“Three Unidentified Sleeping or Dead Infants”

George Ross’ Portrait Photograph of “three Unidentified sleeping or dead Infants”

THE PHOTOGRAPHER/ PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO:

GEORGE COLVAINE ROSS was born February 12, 1832 in Edinburgh, Scotland and died in 1893 at the age of 60 in Petaluma, California. Unlike the other nineteenth century Petaluma photographers, Ross lived and worked in Petaluma for many years. He arrived in Petaluma in 1855, and in 1862 he began his profession as a photographer, moving his studio within the city several times as noted on his various carte de visite and cabinet card imprints. In 1869 he was also part of a short-lived photographic studio partnership with Elon D. Ormsby on Main Street in Petaluma. It was reported that Ross stopped working as a photographer soon after he developed a disability in 1888. Ross was among the most prolific Petaluma portrait photographers, and his work was of exceptionally high quality. Ross was buried in Petaluma’s Cypress Hill Memorial Park. (For additional information on this photographer and to view all portraits by him in the collection, click on his name in blue above.)

THE SITTERS:

Names: These three babies may be the triplets born in Petaluma on April 23, 1877 to Mr. and Mrs. S. Monroe Hubbard.

Description: This carte de visite depicts three infants who are either sleeping or dead. The babies are all newborns and have been dressed in white. Their bodies have been laid next to each other and all their faces turn in the same direction. This makes the portrait’s composition appear to have been purposefully arranged supporting the conclusion that this is a postmortem photograph. According to the Petaluma papers, the Hubbard triplets were born on April 23, 1877 and the last of the three babies to die was Mabel Hubbard on June 21, 1877.

Biographical Note:

Family Affiliation:

Bibliography: Petaluma Courier, April 26, 1877, p.3. PetalumaWeekly Argus, April 27, 1877, p.8; May 18, 1877 p.4; May 25, 1877, p.8; July 6, 1877, p.8.

THE PHOTOGRAPH:

Format / Size:  carte de visite

Medium: albumen photographic print mounted on cardstock

Description, front: This portrait of three infants is contained within an oval frame.

Description, back: On the center back of this carte de visite is an early version of George Ross’ imprint.

Date: This appears to be one of George Ross’ early photographs and most probably dates to between 1862 and the 1870s.

Condition: The photograph is faded, and the card is soiled on both front and back.

Owner:  Petaluma Historical Library & Museum, 1979-425-03-p27-p15, from Church Family Album

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