Name/Title
Camera and accessories, used by Spencer & Stolte, prior to 1944Entry/Object ID
2016.60.1Description
ACC. NO. 16.60.1 A thru D
SUBJECT CATEGORY: CITIZENS OF ALAMEDA, BUSINESSES OF ALAMEDA
DATE OR PERIOD: PRIOR TO 1944
OBJECTS: CAMERA, PORTRAIT AND ACCESSORIES
DESCRIPTION:
A. CAMERA, WITH COLLAPSIBLE BELLOWS WHICH SUPPORT THE LENS. THE ADJUSTABLE FRAME IS COMPRISED OF WOOD WITH A CHERRY FINISH. CAMERA HAS A BLACK LACQUER LABEL STATING," RG ENLARGING CAMERA, BY EASTMAN KODAK CO." THE ADJUSTING PARTS, ETC. ARE IN BRASS.
B. A WOODEN PANEL, WITH FROSTED GLASS AND BRASS-HANDLED GRIP. OBJECT HAS A CAPTION ON A METAL TAG STATING, "MANUFACTURED BY ANSCO CO., BINGHAMTON, NY." PATENT IS DATED OCTOBER 20, 1896. THE GRIP IS USED TO UPPER AND LOWER THE PANEL CONTAINING THE FROSTED GLASS.
C. CAMERA HAS A BLACK-COLORED CANVAS RETRACTABLE BELLOW. FRONT OF CAMERA HAS A LENS WITH A REMOVABLE CARDBOARD COVER. WHEN REMOVED, IT REVEALS THE LENS SURROUNDED BY THE CAPTION, "HELIAR, NO. 6, FOCUS 14IN, U S PATENT." CAMERA ALSO HAS A METAL CAPTION WITH WORDING, "MANUFACTURED BY ANSCO CO., BINGHAMTON, NY." CAMERA BELLOWS, WHICH REST ON A TRACK, ARE MOVABLE. ALL PARTS, WHICH OPERATE AND TIGHTEN THE MOVEMENT, ARE IN BRASS.
D. TABLE. REMOVABLE CAMERA IS SUPPORTED BY AN OBLONG TABLE, COVERED IN DARK GREEN-COLORED FELT. THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE TABLE INCLUDES A METAL WHEEL WITH A WOODEN HANDLE. WHEN TURNED, IT LIFTS THE TOP SUPPORTING THE CAMERA. BOTH CAMERA AND TABLE ARF IN A CHERRY-COLORED WOOD. TABLE HAS AN ATTACHED METAL LABEL STATING, MANUFACTURER, ANSCO CO., BINGHAMTON, NY." THE TABLE MOVES ON ATTACHED CASTERS.
HISTORY OF OBJECTS:
A PORTRAIT CAMERA USED BY MISSES SPENCER AND STOLTE, PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS. THEIR STUDIOS WERE LOCATED IN VARIOUS LOCATIONS IN THE PARK STREET, ALAMEDA BUSINESS DISTRICT. THEY OPERATED THEIR BUSINESS FROM 1913 TO 1940. MS SPENCER NEVER MARRIED; HOWEVER, MS STOLTE DID MARRY. WANDA VAN ZANDT WAS STOLTE'S MOTHER WHO RESIDED ON ST MARGARET'S COURT, OFF BROADWAY IN ALAMEDA. SPENCER AND STOLTE SPECIALIZED IN CHILDREN'S, BUSINESSES (GAS STATIONS, ETC) & OUTDOOR PHOTOGRAPHY.
DONOR: ALAMEDA MUSEUM ACQUISITION FUND
CATALOGED: AUGUST 27, 2016Interpretative Labels
Label
1/7/2021 MvL: current sign:
Misses Spencer and Stolte
The award-winning photographic
partnership of Alameda.
From 1913 to c. 1943 the studio of this pair of innovative and productive women photographers was a source of a wide variety of portraiture, as this exhibit hopes to illustrate in a small way.
Misses Spencer and Stolte were active in many professional photographic associations. Most all of their work involved portraits and they had a special gift for child portraiture and it was in this latter field that their work received many juried photographic salon awards and national publicity.
These two women were natural merchants, who generated business locally by mounting exhibits of their work at the Hotel Alameda. They also received accolades for paying their bills promptly during the years of the Great Depression.
Their studio began at 2414 216 Santa Clara Ave, moving later to 1328 Park St and, ultimately, to 1359 Park St in the 1930's.
