Half Past Autumn

1) On the day Gordon Parks was born, how did the doctor save Gordon's life?
Gordon was a still born. The doctor immersed him in ice-cold water and his heart started beating.

2) Where was Gordon born? (what state?)
Gordon was born in Fort Scott, Kansas

3) What did Gordon's college adviser, Ms. McClintock tell him about college?
She told him she should save his parent's money and not go because African Americans would end up as porters and maids anyways

4) How old was Gordon when his mother died?
Gordon was 15

5) Where did Gordon move after his mother died?
He left home and lived with relatives before setting off on his own, taking whatever odd jobs he could find.

6) Did Gordon graduate from college?
He graduated from Princeton.

7) How did Gordon begin his fashion photography career?
 He saw photos of migrant workers in a magazine, bought a camera for $12.50 in a pawn shop. He convinced a clothing store in St. Paul to hire him as a fashion photographer. His work caught the eye of Marva Louis, who helped him progress.

8) What is a "double exposure?"
The repeated exposure of a photographic plate or film to light, often producing ghost images.

9) Who was boxer Joe Louis?
The husband of the woman who helped Gordon shoot fashion and society photos.

10) What instrument did Gordon play?
Gordon played the piano

11) What was the purpose of the Farm Security Administration?
The Farm Security Administration was an effort during the Depression to combat American rural poverty.

12) When Roy Stryker hired Gordon for the FSA, what was Stryker's first assignment for Gordon in Washington, D.C.?
He was assigned to document discrimination.

13) Who was Ella Watson?
Ella Watson, an African American in the FSA, was the subject of Parks' American Gothic.

14) What was the inspiration for Grant Wood's American Gothic?
Parks was inspired by the segregation he saw in restaurant and shops in D.C.

15) What did Gordon learn from Stryker about photography?
Stryker taught Gordon how to approach his subjects.

16) When did the FSA shut down? 
FSA shut down in 1943.

17) After Gordon moved to New York, what magazine did he shoot for? 
Gordon shot for Vogue.

18) Who was the picture editor of Life Magazine when Gordon walked into the Life Magazine office? 
Wilson Hicks was the picture editor at Life Magazine at the time.

19) What was the first major story Parks covered for Life Magazine?
The first major story Parks covered was Crime Across America.

20) Who were some of the artists that Gordon Parks mentioned influenced his work after he moved to the Paris Life Magazine bureau?
Some of the artists included De Gough, Picasso, and Van Gough.

21) How did Parks shoot fashion when he lived in France?
Parks shot fashion by making the model move with him.

22) Where was Parks' concerto performed?
Parks concerto was performed in Venice.

23) Who was Parks' second wife? (Who was her father? What did she do?)
 Parks second wife was Elizabeth Campbell, a model.

24) How old was Flavio de Silva when Parks met him?
 Flavio was 12.

25) When did Parks meet Flavio? 
Parks met Flavio when climbing the slopes of Rio de Janeiro.

26) Where did Flavio live when Parks first met Flavio and his family? 
Flavio lived in a small shack.

27) How is Gloria Vanderbilt? Who is her famous son? Who are her ancestors? 
Gloria was an author and artist, whose grandson was Anderson Cooper, and whose ancestors were rich railroad company owners.

28) How did Vanderbilt describe their relationship? 
Vanderbilt said that they had a lot of love and respect for each other in their relationship.