Dowe, Lewis

LEWIS DOWE was born in 1837 in Hanover, Grafton County, New Hampshire and died in 1919 in Portland, Oregon. He arrived in Petaluma in September 1875 and set up his photography studio in the rooms formerly occupied by photographer Hugh Anderson (b. 1826; d.1900; active in Petaluma Jan. 1872 - Dec. 1873) which were located at 649 Main Street. Dowe worked in Petaluma as both a “view” and portrait photographer. He and his wife were musicians and very socially active in Petaluma throughout their seven year residency. The couple lived on D Street and in October of 1878 the Petaluma Weekly Argus made special note of the fact that they installed a telephone line between their home and photography studio. The Petaluma Courier reported in November 1880 that Dowe created a “life-size” portrait of General Vallejo stating, “It is as perfect as can be, and shows the old soldier to the best advantage.” In March 1882 Dowe departed Petaluma and continued his profession in San Francisco. As early as March 15, George Ross (1832-1893), a fellow Petaluma photographer, purchased Dowe’s negatives, and Ross advertised in Petaluma newspapers between March 15, 1882 and October 1887 that he would make copies from Dowe’s negatives “on the most advantageous terms”. Dowe’s obituary, published in the The Oregon Daily Journal, stated, “He was reputed to be the first man on the coast to manufacture dry plates and portable cameras.”

Petaluma Photography Studio: It was reported Dowe’s studio occupied the same space which had previously been utilized by the Petaluma photographer, Hugh Anderson which were located at 649 Main Street.

Active in Petaluma: September 1875 to March 1882

Bibliography: Carl Mautz, Biographies of Western Photographers, A Reference Guide to Photographers Working in the 19th Century American West, Expanded and Revised Edition, 2018, p. 119; https://digital.sonomalibrary.org/about/photographers; Petaluma Weekly Argus, Sept. 17, 1875, p.3; Petaluma Weekly Argus, Oct. 25, 1878, p. 3; Petaluma Weekly Argus, May 16, 1879, p. 3; The Petaluma Courier, Nov. 17, 1880, p. 3; The Petaluma Courier, March 8, 1882, p. 3; The Petaluma Courier, March 15, 1882, p. 3; The Oregon Daily Journal, Nov. 30, 1919, p.18.

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