Brown, Emma Rochford (1872-1956)(1 of 2)
/Unidentified Photographer’s Portrait Photograph of EMMA ROCHFORD BROWN
THE PHOTOGRAPHER/ PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO:
Photographer: unidentified
THE SITTER:
Name: Emma Rochford Brown
Description: In this fashionable portrait, Emma Rochford Brown is portrayed as a highly sophicated young lady. She is dressed in a formal, black jacket with large lapels. Wrapped tightly around her neck is a white scarf that is tied at the nape of her neck. An elaborate white lace jabot falls below her scarf and a thin necklace runs down the edge of her lapel. She wears an elegant, light-colored Edwardian picture hat. It has a wide thin brim, loops of ribbon on its top and a rectangular metal adornment in the center front.
Biographical Note: Emma Rochford Brown was born in Petaluma in 1872, the eighth child of Daniel and Anna Alexis Ferguson Brown. She attended local public schools until 1885 when St. Vincent de Paul School began accepting girls after many years as a boys-only school. Emma graduated from high school with honors in 1891. Over the years she was very active in local festivals often entering her oil paintings and works of needlepoint. She frequently visited friends in San Francisco by train and, a few years after the 1902 death of her father, she moved to the city with her mother and unmarried sisters and brother. The Brown Family Estate allowed her many years of support and extensive travel. Emma Brown died in 1956 at the age of 84 and was buried in the Brown Family plot at the Petaluma Calvary Cemetery.
*This biographical note was written by Emma Rochford Brown’s descendant, Kathleen O’Brien Balestrini.
Family Affiliation: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/41913114/emma-rochford-brown Search this archive and the Sonoma County Library photograph archive for additional portraits of the Brown family.
Bibliography: Petaluma Argus-Courier: March 19, 1921, p.7; November 23, 1922, p. 7; September 25, 1956, p. 2 (obit); September 27, 1956, p. 8. Petaluma Courier, August 29, 1888, p. 2; June 24, 1891, p. 2. Petaluma Weekly Argus: August 25, 1888, p. 1. Petaluma Daily Morning Courier: October 8, 1904, p. 1; November 13, 1905, p. 1; July 16, 1912, p.4; November 21, 1912, p.1; July 07, 1915, p. 2; November 25, 1922, p. 5.
THE PHOTOGRAPH:
Format / Size: 4” x 5 1/2”
Medium: matte collodion photographic print mounted on cardstock
Description, front: This portrait has been mounted on textured gray cardstock which has a very thin gold border.
Description, back: Handwritten in script in black pen along the top is: “#459 Saepon Scotch Grey $4.25. Below this handwritten in pencil is: “ September 1901 Emma Brown”.
Date: September, 1901
Condition: With the exception of a white stain on the back and worn corners, this portrait is in good condition
Owner: From the collection of Kathleen O’Brien Balestrini, digital copy by permission
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.