Cady, Emma S. Elder Coggeshall (1857-1933)(2 of 6)
/Hugh S. Anderson’s Portrait Photograph of Emma S. Elder
THE PHOTOGRAPHER/ PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO:
HUGH S. ANDERSON was born in 1826 in Scotland and died in 1900 in San Francisco, California. He was active in Petaluma as early as January 1872, and he departed Petaluma in December 1873. His Sunbeam Gallery was located, “At the Old Stand, Opposite H. C. Taft & Co.’s”. (For additional information on this photographer and to view all portraits by him in the collection, click on his name in blue above.)
THE SITTER:
Name: Emma S. Elder Coggeshall Cady. This portrait was taken prior to the sitter’s first marriage, when she was known by her maiden name, Emma S. Elder.
Description: The sitter is dressed in a form-fitting bodice with drop shoulders and front buttons. Under a white lace collar she wears a plaid scarf. Over both is draped a beaded necklace which ends in what appears to be a locket. Of particular note is the sitter’s long, center-parted, copious wavy hair which hangs freely with the exception of a top section which has been pulled up and twisted to create a braided crown at the top of her head.
Biographical Note: As a student and young women Emma was mentioned often in Petaluma papers’ society section. She received her certificate to teach in the Petaluma Public School system in 1876. In 1919, she was living at A and Sixth Streets.
Family Affiliation: Emma S. Elder Coggeshall Cady was the daughter of Petaluma pioneers, William Elder (1812-1876) and Sarah C. Elder (1819-1891). The Elders were a prominent family in Petaluma. William Elder, born in Scotland, was Petaluma’s first mayor, the first chairman of the Petaluma Board of Trustees, and one of the founders of the Petaluma Congregational church. William Elder also founded, with George Harris, the general merchandising store in Petaluma, Harris & Elder. In 1877, Emma married a man named Coggeshall and with him had three children. Their daughter, Catherine Coggeshall (1884-1982), married Malcolm Lyman Byce (1890-1919) in 1912. Emma later named a man whose surname was Cady.
Bibliography:
THE PHOTOGRAPH:
Format / Size: carte de visite, approximately 6.25 x 10.5 cm
Medium: albumen photographic print mounted on cardstock
Description, front: This head-and-shoulder portrait of a young woman is set within a vertical oval.
Description, back: Handwritten in black ink in capital letters along the top edge is “Emma Elder”.
Hugh Anderson’s imprint is on the center of the back of this carte de visite. Anderson created several versions of his Petaluma imprint. An expanded, possibly later, version appears here. It is printed in red ink and includes four lines of text, each in a different font. The text is embellished above and below with a horizontally flipped, elaborate flourish.
Date: January 1872 to December 1873
Condition: This carte de visite is in good condition.
Owner: Petaluma Historical Library & Museum, 1984-289-08
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