Clark, George Clarence (1863-1927)
/Henry KEMP VAN EE’S PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPH OF
MARY IRENE CLARK FARQUAR, GEORGE CLARENCE CLARK, AND NETTIE URITH CLARK CANNON
THE PHOTOGRAPHER/ PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO:
Photographer: Henry Kemp Van Ee (1853-1934)
Studio Location: 410 Fourth Street, Santa Rosa, California
THE SITTERS:
Names: Mary Irene Clark Farquar, George Clarence Clark, and Nettie Urith Clark Cannon
Description: In this group portrait, George Clarence Clark appears between his two sisters, Mary Irene Clark Farquar, and Nettie Urith Clark Cannon. George wears a double-breasted wool jacket with a white handkerchief in his left breast pocket. His hair is carefully groomed, and he sports a walrus mustache. There is an almost military air to the poses of the siblings. George stands authoritatively erect with his arms at his sides while his sisters stand erect with their hands behind their backs. Significantly taller, George gazes to his right while his siblings look directly at the viewer.
Biographical Note: George lived at 343 Keller Street in Petaluma and worked as a motorman for the Petaluma and Santa Rosa Railway Company from 1904 until his death in 1927.
Family Affiliation: George Clarence Clark was the son of Petaluma pioneers, Almer Clark (1829-1899) and Rachel Jane Murray Clark (1836-1903). George’s wife was Elizabeth Clark, and Mary Irene Clark Farquar (1858-1941) and Nettie Urith Clark Cannon (1868-1955) were his sisters.
Bibliography:
THE PHOTOGRAPH:
Format / Size: cabinet card
Medium: gelatin or collodion photographic print mounted on cardstock
Description, front: This is a crowded and strangely cropped group portrait of three standing siblings. On the right can be seen a backdrop painted to resemble a residential interior, and on the left can be seen what may be a lace curtain. The card has pinked edges, and the photographer’s imprint appears along the bottom edge. On the bottom edge of the card under the corresponding sibling is written their first name: “Mary”, “George” and “Nettie”.
Description, back: Handwritten in script in pencil along the top edge of the card is: “Mary I. (Clark) Farquar”, “Geo. C. Clark”, and “With Nettie Clark Cannon”.
Date: It is very probable that this portrait was taken January 15, 1895. There is another portrait by Henry Kemp Van Ee in this archive which depicts Mary Irene Clark Farquar’s three sons, and it is very similar to this portrait. The backdrop in both portraits is identical, and on the back side of the portrait of the three boys is written “Jan15, 1895”. It is logical to conclude that the family would have arrived together to have their portraits taken.
Condition: There is slight foxing throughout the top of the card.
Owner: Petaluma Historical Library & Museum,1978-80-44-p21-p40
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