Burns, John Francis “Frank” (1870-1950)

Sutterley & Rendall’s Portrait Photograph of John Francis “Frank” Burns

THE PHOTOGRAPHER/ PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIO:

Photographers: James Kimball Sutterley (b. c. 1834, New Jersey) and Stephen A. Rendall (dates unknown)

Active in Petaluma: September 24, 1870 -1871

Biographical Note: Sutterley worked as a daguerreian with his brother, Clement Sutterley, in Chicago from 1857 to 1860.  By 1862 they had moved West working as itinerant photographers throughout Nevada, Idaho, Utah and California.  On September 24, 1870, Sutterley partnered with Stephen A. Rendall to establish, “Sutterley & Rendall, Photographers, Main Street, Petaluma, Cal” taking over the studio of Bryan R. Johnson.  They worked together until 1871 when the studio was sold to Richard Reece Percival.  The Sutterley brothers then reunited to establish a studio in Napa, California.

Bibliography: Palmquist, pgs. 454, 533-537; Mautz, pg. 135 & 146.

THE SITTER:

Name: John Francis “Frank” Burns

Description: This carte de visite portrays Burns as an infant. He is seated in a tiny arm chair and behind him is draped fabric. The baby wears a long, white, lace, gown with short sleeves, and around his neck hangs what appears to be a locket.

Biographical Note: John Francis “Frank” Burns served for many years as the Chief Engineer of the Petaluma Fire Department.

Family Affiliation: John Francis “Frank” Burns was the son of Petaluma pioneers John Weir Burns (1845-1897) and Ellen Millane Burns (1848-1924). John Weir Burns was an early grocer in East Petaluma. The grocery was located in East Petaluma on the corner of Washington and Bremen streets. John Francis Burns took over the establishment when his father died, but sold it a few years later. John Francis “Frank” Burns was the nephew of Peter Burns Jr.

Bibliography:

THE PHOTOGRAPH:

Format / Size:  carte de visite, approximately 6.25 x 10.5 cm

Medium: albumen photographic print mounted on cardstock

Description, front: This carte de visite depicts the portrait of an infant within an oval format which is edged with an irregular white line. Within the oval, the background is a dark gathered fabric. The paper upon which the portrait has been printed is not well placed on the card, and it is torn along the top edge.

Description, back: Handwritten in script in pencil along the top edge is, “Frank Burns”. The photographer’s imprint appears on a diagonal, in red ink, in the center, “Sutterley & Rendall, Photographers, Main Street, Petaluma, Cal.”

Date: 1870 or 1871

Condition: Foxing and small stains throughout.

Owner:  Petaluma Historical Library & Museum, 1978-666-06

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.