Evening star., 1937-03-09

of the most satisfying things about my
work." she says, "is that through it
can recreate for the average American
the life Of fading past and can make
him realize that this past is part Of
his heritage"
The exhibit, which was to have
closed February 28, will continue
through March 10. 1t will open in
the Art Museum. at the University Of
North Carolina on March Is. Most of
us would be appalled, at the mere idea
Of this quick change. But not Miss
Johnston! She is accustomed to DASH
ing off at the proverbial moments s
notice"
Distances don't bother her, either.
Her search for historic buildings has
already covered a distance equal to
travelling three times around the
globe!
1t is interesting that Miss John
ston's cherished plan of preserving
early American architecture is an out
growth Of her love for gardens and
her artistry in photographing them.
Although she has done every type of
work that a photographer might be
expected to do. gardens have always
been her hobby. This is not strange,
for her first Washington studio was
powered in roses and wisteria.
In 1926, when Frances Johnston
made her first extensive garden tour
OF Europe, she was already we'll known
for her color photography of Amer
ican gardens. Everywhere, Old World
gates swung wide.
For seven months, she wandered
across Europe, and at every stop new
beauties were recorded by her cam
eras ready lens. In the words of a
famous animal trainer, she brought
'em back alive" to America and the
legend grew that Frances Johnston
gets what she goes AFTER
ONE series of gardens led to another
and eventually Miss Johnston
found herself photographing the gar
dens Of Virginia. 1t was then that she
first saw the imperative need of pre-
serving for posterity Virginia's historic
buildings. Obviously, they could not
all be dragged into a museum and
there kept for the education and in
spiration Of future generations.
What to do? For many weary
months. as Miss Johnston went about
her work in the highways and byways
of the Old Dominion. she preached
her creed Of preservation. A woman
of understanding and appreciation,
who had recently restored a beautiful
old estate near Fredericksburg, ap-
peared on the scene She shared Miss
Johnston's enthusiasm and commits
stoned her to make a pictorial survey
Of Fredericksburg, "as an historical
record and to preserve something OF
the atmosphere Of an old Virginia
town"
Miss Frances made 200 pictures In
Fredericksburg. The study extended
itself to Old Falmouth and other
nearby places. It took three Summers
to finish the job, but both ladies felt
then that it had been done thoroughly
and that the survey gave faithful
picture Of Colonial life in that COM
munity.
Not only were there pictures Of the
better-known buildings. such as the
Mercer Apothecary Shop, where Wash
ington had his Office as a young sur
veyor. President Monroe's law Office.
and Mary Washington's cottage, bu,
of old stores and warehouses, the
market yard, dilapidated slave quar-.
tiers and ivy-covered ruins.
Such marked enthusiasm greeted
the photographs Of the Fredericksburg
survey that Miss Johnston felt they
should be placed where a larger pub.
Lie could see them.
She, therefore, sought out DR.. Lei.
cester B. Holland, who had just beer
appointed head Of the division Of fin,
arts at the Library Of Congress ane
first holder of the Carnegie Chair Of
Fine Arts.
"Dr. Holland, who was himself al
architect of high rank, displayed {
most sympathetic and understanding
attitude" said Miss Johnston. "Th'
Fredericksburg survey was placed OF