Green, Gertrude J. Symonds (d. 1930)
/Lafayette F. Sheppard’s Portrait Photograph of Gertrude J. Symonds Green
THE PHOTOGRAPHER/ PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO:
LAFAYETTE F. SHEPPARD was born in 1852 in Ohio and died in 1940 in Inglewood, California. He established his photographic gallery in Petaluma in February of 1886, “in the rooms formerly occupied by Lewis Dowe”. It was located at 59 1/2 Main Street next door to the First National Bank Building. Sheppard continued to work as a photographer in Petaluma at least through June of 1891. (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: Gertrude J. Symonds Green
Description: In this head-and-shoulders portrait, Gertrude looks intently up and to her right. With the exception of the black, lace collar surrounding her neck, she wears no adornments. Lovely, full, large curls adorn her forehead and the remainder of her hair has been combed back into a bun which is barely visible at the center back of her head.
Biographical Note: Gertrude was born in California and raised on the outskirts of Petaluma on her family’s fruit farm. She graduated from the D Street Petaluma High School in May 1886. On June 13, 1888, the Petaluma Courier reported that Gertrude was the 1st Vice-President of the Lomitas Parlor, Native Daughters of the Golden West. She served along with President, Miss Nellie Denman, and other prominent ladies from Petaluma. Gertrude died in San Francisco in 1930 and was buried in the Symonds family plot at Petaluma’s Cypress Hill Cemetery. It is of note that in the announcement of her death she was referred to as Gertrude Symonds-Green.
Family Affiliation: Gertrude was the daughter of Petaluma farmers Alfred Symonds (1825-1890) and Hannah M. Symonds (1837-1918). She married Dr. Johnathon Green who was also a Petaluma High School graduate. They moved to San Francisco and together had a son named Allan (Allen) Symonds Green.
THE PHOTOGRAPH:
Format / Size: cabinet card
Medium: albumen photographic print mounted on cardstock
Description, front: In this head-and-shoulders portrait, the sitter turns her left shoulder slightly away from the viewer but turns her head in the opposite direction. The photographer’s imprint appears in gray print at the bottom edge of the dark card.
Description, back: Handwritten in cursive in pencil along the top edge is, “Gertrude Symonds Green”.
Date: February 1886 to 1891
Condition: There is foxing along the top edge of this cabinet card and large stains on both the right and left edges. However, the sitter’s visage is not soiled.
Owner: Pete Vilmur 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.