Tag Archives: Ben Blair

Will, Maynard, Dorthea, Frida, and Diego…

Posted on by
Reply

Author/dentist—Will Lillibridge (great-granduncle) wrote the book Ben Blair. It was published by A. C. McClurg & Co., Chicago, 1905. This was the same year Will’s older brother, Lowell Stanton Lillibridge (my great-grandfather) helped settle the town of Burke, South Dakota where I grew up.

I recently discovered that the cover art for Ben Blair was done by artist, Maynard Dixon—he was married to depression-era photographer (and one of my heroes) Dorthea Lange. Only recently did I learn that Dorthea photographed churches in 1938 near Winner, SD, 39 miles west of Burke.

Three Churches of the High Plains, near Winner, South Dakota; Dorothea Lange (American, 1895 – 1965); negative 1938; print 1940s.

Dorthea Lange & Maynard Dixon became friends with Frida Kahlo & Diego Rivera in San Francisco in the 1930s. Maynard at first disliked Diego (as many people did).

A few weeks ago I toured Frida and Diego’s home and studio in Mexico City. Being in the presence of these rooms, the light, shadows, color, collected objects, art, videos, and photographs was…well, Guau (wow).

Seeing where Frida and Diego lived, worked, fought, loved, and entertained made me long for an old-timey, bohemian life without so many modern-day distractions.

Their home museum is located in Coyoacán, a village on the outskirts of Mexico City.

The photos below were taken at the Museo Casa Estudio in San Angel, also a village on the outskirts of Mexico City.

You deserve a lover who takes away the lies and brings you hope, coffee, and poetry.
―Frida Kahlo

Thank you, Uncle Will, Maynard, Dorthea, Frida and Diego!

Three Churches of the High Plains, near Winner, South Dakota; Dorothea Lange (American, 1895 - 1965); negative 1938; print 1940s; Gelatin silver print; 25.6 × 27 cm (10 1/16 × 10 5/8 in.); 2016.150.1; No Copyright - United States (http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/)

Will Lillibridge’s words & my photos

Posted on by
Reply

My great-great uncle, William Otis Lillibridge (1877-1909) was a dentist and an author in South Dakota. One of his books, Ben Blair was made into a movie in 1916. My grandfather recounted that his father used to say that Will was a much better writer than dentist.

After a recent trip to South Dakota I wondered if I had photos that reflected some of Will’s words. It seems that Uncle Will loved the wildness of the prairie as much as I do.

A BREATH OF PRAIRIE & OTHER STORIES by William Otis Lillibridge

“The reddish glow in the east had spread and lit up the earth…”

“The self-confidence of the splendid animal was his. He would work and advance himself.”

THE DOMINANT DOLLAR by William Otis Lillibridge

“I’m serious, Robert. Douglass is a cattleman west of the river.”

“The river!” apostrophized Bob. “The man juggles with mysteries. What river, pray?”

“The Missouri, of course. Didn’t you ever study geography?”

“…in a spirit of bravado, roped the “devil” and instituted a contest of wills. The pony was stubborn and a battle royal followed. As a buzzard scents carrion, other cowboys anticipated sport, and a group soon gathered.“

“No, but I know the country. It’s new and wild now, of course, and you’ll find neighbors a bit scarce; but it’s alright.”

LINK: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/29245/29245-h/29245-h.htm#:~:text=WILL%20LILLIBRIDGE%20AUTHOR%20OF%20%E2%80%9CBEN%20BLAIR,%E2%80%9D%20%E2%80%9CTHE%20DOMINANT%20DOLLAR,%E2%80%9D%20ETC.

The story of his life is characteristically told in this brief autobiographical sketch, written at the request of an interested magazine.

“I was born on a farm in Union County, Iowa, near the boundary of the then Dakota Territory. Like most boys bred and raised in an atmosphere of eighteen hours of work out of twenty-four, I matured early. At twelve I was a useful citizen, at fifteen I was to all practical purposes a man,––did a man’s work whatever the need. In this capacity I was alternately farmer, rancher, cattleman. Something prompted me to explore a university and I went to Iowa, where for six years I vibrated between the collegiate, dental, and medical departments. After graduating from the dental in 1898 I drifted to Sioux Falls and began to practise my profession. As the years passed the roots sank deeper and I am still here."