Memories of John Dos Passos' Visit to Our House

Gift from John Dos Passos. Marvin spelled the name incorrectly.

John Dos Passos

Stately Mangus Manor is loaded with memories. We moved in here in 1962. So I'm trying to organize 56 years of hoarded memory artifacts. I decided to clean out three of the Magnificent Marvin's old briefcases.

Mostly they were filled with desiccated rubber bands, paper clips, old pencils, "magic markers," foam rubber ear plugs, etc. -- but I did find two "gems." A collapsable tin drinking cup and a knife-sharpening whetstone gift from the famous "Lost Generation" author, John Dos Passos.

Dos Passos came to Alaska to write a travel article on Alaska for "Holiday" magazine in 1966. It was some of the little feature magazine work he could get. He had long-since been "blacklisted" by the establishment for being a "Commie sympathizer."

This actually ties into one of my favorite "Marvin stories." JDP had been told to look dad up by their mutual friend -- dad's art mentor in Washington DC, William F. WalterAlaska.

So dad monologued JDP's ear off about Alaska and its lore for two hours as JDP diligently took notes. Finally, Marvin thinks to ask, "So what do you do for a living, Johnny?" Pregnant pause. "Well -- I'm a writer, Marv." 

Dad had no clue who the famous John Dos Passos was. Classic. 

Anyway, I was thrilled to find this JDP-marked gift in amongst the dried-out erasers, thumbtacks, matchbooks, etc. -- A memory "gold nugget" buried in the detritus...

John Dos Passos

Two Paintings by an Artistic Mentor of Marvin Mangus: William F. Walter

William F. Walter

William F. Walter

William F. Walter (1904-1977) Artist and Art Teacher In Washington DC Since 1930

Washington Star Obituary: July 8, 1977

William F. Walter, 73, a well-known Washington DC artist and teacher, died Wednesday at Sibley Memorial Hospital after suffering an aneurysm.

He worked in both oils and watercolors and mainly painted landscapes and marine scenes. He taught art for many years. Born in Washington DC, Mr. Walter was a graduate of Central High School. He studied at the Corcoran School of Art under Charles Hawthorne and W. Lester Stevens. During the 1930s, Mr. Walter was an instructor at the Abbott Art School in Washington DC, and later taught classes at his home. During World War II, he worked on important camouflage techniques for the Navy's Bureau of Ships.

Mr. Walter, who won a number of awards for his work, mounted one-man shows at George Washington University and the Arts Club of Washington, and also exhibited at Harvard University and the University of Iowa. 

He had been a member of the Arts Club since 1930 and had served on its Board of Directors. He was also a former President of the Landscape Club of Washington; former Vice-President of the Society of Washington Artists; and a member of the Washington Watercolor Association.

He is survived by his wife, Evelyn; son, Edward P. Walter, of Birmingham, Michigan; a daughter, Diana W. Dickinson of Loretto, Virginia; and seven grandchildren.

The Landscape Club of Washington D.C.

This was the art club where Marvin D. Mangus was mentored by Roger Rittase and William F, Walters in the 1950s. Marvin won a "best in show" award at his very first group showing at the club, and remained a dues-paying member until the end of his life. Some of the members would drop by our house when they or their friends came to Alaska.

The Landscape Club of Washington is a group of men with a mutual interest in outdoor painting, the pictorial possibilities of the Washington area, and in the promotion of public interest in art and the out-of-doors. It dates from the Spring of 1913 when chance aquaintances in the field developed into firm friendships and, over the years, a growth in membership to include those with outstanding reputations as well as the promising younger men who may gain from such association.

Alone or in groups they have covered thoroughly the environs of Washington in quest of subjects for their pictures. The Club's "Log Book" records many jaunts to scenic spots in this area and beyond, Earlier accounts, which make entertaining reading, are reminiscent of inter-urban street cars, gravel roads, that are now superhighways, woods, creeks, and truck farms where present-day suburban homes, apartments, and shopping centers blot out the gentle landscape.

Today its members often range even further afield, in the United States and in other countries, to bring back a variety of pictures for exhibitions and for the walls of people's homes.Yet they remain ever grateful for the close-by rolling hills of Maryland and Virginia, the Blue Ridge, the Potomac Valley, and the Chesapeake Bay area.

At the Club's meetings comradeship prevails, along with constructive programs which further understanding and develop skills, while its exhibitions are a challenge to the members and a pleasurable and cultural experience for gallery visitors.

Members:

Atkyns, Lee

Barr, William H.

Barth, Max

Bittinger, Charles (honorary) 

Baumer, Joseph

Cassedy, Richard  H.

Coleman, Tracy

Crockett, Gib

Cupoli, James V.

Dunn, Charles A. R.

Eboli, Jules L.

Ecker, John B.

Eyer, Charles Robert

Fairlamb, Guy

Firestone, I. L.

Freeman Stuart I.

Gilden, Meyer

Granahan, David M.

Harrison, Edward S.

Hicks, Herbert (Herbie)

Jackson, Vaughan L.

Jex, Garnet W.

Johnstone, Robert B.

Jones, Ron

Kagy, Sheffield

Loiselle, Bernard (honorary)

Mangus, Marvin

Melvile, Col. Phillips 

Moore, Benson B. (honorary)

Moore, David 

Nett, Charles T.

Oakley, A. John

O'Hara, Eliot (honorary)

Peters, Francis C.

Petter, John

Poiesz, C. J.

Pritchard, Thomas C.

Rittase, Roger

Schmidt, Alfred G.

Seat, Robert

Shinn, Charles C.

Shorter, Edward S.

Walter, William F.

Wendelin, Rudolph F.

Winn, Joseph

A Mentor to Marvin Mangus: William F. Walter

William F. Walter (American, 1904-1977)

A Washington DC native, William F. Walter was a respected designer, cartoonist, teacher, and painter during his lifetime. After completing his studies at the Corcoran School of Art, he continued his training under the instruction of Charles Hawthorne, W. Lester Stevens, Richard Meryman, and B. Baker.

Walter was member of the Society of Washington Artists; Landscape Club, Washington, DC; Washington Art Club; American Polar Society and Southern States Art League. His work was shown in numerous venues including: Harvard University, University of Iowa, Washington Art Club and various museum in the East and South. He also held a solo exhibit in New York City. He was awarded prizes for his work by the Landscape Club and US National Museum.

In addition to his busy painting and exhibition schedule, he completed a series of Arctic paintings for the Navy in 1946 and taught at the Abbott School of Art in Washington DC from 1951-1954.

William F. Walter

William F. Walter

William F. Walter

Mentors of the Magnificent Marv: William F. Walter

A Washington, D.C. native, William F. Walter (1904-1977) was a respected designer, cartoonist, teacher and painter during his lifetime.

After completeing his studies at the Corcoran School of Art, he continued his training under the instruciton of Charles Hawthorne, W. Lester Stevens, Richard Meryman and B. Baker.

Walter was member of the Society of Washington Artists; Landscape Club, Washington, DC; Washington Art Club; American Polar Society and Southern States Art League.

His work was shown in numerous venues including: Harvard University, University of Iowa, Washington Art Club and various museum in the East and South. He also held a solo exhibit in New York City. He was awarded prizes for his work by the Landscape Club and US National Museum.

In addition to his busy painting and exhibition schedule, he completed a series of Artic paintings for the Navy in 1946 and taught at the Abbott School of Art in Washington, DC from 1951-1954.