Lovejoy, Mary Elizabeth Heffner (1844-1913)
/George Ross’ Portrait Photograph of Mary Elizabeth Heffner Lovejoy
THE PHOTOGRAPHER/ PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO:
GEORGE COLVAINE ROSS was born February 12, 1832 in Edinburgh, Scotland and died in 1893 at the age of 60 in Petaluma, California. Unlike the other nineteenth century Petaluma photographers, Ross lived and worked in Petaluma for many years. He arrived in Petaluma in 1855, and in 1862 he began his profession as a photographer, moving his studio within the city several times as noted on his various carte de visite and cabinet card imprints. In 1869 he was also part of a short-lived photographic studio partnership with Elon D. Ormsby on Main Street in Petaluma. It was reported that Ross stopped working as a photographer soon after he developed a disability in 1888. Ross was among the most prolific Petaluma portrait photographers, and his work was of exceptionally high quality. Ross was buried in Petaluma’s Cypress Hill Memorial Park. (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 Elizabeth Heffner Lovejoy
Description: Mary Elizabeth Heffner Lovejoy is elegantly portrayed seated fully frontal in a studio chair. She turns her head slightly to the right and gazes into the lower distance. She wears a cuirass bodice with ruffled sleeves, a high neck and front buttons. At her neck is a trefoil lace jabot pinned at its center with a round brooch. She also wears a white lace ruff, and a long, drop earning can be seen dangling from her left ear. Her dark hair is parted in the center, and she wears a large braided hairpiece on the back of her head.
Biographical Note: Mary Elizabeth Heffner Lovejoy moved with her husband to Petaluma from Ohio some time after their marriage in 1858. Together they lived at #9 6th Street. She was a member of the Petaluma Woman’s Club, the Woman’s Relief Corps, and the Morning Star Chapter, OES.
Family Affiliation: Mary Elizabeth Hefffner Lovejoy was the daughter of early Ohio pioneers, Mary F. Heffner and Thomas Heffner. In 1858 in Ohio, Mary Elizabeth Heffner was married to Dr. George Edwin Lovejoy (1831-1906), and together they moved to Petaluma. Among their children were Lillian Alice Lovejoy Stafford, Dr. Frank Lovejoy, Dr. George Palmer Lovejoy (1877-1949), Jennie Lovejoy Spotwood (1874-1934), and Mrs. N. Oscar Stafford of Los Angeles.
Bibliography:
THE PHOTOGRAPH:
Format / Size: cabinet card, approximately 10.75 x 16.5 cm
Medium: albumen photographic print mounted on cardstock
Description, front: This is an elegant and unusual composition of a seated lady. Mrs. Lovejoy’s body is presented fully frontal with her head turned slightly to the right. She rests her right arm on the fringed arm of a studio chair and holds her left arm away from her body. This pose reveals her slim waist. The arched top adds to the formality of the portrait. Along the bottom edge is the photographer’s imprint.
Description, back: Handwritten in cursive in pencil along the top is, “Clarke Family”. This is not an identification of the sitter, but may be an identification of the recipient. Below this is handwritten in pencil in print script, “Grandma Lovejoy”, “Mare Elizabeth Heffner” and “Lovejoy”.
Date: after 1880
Condition: There is extensive, heavy foxing throughout this portrait.
Owner: Petaluma Historical Library & Museum, 1991-IDI-04
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