Eastman, Charles Austin (1848-1916)
/Ross & Ormsby’s Portrait Photograph of Charles Austin Eastman
THE PHOTOGRAPHER/ PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO:
ROSS & ORMSBY was a Petaluma photography studio operated by George Colvaine Ross (born February 12, 1832, Edinburgh, Scotland; died 1893, Petaluma, California) and Elon D. Ormsby (died March 6, 1895, Oakland, California). The Ross & Ormsby studio was located, “At Ross’ old gallery, Main Street, two doors above the Wickersham + Co’s bank”. Ross, already an established portrait photographer in Petaluma, renamed his studio, placing his new partner’s name after his own. The Ross & Ormsby studio was first advertised in the Petaluma Weekly Argus on May 20, 1869, and the final advertisement for the studio appeared on June 11, 1870. (For additional information on this photography studio and to view all portraits in this archive with its imprint, click on its name in blue above.)
THE SITTER:
Name: Charles Austin Eastman
Description: Charles Austin Eastman sits at ease with his left hand resting on his thigh, and his right arm on the fringed armrest of the studio chair. He is dressed in a sack jacket with large piped lapels. His trousers and vest are made of a dark, matching, plaid fabric. He wears a white shirt with a banded collar and a bow tie at his neck. He is clean shaven and has thick, wavy, hair.
Biographical Note: Like his sister, Petaluma pioneer, Susan Durgin Eastman Whitney, Charles Austin Eastman was born in New England. Possibly at her invitation, Charles arrived in Petaluma in the 1870s and lived here for some time, but by 1878 he had settled in Humboldt County. While living in Humboldt County, he worked as a tallyman in the lumber industry.
Family Affiliation: Charles Austin Eastman’s wife was Mary Graves. Among his siblings were Flora Eastman (1841-1863) and Petaluma pioneer, Susan Durgin Eastman Whitney (1832-1917). Their father was Otis Eastman (1806-1905) who lived several of his last years in Petaluma with his daughter, Susan Durgin Eastman Whitney.
Bibliography:
THE PHOTOGRAPH:
Format / Size: carte de visite, approximately 6.25 x 10.5 cm
Medium: albumen photographic print mounted on cardstock
Description, front: Along the bottom left edge of the card is written in ornate script and red ink, “Ross & Ormsby,”, and along the right edge is, “Petaluma.”.
Description, back: Handwritten along the top edge in pencil in cursive is, “Charley Eastman”, “1871”, and Susan D.’s brother”.
Date: 1871 (as identified on the back of the card). It is quite probable that the Ross & Ormsby studio only operated between May 1869 and the summer of 1870. The date of 1871 on the back of this card may be misleading; it may simply have been the result of Ross exhausting previously printed card inventory.
Condition: This carte de visite is soiled throughout, and both side edges and the top edge have been trimmed.
Owner: Petaluma Historical Library & Museum, 1981-835-24
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.