Cook, William Blodgett

WILLIAM BLODGETT COOK: Carl Mautz records that William Blodgett Cook was active as a photographer in Willows, California between 1866 and 1895. Mautz also records that Cook operated photo studios in Placerville, Auburn and Colusa, California.

Petaluma Photographic Studio: It was reported in the Petaluma Argus-Courier on March 7, 1900 that “W. B. Cook of Colusa, an old friend of Rev. Allen, has purchased the business of Roy Crawford, photographer.” The name Cook gave to this studio, which was located at 850 Main Street opposite the American Hotel, has not been determined, and no photographs have been found that were taken at this location. He advertised his services throughout the spring and early summer of 1900, but left Petaluma for Colusa, California in late June. It appears Cook managed photo studios in both Colusa and Woodland around this time. In 1903 his Woodland, California studio was taken over by F. L. McKay, and the Petaluma Daily Morning Courier on August 14, 1903 reported that Cook was to take charge of the Healy photographic parlors on Main Street while E. R. Healy attended to the interests of his goldmines. On August 20, 1903 the Petaluma Daily Morning Courier reported that Cook’s household goods were moved from Woodland to the Blackburn house on B Street. Cook stayed only a short time in Petaluma. He was last mentioned in Petaluma papers in December 1903, and it was reported in the Woodland Daily Democrat on February 26, 1904 that he had left Petaluma to return to his ranch west of Woodland.

Active in Petaluma: March 1900 to June 1900; August 1903 to February 1904

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. 114. Petaluma Argus-Courier, March 7, 1900, p.1; March 19, 1900, p.3. Petaluma Daily Morning Courier, March 12, 1900, p.3; March 19, 1900, p.1; June 27, 1900, p. 1; August 14, 1903, p.4; August 20, 1903, p.1. Woodland Daily Democrat, July 27, 1903, p.4; January 7, 1904, p. 1; February 26, 1904, p. 4.

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Crawford, Roy

ROY CRAWFORD’S birth and death dates have not been determined. According to the Petaluma Daily Morning Courier, Roy Crawford set out his sign for the “Crawford Gallery” in April 1898 in front of the Tann building on Main Street. By September 1898 he had moved into the space formerly occupied by the “Joslin Gallery” at 850 Main Street, opposite the American Hotel. In March 1900 it was reported in the Petaluma Argus-Courier that W. B. Cook, a photographer from Colusa, had purchased the “Crawford Gallery”.

Petaluma Photography Studio: Between April 1898 and September 1898, the “Crawford Gallery” was located “in front of the Tann building”, Main Street. Between September 1898 and March 1900 it was located opposite the American Hotel at 850 Main Street.

Active in Petaluma: April 1898 - March 1900

Bibliography: Petaluma Daily Morning Courier, April 6, 1898, p. 3; Petaluma Daily Morning Courier, Sept. 30, 1898, p. 4; Petaluma Argus-Courier, March 7, 1900, p.1.

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