Bartelt, Herman C. (1858-1938) (3 of 4)
/Abel & Priest Studio Portrait Photograph of
Herman C. Bartelt and Catherine Petersen Bartelt
THE PHOTOGRAPHER/ PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO:
Photographic Studio: Abell & Priest
Studio Location: Bancroft’s History Building, 123 Market St., San Francisco, California
THE SITTERS:
Names: Herman C. Bartelt and Catherine Petersen Bartelt
Description: In this portrait Herman Bartelt is seated on the viewer’s left and standing next to him, with her right hand resting on his shoulder, is his wife, Catherine Peterson Bartelt. Herman wears a three-piece suit and a high, banded, white collar. Catherine wears a dark, bustled and tightly corseted dress. She has a row of short, dark bangs adorning the top of her forehead, and above them is a distinct crown of frizzy curls.
Biographical Note: Herman C. Bartelt was a native of Germany. He was a long-time resident of Petaluma where he worked as a poultry farmer, businessman, resort & saloon owner, and real estate agent. He and his wife Catherine were the proprietors of the Willow Brook Hotel at Redwood Highway and Corona Road and the popular Chicken Rancho. Bartelt also established the Novelty Iron Works in Petaluma at 770-772 Keller Street. Towards the end of his life, he resided at 14 or 824 Keller Street. Bartelt and his wife reported the famous Wiseman airship mishap. Bartelt was an active member of the Herman Sons’ Lodge.
Family Affiliation: Bartelt’s wife and business partner was Catherine Petersen Bartelt (b. 1865), and his daughter was Sophie Bartelt Vonsen (1888-1978), a Petaluma dressmaker.
Bibliography:
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 painted backdrop used in this portrait depicts an elegant, residential interior. The photograph is mounted on a dark brown card, and the photographer’s imprint appears along the bottom edge in gold ink. Included as part of the imprint under the name of the studio is “1889”, the date the studio was founded.
Description, back: Handwritten in cursive in pencil along the top edge is, “George & Loretta Vonsen”. It is presumed that this cabinet card was a gift, and that the inscription refers to the recipients, the portrayed couple’s son-in-law, George Vonsen and his mother, Loretta Vonsen.
Date: The Abel & Priest photographic studio operated between 1889 and 1894.
Condition: The edges on the front side of the card are frayed, and the back side is soiled and has tape remnants along its top edge.
Owner: Petaluma Historical Library & Museum, 1978-80-34
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.