1903 7

Frederick Arthur ("Fred" or F.A.) Webster (May 1, 1860 – April 26, 1933) was a photographer in Oakland noted for his portraits, especially of children.

Webster was born in Michigan. He worked with his brother, Harry D. Webster, first in Michigan, then in Greeley, Colorado and Laramie, Wyoming. 5 He came to Oakland in 1889. In April of 1889, he opened a studio at what was then 1069 Broadway on the southwest corner of Broadway and 12th Street (where the studio of William B. Ingersoll had been).

c.1897, photographer Edward Belle-Oudry worked for Webster. 9

In 1901, Webster opened the F.A. Webster Studio or the Webster Studio on the fourth floor of the Physicians Building on the west side of Washington near 13th Street. It was there until at least 1913. 2,3,4 Beginning c.1915, the studio was at 517-519 - 14th Street; from c.1924-1930, the studio was located at 1916 Broadway.

The Photographers' Association of California was formed in 1903, and Webster was elected president. 7

1899 adrear of 1893 photo 8

Photos

Charles Thomas, 1893 8c.1918 1c.1918 1F.A. Webster, 1918 1

Esther Louise Moore, c.1896 12Julia Morgan (lower right) with sorority sisters c.1894 10

Family

Webster and his wife Charlotte "Lottie" McCullagh (Webster) (January 19, 1862 – December 16, 1947) married in Michigan in 1884. After Colorado and Wyoming, they came to Oakland in 1889. They had a son a few years later, Frederick Arthur Webster, Jr. (1891 – 1981). Frederick Jr. went by Arthur sometimes. He served in the U.S. Navy during WWI.

c.1916, Charles W. Dickey designed a large home for them at 985 Bayview Avenue. The Websters were still living there at the time of F.A.'s death in 1933.

He was a member of the Athenian-Nile Club and the Oakland Rotary. He was also an avid fly caster, and director of the San Francisco Fly Casting Club. 11

985 Bayview, 1916 6

Links and References

  1. Webster of Oakland Photographic Journal of America June 1918
  2. ad for annual exhibition of portraits at the F.A. Webster Studio Oakland Tribune April 17, 1903
  3. ad for 20th Anniversary of the Webster Studio Oakland Tribune April 17, 1909
  4. An Elegant Studio Oakland Tribune March 7, 1901
  5. The Bay of San Francisco, Volume 2 pp.646-647 Lewis Publishing 1892
  6. The Architect May 1916, Volume 11, No. 5
  7. Camera Craft Photographers Association of America June 1903
  8. 1979-425-02-p17-p10 Petaluma Historical Library & Museum
  9. Deep Diving with Gertrude Belle-Oudry Arbitrary but not random blog by Chris Culy
  10. Julia Morgan and Emma Morgan with Kappa Alpha Theta sorority sisters, c. 1894 010-1-h-13-02-01, Julia Morgan Papers at Cal Poly
  11. Funeral to Be Held For Frederic Webster Oakland Tribune April 27, 1933
  12. Portrait of Esther Louise Moore, age 10 months MS189_1218, African American Museum and Library at Oakland
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