Description
Portrait of Maria Paula Rosalia Vallejo Leese seated, arm resting on book, holding an
embroidered purse in her lap. Leese's cheeks, purse, jewelry, and the book are tinted.
Daguerreotype is housed in a double-hinged, triptych-style case; brown embossed leather
exterior with shield shaped closure; red embossed velvet interior. Quarter plate
daguerreotype measuring 9 x 7 cm.
Background
Maria Paula Rosalia Vallejo del Leese was born into the Vallejos, a wealthy, land owning
Northern California family in 1811. Daughter of Sargeant Ignacio Ferrer Vallejo and Maria
Antonia Isabela Lugo and sister to military officers Mariano Guadalupe and Salvador Vallejo.
Maria Paula Rosalia Vallejo married American merchant Jacob Leese in 1837. She died in
1889.
Restrictions
Materials in this collection, which were created between 1840 and 1860, are in the public
domain in the United States. Permission to publish or reproduce is not required.
Availability
CHS is not taking appointments for research at this time. Please check the Library's website updates: https://californiahistoricalsociety.org/collections/north-baker-research-library/