A Photographic Journal of Carl and Madonna Ahrens' tour of the California Missions
April-December of 1906
Background: In late 1905, when Carl Ahrens was living in New York City, he was approached by an
old Roycroft friend, author George Wharton James, about doing the illustrations for a book James
was writing on the old California missions. Carl agreed to take the commission. His divorce from
Emily Carroll was not yet finalized, but he convinced Madonna to accompany him on the journey
anyway, promising to marry her as soon as he was free. He did so in October of 1906, one month
before the birth of their son, Laird.
Carl was the main photographer on the trip, so very few photos include him. Madonna is usually in
background, and appears noticably more pregnant as they progress further north, ending their
journey near San Francisco. The big earthquake happened before they arrived, though they were
witnesses to the aftermath of the disaster. They settled for the winter in a bungalow on Mt. Tamalpais,
just outside the town of Corte Madera.
I have not personally travelled to the California missions, though modern day photos of them are
readily available on the internet. For the purposes of this journal, I am merely going to include some
of the most interesting of the photos to give the viewer an idea of what it would have been like to travel by covered wagon along the California coast in 1906. As you will see, much of the area was still very remote, and Carl took a big risk making this journey. Had he fallen ill, it would have been difficult to find him a doctor in most places. The climate in California was considered beneficial to consumptives, though, and he was in his best health ever that summer. Madonna strongly urged him to remain in California, but he longed to be back home in Canada. They left California in July of 1907, and soon settled in Meadowvale, Ontario, where their daughter, Penelope was born.
Carl in Santa Barbara - 1906
Carl at San Antonio mission in the
summer of 1906
Carl was a far more experienced
camp cook and so he took over
this job on their trip.
Carl with baby Laird in Corte
Madera in the spring of 1907
Carmel mission
Madonna with Laird in 1907
Madonna at mission San Juan Capistrano
Madonna doing laundry outside San Diego
Madonna and Pete
Madonna at mission Santa Inez
A typical mountain road in
the summer of 1906
Madonna at San Luis Rey
The 'chuck end' of the wagon. Carl and Madonna lived in this wagon for the entire summer.
A prospector out west