Ivancovich, Clara Belle Sproul Jewell (1858-1939)(1 of 4)
/Lewis Dowe’s Portrait Photograph of Clara Belle Sproul
THE PHOTOGRAPHER/ PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO:
LEWIS DOWE was born in 1838 in Hanover, New Hampshire and died in 1919 in Portland, Oregon. He arrived in Petaluma in September of 1875 and set up his photography studio in the rooms formerly occupied by photographer Hugh Anderson. Dowe worked in Petaluma as both a “view” and portrait photographer until he departed the town in March of 1882. (For additional information on this photographer and to view all portraits by him in the collection, click on his name in blue above.)
THE SITTER:
Name: Clara Belle Sproul Jewell Ivancovich. At the time this portrait was taken, the sitter would have been known by her maiden name, Clara Belle Sproul.
Description: In this head-and-shoulder carte de visite, Clara Belle Sproul Jewell Ivancovich is nineteen years old. She has short, curly, bangs, and the remainder of her hair is pulled up into a bun at the back of her head. She wears a close-fitting jacket with a shawl lapel. Her white lace ruff is adorned with what appears to be a brooch, and around her neck, tied in a bow, is a white, crocheted, fringed scarf.
Biographical Note: Clara Belle was born in 1853 in Canton, Illinois and moved with her family to Petaluma at age ten. She graduated from Petaluma High School in 1877 and may have then attended the “Normal Classes” conducted at Petaluma High School which prepared high school graduates to be primary teachers. She was a skilled musician, composer, journalist, playwright, novelist, and poet. She sang in the Methodist Church Choir, taught piano lessons in her home, and wrote the anthem for the San Francisco District Federated Women’s Clubs. Originals and early copies of several of Clara’s literary creations are housed at the Petaluma Historical Library & Museum, including her journals, her novella Adele La Croix, and several poems. Also housed at the PHL&M is her autograph book, which is signed by many of her classmates several who eventually became prominent Petalumans, and a copy of the anthology Singing Years which contains five of her poems. (See her bibliography below for access to digital copies of several of these artifacts.) Unfortunately, copies of some of her works have not been found, including a one-act play entitled Discretion and a pageant performed at Petaluma’s 1923 Butter & Egg Days Celebration entitled Princess Petaluma. As a long-time member of the Petaluma Woman’s Club, Clara Belle contributed news of the club in an Argus-Courier column and served as chairwoman of the Literary and Choral Committee and as President in 1917 and 1918.
Family Affiliation: Clara Belle was the daughter of Petaluma pioneers, Roxanne Cordelia King Sproul (1826-1908) and John Sproul. Roxanne was a landlady and early suffragist, and John was a Civil War Veteran and construction contractor. On October 30, 1878, Clara Belle married Petaluman, John Elliott Jewell (1852-1932). The marriage ended in divorce in 1897, and in 1898, at the age of 40, she married the Petaluma medical doctor, George Ivancovich (1850-1924).
THE PHOTOGRAPH:
Format / Size: carte de visite, approximately 6.25 x 10.5 cm
Medium: albumen photographic print mounted on cardstock
Description, front: According to the inscription, this portrait commemorates Clara Belle’s graduation from Petaluma High School in 1877. For another portrait which is strikingly similar and concurrent with this one, see Lewis Dowe’s portrait of Clara Belle’s classmate, Emma Elder.
Description, back: Handwritten in black ink in cursive at the top of the card is, “Class Picture”, and “May 18th 1877.”. At the bottom of the card in a distinctly different handwriting in blue ink in cursive appears, “Aunt Clara”. A mailing label with the address of the donor has been applied to the right side.
Date: May 18th, 1877
Condition: This carte de visite is soiled, and there is a crease in the top half running horizontally from the center to the left side.
Owner: Petaluma Historical Library & Museum, 2014-791-29
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.