Doss, Floyd Ernest (1893-1980)
/Joslin & Company’s Portrait Photograph of Floyd Ernest Doss
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: Floyd Ernest Doss
Description: This portrait of Floyd Ernest Doss as a baby depicts him in a seated position supported by a fur covered prop. The baby wears a simple white gown which has a darker colored, elaborate, lace, collar and matching cap sleeves. He wears a short beaded necklace and glances up to his right. His face, hands, and the lower section of his arms are significantly darker than his upper arms. It would appear this baby spent significant time out-of-doors.
Biographical Note: Floyd Ernest Doss was born in Two Rock. As a young man, he joined the Aviation Corp of the US Army and served as a mechanic in the Air Force in WWI in France. After the war, he worked as a driver for the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department and then for Associated Oil Company. For twenty years he owned the Petaluma Express Company.
Family Affiliation: Floyd Ernest Doss was the first child born to pioneer Two Rock residents, Letitia Ellen Johnston Doss (1868-1893) and Henry Franklin “Frank” Doss (1868-1951). His wife was Caroline Marie Jensen Doss (1893-1984).
Bibliography:
THE PHOTOGRAPH:
Format / Size: cabinet card, approximately 10.75 x 16.5 cm
Medium: gelatin or collodion photographic print mounted on cardstock
Description, front: The object in the upper left of this portrait may be a device used by photographers to capture a baby’s attention. It is a vertical object which appears to be covered in white tassels. The photographer’s studio imprint appears along the bottom edge of this card embossed with gold foil.
Description, back: Along the top left of this card is handwritten in script in blue ink, “Floyd E. Doss”. Also, an unusual stamp appears in the center back of this cabinet card. It is round with a decorative circumference. Within the circle is written, “A. J. T. Joslin,”, “Photographer”, “APR 30 1894”, “OPP”, “American Hotel”, and “Main St. Petaluma, Cal”.
Date: April 30, 1894. This date assumes the back stamp documents the date of the portrait.
Condition: This card is slightly soiled on the front and significantly soiled on the back.
Owner: Petaluma Historical Library & Museum, 1994-106-04
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.