Lafayette F. Sheppard’s Portrait Photograph of MayBelle Church Armstrong
THE PHOTOGRAPHER/ PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO:
LAFAYETTE T. SHEPPARD was born in 1852 in Ohio and died in 1940 in Inglewood, California. He established his photographic gallery in Petaluma in February of 1886, “in the rooms formerly occupied by Lewis Dowe”. It was located at 59 1/2 Main Street next door to the First National Bank Building. Sheppard continued to work as a photographer in Petaluma at least through June of 1891. (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: Maybelle “Belle” Church Armstrong. This portrait may have been taken before her marriage when she was known as Maybelle Church.
Description: This is a head-and-shoulders portrait of Armstrong as a young woman with dark, center-parted, pulled-back hair. She wears a velvet, front-buttoned, jacket and a white, high-necked, textured collar which appears to be adorned with a metal pin at her throat. Below her collar is a white, lacy jabot which may include at the bottom right a bouquet of fresh flowers. Her gaze is direct and slightly elevated.
Biographical Note:
Family Affiliation: Maybelle Church Armstrong was the daughter of Cynthia J. Church and Samuel Howard Church (1829-1900) early pioneer citizens of Petaluma. She was the wife of George J. Armstrong, a Petaluma businessman and rancher, and the mother of Harry G. and Samuel Walter Armstrong.
Bibliography:
THE PHOTOGRAPH:
Format / Size: carte de visite
Medium: albumen photographic print mounted on cardstock
Description, front: This is a head-and-shoulders portrait of a young woman with “L. F. SHEPPARD, PETALUMA.” printed along the bottom edge.
Description, back: The back of this carte de visite is blank or contains only an accession number.
Date: February 1886 - 1891
Condition: There are numerous, small, stains on the background and on sitter’s face.
Owner: Petaluma Historical Library & Museum, 1979-425-01-p12-p8
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