21 April 2010

JP Gates


Chalmers St., Charleston, S.C.

I appreciate the fact that the well known Charleston author Josephine Pinckney put my initials "JP" on her gate.

This blogger found some old pictures of her that were taken for Life Magazine.
Autobiographical Snippet from the dust cover of Three O'clock Dinner by Josephine Pinckney: "Josephine Pinckney may be described as a cosmopolitan Charlestonian. She has traveled widely abroad, spent a year in Italy, lived winters in New York and summers in Mexico, but she always goes back to home and garden in Charleston,just as her family, well known in the south, has for generations. A literary lady, she has previously published a book of poems, "Sea Drinking Cities" and a novel, Hilton Head. With DuBose Heyward, Hervey Allen and others, she started the Poetry Society of South Carolina which has a strong influence on the rebirth of literature in the South. As a hobby, Miss Pinckney collects and transcribes spirituals which she sings with a group called the Society for the Preservation of Spirituals. Gardening and dogs have a strong appeal for her, and she collects old china and first editions."

I can't write poetry or sing but I think it's time to move the JP gates up the peninsula to my house.

7 comments:

Living In Williamsburg Virginia said...

Nice shot and a great perspective on a beautiful place. How nice of her to remember you?

Darryl and Ruth : )

Anonymous said...

actually....it might be easier if you just moved into her house don't cha think? Kathy

Charlestonjoan said...

Good idea. I think I should get a deep, deep discount since it is personalized.

Walter Rimler said...

DuBose Heyward, by the way, was the author of the Novel "Porgy." He and his wife Dorothy adapted it for the Broadway stage in the 1920s. In 1935 DuBose Heyward wrote the libretto and most of the lyrics (including "Summertime") for his and George Gershwin's opera Porgy and Bess.

Kristen said...

I know those homeowners very very well. They have a wonderful spiral staircase leading up to Josephine Pinkneys Boudoir. :) Mrs Davis (the homeowner) told me stories how Josephine use to entertain George Gershwin in this home.

Charlestonjoan said...

Walter - Yes, it must have been an interesting time in Charleston.

Kristen - lucky you! How fun.

Anonymous said...

Joan! The link to the blog about Josephine Pinckney, with the photographs, is fabulous. My cousin swears that her grandfather, my Great Uncle Hutson, was one of the people in that 3 o'clock dinner story, ha, I wonder! Her writing is beautiful. I will tell everyone they are Joan Perry gates, too!