Byce, Malcolm Lyman (1890-1919) (1 of 2)
/E.R. Healy Ground Floor Gallery’s Portrait Photograph of Lily C. Gray Byce and her two sons, Malcolm Lyman Byce and Wilbur Elwood Byce
THE PHOTOGRAPHER/ PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO:
EDWIN RUTHVEN HEALY (1856-1923) and ADA “ADDIE” GOSSAGE HEALY (1860-1923). Edwin and Ada Healy were a married couple, and both were listed in California directories as a photographer. It has been assumed they worked together; however, ascertaining their division of labor is problematic. The “E. R. Healy Gound Floor Gallery” was opened in 1896 at 816 Main Street, Petaluma, California. It was later relocated to 818 Main Street and sold in June, 1905. In 1906 the Healys moved to Berkeley, California. (To view all portraits in this collection taken at the E. R. Healy Ground Floor Gallery and for additional information on Edwin and Ada Healy, click on their names in blue above.)
THE SITTERS:
Names: Lily C. Gray Byce, Malcolm Lyman Byce, Wilbur Elwood Byce
Description: Lily C. Gray Byce is portrayed standing behind her two sons, Malcolm and Wilbur (known as“Elwood”). She is wearing a light-colored, printed, postpartum smock with extremely large, doubled-bell sleeves. Her shoulder caps and the edges of her sleeves are white lace, and around her neck and down both sides of her chest is a dark, wide, ribbon the function and identity of which is has not be identified. Her dark hair has been pulled to the back of her head and twisted tightly into an elongated, top-knot bun. To her right stands her elder son, Malcolm Lyman Byce (1890-1919). He is dressed in a dark suit and a white shirt with large, lace, cuffs and collar. Around his neck is an extremely large plaid bow. This manner of dressing little boys is often referred to as the “Little Lord Fauntleroy” style which was very fashionable at the time for the children of upper middle class families. With the affectionate gesture of an older brother, Malcolm touches the feet of his infant sibling, Wilbur, who is wearing a white gown and sitting on a blanket-covered studio prop.
Biographical Note: As a young adult, Malcolm entered his father’s poultry business, The Petaluma Incubator Company, and he eventually become a partner and manager. Malcolm’s father, Lyman C. Byce, has been credited along with Petaluma dentist, Isaac Dias, with the creation of the Petaluma poultry incubator.
Family Affiliation: Malcolm Lyman Byce was the son of the prominent Petaluma pioneers Lyman C. Byce (1852-1944) and Lily C. Gray Byce (1867-1934). His brother was Wilbur Elwood Byce (1896-1955), and his wife was Catherine Coggeshall Byce (1884-1982). Also see the portrait of Mrs. Daniels.
Bibliography:
THE PHOTOGRAPH:
Format / Size: cabinet card, approximately 20.5 x 27 cm
Medium: gelatin or collodion print mounted on cardstock
Description, front: This is a beautifully composed portrait of a mother and her two children. Mrs. Byce and her elder son, Malcolm, are standing and the infant Wilbur “Elwood” is seated on a fabric covered table. Behind them is a faintly painted studio backdrop of a domestic interior. The photographer’s imprint is embossed along the bottom.
Description, back: Handwritten in cursive in pencil on the upper right is, “Mrs. Byce”, and to the right is written in brackets, “Malcolm” and “Elwood”. Handwritten in the center is, “Mrs. Lyman Byce” below which is written, “Sons Malcom and Elwood”.
Date: 1896 or 1897
Condition: On the front there is extensive foxing throughout and black spots on the middle left. On the back there are 8, small, square, spots on the perimeter of the card which are most probably remnants of the tape used originally to adhere the photo to an album page.
Owner: Petaluma Historical Library & Museum, 1994-60-03
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