Morrow, Nancy Jane "Jennie" Whitney (1855-1938) (3 of 5)
/Bradley & Rulofson Studio Portrait Photograph of Nancy Jane “Jennie” Whitney
THE PHOTOGRAPHER/ PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO:
Photographic Studio: Bradley & Rulofson, 429 Montgomery Street, San Francisco, California. Henry William Bradley (1813-1891) opened a photographic studio in San Francisco in 1850 and in 1860 took on his partner William Rulofson (1826-1876). Their studio was considered by many to be the best in California. Bradley retired in 1878.
THE SITTER:
Name: Nancy Jane “Jennie” Whitney Morrow (When this portrait was taken, the sitter would have been known by her maiden name, Whitney)
Description: In this head-and-shoulders portrait, 16 year old Nancy Jane “Jennie” Whitney looks down dolefully to her right. She wears what appears to be a dark, satin, cape with heavy black embroidery and dark, wooden, toggle latches. Around her neck is a white lace collar, a stripped ribbon with notched ends, and a narrow, black, choker with a small, round, ornament attached to its center. Her hair is center-parted, pulled to the back of her head, and gathered in a net-textured snood. Her snood is edged in black piping, and at the top of Nancy Jane’s head is a light colored bow.
Biographical Note: As a member of a prominent Petaluma family, Nancy Jane “Jennie” Whitney attended “Professor Lippitt’s Scientific & Classical Institute” on D Street in Petaluma, and served as a Sunday school teacher at Petaluma’s St. John’s Episcopal Church under Reverend George Barbour Allen (1833-1918). On April 20, 1881, at the age of 26, in her parent’s home at 6th and F Streets in Petaluma, she married George Pilson Morrow of Temescal, Alameda County, California (1858 -1904). George Morrow was connected with the grain industry and president of George P. Morrow & Company, 303 California Street, San Francisco. On June 7, 1897, the Petaluma Daily Courier reported that Nancy Jane had been elected to the School Board of Temescal, a neighborhood of Oakland, California. In 1904, George died at the age of 45. In 1938, Nancy Jane died at age 81. Both were buried in Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland.
Family Affiliation: Nancy Jane “Jennie” Whitney was the second daughter of the prominent Petaluma pioneers, Albion Paris Whitney (1825-1884) and Susan Durgin Eastman Whitney (1832-1917). Her father was a California State Senator and wealthy businessman. Her mother managed the family business after his death and was an active participant in the women’s suffrage movement. Her paternal grandmother was Olive Parlin Whitney (1791-1874), and her siblings were Cleora Melissa Whitney Hewlett, Arthur Leslie Whitney, Leona Merrill Whitney, Marcella “Ella” Whitney Wheaton, Albion Harvey Whitney and Clara Whitney Spears. With her husband, George Pilson Morrow (1858-1904) Nancy Jane had two children, Rachel Morrow and George Whitney Morrow. Following in his maternal grandfather’s footsteps, George Whitney Morrow worked in the grocery industry.
Bibliography:
THE PHOTOGRAPH:
Format / Size: carte de visite, approximately 5.75 x 9.75 cm
Medium: albumen photographic print mounted on cardstock
Description, front: This portrait has been set within a vertical oval. Embossed on the bottom right is, “Bradley & Rulofson”. In the Petaluma Historical Library & Museum’s collection are two difference poses taken of Nancy Jane during her portrait sitting at Bradley & Rulofson’s studio, see her portrait 4 of 5 in this archive.
Description, back: Handwritten along the top of the card in cursive in pencil, can be seen, “1871”. On top of this is also written, “1871”, this time in bold, black, marker. Directly below this, handwritten in cursive in pencil is, “Jennie” followed by the photographers’ imprint. At the bottom is printed, “Additional copies can be had at any time.”.
Date: July 1871
Condition: This card is slightly soiled on both sides, and the top right corner has been clipped.
Owner: Petaluma Historical Library & Museum, 1981-835-11
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.