Oates, Bessie Jane Hiatt (1881-1967)
/John Quincy Reed’s Photographic portrait of Bessie Jane Hiatt Oates
THE PHOTOGRAPHER/ PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO:
JOHN QUINCY REED was born in 1841 in Abington, Massachusetts and died in 1902 in Petaluma. He worked as a photographer in Petaluma for over 25 years, moving his studio within the community to several different locations. He arrived into Petaluma from Stockton in 1870 and continued to work as a photographer in Petaluma until at least 1898. Many of his portraits of Petaluma’s citizens are of exceptionally fine quality. (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: Bessie Jane Hiatt Oates (1881-1967)
Description: Exuding a calm and solemn demeanor, Bessie Jane Hiatt Oates sits on a stool holding a tambourine in her lap. She has positioned the instrument so the viewer can clearly see its Salvation Army imagery and inscription, “Lieut. C. Oates”. Bessie is attired in a Salvation Army uniform typical of the 1880s and 90s. Her form-fitting jacket is fastened with large metal buttons that run the entire length of the garment. Her jacket and dress beneath were probably made of blue wool, a color meant to symbolize the purity of life enjoyed by those cleansed by Jesus and the Holy Ghost. She wears a matching bonnet fastened with a wide ribbon and tied under her left ear. Across the top of her bonnet, unseen in this portrait, would have been a red banner with a white inscription reading, “The Salvation Army”. At her throat is a Salvation Army badge, and on her collar is a metal pin in the shape of an “S”.
Biographical Note: Bessie was born in Akron, Indiana in 1881. In 1897, at the age of sixteen, she married Charles Edward Oates (1874-1963). Bessie was a member of the Petaluma Methodist Church, The Golden Age Club, and the Gann Valley Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star. The date of this portrait (sometime between 1897-1898) confirms Bessie was a member of the Salvation Army in the late 1890s. In the late 1880s, the Salvation Army had attempted to establish a strong presence in Petaluma, but, due to antagonism within the community, moved their garrison to Santa Rosa in 1890. In 1897 the Salvation Army re-established a garrison in Petaluma. Consequently, Bessie may have served the Salvation Army through either the Santa Rosa or the Petaluma location. It may be informative that although Bessie and Charles lived at 504 Keokuk Street in Petaluma, they are buried in the Santa Rosa Memorial Park.
Family Affiliation: Bessie Jane Hiatt Oates’ father was Isaac Hiatt (1842-1906). He is buried in Oak Hill Memorial Park, San Jose. Bessie had four siblings, and all are buried in Cypress Hill Memorial Park in Petaluma. Her husband was Petaluma carpenter Charles Edward Oates (1874-1963). This would explain the initial “C” inscribed on her tambourine; she may have preferred to be referred to as Mrs. Charles Oates, or she may be holding her husband’s tambourine. It has not been determined if Bessie held the title of lieutenant or if she held it jointly with her husband. With Charles, Bessie had at least five children: Harry J. Oates, Wiliam C. Oates, Lois Oates Backovich, Bernand Oates and Mildred Oates.
THE PHOTOGRAPH:
Format / Size: cabinet card, approximately 10.75 x 16.25 cm
Medium: albumen photographic print mounted on cardstock
Description, front: This cabinet card portrays Bessie Jane Hiatt Oates attired in her Salvation Army uniform. She sits displaying a tambourine inscribed “Lieut. C. Oates”. In the background, along the right edge of the composition can be seen what is most likely an additional studio chair, and to the left is what appears to be an object draped with heavy cloth.
Description, back: The back side of this cabinet card is blank.
Date: This portrait dates between 1897 when Bessie married changing her name from Hiatt to Oates and soon after 1898 when the photographer, John Quincy Reed, left Petaluma.
Condition: This cabinet card is in very good condition.
Owner: Digital copy courtesy of the Rountree Family Collection
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.