Hubbell, Philena Buck (1808-1897) (1 of 2)
/Mariah Andrews Cutler’s Portrait Photograph of Philena Buck Hubbell
THE PHOTOGRAPHER/ PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO:
Photographer: Mariah Andrews Cutler (born c. 1827)
Photographic Studio: Galva Illinois
THE SITTER:
Name: Philena Buck Hubbell
Description: In this carte de visite portrait, Philena Buck Hubbell sits in a fringed arm studio chair and looks directly at the camera. She is attired in a simple, dark, long-sleeved, belted dress which has two front inverted pleats on the skirt and darts beginning at the waist creating a fan of fullness for the blouse. Around her neck is a white, crocheted, scalloped collar pinned at her throat with a round brooch. In her lap, she holds what appears to be a large, white handkerchief or a torn sheet of paper. Her dark hair is center-parted, combed straight down on both sides, looped in front of then beneath her ears and drawn to the back of her head.
Biographical Note:
Family Affiliation: Philena Buck Hubbell was the paternal grandmother of Petaluma doctor, Ruth Philena Hubbell Hoffman (1862-1949); the mother of Ruth’s father, Jonathon Foster Hubbell (1830-1898); and the mother-in-law of Ruth’s mother, Mary Magdalene Maxey Hubbell (1834-1878).
Bibliography:
THE PHOTOGRAPH:
Format / Size: carte de visite, approximately 6 x 9.3 cm
Medium: albumen photographic print mounted on cardstock
Description, front: The only prop used in this simple, elegant portrait is a fringe armed studio chair.
Description, back: Handwritten in cursive in black ink along the top is, “Grandma Hubbill” and along the bottom is “Prop of”. Unfortunately, the bottom line is not legible. The photographer’s imprint appears in the center back: “Photographed by Mrs. M. A. Cutler, Galva, Illinois. Negatives Preserved.”
Date: This portrait most probably dates from between 1866 when Mrs. M. A. Culter was first listed as a photographer and 1876 when she and her family were known to be living in Union County Iowa.
Condition: The front and back of this card are stained and soiled, and the top and bottom of the card have been trimmed.
Owner: Petaluma Historical Library & Museum, 1985-IDI-01
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