[Sperry sisters]
Photograph
Unidentified
Maker
[Sperry sisters]
ca. 1850
Daguerreotype with applied color
Image (each; circular): 1 1/2 × 1 1/2 in. (3.8 × 3.8 cm)
Overall (including ring): 2 3/4 × 2 in. (7 × 5.1 cm)
Purchase
1969.0214.0008
Inscriptions Entry 106 in Mackay's notebook (located in library): . Beautiful old hand chiseled and engraved, gold locket with double daguerreotype case. Locket belonged to family of Mr. Calvin Graham Sperry who lived on farm near Rochester, N.Y. Photos were of two of his aunts. All came from original Sperry family who came from England and settled originally in Connecticut. His (Sperry’s) wife was Julia Melinda Smith, sister of F.M. (Borax) Smith of 20 Mule-Team fame. He was born in Delevan, Wis. and died in Oakland, Cal. 1929. The only child of Calvin G. and Julia Melinda Sperry is Miss Charlotte Grace Sperry who lived for some time in home of her uncle Borax Smith. She now lives in S.F. at Episcopal Home for Elderly Ladies on Lombard St. Miss Sperry has daguerreotype of her grandmother & grandfather with an uncle & aunt as children before they left for the West in an ox-team. Her mother, Julia Smith, was born just before the journey started in N.Y., and “Borax Smith” was born while they were settled at Delevan, Wis. enroute West. (10.00).
