Hewlett, Frederick (1844-1926)
/Isaiah West Taber’s Portrait Photograph of Frederick Hewlett
THE PHOTOGRAPHER/ PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO:
Photographer: Isaiah West Taber (1830-1912). Taber opened his first photography studio in 1854 in Syracuse, New York. In 1864 he moved to California and worked at the Bradley and Rulofson studio at 429 Montgomery Street in San Francisco until 1873. By the end of the decade, Taber was creating portraits at his own studio at 8 Montgomery Street in San Francisco. He continued to produce portraits at his new studio location at 121 Post Street between 1893 and 1906. His studio and all its contents were destroyed in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. Isaiah West Taber: A Photographic Legacy, introduction by Gary F. Kurtz, Windgate Press, Sausalito, California, 2004, Appendix A: Portraits by Taber .
Photographic Studio: Taber Studio, 8 Montgomery Street, San Francisco, California.
THE SITTER:
Name: Frederick Hewlett
Description: In this formal head-and-shoulders portrait, Frederick Hewlett appears as a very well groomed business man. He is attired in a formal jacket with large lapels, a matching vest, white shirt and large bowtie. He sports a walrus mustache, and his hair has been carefully side-parted, combed and curled.
Biographical Note: Frederick Hewitt was a native of the Isle of Jersey, England. He emigrated to California and resided in Petaluma where he married and began his family with Cleora “Millie” Whitney Hewlett (1854-1930). They moved to San Francisco where he was engaged in the produce and commission business. According to local newspaper accounts, he and Cleora often visited Cleora’s prominent family in Petaluma. Together, Frederick and Cleora retired to a ranch in Napa County.
Family Affiliation: Fred Hewlett was the husband of Cleora “Millie” Melissa Whitney Hewlett (1854-1930). Cleora was the daughter of the early Petaluma pioneers, Senator Albion P. Whitney and Susan Eastman Whitney. Together Frederick and Cleora had four children: Albion Walter Hewlett (1874-1925), Leona May Hewlett (1876-1876), Eugene Elbert Hewlettt (1878-1946) and Frederick Whitney “Freddie” Hewlett (1879-1881).
Bibliography: Petaluma Argus-Courier, Oct. 26, 1926, p.7 (obituary).
THE PHOTOGRAPH:
Format / Size: cabinet card
Medium: gelatin or collodion photographic print mounted on cardstock
Description, front: This photograph is mounted onto a dark card that has the photographer’s imprint written in gold type along the bottom edge. The portrait is framed within a vertical oval.
Description, back: Handwritten in pencil in the center on a diagonal is: “Fred Hewlett”. Along the bottom edge is printed in gold type: “Duplicate copies will be supplied at reduced rates; when ordering the same, it is sufficient to state The name in full. This negative will be preserved for two years, or for a longer period if required. We make a specialty of enlargements in crayon, India Ink, oils or water colors”.
Date: The photographer’s imprint on the bottom front edge of this card allows us to assume that this portrait was created between 1879 and 1884.
Condition: The edges of this cabinet card are frayed, and remnants of tape and torn paper appear on the top of the back side.
Owner: Petaluma Historical Library & Museum, 1981-835-33
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