Kopf, Alice A. Vestal(1858 -1938)
/John Quincy Reed’s Portrait Photograph of Alice Vestal (Kopf)
THE PHOTOGRAPHER/ PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO:
JOHN QUINCY REED was born in 1841 in Abington, Massachusetts and died in 1902 in Petaluma. He worked as a photographer in Petaluma for over 25 years, moving his studio within the community to several different locations. He arrived into Petaluma from Stockton in 1870 and continued to work as a photographer in Petaluma until at least 1898. Many of his portraits of Petaluma’s citizens are of exceptionally fine quality. (For additional information on this photographer and to view all portraits by him in the collection, click on his name in blue above.)
THE SITTER:
Name: Alice A. Vestal (Kopf).
Description: According to its reverse inscription, this portrait commemorates Alice Vestal’s graduation from Petaluma High School in 1879. She is elaborately attired for the occasion. She wears an ornate, white lace dress embellished with multiple layers of flounce. This flounce adorns the collar, cuffs, and train. It adorns the top half of the skirt in diagonal layers and the bottom half in four layers of hem trim. She wears a floral corsage, and garlands have been placed between the diagonal flounces of her skirt. Her hair is meticulously arranged. Her forehead and temples are covered in a mass of short curls, a double-twisted bun adorned with white flowers sits atop her head, and a single, thin, long sausage curl rests on her left shoulder. Her jewelry includes large drop earrings and wrist cuffs. It appears this portrait was taken after the graduation ceremony: in her gloved hands, she holds what is most likely her graduation certificate and official ribbon-bound scroll.
Biographical Note: Alice Vestal (Kopf) was born in 1858 in Bloomfield, California, but lived most of her life in Petaluma. At the age of 21, she graduated from Petaluma High School in 1879. Often featured in the society sections of the Petaluma newspapers, she was a beloved matron of the community. She was a long-time member of the Petaluma Antietam Relief Corps and the Silver Spray Rebekah Lodge No. 86, serving several years as its Noble Grand. She was buried in Petaluma’s Cypress Hill Memorial Park.
Family Affiliation: Alice Vestal Kopf was the daughter of Petaluma pioneers Lewis Vestal (1824-1911) and Emily Minerva Cowles Vestal (1829-1890). The 1870 census documents her living in Petaluma with her parents and siblings. The 1880 census documents her living in Petaluma with her parents and younger sibling, Abbie D. Vestal, at 211 Howard Street. Alice married Petaluma businessman Adolph Albert Kopf (1855-1921) in 1881. They had at least three children: Alberta Kopf (1881-1906), Jessie Beryl Kopf (1883-1904), and Roy V. Kopf (1886-1963). Adolph died in 1921, but curiously, the 1900 census states Alice’s marital status as “widowed”. It also documents her living in Petaluma with father and children at 786 Liberty Street. Alice was the niece of Petaluma pioneer Lemuel Hadley Vestal (1841-1932). There are numerous portraits on this website of additional Vestal family members. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56227780/alice-a-kopf.
Bibliography: Petaluma Argus Courier, Jan. 7, 1900, p.1; Sept. 19, 1938, p. 5; Sept. 22, 1938, p. 6; Sept. 24, 1938, p.3. The Petaluma Courier, May 14, 1879, p. 3. Petaluma Daily Morning Courier, Dec. 16, 1921, p. 1.
THE PHOTOGRAPH:
Format / Size: carte de visite, approximately 6.25 x 10.5 cm
Medium: albumen photographic print mounted on cardstock
Description, front: Two studio props appear in this carte de visite. The edge of a chair can be seen on the right and a textile covered side table on the left.
Description, back: John Quincy Reed’s imprint appears in the center of the card. It reads: “J.Q. Reed, Photographic Artist, Brick Block opposite McGuire’s Drug Store, Main St., Petaluma, Cal.”. Handwritten in blue ink along the top edge of the card is: “Alice Vestal class of 1879”. Handwritten in script in pencil along the bottom is: “P.H.S. graduation dress”.
Date: 1879
Condition: This carte de visite is slightly soiled.
Owner: Petaluma Historical Library & Museum, 1984-289-09
Reproduction rights: The Petaluma Museum Association makes no assertions as to ownership of any original copyrights to the digitized images here reproduced. These images are intended for personal or research use only. Any other kind of use, including, but not limited to commercial or scholarly publication in any medium or format, public exhibition, or use online or in a web site, may be subject to additional restrictions including but not limited to the copyrights held by parties other than the Association. USERS ARE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE for determining the existence of such rights and for obtaining any permissions and/or paying associated fees necessary for the proposed use.