Armstrong, George J. (1857-1925)

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J.M. McMurry’s Portrait Photograph of

George J. Armstrong and Maybelle “Belle” Church Armstrong

THE PHOTOGRAPHER/ PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO:

Photographer: J. M. McMurry

Studio Location: Port Townsend, Washington


THE SITTERS:

Names: George J. Armstrong and Maybelle “Belle” Church Armstrong

Description: In this double portrait, George J. Armstrong sits on a rustic, broken chair while dressed in businessman’s attire. He wears a vested suit and a white, banded collar. A watch fob attached to his vest button hole drapes across his belly. He sports a walrus mustache. In a stilted pose, his wife, Maybelle “Belle” Church Armstrong, stands at his side with the knuckles of her right hand resting on her cheek and her elbow resting on a post. In her left hand she holds an ornate, feathered fan. She is dressed in an elegantly draped skirt and matching, front-buttoned, corseted, Basque jacket. Her lapels, collar, cuffs and skirt are trimmed in a darker color fabric. Her collar and cuffs are trimmed in white lace. Unusual for the time, she wears her hair in a short “boy cut” style.

Biographical Note: George J. Armstrong was born near Chicago, Illinois on May 26, 1857. As a young man, he moved to California and worked in poultry and ranching. He later worked as a machinist, businessman, and politician. He served Sonoma County as a supervisor for two years, but in 1909 the Grand Jury of Sonoma filed an accusation against him alleging misconduct. Proclaiming his innocence, Armstrong tendered his resignation and moved to Oakland. Soon thereafter, he moved to Oregon and re-entered politics and served as a Commissioner of Bandan County. Towards the end of his life, Armstrong returned to Petaluma living his final years at 27 Webster Street.

Family Affiliation: George Armstrong was married to Maybelle Church Armstrong in 1887. They had two sons, Harry George Armstrong (1886-1950) and Samuel Walter Armstrong (d.1942), and one daughter, Gladys Louise Armstrong (1894-1905).

Bibliography: Petaluma Argus-Courier, Nov. 30, 1904, p. 1; Sept. 28, 1925, p. 4 (obit). Petaluma Daily Morning Courier, Feb. 10, 1908, p.2; Jan. 8, 1909, p. 3; Jan 11, 1909, p.3; Jan. 12, 1909, p.3; March 13, 1909, p. 3; Nov. 28, 1910, p. 3

THE PHOTOGRAPH:

Format / Size: cabinet card

Medium: albumen photographic print mounted on cardstock

Description, Front: This portrait was taken in the studio of J. M. McMurry to appear as though it was taken out-of-doors. The painted backdrop depicts an open-sky landscape with a single tree on the left and a dilapidated fence on the right. Even the studio chair in which George sits was constructed to appear rustic.

Description, back: This card was a gift, undoubtedly, to Maybelle’s brother, Walter A. Church (1856-1923) and his wife, Minnie Belle Warders Church (1864-1958). Handwritten in cursive in pencil at the top of the card is written, “for Walter & Minnie”. Below this is written, “George and Belle Armstrong”, and “married March 31 - 1887”.

Date: J. M. McMurry operated his studio in Port Townsend between 1886 and 1902. Given the inscription on the back of this cabinet card, this portrait may have been taken while George and Maybelle were on their honeymoon. This assumption would date the portrait to spring 1887.

Condition: There is extensive foxing on the bottom third of the front of this card. The back side is stained extensively and the right edge has been exposed to light.

Owner:  Petaluma Historical Library & Museum, 1979-425-03-p19-p11, Church Family Album

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. 

Armstrong, Maybelle “Belle” Church (1863-1949) (2 of 2)

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J.M. McMurry’s Portrait Photograph of

George J. Armstrong and Maybelle “Belle” Church Armstrong

THE PHOTOGRAPHER/ PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO:

Photographer: J. M. McMurry

Studio Location: Port Townsend, Washington

THE SITTERS:

Names: George J. Armstrong and Maybelle “Belle” Church Armstrong

Description: In this double portrait, George J. Armstrong sits on a rustic, broken chair while dressed in businessman’s attire. He wears a vested suit and a white, banded collar. A watch fob attached to his vest button hole drapes across his belly. He sports a walrus mustache. In a stilted pose, his wife, Maybelle “Belle” Church Armstrong, stands at his side with the knuckles of her right hand resting on her cheek and her elbow resting on a post. In her left hand she holds an ornate, feathered fan. She is dressed in an elegantly draped skirt and matching, front-buttoned, corseted, Basque jacket. Her lapels, collar, cuffs and skirt are trimmed in a darker color fabric. Her collar and cuffs are trimmed in white lace. Unusual for the time, she wears her hair in a short “boy cut” style.

Biographical Note: Maybelle Church Armstrong was raised by her Petaluma pioneer parents on their ranch in Two Rock. After her marriage, she lived in Petaluma, Sebastopol, Oregon, and again, towards the end of her life, in Petaluma at 27 Webster Street.

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 Supervisor George J. Armstrong, a Petaluma machinist, businessman, and politician. She was the mother of Harry George Armstrong, Samuel Walter Armstrong, and Gladys Louise Armstrong.

Bibliography:

THE PHOTOGRAPH:

Format / Size: cabinet card

Medium: albumen photographic print mounted on cardstock

Description, Front: This portrait was taken in the studio of J. M. McMurry to appear as though it was taken out-of-doors. The painted backdrop depicts an open-sky landscape with a single tree on the left and a dilapidated fence on the right. Even the studio chair in which George sits was constructed to appear rustic.

Description, back: This card was a gift, undoubtedly, to Maybelle’s brother, Walter A. Church (1856-1923) and his wife, Minnie Belle Warders Church (1864-1958). Handwritten in cursive in pencil at the top of the card is written, “for Walter & Minnie”. Below this is written, “George and Belle Armstrong”, and “married March 31 - 1887”.

Date: J. M. McMurry operated his studio in Port Townsend between 1886 and 1902. This may be a portrait of George and Belle Armstrong taken while on their honeymoon. This assumption would date the portrait to spring 1887.

Condition: There is extensive foxing on the bottom third of the front of this card. The back side is stained extensively and the right edge has been exposed to light.

Owner:  Petaluma Historical Library & Museum, 1979-425-03-p19-p11, Church Family Album

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. 

Armstrong, Gladys Louise (1894-1905) (2 of 3)

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Henry KEMP VAN EE’S PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPH OF GLADYS Louise ARMSTRONG

 

THE PHOTOGRAPHER/ PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO:

Photographer:  Henry Kemp Van Ee (1853-1934)

Studio Location: 410 Fourth Street, Santa Rosa, California

THE SITTER:

Name: Gladys Armstrong

Description: Gladys as a young girl sits in a wicker chair looking coyly to her right with her hands in her lap and her feet posed on the chair’s bottom rung. She wears a white linen dress with large flounces at the should and large cuffs. Her hair is neatly arranged in large sausage curls, and parted in the center with bows on either side.

Biographical Note: Gladys Armstrong died at the age of eleven from complications of an appendectomy.

Family Affiliation: Gladys Armstrong was the daughter of George J. Armstrong and Maybelle Church Armstrong and sister to Harry George Armstrong and Samuel Walter Armstrong.

Bibliography:

THE PHOTOGRAPH:

Format / Size: cabinet card

Medium: gelatin or collodion photographic print mounted on cardstock

Description, front: The edges of this card are pinked and the photographer’s imprint appears along the bottom.

Description, back: The back of this cabinet card is blank or contains only an accession number.

Date: between 1894 and 1905

Condition: This card is in good condition.

Owner:  Petaluma Historical Library & Museum, 1979-425-03-P9-p4, Church Family Album

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.

 

Armstrong, Maybelle “Belle” Church (1863-1949)(1 of 2)

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Lafayette F. Sheppard’s Portrait Photograph of MayBelle “Belle” Church Armstrong

THE PHOTOGRAPHER/ PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO:

LAFAYETTE F. 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: Maybelle Church Armstrong was raised by her Petaluma pioneer parents on their ranch in Two Rock. After her marriage, she lived in Petaluma, Sebastopol, Oregon, and again, towards the end of her life, in Petaluma at 27 Webster Street.

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 Supervisor George J. Armstrong, a Petaluma machinist, businessman, and politician. She was the mother of Harry George Armstrong, Samuel Walter Armstrong, and Gladys Louise 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 the sitter’s face.

Owner:  Petaluma Historical Library & Museum, 1979-425-01-p12-p8, Church Family Album

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.