Edstrom, Edwin Charles Sr. (1814 -1896)
/George Webb’s Portrait Photograph of Edwin Charles Edstrom and Eliza Kent Edstrom
THE PHOTOGRAPHER/ PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO:
Photographer: George Webb
Studio Location: George Webb’s studio was located at 400 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz, California. The Web photographic studio operated between 1889 and 1907. Carl Mautz, Biographies of Western Photographers, 2018 edition, p. 180.
THE SITTERS:
Names: Edwin Charles Edstrom Sr. and Eliza Kent Edstrom
Description: In this double portrait, Mr. and Mrs. Edstrom sit side-by-side, both looking somberly off to the viewer’s right. Charles is dressed in a double-breasted coat and matching trousers. The hair of his head, mustache and beard are pure white, and he carries a cane. Eliza is dressed in a matching jacket and skirt. Her hair is center-parted and combed behind her ears to the back of her head. She holds a book in her lap and wears a knotted neck scarf.
Biographical Note: Edwin Charles Edstrom Sr. was born on January 13, 1814 in the state of New York and baptized March 2, 1814 in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada. In 1833 he was living again in New York, and by 1860 was living in Pacific Township, Humboldt County, California. On, January 18, 1867, he married Eliza Kent in Eureka, Humboldt County, California. He died in 1896 at his Petaluma home on Third Street. His remains were sent to Santa Cruz for interment.
Family Affiliation: Edwin Charles Edstrom Sr. and Eliza Kent Edstrom were the parents of Edwin Charles Edstrom Jr. and Arthur Edstrom. All four Edstroms were associated with Santa Cruz.
Bibliography: Petaluma Courier, Feb. 26, 1896, p.6.
THE PHOTOGRAPH:
Format / Size: cabinet card, approximately 10.75 x 16.25 cm
Medium: albumen photographic print mounted on cardstock
Description, front: This is a horizontal cabinet card with the photographer’s imprint along the right edge.
Description, back: Handwritten in cursive in pencil along the top edge is, "Aunt Eliza, Died June 29/91”. Above this date handwritten in ink is, “1891”, leading to the presumption that the death date of Eliza Edstrom was June 29, 1891. Below this is handwritten, “Aunt Eliza + Uncle Edstrom.”.
Date: Between 1889, the opening of George Web’s studio, and 1891, the year of Eliza Edstrom’s death.
Condition: This cabinet card is in good condition.
Owner: Petaluma Historical Library & Museum, 1983-32-08
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