Katherine Anne Porter Remembered

Chronology

chronology 1890 callie russell (Katherine Anne) Porter born 15 may, indian creek, texas, fourth child of Harrison boone Porter (b. 1857) and mary Alice Jones Porter (b. 1859). Granddaughter of Asbury duval Porter (1814–79) and catharine Ann skaggs Porter (b. 1827) and John newton Jones (1833–86) and caroline Lee Jones (b. 1835). Greatgreat granddaughter of General Andrew Porter (1743–1813) and James skaggs, both of whom fought in the revolutionary War; and rhoda boone smith, a descendant of Jonathan boone, brother to daniel. Great-great-great granddaughter of famous Kentucky explorer Henry skaggs. Harrison and Alice Porter’s older children: Anna Gay (b. 1885), Harry ray (b. 1887), and Johnny (1889–90). 1892 mary Alice (baby) Porter, Harrison and Alice Porter’s fifth and last child, born 25 January; Alice Porter dies 20 march. callie moves with father, two sisters, and brother to Kyle,texas, to live with grandmother catharine Ann skaggs Porter. 1893– educated by governesses grandmother hires. Attends public school in 1901 Kyle. Attempts to write stories. begins lifetime of extensive reading. 1901–2 Grandmother catharine Ann skaggs Porter dies 2 October 1901. callie spends remainder of 1901–2 school year in Kyle and summer on grandmother ’s nearby farm. in fall of 1902 sets forth with father, sisters, and brother on several years of vagabondage; sporadically attends schools while visiting relatives in texas towns. 1903–4 briefly attends convent school in new Orleans. 1904–5 informally changes name to “Katherine Porter” when brother Harry ray changes his name to “(Harrison) Paul.” Attends the thomas school in san Antonio for full academic year. in victoria, texas, advertises as “teacher of elocution, Physical culture, and english.” 1906 moves with father and two sisters to Lufkin,texas, when brother joins navy. marries John Henry Koontz 20 June in double ceremony with sister Gay, who marries thomas H. Holloway. 1907– continues self-education and apprentice writing during miserable 10 marriage, marked by her husband’s physical abuse and infidelity. Lives in Lafayette, Louisiana, and Houston, texas. xvi / chronology 1911 baptized into roman catholic church. moves with Koontz to corpus christi,texas. Writes stories and poems and widens reading to include works by James Joyce and Gertrude stein. 1912 first published work, an amateur poem, is published on the cover of an agricultural trade journal. 1913 continues to endure physical abuse by Koontz; considers consequences of separation or divorce. Has reunion with childhood friend erna schlemmer, who has moved to corpus christi with husband, Glover Johns Jr. 1914 flees to chicago, works briefly in movies; returns to texas. Goes to Louisiana and works the lyceum circuit, singing ballads. moves to dallas, works at menial jobs to support herself. 1915– divorces Koontz; legalizes name to “Katherine Porter,” begins to call 17 herself “Katherine Anne Porter.” marries and divorces t. Otto taskett . marries and divorces carl clinton von Pless. spends months in texas hospitals with tuberculosis. Writes children’s stories and articles for texas newspapers. Lives in forth Worth and writes articles for the Critic. does volunteer work for the red cross. 1918 in denver, hospitalized briefly at sanatorium. Works as reporter for the Rocky Mountain News. nearly dies in influenza epidemic. 1919 Grieves over July death of six-year-old niece, mary Alice Holloway. moves to new york city in fall; meets radical writers and mexican artists . Works at agency writing publicity releases for movies. 1920– Publishes four retold fairy tales.travels to mexico; meets roberto and 21 thorberg Haberman; writes for the english-language section of El Heraldo de México. becomes acquainted with, among others, archaeologist William niven, anthropologist and archaeologist manuel Gamio, newly elected president of mexico Alvaro Obregón, cabinet members José vasconcelos, Plutarco elías calles, and Antonio i. villarreal , and labor leader Luis morones. becomes disaffected with the roman catholic church. Ghostwrites My Chinese Marriage. edits the only two issues of Magazine of Mexico. Has love affair with salomón de la selva that ends with abortion. in fort Worth, texas, stays with Kitty and Garfield crawford, works for the Oil Journal, writes shopping column for the FortWorth Record, and performs in Little theater productions. Publishes articles on mexican politics. 1922 returns to new york. “Where Presidents Have no friends” is published . At the request of President Obregón makes second trip to mexico, to assemble popular arts show and produce accompanying pamphlet (Outline of Mexican Popular Arts and Crafts). first original chronology...