Olmsted, Aletha Jocephine “Josie” Houx (1880-1941)
/E. R. Healy Ground Floor Gallery’s Portrait Photograph of Aletha Jocephine Houx
THE PHOTOGRAPHER/ PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO:
EDWIN RUTHVEN HEALY (1856-1923) and ADA “ADDIE” GOSSAGE HEALY (1860-1923). Edwin and Ada Healy were a married couple, and both were listed in California directories as a photographer. It has been assumed they worked together; however, ascertaining their division of labor is problematic. The “E. R. Healy Gound Floor Gallery” was opened in 1896 at 816 Main Street, Petaluma, California. It was later relocated to 818 Main Street and sold in June, 1905. In 1906 the Healys moved to Berkeley, California. (To view all portraits in this collection taken at the E. R. Healy Ground Floor Gallery and for additional information on Edwin and Ada Healy, click on their names in blue above.)
THE SITTER:
Name: Aletha Jocephine “Josie” Houx Olmsted. According to the inscription on the back of this portrait, it was taken when the sitter was known by her birth name, Aletha Jocephine “Josie” Houx.
Description: In this head-and-shoulders portrait, Aletha Jocephine “Josie” Houx poses frontally, but turns her head and gaze to the viewer’s right. Her hair is center-parted, combed to the back of her head, and secured with a dark bow. She wears a dark blouse which has white piping at the neck, large pleated sleeves, and a prominent front flounce. Over her dark blouse she wears a large, rectangular, white, lace, yoke collar.
Biographical Note: Aletha Houx was raised at the Houx Homestead in Two Rock Valley. She attended Petaluma High School and was a member of the University of California, Berkeley class of 1904. She was a participating member of the Order of the Eastern Star.
Family Affiliation: Aletha Jocephine “Josie” Houx Olmsted was the daughter of Two Rock pioneers, William Duncan Houx (1853-1951) and Martha Jan Vestal Houx (1855-1942). In November of 1904, Aletha became the first wife of John “Jack” Alexander Olmsted Sr. (1876-1953), the editor and publisher of the Petaluma Argus. Together they had four children, Duncan Houx Olmsted (1905-2000), Aletha May Olmsted (1908-2004), John Alexander Olmsted (1910-1999), and Geneva Alberta Olmsted (1911-1995).
Bibliography:
THE PHOTOGRAPH:
Format / Size: Carre format, approximately 3” X 3”. The diamond orientation of this portrait is rare.
Medium: gelatin or collodion photographic print mounted on cardstock
Description, front: All four edges of this square, diamond-shaped, portrait are pinked, and the photographer’s imprint appears along the bottom on both the left and right sides.
Description, back: Handwritten at the top of the card in pencil in print is, “Jocephine Houx”. Below this, handwritten in pencil, in cursive is,“Mother of John Olmsted family.”.
Date: circa 1896. The format of this portrait suggests it was most probably among the first produced by the E. R. Healy Ground Floor Gallery.
Condition: This card is heavily soiled.
Owner: Petaluma Historical Library & Museum, 1984-289-01
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