Name/Title
Photo portrait of Wanda Stolte, 1914Entry/Object ID
1998.181.1Description
Acc. No. 98.181.1
Subject Category: Businesses of Alameda - Spencer & Stolte, photographers
Date or Period: 1914
Object: Photograph
Description: Black/white photo, unmounted. Photographer: Spencer & Stolte Studio (attributed to), Alameda. Some hand tinting to image.
Size: L-6 1/2 x W-4 1/2 in.
History of Object: (Self ?) portrait of Wanda Stolte, Alameda photographer, standing indoors by a door.
She was born in Germany and brought to Oakland as a child where the family then resided. She eventually moved to Alameda, joining an established photographer, Mabel Spencer, in a new studio at 2414 Santa Clara Ave, in 1913. Their partnership survived until 1953, at successive locations: 1328 Park St., 1359 Park St., and 2306 Central Ave. This studio was particularly active in the 1920's and 1930's, participating in photographic salons and winning prizes in its specialty: children's photography. (See photocopies of clippings in the "paper" file cabinet.) Mabel Spencer was a spinster of English descent. Wanda married twice: (1) Fredrick Bierwith, by whom she had two sons, Stanton and Robert; and (2) a Mr. Van Sant. From 1954 to 1968 Wanda maintained a studio at her residence, 2607 St. Margaret Court, Alameda.
Acquired from: Linda Bierwith ('98) - (Stanton Bierwith's daughter).
Date: 4/11/98
