Eastman, Benjamin Durgin (1802-1881)
/Conant Artistic Photographer’s Portrait Photograph of Benjamin Durgin Eastman
THE PHOTOGRAPHER/ PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO:
Photographic Studio: Conant Artistic Photographer, 478 1/2 Congress St., Portland, Maine
THE SITTER:
Name: Benjamin Durgin Eastman
Description: This is a head-and-shoulders portrait of Benjamin Durgin Eastman as an elderly man. He wears oval spectacles and sports a short, gray, Shenandoah beard. He looks up to his right with a gaze that appears confident and inquisitive.
Biographical Note: Benjamin Durgin Eastman was not a Petaluman. He was the brother-in-law of Albion Paris Whitney, an important Petaluma pioneer, California State Senator and merchant.
Family Affiliation: Benjamin Durgin Eastman was married to Nancy Fisher Whitney Eastman (1828-1910), the sister of Petaluma pioneer, Albion Paris Whitney (1825-1884). Although he was significantly older, he was Albion’s brother-in-law.
Bibliography:
THE PHOTOGRAPH:
Format / Size: cabinet card, approximately 10.75 x 1890 cm
Medium: albumen photographic print mounted on cardstock
Description, front: Handwritten in cursive in pencil along the bottom left edge of the card is, “B. Eastman (over)”.
Description, back: Handwritten in blue ink in cursive along the top edge of the card is written, “Benjamin Durgin Eastman”, and below this, handwritten in pencil in cursive is, “Mrs. Whitney was an Eastman”. Benjamin Durgin Eastman, however was Susan Whitney’s husband’s brother-in-law. Susan Whitney’s father was Otis Eastman (1806-1905). In the center of the card is an elaborate imprint which includes, “Conant, Artistic Photographer, 478 Congress St. Portland”.
Date: undated
Condition: This carte de visite has faded, and there is light foxing throughout.
Owner: Petaluma Historical Library & Museum, 1891-835-31
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.