for determining the existence of such rights and for obtaining any permissions and/or paying associated fees necessary for the proposed use.