Doss, Henry Franklin “Frank” (1868-1951)
/John Henry Peterson’s Portrait Photograph of
Henry Franklin “Frank” Doss & Letitia Ellen Johnston Doss
THE PHOTOGRAPHER/ PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO:
Photographer: John Henry Peterson
Studio Location: J. H. Peters, 914 Market St., San Francisco, California
THE SITTERS:
Names: Henry Franklin “Frank” Doss and Letitia Ellen Johnston Doss
Description: In this double portrait, Henry Franklin “Frank” Doss is holding his wife’s right arm. He wears a formal vested suit and a white shirt with a high banded collar and white bow tie. A watch chain hangs from his vest pocket. Letitia is also dressed formally in a corseted Basque jacket and matching skirt. Her jacket has a double row of buttons creating a center panel and her skirt has horizontal draping which was most probably drawn into a bustle in the back.
Biographical Note: Henry Franklin “Frank” Doss was a potato and hay farmer in Two Rock. He also served as the Sonoma County Supervisor, and was a member of Petaluma Lodge No. 901 BPOE. He served as a juror on the Org Foon murder trial in 1899.
Family Affiliation: Henry Franklin “Frank” Doss was the son of Petaluma pioneers John R. Doss (1837-1909) and Amanda Maria Stephenson Doss (1840-1917). His wife was Letitia Ellen Johnston Doss (1868-1938), and together they had five children including Floyd Ernest Doss (1893-1980) and Iva M. Doss Goble (1895-1987). Henry and Letitia were the grandparents of Mert Doss, (1921-2010) a well-known Petaluma photographer.
Bibliography:
THE PHOTOGRAPH:
Format / Size: cabinet card, approximately 10.75 x 16.5 cm
Medium: albumen photographic print mounted on cardstock
Description, front: This is a double portrait of a Henry Franklin “Frank” Doss and Letitia Johnston Doss possibly taken to commemorate their wedding of October 8, 1890. Henry stands on the left and holds Letitia’s right arm. Letitia stands with the fingers of both of her hands touching below her waist. To the left is an upholstered chair and behind is a painted backdrop. The photographer’s imprint appears along the bottom edge of the card.
Description, back: Handwritten in black ink in script is, “Frank & Letitia Johnston Doss” and “married Oct 8, 1890”.
Date: The date of October 8, 1890 assumes this double portrait to be a photograph taken on their wedding day.
Condition: There are large dark spots throughout the upper right of the portrait.
Owner: Petaluma Historical Library & Museum, 1994-106-05
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