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

Bibliography:

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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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