William Rulofson
Encyclopedia
William Herman Rulofson was a Canadian-American
photographer, who along with his partner, H. W. Bradley
, was considered one of the leading photographers in the city of San Francisco, California
. He was also the brother of Edward H. Rulloff
, a notorious murderer who was hanged for his crime in 1871.
, Canada
, Rulofson left his family and came to California
during the Gold Rush
. After a year of mining around Sonora
, he journeyed back across the U.S. to Missouri
to meet his wife Amelia and son, who had traveled from Saint John, New Brunswick
. The reunited family then returned to Sonora.
wagon with partner John B. Cameron, taking portraits of miners. At one time, the city of Sonora was destroyed by fire, but the mobile studio was saved thanks to a team of oxen.
In 1861, Rulofson moved to San Francisco and joined Bradley's studio. The pair were responsible for numerous portraits of leading Californians and also were noted for publishing the works of Eadweard Muybridge
. He even testified on Muybridge's behalf when the latter was on trial for the murder of his wife's lover (he was acquitted, the act having been ruled as justifiable homicide
).
Rulofson's photographic talent was renowned. In 1873, he won gold prize at a competition in Vienna
, and he was also elected president of the National Photographic Association
in 1874. He was also a founding member as well as the official photographer of the Bohemian Club
. On one occasion, when taking official photographs of the fortress Alcatraz Island
for the Department of War
, he was arrested as a Confederate
spy but was released.
Rulofson also gained some notoriety for his role in the publication of the satirical
The Dance of Death. Written by his son-in-law Thomas A. Harcourt and Ambrose Bierce
and released under the pseudonym
"William Herman", the book describes the "intolerable nastiness" of the waltz
. A man engaged in the dance is described: "his eyes, gleaming with a fierce intolerable lust, gloat satyr
-like over [his partner]." Bierce later said, "Rulofson ... suggested the scheme and supplied the sinews of sin." Rulofson himself said of the book, "I have shown society what a loathsome ulcer festers in its midst."
in the photography studio. They also had five children together. Morgan apparently had an eye for the art and was influential in many of his works, although she was never credited as photographer. After Rulofson's death, Morgan would take control of his share of the studio, remaining in charge until 1889.
Rulofson was rumored to have a vicious temper. He became estranged from his second son, who went to sea after Amelia's death "to escape the severity of his father's punishment". Upon his return at age 19, father and son agreed that the boy would be adopted by the ship's captain. His family was not immune to violence, either. In 1875, the youngest daughter of his first marriage died, apparently killed by her half-brother Charles.
William Rulofson died on November 2, 1878, after falling from the roof of the Bradley & Rulofson studio in San Francisco. According to a report by The New York Times
, he was heard to have exclaimed, "I am killed" during the descent.
Canadian-American
A Canadian American is someone who was born or someone who grew up in Canada then moved to the United States. The term is particularly apt when applied or self-applied to people with strong ties to Canada, such as those who have lived a significant portion of their lives in, or were educated in,...
photographer, who along with his partner, H. W. Bradley
H. W. Bradley
Henry William Bradley was an American photographer. He and his partner William Rulofson were active in San Francisco, California and were responsible for photographs of many notable Californians....
, was considered one of the leading photographers in the city of San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
. He was also the brother of Edward H. Rulloff
Edward H. Rulloff
Edward H. Rulloff was a noted philologist and criminal. Rulloff is also notable for his brain which as of 1970 is the second largest on record and can be seen on display at the psychology department at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.Rulloff was born near Saint John, New Brunswick to...
, a notorious murderer who was hanged for his crime in 1871.
Early life
Born the youngest of six children in Hampton, New BrunswickHampton, New Brunswick
Hampton is a Canadian town in Kings County, New Brunswick.Located on the Kennebecasis River 30 kilometres northeast of Saint John, Hampton is the shire town of Kings County...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, Rulofson left his family and came to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
during the Gold Rush
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
. After a year of mining around Sonora
Sonora, California
Sonora is the county seat of Tuolumne County, California. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 4,903, up from 4,423 at the 2000 census. Sonora is the only incorporated community in Tuolumne County.-Geography:...
, he journeyed back across the U.S. to Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
to meet his wife Amelia and son, who had traveled from Saint John, New Brunswick
Saint John, New Brunswick
City of Saint John , or commonly Saint John, is the largest city in the province of New Brunswick, and the first incorporated city in Canada. The city is situated along the north shore of the Bay of Fundy at the mouth of the Saint John River. In 2006 the city proper had a population of 74,043...
. The reunited family then returned to Sonora.
Career
In Sonora, Rulofson established the first permanent photograph gallery in the state and plied his trade with a traveling daguerreotypeDaguerreotype
The daguerreotype was the first commercially successful photographic process. The image is a direct positive made in the camera on a silvered copper plate....
wagon with partner John B. Cameron, taking portraits of miners. At one time, the city of Sonora was destroyed by fire, but the mobile studio was saved thanks to a team of oxen.
In 1861, Rulofson moved to San Francisco and joined Bradley's studio. The pair were responsible for numerous portraits of leading Californians and also were noted for publishing the works of Eadweard Muybridge
Eadweard Muybridge
Eadweard J. Muybridge was an English photographer who spent much of his life in the United States. He is known for his pioneering work on animal locomotion which used multiple cameras to capture motion, and his zoopraxiscope, a device for projecting motion pictures that pre-dated the flexible...
. He even testified on Muybridge's behalf when the latter was on trial for the murder of his wife's lover (he was acquitted, the act having been ruled as justifiable homicide
Justifiable homicide
The United States' concept of justifiable homicide in criminal law stands on the dividing line between an excuse, justification and an exculpation. It is different from other forms of homicide in that due to certain circumstances the homicide is justified as preventing greater harm to innocents...
).
Rulofson's photographic talent was renowned. In 1873, he won gold prize at a competition in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, and he was also elected president of the National Photographic Association
National Photographic Association of the United States
The National Photographic Association of the United States formed "for the purpose of elevating and advancing the art of photography, and for the protection and furthering the interests of those who make their living by it." In particular, the group organized initially to prevent "the reissue of...
in 1874. He was also a founding member as well as the official photographer of the Bohemian Club
Bohemian Club
The Bohemian Club is a private men's club in San Francisco, California, United States.Its clubhouse is located at 624 Taylor Street in San Francisco...
. On one occasion, when taking official photographs of the fortress Alcatraz Island
Alcatraz Island
Alcatraz Island is an island located in the San Francisco Bay, offshore from San Francisco, California, United States. Often referred to as "The Rock" or simply "Traz", the small island was developed with facilities for a lighthouse, a military fortification, a military prison, and a Federal...
for the Department of War
United States Department of War
The United States Department of War, also called the War Department , was the United States Cabinet department originally responsible for the operation and maintenance of the United States Army...
, he was arrested as a Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
spy but was released.
Rulofson also gained some notoriety for his role in the publication of the satirical
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
The Dance of Death. Written by his son-in-law Thomas A. Harcourt and Ambrose Bierce
Ambrose Bierce
Ambrose Gwinnett Bierce was an American editorialist, journalist, short story writer, fabulist and satirist...
and released under the pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
"William Herman", the book describes the "intolerable nastiness" of the waltz
Waltz
The waltz is a ballroom and folk dance in time, performed primarily in closed position.- History :There are several references to a sliding or gliding dance,- a waltz, from the 16th century including the representations of the printer H.S. Beheim...
. A man engaged in the dance is described: "his eyes, gleaming with a fierce intolerable lust, gloat satyr
Satyr
In Greek mythology, satyrs are a troop of male companions of Pan and Dionysus — "satyresses" were a late invention of poets — that roamed the woods and mountains. In myths they are often associated with pipe-playing....
-like over [his partner]." Bierce later said, "Rulofson ... suggested the scheme and supplied the sinews of sin." Rulofson himself said of the book, "I have shown society what a loathsome ulcer festers in its midst."
Personal life
Over the years, Rulofson and his wife had five children. After Amelia's death in 1867, Rulofson married Mary Jane Morgan, who had been working as a secretarySecretary
A secretary, or administrative assistant, is a person whose work consists of supporting management, including executives, using a variety of project management, communication & organizational skills. These functions may be entirely carried out to assist one other employee or may be for the benefit...
in the photography studio. They also had five children together. Morgan apparently had an eye for the art and was influential in many of his works, although she was never credited as photographer. After Rulofson's death, Morgan would take control of his share of the studio, remaining in charge until 1889.
Rulofson was rumored to have a vicious temper. He became estranged from his second son, who went to sea after Amelia's death "to escape the severity of his father's punishment". Upon his return at age 19, father and son agreed that the boy would be adopted by the ship's captain. His family was not immune to violence, either. In 1875, the youngest daughter of his first marriage died, apparently killed by her half-brother Charles.
William Rulofson died on November 2, 1878, after falling from the roof of the Bradley & Rulofson studio in San Francisco. According to a report by The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, he was heard to have exclaimed, "I am killed" during the descent.