PROBABLE UNIDENTIFIED ACTRESS : STAGE BEAUTY :BRADLEY & RULOFSON : SAN FRANCISCO

Description

This cabinet card photograph features a pretty young actress. At least, this is likely a stage beauty rather than a "civilian". This photo was taken by the San Francisco gallery belonging to well respected photographers "Bradley & Rulofson. Their studio took many photographs of stage actresses when they came to San Francisco. Henry William Bradley (1813-1891) and his partner William Rulofson (1826-1876) were partners in a photographic studio that photographed many notable Californians. Bradley was born in Wilmington, North Carolina, and grew up in New Orleans, Louisiana. He opened his San Francisco studio in 1850 and took in his partner in 1860. When he retired in 1878 his studio was considered the best on the west coast and won first prize at the Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia in 1876. Mr Rulofson had quite a controversial and interesting life and associated with many famous people including Ambrose Bierce.  Rulofson died in a fall from the roof of his studio and was heard to say during the descent, “I am killed”. This cabinet card photograph is in good condition (see scans).