Farquar, Mary Irene Clark (1858 -1941) (5 of 5)
/Unidentified Photographer, Portrait Photograph of Mary Irene Clark Farquar
THE PHOTOGRAPHER/ PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO:
Photographer: Unknown
Studio Location: Unknown
THE SITTER:
Name: Mary Irene Clark Farquar
Description: This half-length portrait of Mary Irene Clark Farquar depicts her profile and the back of her shoulders. The lighting of this portrait is dramatic; it highlights the front of her profile and leaves the back in shadow. She wears a blouse with smocked sleeves and a high-necked, yoke collar elaborately embellished with detailed, white, crewel embroidery and black ribbons adorned at the top with white beads. Her hair has been arranged into two mounds on the top of her head.
Biographical Note: Mary Irene Clark Farquar was born in Petaluma on the “Clark Ranch” owned by her pioneer parents. She was raised in Petaluma and then attended Mills Seminary (later known as Mills College) between 1874 and 1875. After the death of her first husband in 1908, Mary purchased a ranch in Sonoma Valley at Madrone Station where she lived with her widowed mother, Rachael Jane Murray Clark. In 1919, Mary married an Oakland real estate investor, L. M. Channel. According to their marriage announcement, they planned to live on Mary’s ranch. It appears Mary was never referred to as “Mrs. Channel”. Even after her second marriage, she continued to be referred to as “Mrs. Farquar” or “Mrs. Farquar Sr.” Even her funeral announcement and obituary refer to her as Mrs. Farquar. She was buried in the Farquar family plot in Petaluma’s Cypress Hill Memorial Park. As it seems she never acknowledged the name “Channel”, this archive has filed her portraits under her last acknowledged name, Farquar.
Family Affiliation: Mary Irene Clark Farquar was a member of an early Petaluma pioneer family. Her father, Almer Clark (1829-1899), came to California by way of the Isthmus of Panama, and her mother, Rachael Jane Murray Clark (1838 - 1930), a native of Missouri, crossed the plains with her parents in 1848 or 1852. Almer and Rachael established the “Clark Ranch” on Petaluma Hill Road which served as a “Half-Way” house for the stage coaches traveling between Sacramento and Willits. In 1876, Mary married Calvin Stuart Farquar (1848-1908). Together they had five children: Helen Farquar (August 12, 1877 - December 1878), Frederick Stuart Farquar (1879-1962), Ben Harold Farquar (1881-1965), Thomas Allen Farquar (1891-1956), and Marion Irene Farquar (b. & d. dates to be determined). There are many additional portraits of Farquar family members in this archive.
THE PHOTOGRAPH:
Format / Size: cabinet card
Medium: albumen photographic print mounted on cardstock
Description, front: This is a lovely, high-quality portrait. The lighting is professional and dramatic, and the composition is skillfully placed within the oval matte.
Description, back: Along the top edge of the card handwritten in cursive in black ink is, “Mrs. M. I. Farquar” and “May 7, 1905”.
Date: May 7, 1905
Condition: With the exception of the dented, upper-right corner, this cabinet card is in good condition.
Owner: Petaluma Historical Library & Museum, 1978-80-44-p2-p4, Farquar Family Album
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