Author Archives: bellboy

by Jerry Leibowitz “He who comprehends the Smithsonian Castle, comprehends the universe…”                                                                                 An old Washington proverb possibly attributed to Joseph Alsop see Gore Vidal, The Smithsonian Institution, a work of fiction[1] “What were they thinking when they dug that hole…” Graham Parker[2] Looking back, we know that 1846 was another year that America didContinue reading “The Smithsonian Castle: An Allegory“

Encouraging American Genius                                                                                                                 By Jerry Leibowitz We are stardust, billion year old carbon We are golden, caught in the devil’s bargain And we’ve got to get ourselves back to the garden.                                                                                                 Joni Mitchell I have been thinking about what it means to “encourage American Genius” since I wrote my last piece on theContinue reading “Encouraging American Genius”

Chapter 35 SISTERS OF CHARITY                                                                                                                 June 7, 1809 My Dearest Sister Lady Frances, I think often of the day were together in Syon at a time when my life was in disarray and I was just beginning to learn about the great gifts the Lord has bestowed on me. I am far along onContinue reading “Chapter 35”

“There are some things you can’t cover up with lipstick and powder…” Elvis Costello “They call it the rope-a-dope. Well, I’m the dope. Ali just laid on the rope and I, like a dope, kept punching until I got tired. But he was probably the most smart fighter I’ve ever gotten into the ring with.”Continue reading “Bust of a Man III- Return of Bill Richmond”

Who is James Renwick? This is not an Ayn Rand question about a fictional engineer. There was an engineer turned architect named James Renwick (1819-1895) who designed several of the most iconic structures built in America’s early years, including the Castle at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D. C., and St. Patrick’s Cathedral in NewContinue reading “Who is James Renwick and what are his Plans?”

by Jerry Leibowitz My inquiry into the sculpture known as Bust of a Man begins with some known facts. There are two similar sculptures known as Bust of a (Black) Man. One is unsigned and is at the Yale Center for British Art. A lesser one, to my eye, is at the Getty Museum and is signed “FrancisContinue reading “Bust of Bill Richmond?”

By Jerry Leibowitz …fiat justitia, ruat coelum Lord Mansfield, The Decision in Somerset’s Case, June 22, 1772[1] America is false to the past, false to the present, and solemnly binds herself to be false to the future .Frederick Douglass, 1852[2] The wealthy landowners of Virginia and other southern colonies were fat and happy in 1766.Continue reading “The Great American Essay”

THE WHOOSIT CLUB Frances Burrell was beyond excited to attend this particular meeting of the Ladies Whoosit Club. The Whoosit Club was a members only group of proper young ladies who one Sunday a month would meet at the Gentleman’s Club in Piccadilly. The Gentleman’s Club did not allow ladies to enter but for theContinue reading “Phillis Wheatley”

Call Me Elizabeth In Elizabeth’s world, most sins are forgivable. “Only Christ keeps the score”, her pastor was known to say. You could be outright racist, maybe even KKK and Elizabeth would try to see the good in you even if all your words were counter to all she believed in. You could be aContinue reading “Chapter 2”

Chapter One The Great American Pastime Elizabeth knew the danger of checking her Facebook feed. Her article was due and she only had the beginning paragraph and a vague idea as to where it would go. “Just a few minutes”, she muttered to herself telling herself one of those lies we all use to getContinue reading “Chapter One”