Hall, Mary Louise Brown (1860-1932)(2 of 4)
/Harry Fowler ROBERTS’ Portrait Photograph of mary louise brown hall
THE PHOTOGRAPHER/ PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO:
HARRY FOWLER ROBERTS was born in 1869 in Mankato, Minnesota, and died in February 1907 in Colfax, California, at age 38. As early as 1892 he opened a photographic studio on Petaluma’s Main Street across from the American Hotel. The exact date Roberts closed his studio in Petaluma has not been determined; however, it may have been as late as 1895. (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: Mary Louise Brown Hall
Description: In this portrait, Mary Louise Brown Hall strikes an elegant standing pose dressed in her Sunday best. Fashionably corseted, she wears a white Basque waistline dress printed with widely spaced sprigs of flowers, and her hem, cuffs, and neckline are embellished with a wide ruffle. She wears a Victorian picture hat with chin strap, a short brim, and a crown containing both dark and light embellishments. She holds the end of a parasol trimmed in dark lace in her right hand.
Biographical Note: Mary Louise, or Lulu as she was called, was the first of twelve children born to the early Petaluma Pioneers, Daniel and Annie Brown. She was born in Petaluma on March 5, 1860, and attended the Brick School and Petaluma High School. Lulu graduated from high school in 1878 along with five other students including her future husband, Gilbert Hall. Two years later on May 29, 1882, Lulu and Gil eloped to Marin County and were married there by a Justice of the Peace. The next day the Brown parents arranged for them to be married in a Catholic ceremony in their home. The Hall couple settled in Petaluma and for a few years resided in Santa Rosa while Gil was acting as Sonoma County Auditor and Recorder. From girlhood and throughout her adult years, Mary Louise was active in St. Vincent Church events. At one time she was photographed driving a horse and buggy down Main Street with a friend while collecting donations for a Catholic fair. The tintype still exists.
The marriage of the Hall couple lasted almost fifty years. Gil died on January 24, 1932, and Mary Louise followed on August 25th of the same year. Five daughters survived the Hall couple, Aletha, Evelyn, Kathleen, Geraldine, and Dorothy; one son died at birth. Gilbert and Mary Louise lived at 325 Post Street in Petaluma and were buried together in Calvary Catholic Cemetery.
*This biographical note was written by Annie Alexis Ferguson Brown’s descendant, Kathleen O’Brien Balestrini.
Family Affiliation: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/42046382/mary-louise-hall. Search this archive and the Sonoma County Library photograph archive for additional portraits of the Brown family.
Bibliography: Petaluma Argus-Courier: August 25, 1932, p. 3 (obit); August 27, 1932, p. 3. Petaluma Daily Morning Courier: July 29, 1911, p.1; August 28, 1911, p. 5.
THE PHOTOGRAPH:
Format / Size: cabinet card, approximately 10.75 x 16.5 cm
Medium: gelatin or collodion photographic print mounted on cardstock
Description, front: The background of this standing portrait is elaborate. On the left is a roughly stuccoed, light-colored wall, and on the right is a backdrop depicting a deep-perspective, grand, architectural interior. On the floor is an oriental carpet and a fur rug.
Description, back: The back side of this cabinet card is blank or contains only an accession number.
Date: 1892-1895
Condition: This cabinet card is in good condition.
Owner: From the collection of Kathleen O’Brien Balestrini, digital copy by permission.
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