Francis “Frank” Bequette Rodolph (January 12, 1843 — April 29, 1923) was a photographer and local businessperson. Many of his photos from the 1870s and 1880s provide a visual record of Oakland and other parts of northern California at that time. Rodolph was a member of the Merry Tramps of Oakland.
Frank was born January 12, 1843, to Dr. Samuel Francis Rodolph (1816 — 1895) and Louise Elemore Bequette (Rodolph) (1815 — 1843) in Mineral Point, Wisconsin. Louise died in 1843 (unknown if during childbirth or some time after), and by 1850, his father had moved them to Placerville, CA. In 1853, Dr. Rodolph remarried, to Mina Sabina Kraft (Rodolph) (1831 — 1907), and they had 4 daughters, Emma Rodolph (Stillman), Julia Rodolph, Adelaide Rodolph (Carson), and Georgiana Rodolph. The 1860 census shows them living in Cache Creek, California. Emma was part of the first graduating class of Oakland High School in 1872.
The family moved to Oakland in 1869, where Dr. Rodolph continued his medical practice, and Frank attended business college. He then opened a stationery store on Broadway in partnership with his father. The store also sold books, and later sheet music and even some instruments.
On April 16, 1892, Frank married Blance Pratt (Rodolph) (March 1858 — March 14, 1929), and they had 3 children: Rollin Pratt Rodolph (1896 — 1959), Stanley Francis Rodolph (1898 — 1914), and Barbara Eleanor Rodolph (Rodolph-Jenni) (1901 — 1975).
Note that some of the photos in the Frank B. Rodolph Photograph Collection at UC Berkeley Bancroft Library were taken by associates of Rodolph, including I.W. Taber. 1
Pages tagged “Frank Rodolph photo”
Links and References
- Frank B. Rodolph Photograph Collection at UC Berkeley Bancroft Library
