Brown, Anna “Annie” Alexis Ferguson (1841-1920) (1 of 4)
/Tyler & Co’s 25 Cent Daguerreotype Rooms’ Portrait Photograph of Anna “Annie” alexis Ferguson Brown
THE PHOTOGRAPHER/ PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO:
Photographic Studio: Tyler & Co’s 25 Cent Daguerreotype Rooms, corner of Winter and Washington Streets, Boston, MA. This studio was managed by Edward M. Tyler between 1853 and 1855. The slip of paper taken from the back of the portrait, reproduced below, inscribed with “William A. Bean”, may document the name of photographer who created this daguerrotype. https://pioneeramericanphotographers.com/tag/tyler-company/
THE SITTER:
Name: Anna “Annie” Alexis Ferguson Brown. At the time this portrait was taken, the sitter would have been known as Annie Alexis Ferguson.
Description: This teenage girl sits frontally and gazes out at the photographer with a calm and dignified composure. Her hands rest in her lap with her right clasping the wrist of her left. She wears a ring on her right index finger, a small ornament at the base of her throat, and delicate drop earrings. Her dark hair is center-parted and drawn back into a snood, the ends of which can be seen directly above her shoulders. Her dark, short-sleeved dress is fan-pleated from the waist and embellished with white lace at her collar and sleeve ends.
Biographical Note: Anna Alexis Ferguson was born in 1841 in County Galway, Ireland. By age 5, she and her family had immigrated to the United States and lived in Boston, Massachusetts. Annie sailed around Cape Horn and came to California in 1856 to live in Petaluma with her sister and brother-in-law, Sabina and Thomas Rochford. On May 18, 1858, Annie and Daniel Brown were married at the Rochford’s house by Father Louis Auger. Annie and Daniel had twelve children, seven of whom survived until adulthood. Besides raising their children, Annie was active in St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church and participated in local fairs, entering tapestries and other works of art she had created. Annie lived in Petaluma until a few years after the 1902 death of her husband. She moved to San Francisco with her son, Vincent and three of her unmarried daughters, Josephine, Emma, and Kathleen Elise. Annie died in San Francisco on March 13, 1920. She was buried next to Daniel in Calvary Cemetery in Petaluma, and eventually most of their twelve children were interred with them in the Brown Family Plot.
*This biographical note was written by Anna “Annie” Alexis Ferguson Brown’s descendant, Kathleen O’Brien Balestrini.
Family Affiliation: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/41848304/annie-alexis-brown Search this archive and the Sonoma County Library photograph archive for additional portraits of the Brown family.
Bibliography: Primary Sources: Petaluma Argus-Courier: March 28, 1900, p. 1; March 13, 1916, p. 2; March 13, 1920, p. 4 (obit); March 15, 1920, p. 5.. Petaluma Daily Morning Courier: October 12, 1904, p. 1; March 20, 1922, p.3; September 13, 1911, p. 5; March 14, 1920, p. 8 (obit). Petaluma Weekly Argus: September 1, 1888, p. 2. For additional information and artifacts pertaining to the Brown family, see the Kathleen O’Brien Balestrini Collection at the Petaluma Historical Library & Museum.
THE PHOTOGRAPH:
Format / Size: According to the owner of the original, the image itself, as measured outside of its frame, is approximately, 2” by 2 1/2”.
Medium: Daguerreotype
Case Description: Within its frame, this portrait has been mounted off-center to the left. The nonpareil brass mat is typical of the early 1850s. The preserver (foil frame around image) is typical of the 1860s. The case and all its components are likely not original to this image but instead added later perhaps during a restoration of damaged case. The case is of the Eickmeyer band style design introduced in 1855, it is not known whether this is an authentic Eickmeyer or an imitation.
Inscribed note found in case: Annie’s descendants knew little about her childhood until years later when a very old and very small leather case was opened. Inside the case was this daguerreotype, a very dark image of a young girl. Also inside the case was a note reproduced above which was written by one of her daughters on the back of a bank deposit slip. Written by Annie Alexis Ferguson Brown’s descendant, Kathleen O’Brien Balestrini
Date: 1855 (In 1855 the Tyler & Co photographic studio moved to Worcester, Massachusetts.)
Condition: Moderate tarnishing of the plate particularly visible along the top and bottom edges. Case appears to have been restored. Case components may not be original to this image.
Owner: From the collection of Kathleen O’Brien Balestrini, 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.
