Dammand (Dammond), Robert Peterson
/ROBERT PETERSON DAMMAND (Dammond) was born on September 6, 1855, in Horsens, Denmark, and died on January 27, 1936, in Glendale, California. He emigrated to the United States in 1880, settling in Story City, Iowa. During the 1880s, Dammand worked as a photographer in Des Moines, Iowa. He partnered with C. J. Daugherty at 500 East Walnut Street, and together they produced a series of stereographs entitled “Views of Des Moines & Vicinity”. He later moved to Southern California, setting up studios in San Diego and Escondido. By December 1898, Dammand returned to Iowa, setting up a studio in Oskaloosa. By November 1901, Dammand moved to Petaluma, took up residence on D Street, and located his photographic studio opposite the American Hotel over the Steiger Building on Main Street. Beginning in 1902, Dammand ran advertisements in the local Petaluma papers that claimed, “Go to R. P. Dammond, opposite American Hotel, he will make you anything you want from a stamp to a life size portrait. He does the cheapest and best work in town.” Dammand produced a variety of cabinet cards depicting individuals as well as group portraits. In May 1902, the Petaluma Daily Morning Courier reported that he photographed the members of the Y division of the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union. In late July 1905, Dammand departed Petaluma to set up a studio in Richmond, California. This photographer’s name appears in newspapers and on his photographs’ imprints at times as “Dammand” and at others as “Dammond”. Research has not ascertained an official date for this change; it may simply be that the versions were used interchangeably.
Petaluma Photography Studio: R. P. Dammand (Dammond), Petaluma Photo Parlors CAL. In September 1901, the Petaluma Daily Morning Courier reported that J. W. McMillan had “disposed of his photograph business to R. P. Dammand of San Diego”. From November 1901 until April 1902, Dammand advertised his studio in the Petaluma Daily Morning Courier as “opposite the American Hotel”. This location was also described as over “Steiger’s store”. In May 1902, Dammand purchased Earl Burton Hough’s photograph parlors located on Petaluma’s Main Street in the Phoenix Block. Beginning in June 1902, the wares of the jewelry store owned by C. V. Mount were displayed in the studio. Throughout April and May 1905, Dammand advertised his gallery in the Petaluma Argus-Courier as “over the Racket store”. Throughout June and July 1905, it was advertised as “over Atwater’s store”, and customers were advised to come soon because Dammand intended to depart Petaluma on or about July 15.
Active in Petaluma: November 1901 to July 1905
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