Wheaton, Marcella “Ella” Whitney (1866-1915)(2 of 6)
/Hugh S. Anderson’s Portrait Photograph of “Ella” & “Albie” Whitney
THE PHOTOGRAPHER/ PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO:
HUGH S. ANDERSON was born in 1826 in Scotland and died in 1900 in San Francisco, California. He was active in Petaluma as early as January 1872, and he departed Petaluma in December 1873. His Sunbeam Gallery was located, “At the Old Stand, Opposite H. C. Taft & Co.’s”. (For additional information on this photographer and to view all portraits by him in the collection, click on his name in blue above.)
THE SITTERS:
Names: Marcella “Ella” Whitney Wheaton and Albion Harvey Whitney (At the time this portrait was taken, “Ella” would have been known by her maiden name, Marcella “Ella” Whitney.)
Description: This photograph portrays the siblings “Ella” and “Albie” Whitney. “Ella” appears on the viewer’s left. She is either 6 or 7 years of age. She wears a light-colored dress with triangular decoration at its hem. Her long hair is drawn back by a headband, and she affectionally holds her left arm around her younger brother. Albie, on the viewer’s right, sits with his hands gathered in front of him on the studio chair’s armrest. He is attired in a checkered dress which a white band collar, white leggings and leather boots. As was fashionable at the time for little boys, his hair is parted on both sides of his head and pulled up into a curl at the top of his crown.
Biographical Note: As a member of a prominent Petaluma family, Ella was well educated. She attended an Episcopal high school, Saint Mary’s Hall in Benicia, and, according to her obituary, a Bay Area seminary which may be a reference to Mill’s Seminary. According to articles in the Petaluma Weekly Argus, Ella toured Europe between July 1887 and December 1888. She later married Charles B. Wheaton and moved with him to Medford, Massachusetts. She died suddenly at the age of 48 of pneumonia in Medford, but was buried in her family’s plot in Petaluma at the Cypress Hill Memorial Park.
Family Affiliation: Marcella “Ella” Whitney was the fifth child of the prominent Petaluma pioneers Albion Paris Whitney (1825-1884) and Susan Durgin Eastman Whitney (1832-1917). Her father was a California State Senator and wealthy businessman. Her mother managed the family business after his death and was an active participant in the women’s suffrage movement. Her paternal grandmother was Olive Parlin Whitney, and her siblings were Cleora Melissa Whitney Hewlett, Nancy Jane “Jenny” Whitney Morrow, Arthur Leslie Whitney, Leona Merrill Whitney, Albion Harvey Whitney and Clara Whitney Spears. Marcella’s husband was Charles B. Wheaton of San Francisco whom she married in 1892.
Bibliography:
THE PHOTOGRAPH:
Format / Size: carte de visite
Medium: albumen photographic print mounted on cardstock
Description, front: In this portrait, the photographer has cleverly arranged his sitters together on either side of his fringed studio chair, creating a casual, intimate, composition highly appropriate for a double portrait of young siblings. The chair’s armrest has been used for the children to grasp as their legs adorably dangle beneath them.
Description, back: Along the top edge handwritten in cursive in pencil is, “Ella + Albie”.
Hugh Anderson’s imprint is on the center of the back of this carte de visite. Anderson created several versions of his Petaluma imprint. An expanded, possibly later, version appears here. It is printed in red ink and includes four lines of text, each in a different font. The text is embellished above and below with a horizontally flipped, elaborate flourish.
Date: January 1872 - December 1873
Condition: Both sides of this card are soiled and the back retains several stains.
Owner: Petaluma Historical Library & Museum, 1981-835-08
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.