William Irving Photographs and History



My father, William Irving
(1921-2005)

My father (unknown location, 1940's)




Family Coat of Arms, Crest and Motto

Portrait of my paternal grandmother, Anne Ostrom Irving
(b. September 2, 1899)

Earl, Ann, grandmother and Jack, grandfather

(back of photo below)

Written by my grandmother in January (year unknown).

A lot of old photos were printed with postcard backings.

My father, 1945

Excerpt from Biography:

1943 to 1944 - "Attended US Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, NY, Graduated April 21, 1944 and received Third Mate License and USNR Commission as Ensign."

1945 - "Shipped out as Third Mate on Liberty Ship. In fall of 1944 signed on as Third Mate on S/S Chantilly (T-2 Tanker) operating between U.S. and U.K. in North Atlantic. January 1945 joined S/S Bushy Run (T-2) as Third Mate. This ship was employed between Persian Gulf and Mediterranean. Received Second Mate License and was signed on as Second Officer S/S Creighton Victory. Made one voyage from West Coast to Philippines and return, then a second voyage to China and thence to East Coast U.S. via Singapore and Suez Canal."

May 1946 - "Received Chief Mate License (renewed 3rd Issue April 1962). decided to leave the sea and study art at the National Academy of Design, New York City. Realizing that art is a difficult field in which to make a living in 1947 I signed on as Navigator of the Yacht, Southern Sea (120' twin diesel), and took her from Miami to Seattle. I was employed by the U.S. Army Transport Service there in June and sent as Chief Mate to the Columbia River Decommissioning Unit in Cathlamet, Washington."

A note: My grandfather, Captain John H. Irving, told one of his other sons to go to New York City and 'convince' my father, who was happily living the bohemian artist's life, that he must abandon a career in art for one in the military.



www.archive.org/stream/jamesirvingofiro00irviuoft

http://erwinbagpiper.com/a_short_history_of_bonshaw.htm



Grandmother Anne Ostrom Irving with her three sons

From left: William Clark Irving "Buddy" ( my father), Clark Ostrom Irving "Lambie", and John Hamilton Irving, Jr. "Sonny"

My father, "Buddy" as a young boy on horseback



My father on an old race horse at Del Monte California Stables, 1931

Grandfather training a horse while in the US Cavalry.

 

My paternal grandfather, Captain John Hamilton Irving, riding Big Ben when he was in the 5th US Cavalry in Fort Clark, Texas 1929. He retired as a Colonel on November 30, 1944. (b. 4-27-1897, d. 10-4-1965)

He was the son of John Beaufain Irving III. His grandfather was the artist, John Beaufain Irving I.

Father's journal excerpt:

"Dad commanded A Troop, 5th Cavalry, and it was here that my mother taught me to ride and to swim. We were transported to school in a mule-drawn ambulance wagon."

Grandfather's journal excerpt Sept.-Oct. 1929:

"Jumped the show horses over the course. They all went well. Sent Big Ben out for an hour and he showed great improvement on his jumping. Inspection of quarters and stable by the General..."



My paternal grandmother, Anne Ostrom Irving

My grandmother, Anne Ostrom Irving, riding Big Ben, September 1929.
She was the daughter of Cora Chambers Ostrom (1871-1956)

The Irvings of South Carolina were great horse racing people. One of them,  John Beaufain Irving II, my great, great grandfather was also an artist.  His father John Beaufain Irving I, "Dr. John", owned rice plantations on the Cooper River near Charleston and wrote A Day on the Cooper River and The South Carolina Jockey Club.

Ancestors include the following signees of the Declaration of Independence:

Arthur Middleton (1742-87)
Buried in Episcopal vault at "Middleton Place"
near Charleston, S.C.

Thomas Heyward, Jr. (1746-1809)
Buried at Episcopal family cemetery
Old House Plantation
Jasper County, S.C.

Thomas Lynch, Jr. (1749-79)
Episopal
He was a representative of South Carolina
who signed for his father due to illness.

Marge Irving Frost (about 1915)

At the bottom of this portrait is a "Very truly yours" signature by Harry Roseland, who may have been the artist.

"Under the Spreading Chestnut Tree" (Written on back of photo by Grandmother Irving, 1955)

 This amazing tree overlooked Dyes Inlet at my grandparent's property in Bremerton.

Having fun with Dad on Dyes Inlet during family reunion at grandparent's estate. (August 1961)

Family Reunion at our grandparent's place on Dyes Inlet in Bremerton, Washington (August 1961)




 

Standoff at Desert Pass



Father out rambl'in on the range.

"Standoff at Desert Pass"
Detail of drawing by my father, 1969
Pastel and Ink on Paper

William Irving Drawings and Sculptures



Portrait of Buddy
This painting is by Cora Chambers Ostrom, father's maternal grandmother
Oil on Canvas, 1927

Portrait of My Mother, Ann Ostrom Irving
Charcoal on Paper, 1944

On the back of this portrait, my father wrote "To Grandmother, with all my love, Buddy"

Untitled
Oil on Paper, 1961

Portrait of an Unidentified Woman
Graphite on Paper

Granite Sculpture

Wood Carving of Primitive Man, December 28, 1976
 

Two Sketches
Graphite on Paper, October 9, 1966

You're a Song to Me
Words and Music by William Irving, 1943

Young Cowboy
Watercolor and Ink on Paper, 1938

 

Battle in the Big Trees (Detail)
Watercolor and Ink on Paper, 1963

 

Ghost Rider
Pen on Paper, 1963

The Etruscan
Graphite on Paper, 1961

Corvus Corax
Pencil on Paper, 1968







This marble sculpture was most likely complete when we lived in Cape Girardeau, Missouri in 1957.
 My father's  inspiration was George Washington.

Texas Bluebonnet Painting by Cora Chambers Ostrom



Cora Chambers Ostrom, my paternal great grandmother
Oil Painting on Canvas
Early Texas Bluebonnet Painter (1871-1956)



Familiar Indian Flowers by Lena Lowis



Selina "Lena" Caroline Shakespear Lowis, my maternal great, great grandmother
Lithograph & description of Bignonia Venusta
Familiar Indian Flowers by Lena Lowis
London: M&N Hanhart Lithographers

   The brilliant appearance this creeper exhibits when in full blossom, in the months of February and March, cannot be described. The branches of tubular orange-coloured flowers, drooping amidst the bright, shining leaves, form a lovely spectacle.

   It requires a strong support, and will often climb up high trees. The lower stems have a bare and unsightly appearance, if the plant is allowed to get too straggling in its growth; it should, therefore, be severely pruned to keep it within bounds.

   The tubular throat is sometimes two inches long, while the lip is curved back, exposing the green stamens. There are some eight or ten flowers on each bunch, and when the entire plant is covered with these gorgeous heads of blossom, it presents a perfect blaze of colour, and is most ornamental.

   It is native of India, and may be seen in all parts. If allowed to trail on the ground it will send out roots at the joints of the leaves, forming young plants.

   The usual mode of propagation, however, is by cuttings, which take most readily. The young tendrils are of a pale, greenish colour, and very soft and pretty.

   I cannot find any flower of this name in Roxburgh, but his description of "Bignonia Grandiflora" so agrees with this that I think they must be identical. Many of the Bignoniaceae are large and handsome trees, but these I have never seen. Roxburgh mentions one, "Bignonia Undulata," which has the same coloured flowers as our specimen; but it is a large tree, with a trunk as thick as a man's thigh.

   There is another pretty variety, called by Ferminger "Bignonia Incarnata." It is almost white, with a deep lilac or purple inside the throat.

   The leaves of this specimen are heart-shaped, some being three or four inches long, smooth, and very numerous.



A Watercolor by Selina Caroline Shakespear Lowis

 

 

This watercolor is by my maternal great, great grandmother, Selina "Lena" Caroline Shakespear Lowis who wrote and illustrated the book, Familiar Indian Flowers . She painted the above watercolor while she and  my great great grandfather, Lieutenant Colonel Ninian Lowis, were living in India. He was a Lieutenant Colonel in the Bental Staff Corps during the Indian Mutiny.

Hand-Painted plate by Selina Caroline Shakespear Lowis.

 

American Scream



 American Scream
Mixed Media on Canvas
Endangered Species Series, 2008

SOLD, 2011
American Scream, Endangered Species Series, 2008  

SOLD, 2010
It's Always Been True,  Endangered Species Series, 2008