Cady, Emma S. Elder Coggeshall (1857-1933) (1 of 6)
/Easton’s Photographic Gallery’s Portrait Photograph of Emma S. Elder
THE PHOTOGRAPHER/ PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO:
Photographer: Easton’s Photographic Gallery, Rochester, Minnesota
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: Emma sits in a studio chair striking an informal contrapposto pose. The informality of her pose is echoed in the look upon her face. She is evidently a teenager. She wears a dark dress with drop shoulders and a tight waistline. At her neck is a ruffled white collar and a necklace which appears to end in a locket. Her hair falls in sausage curls to just below her shoulders, and she wears a headband at the crown 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 x 10 cm
Medium: albumen photographic print mounted on cardstock
Description, front: The subject sits resting her left arm on the upholstered, fringed arm of a studio chair. The vertical right edge of the portrait contains what may be a section of backdrop meant to depict either drapery or a fluted column.
Description, back: Handwritten along the top edge in blue ink in all capital letters is, “EMMA ELDER”. The photographer’s imprint includes eight lines of text: “MEZZO PRINT PHOTOGRAPHS”, “Exclusive Right”, “License Number 151”, “Easton’s”, “PHOTOGRAPHIC GALLERY”, “Negatives preserved”, and “Copies furnished at any time”.
Date: circa 1868 - 1872
Condition: There is light foxing throughout this carte de visite, and the top edge has been cut.
Owner: Petaluma Historical Library & Museum, 1985-IDI-02
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