Rodd, Mary Jane Blackburn Faith(1858-1940)(2 of 8)
/Bryan R. Johnson’s Portrait Photograph of Mary Jane Blackburn Faith Rodd
THE PHOTOGRAPHER/ PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO:
BRYAN R. JOHNSON was born c. 1834 in New York State, and his death date is unidentified. After working as a photographer in several California cities, Johnson moved to Petaluma and beginning in December of 1862 co-partnered with Edward P. Butler at the Ambrotype and Photographic Gallery on Petaluma’s Phoenix Block. In April 1863, Johnson took sole possession of the gallery and renamed it “Johnson’s Premier Pioneer Photographic Gallery”. In 1864, he moved his studio twice within the community finally settling in the Doyle Building on Main Street. Johnson sold his studio to William Henry Lentz in October 1866. (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: Mary Jane Blackburn Faith Rodd. When this portrait was taken, the sitter would have been known by her maiden name, Mary Jane Blackburn.
Description: In this full-length portrait, Mary Jane Blackburn as a child of five or six years, stands on a footstool and grasps the back of an upholstered balloon chair. With an open and innocent gaze, she looks out directly at the viewer. Her hair is center parted and falls to her shoulders in sausage curls. She is attired in a plaid dress with short dropped sleeves and a full skirt. The front of her dress and its hem and sleeves have been trimmed with black ribbon. Her dress falls to mid calf revealing her white stockings and unusually large lace-up boots. She wears a short chain about her neck.
Biographical Note: Mary Jane Blackburn Faith Rodd was born in Petaluma on Third and D Streets. She was educated in Petaluma and studied the piano under Sarah Lucinda Lewis Lippitt (1832-1919). Later in life, she resided at 229 Keokuk. She was affiliated with the Petaluma Druidic Circle, No. 6 and the Neighbors of Woodcraft. She was buried in Petaluma Cypress Hill Memorial Park.
Family Affiliation: Mary Jane Blackburn Faith Rodd was the daughter of early prominent Petaluma pioneers, Charles Blackburn (1821-1897) and Jemima Jane Richardson Blackburn (1825-1905) who made the overland journey to Petaluma by ox team in 1852 from Oskaloosa, Iowa. Mary Jane was the sister of Martha Blackburn (1849-1856), John Selvay Blackburn (1851-1903), Hester C. Blackburn Elphick (1869-1944), Lillian M. Blackburn (1865-1949) and Franklin L. Blackburn (1869-1931). Mary Jane’s first husband was George Faith (1851-1880). Together they had one son, George Blackburn Rodd (1880-1924) who took the name of Mary Jane’s second husband, Samuel Rodd (1849-1929). Mary Jane and Samuel had one daughter, Dorothy Clark Rodd Barber Wallace (1884-1963). https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/106979435/mary_jane_rodd.
Bibliography: Petaluma Argus-Courier, July 26, 1937, p.2.; July 27, 1939, p. 4. April 26, 1940, p.8. Santa Rosa Republican, April 26, 1940, p.2. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/106979435/mary-jane-rodd.
THE PHOTOGRAPH:
Format / Size: carte de visite
Medium: albumen photographic print mounted on cardstock
Description, front: This portrait includes a backdrop depicting ferns and other foliage. Unfortunately, many of its details are undecipherable due to the deteriorated state of the portrait.
Description, back: At the top edge of the card, handwritten upside down in pencil in cursive is, “Mary Jane Blackburn (Rodd)”. A white label has been applied to the bottom of the card. Handwritten on it in blue ink is, “Mary Jane Blackburn Rodd”. Bryan R. Johnson’s imprint appears in the center.
Date: April 1863-1865
Condition: Both sides of this carte de visite are soiled, and the photographic paper on the front has been torn is several locations. The bottom edge of the card has been trimmed.
Owner: The Carol Cook Collection, digital copy by permission.
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.