Gale, James 2022-952-01-49c

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Hugh S. Anderson’s Portrait Photograph of James Gale

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 SITTER:

Name: Unidentified

Description:

Biographical Note:

Family Affiliation:

Bibliography:

THE PHOTOGRAPH:

Format / Size: carte de visite

Medium: albumen photographic print mounted on cardstock

Description, front:

Description, back: 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. Beneath the imprint, handwritten in cursive in pencil is, “James Gale”.

Date: January 1872 - December 1873

Condition:

Owner: Petaluma Historical Library & Museum, 2022-952-01-pg49c, Schwobeda/Bloom/Taylor/DeMartin Family & Friends Album

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.

Gale, Mary Hester Towner (1851-1931)

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Lewis Dowe’s Portrait Photograph of Mary Hester Towner Gale

THE PHOTOGRAPHER/ PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO:

LEWIS DOWE was born in 1838 in Hanover, New Hampshire and died in 1919 in Portland, Oregon. He arrived in Petaluma in September of 1875 and set up his photography studio in the rooms formerly occupied by photographer Hugh Anderson. Dowe worked in Petaluma as both a “view” and portrait photographer until he departed the town in March of 1882. (For additional information on this photographer and to view all portraits by him in the collection, click on his name in blue above.)

THE SITTER:

Name: Mary Hester Towner Gale

Description: Mary Hester Towner Gale is seated in a fringed-arm studio chair and looks directly at the camera with an assertive but unemotional demeanor. Her hair has been parted off-center and combed to each side, and she wears a rope of braided hair at the crown of her head. She is dressed in a dark, front-buttoned, form-fitting, corseted basque jacket which is decorated elaborately at the collar and cuffs with satin trim and soutache embroidery. She wears a wedding ring, long pendant earrings, a large brooch at her neck, and a long tasseled chain. She wears a fringed white neck scarf, and the white lace of her under blouse’s collar and cuffs are visible. In her right hand she holds a book or sheet of paper, the text of which is not legible.

Biographical Note: Mary H. Towner was born in Taylor County, Iowa. As a child she crossed the plains with her parents and settled in Green Valley, California. It was reported that Mary Towner Gale was a devout Methodist and lived at 223 Howard Street in Petaluma for many years. She was buried in Cypress Hill Memorial Park in Petaluma.

Family Affiliation: Mary’s parents were early California pioneers, Mr. and Mrs. A. C. Towner. In 1869 she married Petaluman, Otis Seldon Gale (1849-1933).

Bibliography:

THE PHOTOGRAPH:

Format / Size: cabinet card, approximately 11 x 16 cm

Medium: albumen photographic print mounted on cardstock

Description, front: The photographer’s imprint appears along the front bottom edge of this cabinet card.

Description, back: Handwritten in cursive in black ink at the top of the back of this portrait are, “Mrs Otis Gale” and “Howard St”.

Date: Between September 1875 and March 1882

Condition: This cabinet card is in very good condition.

Owner:  Petaluma Historical Library & Museum, 1979-80-02

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.