Blakely, Rosalie “Rosa” Ayers(1865-1938) (2 of 2)

John Quincy Reed’s Portrait Photograph of rosalie “Rosa” ayers Blakely

THE PHOTOGRAPHER/ PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO:

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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: Rosalie “Rosa” Ayers (Blakely).

Description: Looking out at the viewer with a scowling expression, Rosalie sits casually, resting her right elbow on a side table. She wears a calf-length plaid dress that has a matching shorter overskirt. The overskirt has a scalloped hem trimmed in two bands of dark ribbon. On the right side of her dress hem can be seen the trim of her white, scalloped petticoat. Over her dress is a bolero jacket trimmed along the front and around the cuffs with white embroidery. She also wears laced boots and white stockings. Her shoulder-length hair is very curly and adorned with a bow.

Biographical Note:

Family Affiliation: Rosalie was the daughter of early Petaluma pioneers William A. Ayers (1829-1899) and Martha Wade Ayers. Rosalie married Theron M. Blakely Senior, who worked for the Petaluma Courier. Together, they had one daughter, Clarice Blakely Holmes, and one son, Theron Melville Blakely Junior (1890-1923), who died in the disastrous crash of the U. S. Army Airship Roma on February 21, 1922, in Norfolk, Virginia. Rosalie lived in Petaluma until 1906 when she moved to Napa and then to St. Helena. She died in St. Helena and was buried with her son in Alta Mesa Memorial Park, Palo Alto, California. On this website are additional portraits of other Ayers family members. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/95183568/rosalie_blakely

Bibliography: Petaluma Argus-Courier, Sept. 17, 1908, p.7; Feb. 23, 1922, p. 1. The Napa Valley Register, March 8, 1938, p. 8.

THE PHOTOGRAPH:

Format / Size: carte de visite

Medium: albumen photographic print mounted on cardstock

Description, front: Handwritten in script in pencil along the bottom of the card is: “Rosalie Ayers 14 yrs. old”.

Description, back:

Date: 1879

Condition: There is extensive foxing in the upper right of this portrait.

Owner:  The Cyndi Logan Collection, 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.