Goehner, Gustave Adolph

GUSTAVE ADOLPH GOEHNER  was born in 1852 or 1853 in Germany and immigrated to the United States in 1870. According to Wisconsin history records, Goehner began working as a photographer in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1886. Minnesota Historical Society records document him working as a photographer in Minneapolis, Minnesota in the 1890s. By June 1906, he arrived in Petaluma and established his photographic studio on the upper floor of the Wickersham building on Western Avenue. An announcement for the studio opening proclaimed, “Mr. Goehner’s reputation as a photographer extends from New York to San Francisco and as an author of photographic works and an authority of photographic crafts he is not only well and favorably known in America but in Europe as well.” On May 13, 1912, Goehner posted a notice in the Petaluma Argus-Courier addressed to all amateur photographers, “Kodakers”, announcing the intention to form a camera club and to hold its first meeting at Brady’s Studio, 170 Main Street, over the Gem Theater. By 1922, Goehner had retired and moved to Southern California. In the summer of 1923, he worked with his son, Gustaf, to produce the scenery for the Los Gatos, California Annual Pageant.

Petaluma Photographic Studio: In June 1906, Goehner opened his Petaluma photographic studio on the upper floor of the Wickersham building on Western Avenue. On August 13, 1915, a newspaper announcement reported that he had reopened his old studio at 17 Western Avenue. He may have temporarily closed his studio for renovation. The announcement described “Goehner’s Home Studio” as newly equipped with the best lenses and cameras.

Active in Petaluma: June 1906 - early 1920s

Bibliography: http://www.jsenterprises.com/john/famhist/html/I397.html; https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/pdfs/WHI-Wisconsin-Photographers-Index-1840-1976.pdf; https://mnhs.gitlab.io/archive/photographers/www.mnhs.org/people/photographers/G.html. Petaluma Daily Morning Courier, June 28, 1906, p. 3; August 13, 1915, p. 3. Petaluma Argus-Courier, August 4, 1906, p.4; May 13, 1912, p.6. Los Gatos Star, June 21, 1923, p.1; June 28, 1923, p.10.