Farquar, William Harold (1907-1956)
/La Motte Studio’s Portrait Photograph of William Harold Farquar
THE PHOTOGRAPHER/ PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO:
LA MOTTE STUDIO was owned and operated by Wesley La Motte Shattuck between October 1907 and July 1908, by E. D. Weston between July 1908 and October 1908, and by William M. Gray between October 1908 and October 1909. Portraits bearing the La Motte Studio imprint were taken by one of these three photographers. This portrait was taken in August 1908; consequently, it is attributable to E. D. Weston. (For additional information on these photographers and to view all portraits bearing the La Motte Studio imprint in the collection, click on the studio’s name in blue above.)
THE SITTER:
Name: William Harold Farquar
Description: This cabinet card depicts William Harold Farquar as an eight-month-old baby. He sits on a striped pillow in a wicker chair. An embroidered pillow supports his back, and he looks attentively to his left. He wears a white gown with a large lace bib, and shoes of which only the soles are visible.
Biographical Note: William Harold Farquar was born December 11, 1907 and raised in Petaluma. He graduated from Petaluma High School in 1926; attended Santa Rosa Junior College; and graduated from the University of California in 1930. He worked as the superintendent of the Miranda schools in Humboldt, but, just a short time before his death at the age of 48, he left this position to work as an educational consultant with the Earnest Frederick Winkler architectural firm in San Francisco. His body was found August 29, 1956 at the mouth of the Eel River in Humboldt County. He died in an airplane crash along with several other passengers and was buried in Petaluma’s Cypress Hill Memorial Park.
Family Affiliation: William Harold Farquar was the son of Fred Stuart Farquar Sr. (1879-1962) and Hester R. Herbert Farquar (1885-1945). His wife was Betty Farquar. There are many additional portraits of Farquar family members in this archive. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/126036501/william-harold-farquar
Bibliography: Petaluma Argus-Courier, August 1, 1956, p. 14; August 25, 1956, p. 1; August 31, 1956, p. 6; September 4, 1956, p.2.
THE PHOTOGRAPH:
Format / Size:
Medium: matte collodion photographic print with embossed cardstock mount
Description, front: This cabinet card holds a photograph which is smaller than the standard size. The La Motte Studio imprint is embossed in the bottom right corner.
Description, back: Handwritten in cursive in pencil along the top edge is, “8 mns old”, “Harold Farquar”, “Merry Xmas ’08”, and “Mama”
Date: August 1908
Condition: This cabinet card is in good condition.
Owner: Petaluma Historical Library & Museum, 1978-80-44-p10-p19, Farquar Family Album
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.