Evening star., 1937-03-09

display at the library. Later, upon
my offer of bequest of my photo
graphic estate these pictures formed
the nucleus of the Division of Pictorial
Archives of Early American Archi-
lecture"
THEN things began to happen. In
the Spring of 1888, grant was
secured from the Carnegie Corp. Of
New York which enabled Miss john
ston to make a certain number Of
photographs for the School of Fine
Arts at the University Of Virginia.
There are 1900 Of these photographs
at the University School Of Architec-
ture at Charlottesville now, where they
constitute an invaluable record Of
little known phase Of early Virginia
history. They are records not so much
of the great manor houses as Of the
smaller homes, the stores and all
the simple buildings Of the Colonists'
everyday life.
A second grant in the Autumn Of
1888 and q third In 1884 enabled the
lady of the all-seeing lens to advance
her project still further. A fourth
made it possible for her to range far
ther afleld-into Maryland and the
Carolinas.
One of the finest compliments OF
Miss Johnston's career was paid her
in November. 1886. when she was
commissioned to work in conjunction
with DR.. Verne E. Chatelain Of the
Carnegie Institution of Washington
on the preliminary survey for the res
toration Of st. Augustine, Fla. Her
work there is halted only temporarily,
for she Is to return as soon as def
mite plan for the restoration Is estab-
lished.
Frances Johnston is glad that she
need not return to Florida just yet Tor
1t means that she will have time to
personally supervise her exhibit at
Chapel Hill. Then, too. 1t means April
in Charleston, S. G. And that speaks
for itself!
Charleston is one of my favorite
cities" said Miss Johnston, land I
have a lot of work to do there yet.
There are number of beautiful Geor-
gian houses that have never been
adequately photographed. Then, there
are some of the lesser fry" she added,
which are most interesting, such as
alleys, shacks and fences"
She chuckled. Il hope that I don't
hoyo m mo ko onv moro riof1IraS frOr,
the tops of freight cars or from lotion
trucks in narrow passages, but one
never knows just what obstacles will
stand in the way of a good picture"
The chuckle grew into laugh. Why,
even persuaded the vestryman in
charge Of Bruton Parish Churchyard
at Williamsburg TO remove a tree
stump so that I might better photo
graph the old church"
A UNUSUAL thing to do, perhaps?
- True, but Frances Benjamin
Johnston Is an unusual person. This
difference shows itself in many ways.
Where most people are content with
one hobby, she has three or four. We
have mentioned the gardens, but might
add that she is now looking for q
house with a studio garden"
Another Of her hobbies Is the COL
lection Of rare bits of jewelry. 1t is
q real privilege to see Miss Johnstons
'trinkets." There is amber and jade
and duly cleaning silver. But none
Of them can compare with her ORR
entail collection, which contains some
museum pieces.
Beauty in any form appeals to
Frances Johnston. She feels that it
Is one of our common possessions.
Perhaps this Is the underlying reason
why she feels so strongly about keep
ing a record Of our early architecture
and has done 50 much to make this
possible.
I'm just being sensible about the
thing" says Miss Johnston. But 1
do think that people must be brought
to realize that these buildings are fast
falling into decay and that we must
have q record Of them before it is
| to0 late