Denman, Charlotte Edwards (1861-1950) (2 of 3)

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Bushnell Studio’s Portrait Photograph of Charlotte Edwards Denman

THE PHOTOGRAPHER/ PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO:

Photographer/Studio: Bushnell Studio, San Francisco and Oakland, California

THE SITTER:

Name: Charlotte Edwards Denman

Description: Charlotte Edwards Denman is wearing what may be a bolero vest. As was fashionable in the 1890s, it has extremely large, flounced sleeves and ruffled borders. She wears a scarf which encircles her neck and has been tied in a bow at the nape of her neck. Her hair is parted in the middle, with short, curly bangs. The hair from the back of her head has been pulled up into a bun.

Biographical Note: Charlotte Edwards Denman was a president of the Petaluma Woman’s Club and a long-standing President of St. John’s Episcopal Church’s Women’s Auxiliary. She lived at 641 D Street in Petaluma.

Family Affiliation: Charlotte Edwards Denman was married to Petaluma banker, Frank Hardenburgh Denman (1856-1955).

Bibliography:

THE PHOTOGRAPH:

Format / Size: cabinet card, approximately 27 x 21.5 cm

Medium: albumen photographic print mounted on cardstock

Description, front: The horizontal format of this cabinet card may have been dictated by the width of the the sitter’s sleeve caps. The portrait is surrounded by a horizontal oval and has been placed on a dark cabinet card. The photographer’s imprint appears in the bottom left corner in white script on a diagonal alignment.

Description, back: Handwritten in print in black ink along the top right edge of the card is, “Aunt Lottie”. Below this, handwritten in print in pencil is, “Charlotte Edwards Denman”. Below that in cursive in pencil is, “Mrs. Frank Denman”. In the upper left corner handwritten in cursive in pencil is, “Charlotte E. Denman”. A sheet of paper has been taped to the back of this cabinet card. It appears to have been placed in 1991 when the portrait was accessioned. It identifies the sitter as Charlotte Edwards Denman (Mrs. Frank).

Date: Denman's sleeves and the format date this photo to the 1890s.

Condition: This cabinet card is in good condition

Owner:  Petaluma Historical Library & Museum, 1991-X-10

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. 

Denman, Charlotte Edwards (1861-1950) (3 of 3)

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Joslin & Company’s Portrait Photograph of Charlotte Edwards Denman

PHOTOGRAPHER / PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO:

JOSLIN & COMPANY was established by the photographer Amon James Tuft Joslin. He was born in 1839 in Rockwood, New York, and died in 1913 in San Benito County, California. He established the Petaluma Photo Parlor under the name of Joslin & Company in November 1893, and left the studio, departing for Chico, California in April 1897. (For additional information on Joslin and Company and to view all portraits produced by the studio in the collection, click on its name in blue above.)

THE SITTER:

Name: Charlotte Edwards Denman

Description: Charlotte Edward Denman wears a white blouse with a high banded collar latched up the front of her neck with three small buttons. Gathered in folds at the base of this collar is a dark, diaphanous, top layer of fabric. Her short bangs have been curled, and they rest high on her forehead. The remainder of her hair has been pulled back and up into a tightly twisted topknot at the crown of her head. It appears Charlotte is wearing a rimless pince-nez, a style of eye glasses placed on the bridge of the nose without supporting ears stems. Pince-nez were popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Biographical Note: Charlotte Edwards Denman was a president of the Petaluma Woman’s Club and a long-standing President of St. John’s Episcopal Church’s Women’s Auxiliary. She lived at 641 D Street in Petaluma.

Family Affiliation: Charlotte Edwards Denman was married to Petaluma banker, Frank Hardenburgh Denman (1856-1955).

Bibliography:

THE PHOTOGRAPH:

Format / Size: cabinet card, approximately 10.75 x 16.25 cm

Medium: gelatin or collodion photographic print mounted on cardstock

Description, front: The bottom half of this portrait has been damaged leaving the image of the sitter from her lower shoulders down only vaguely visible; the top half remains crisp. The edges of this cabinet card are scalloped, and Joslin & Company’s imprint appears along the bottom edge of the card.

Description, back: Along the upper edge in pencil in script is written, “Charlotte Denman”. Under this, handwritten in pencil in block letters is, “Charlotte Edwards Denman”.

Date: November 1893 - April 1897

Condition: The bottom half of this cabinet card has been damaged, consequently, it is difficult to determine if the details of the bottom half were originally and purposely left vague. In stark contrast, the section above the damage is in good, crisp condition. The marks that appear below the sitter’s left eye, along the ridge of her nose and at the end of her right eyebrow may be a faintly perceivable, rimless, pince-nez.

Owner:  Petaluma Historical Library & Museum, 1991-X-47

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. 

Denman, Charlotte Edwards (1861-1950) (1 of 3)

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George B. Rieman & Fred H. Pray’s Portrait Photograph of Charlotte Edwards Denman

THE PHOTOGRAPHER/ PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO:

Photographers: George B. Rieman & Fred H. Pray

Photographic Studio: Rieman & Pray, 26 Montgomery Street, San Francisco, California

THE SITTER:

Name: Charlotte Edwards Denman

Description:  This boudoir-sized cabinet card is a wedding portrait of Charlotte Edwards Denman. She is standing with her gloved hands in front of her with her fingers intertwined. She looks demurely down and to her right. She is wearing a corseted, redingcoat-styled wedding dress. The skirt of her dress is a tone-on-tone brocade and its very decorative hem includes several layers of flounce. Her overdress is adorned profusely with beaded tassels, and she wears a corsage on her left shoulder. Her diaphanous veil falls from the top of her head revealing her tight, short bangs, and forms a train which extends beyond the lower right edge of the photograph. For what is most probably a companion portrait depicting the groom, see the portrait of Frank Hardenburgh Denman.

Biographical Note: Charlotte Edwards Denman was a president of the Petaluma Woman’s Club and a long-standing President of St. John’s Episcopal Church’s Women’s Auxiliary. She lived at 641 D Street in Petaluma.

Family Affiliation: Charlotte Edwards Denman was married to Petaluma banker, Frank Hardenburgh Denman (1856-1955).

Bibliography:

THE PHOTOGRAPH:

Format / Size: boudoir-size cabinet card, approximately 21 x 13 cm

Medium: albumen photographic print mounted on cardstock

Description, front: In this wedding portrait, the bride stands in front of an elaborately painted backdrop depicting a grand patio with vine covered columns and an expansive distant view. The formality of the scene is heightened by the arch format. Along the bottom edge of the portrait is handwritten in script, “Charlotte E. Denman - 1885”. The portrait is backed by a boudoir-size, dark cabinet card, and the photographer’s elegant imprint runs along the bottom in gold script.

Description, back: Along the top edge of the card has been placed a length of tape and handwritten upon it in pencil in block letters is, “Charlotte Edwards Denman” and “(Mrs. Frank H. Denman)”. The back of this card is dark, and it contains several messages marketing the sophistication of the photography studio. The name of the studio is written in bold, gold, capital letters on an artist’s palette, and the address is written on a surrounding scroll. An additional scroll reads, “Take elevator”, obviously informing the reader there would be no need to climb stairs to reach the studio rooms. In script towards the bottom is, “WHEN OTHERS FAIL TRY RIEMAN”, and in a final enticement, the reader is informed, “Photographed by Electricity”.

Date: 1885

Condition: With the exception of minor fraying along the front bottom edge, this card is in very good condition.

Owner:  Petaluma Historical Library & Museum, 1991-X-09

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.