Richard Reece Percival’s Portrait Photograph of Marcella “Ella” Whitney
THE PHOTOGRAPHER/ PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO:
RICHARD REECE PERCIVAL was born in England in 1835 and died in Rhode Island in 1917. He operated the R. Percival Gallery in Petaluma between October 1867 and September 1870 and again between March 1871 until at least May 1871. After departing Petaluma, he continued working as a photographer in San Jose, California. (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: Marcella “Ella” Whitney Wheaton (At the time this portrait was taken, the sitter would have been known by her maiden name, Marcella “Ella” Whitney.)
Description: In this portrait baby “Ella” sits on a fabric covered table with her arms at her sides and her feet dangling. She is attired in an off-the-shoulder, light-colored, dress printed with dark dots. Her sleeves and hem are boarded in dark ribbon, and her dress is cinched at the waist. Beneath her dress is a crinoline, the crocheted hem of which, can been seen peeking from beneath the hem of her dress. She also wears white leggings and dark, leather lace-up boots. Her hair is center-parted and pinned on both sides of her head above the temples.
Biographical Note: As a member of a prominent Petaluma family, Ella graduated from the Episcopal high school, Saint Mary’s Hall in Benicia, and, according to her obituary, later attended a Bay Area seminary which may be a reference to Mill’s Seminary. According to articles in the Petaluma Weekly Argus, Ella toured Europe between July 1887 and December 1888. She later married Charles B. Wheaton and moved with him to Medford, Massachusetts. She died suddenly at the age of 48 of pneumonia in Medford, but was buried in her family’s plot in Petaluma at the Cypress Hill Memorial Park.
Family Affiliation: Marcella “Ella” Whitney was the fifth child of the prominent Petaluma pioneers Albion Paris Whitney (1825-1884) and Susan Durgin Eastman Whitney (1832-1917). Her father was a California State Senator and wealthy businessman. Her mother managed the family business after his death and was an active participant in the women’s suffrage movement. Her paternal grandmother was Olive Parlin Whitney, and her siblings were Cleora Melissa Whitney Hewlett, Nancy Jane “Jenny” Whitney Morrow, Arthur Leslie Whitney, Leona Merrill Whitney, Albion Harvey Whitney and Clara Whitney Spears. Marcella’s husband was Charles B. Wheaton of San Francisco whom she married in 1892.
Bibliography:
THE PHOTOGRAPH:
Format / Size: Carte de visite
Medium: albumen photographic print mounted on cardstock
Description, front: The studio backdrop used in this portrait is faded.
Description, back: Above the photographer’s imprint is handwritten in cursive in black ink, “Maclla Whitney”, “Born Apr. 23 1866”. Below the imprint is handwritten, “Ella W three years old Apr. 1869”. Along the bottom of the card is printed, “Negatives preserved.”.
Date: 1869
Condition: This card is heavily soiled and stained.
Owner: Petaluma Historical Library & Museum, 1981-835-07
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