Hall, Lena Ester Vestal (1878-1968) (1 of 2)
/John Quincy Reed’s Portrait Photograph of Lena Ester Vestal Hall
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: Lena Ester Vestal (Hall).
Description: Although only eight years old, Lena Ester Vestal stands with exceptional composure and dignity. She assuredly looks out at the viewer, hands calmly clasped in front of her. She wears a dark skirt, matching jacket, and a vest with round white buttons. Her dark, wavy, waist-length hair falls freely behind her, and precisely trimmed bangs fall to just above her eyebrows. She wears an intriguing distinct fringed necklace, the significance of which has not been determined.
Biographical Note:
Family Affiliation: Lena was the eldest child of early pioneers, Lemuel Hadley Vestal (1841-1932) and Amelia Nancy Ayers Vestal (1852-1930). Among her siblings were Warren Eugene Vestal (1883-1973) and William Thomas Vestal (1885-1947). She graduated, along with her brother, Warren, from the Santa Rosa Business College in 1900. She lived in Sacramento, Petaluma, San Francisco, and Santa Rosa. She married William Clyde Hall of San Francisco in 1917. Lena and William had at least one daughter, Helene Hall Deffenbaugh. Lena is buried in the Santa Rosa Memorial Park.
Bibliography: Petaluma Daily Morning Courier, Nov. 10, 1917, p. 3. Press Democrat (Santa Rosa), Dec. 18, 1968. Sonoma West Times and News, June 20, 1900, p. 3.
THE PHOTOGRAPH:
Format / Size: cabinet card, approximately 10.75 x 16.5 cm
Medium: gelatin or collodion photographic print mounted on cardstock.
Description, front: The photographer’s imprint appears along the bottom edge of the card, and, also along the bottom edge, handwritten in script in pencil is: “Lena Vestal”.
Description, back: Handwritten in script in pencil along the top edge is: “Lena E. Vestal, 8 years old 1885”.
Date: 1885
Condition: This cabinet card is in excellent condition.
Owner: The Cyndi Logan 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.