Ivancovich, Clara Belle Sproul Jewell (1858-1939) (3 of 4)
/Hector W. Vaughan’s Portrait Photograph of Clara Belle Sproul Jewell
THE PHOTOGRAPHER/ PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO:
Photographer: Hector W. Vaughan
Photographic Studio: Imperial Photographic Gallery, 724 1/2 Market Street, San Francisco, California
THE SITTER:
Name: Clara Belle Sproul Jewell Ivancovich. At the time this portrait was taken, the sitter was most probably known by her first married name, Clara Belle Sproul Jewell.
Description: Clara Belle stands leaning her right elbow on a fabric covered table. With her arms crossed, she assumes an air of confidence and authority. Her hair has been arranged in a peculiar fashion. Like a tight fitting cap, it conforms to the shape of her head, fitting low over her brow and above her ears. She wears a heavily draped, dark, skirt and matching basque jacket which features large buttons and a crenelated hem.
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: cabinet card, approximately 10.75 x 16.5 cm
Medium: albumen photographic print mounted on cardstock
Description, front: Although faded, the studio backdrop utilized in this portrait suggests a grand architectural interior.
Description, back: Handwritten in pencil in cursive along the top edge is, “Clara B (Sproul) Jewell”. Handwritten in blue ink in cursive is, “Mama’s Aunt”. Handwritten in black ink in cursive upon an applied, yellow, square, piece of paper is, “dress is beautifully tailored”, “1877 or 79”, and “gals did not use earrings but used pins on dress”. Applied along the right bottom edge is the donor’s mailing address sticker.
Date: 1877 or 1879
Condition: Although the background of this portrait is faded, the image of the sitter is in good condition.
Owner: Petaluma Historical Library & Museum, 2014-791-33
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.