Sproul, John S. (1826-1899)

Alameda Photograph Company’s photographic portrait of John S. Sproul

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THE PHOTOGRAPHER/ PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO:

Photographer: Alameda Photograph Company

Photographic Studio:  Neither the owner, operator, or location of the Alameda Photograph Company has been determined.

THE SITTER:

Name: John S. Sproul

Description: Sproul appears in this portrait as a gaunt, elderly man. He is dressed in a sack jacket with a small lapel and matching vest. He wears a grid-line patterned shirt with an asymmetrical collar. There is a handkerchief in his left breast pocket. He is balding and sports a heavy, walrus mustache which flows into his beard. The facial hair along his jaw has been clipped close to his face.

Biographical Note:

Family Affiliation:

Bibliography:

THE PHOTOGRAPH:

Format / Size: cabinet card, approximately 10.50 X 15.7cm

Medium: albumen photographic print mounted on cardstock

Description, front: The photographic paper of this portrait has been mounted on a card with scalloped edges. It has been assumed the bottom edge has been trimmed.

Description, back: The inscription on the back side of this portrait was originally handwritten in cursive in pencil. That text was then re-written on top of the original text in black ink with the exception of the second like which retains its original text in pencil. The inscription reads: “John S. Sproul”, “Grandpa Sproul”, b. 1 Dec 1826 near Londonderry, Ireland”, “m. 12 Nov 1848 to Roxanne King”, “Canton, Fulton Co IL”, “d. 16 Aug 1899 Oakdale Stanis-”, “laus Co. CA”.

Date: 1890s

Condition: This portrait has a jagged, horizontal crease which run the full horizontal length of the card directly below the sitter’s armpits. The bottom edge of this portrait’s card has been trimmed.

Owner:  Petaluma Historical Library & Museum, 2022-791-03

A second copy of this portrait is owned by the Sonoma County Library: https://digital.sonomalibrary.org/Documents/Detail/portrait-of-john-s.-sproul-in-alameda-california-about-1892/63388

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.