#Vermont college

[grungeouttakesabstracts]

Watch your step

Montpelier, Vermont -- 6/22/13

#fotografía #fotografía original #original photography #photographers on tumblr #artists on tumblr #photography #fotografía nocturna #night photography #door #doors #doorway #night #nighttime #vermont college #vermont

[cries-for-no-one]

Bad Biographies: Linda McCartney (Eastman)

I was listening to a podcast discussing the Beatles and once again an "expert" repeated the myth that Linda Eastman attended Sarah Lawrence College. In the past I have gotten annoyed when I heard biographers and journalists repeating this because they haven't done their research. If they can get this wrong, how can I believe the other things they say.

Personally, I have a memory of Linda saying that this isn't true, although admittedly I cannot remember the source. So, to hear others say it wrong gave me the impression they haven't done much research.

But now I have heard it so often, and read it in otherwise good biographies, that I realize that bad sourcing is endemic among biographers.

The biography of Linda

The mistake doesn't come from Linda McCartney - Wikipedia:

Eastman graduated from Scarsdale High School in 1959. She then attended Vermont College in Montpelier, Vermont, where she received an Associate of Arts in 1961... After graduating from Vermont College, she attended the University of Arizona and majored in fine arts while taking up nature photography as a hobby. While she was studying there, her mother was killed in the 1962 crash of American Airlines Flight 1 in Jamaica Bay, New York. She then left the University of Arizona without graduating, and married Joseph Melville See Jr. (in June 1962) Their daughter Heather was born in December 1962. They divorced in 1965, and Linda resumed using her maiden name.

Nor is the bad bio coming from Biography - LindaMcCartney.com website. Which offers a shorter version of the Wikipedia.

Nor is it coming from Sarah Lawrence College, Noted Alumni | Sarah Lawrence College. The college follows events in the careers of previous alumni such as Yoko Ono. Linda, unlike Yoko, is not mentioned at all and is not listed as an alumna.

Linda McCartney at Vermont College » Mining for Old (archive.org)

In fact, I couldn't find a source on the internet that gave the wrong details. Unless it is an obscure source that I have not thought of I assume the bad source is a book or article (or several).

Without asking them directly or scouring through many biographies that I do not own or articles I cannot access, then giving an analysis. I am just going to call it a day on finding the source. But it is strange that it is easy to fact check.

In fact, I would say from 1997 there really is no excuse for getting this wrong.

Many Years From Now

In 1997 Many Years From Now was published. The authorized biography quotes Paul (and Linda) so extensively it is often counted as an autobiography or memoir. Paul had a say over the final edit, so any factual errors are official.

Paul McCartney: Many Years From Now. | Miles (barrymiles.co.uk)

Paul and the author Barry Miles use the book to correct multiple myths they perceive as being spread. From how the book is written it seems to be a major motivation behind the book and reviewers criticized the defensive tone.

Paul McCartney: Many Years From Now book review | Miles (barrymiles.co.uk)

Here is the passage related to how Linda reacted to her mother's death...

"Linda moved to Tuscon, where she studied art and history. There is a myth that both Linda and Yoko Ono attended Sarah Lawrence, which was true of Yoko but not of Linda, whose brief academic career was at the University of Arizona. She was not exceptional academically and did not particularly enjoy it. It was an uncertain time in her life, she was mourning her mother and trying to find her place in the world." - Barry Miles, Paul McCartney Many Years From Now, Published (My version): Vintage 1998, Chapter: The White Album, Page: 507

Other myths about Linda that persist are mentioned in the book. Such as Linda being related to Eastman-Kodak, this circulates online, and it seems to only be due to her being a photographer with the surname Eastman. But I haven't come across it like I have this rumor, I assume the McCartneys have done enough to combat it, although it may just be due to how obvious it is that her father is actually a lawyer.

There are further rumors, that she slept with various celebrities or wasn't any good as a photographer, the McCartneys seem to just ignore these and just tell the story on their own terms. When gossip is a source, it probably depends on the biographer to how much weight it is given. Being a celebrity probably amplifies this kind of behavior towards you. Perhaps this celebrity drama creation is a factor for the myth.

Although Paul was criticized for being so defensive and feeling the need to set the record straight, somehow it hasn't stopped people getting this wrong. The book is an important source for information on Paul, his background and the band. It talks extensively from Paul's (and Barry and other insider's) point of view. Most biographers and Beatle experts would have this book, it is a heavily used source.

Why is the myth still repeated so often?

Given that it isn't very difficult to fact check, why do people keep getting this wrong?

I have decided not to name and shame the biographers and Beatle authorities I have heard saying this. I wouldn't be writing this if I didn't think it was a bigger problem. It seems to be a fact that is commonly believed but not examined enough for a basic fact check. Please take my word for it that this is a problem.

What is most curious to me is that it doesn't even matter. If you do not have a source for where she went to college, then don't mention it. It has nothing to do with the Beatles as a band and reflects little on her relationship with Paul.

Motive

When I have heard it used in discussions about her on Beatle Podcasts it was in relations to:

How her and Yoko attended the same school

Perhaps implying a connection between John and Paul's lives or the women they liked. Maybe a spiritual symmetry that is romantic to authors, but ultimately pointless and unnecessary. They had children the same age, loved art and lived in New York, isn't that enough.

However, perhaps the origin for this myth was mistaking Yoko's biography for Linda's.

Yoko at Sarah Lawrence

Speaking about how Paul liked posh girls

Drawing a parallel to his fiancée Jane Asher, whom he had split with a few months before Linda moved in with him.

I'm not sure how much evidence there is of this as some of his girlfriends and wives were posh, but others weren't.

But again it isn't necessary, just say she came from a nice area with a well-off family.

I have the feeling that there is some sort of shorthand by saying she went to that school. Like it meant Linda was super elite and privileged instead of attending the state schools and ordinary colleges.

Hopefully it isn't related to her background, coming from a Jewish family, sometimes people will project stereotypes in a weird antisemitic way. I have seen people comment (anonymously in comments sections) on her Jewish background as if that is significant.

A more generous analysis would be that as fans, commentators want the Beatles to have married high class ladies because it fits their ideals. The Beatles are special and so they shouldn't marry ordinary girls. This is a bit silly but subconscious biases may have an effect on what they believe to be true.

Other than that, I just don't know. They should know better but they don't. I don't want to pile on or irritatingly correct people. It just puzzles me that this myth persists. It concerns me because, although minor, if this isn't getting fact checked what else isn't.

The Future

One day in the hopefully not distant future this post (2022) will be irrelevant because they will stop, either because fact checking gets better (the dream), or more likely, because online people will correct them and embarrass them into changing.

#linda mccartney #linda eastman #the beatles #paul mccartney #yoko ono #Sarah Lawrence #Vermont college #university of arizona #biography #biographer #many years from now #Barry Miles #fact check #rumors #rumor mill

[elenitrack]

Lauren Trumble (Vermont)

2017 America East Cross Country Championships

#lauren trumble #university of vermont #xcountry #running #college athletes #female athletes #athletics #track and field

[athleticperfection1]

Vermont Soccer

#University of Vermont #Vermont Catamounts #college soccer #soccer girls #athlete #female athletes #college athlete #college girl #bikini #athletes in bikinis

[klasterni-tajemstvi]

there's this haunting moment in the Secret History that sends chills down my spine everytime stumble across it and it's towards the end when Francis and Richard visit the disheveled alcoholic Charles in his messy apartment to invite him to the country. at some point Charles pulls out pills Henry had supposedly given him for sleeping and Richard realizes it's the Nembutals he brought Henry to ease his migraine.... and although Henry denies giving the pills to Charles you just have to wonder.. did Henry lost it and gave Charles the Nembutal in hopes he'd accidentally poisoned himself and died? Nembutal becomes toxic if mixed with alcohol and is possibly lethal and Henry must have known well if Charles was to take those pills he'd definitely drink on them.. did he lost it and wanted to get rid of Charles like he got rid of Bun? it gives me chills, the way the book is structured too; you are aware Henry finds Charles a nuisance and the idea of killing him is an option, however unlikely it seems, but then comes the abrupt realization that Henry actually took the steps to achieve it and gave Charles dangerous drugs disguised as sleeping pills, in that moment, is very powerful. to me it is one of the most terrifying scenes, honestly. it almost comes out of nowhere and it shocks me every time. in short Donna Tartt is an amazing writer and i hope she publishes another book soon lol

#dark academia #chaotic academia #dark academia aesthetic #secret history #the secret history #light academia #camilla macaulay #charles macaulay #donna tartt #francis abernathy #richard papen #henry winter #bunny corcoran #hampden college #tsh #julian morrow #redistribution of matter #contemporary literature #chaotic academic aesthetic #vermont #murder plot #plot twist #classics #classic academia #liberal arts #satire #rich kids #old money #old money aesthetic #donna tartt novel

[legendarycollectiveflower]

Donna Tartt, Bret easton Ellis and Jonathan Lethem attending Bennington together and being called the "Literary Brat Pack" is so iconic

#donna tartt #bret easton ellis #Jonathan lethem #chaotic academia #dark academia #the secret history #american psycho #bennington college #donna tartt life #college #vermont

[darkwood-sleddog]

some of you have never had to help a terrified peer find a place to get a safe abortion in a state that offers little and it shows.

#not dogs #roe v wade #college was an interesting time #didn't even know the girl well but i came from a state that always had good access to abortion #and then to go to school in a place that was harder #angered me a lot #tbf vermont is also the least religious state by a long shot and i think that helps with a lot of our protections we've put in place #but going into the bible belt and even the mid west was SHOCKING #like yall's parents religious and not just easter christians? yikes #people acting like all of this won't affect them bc they're ace or in a same sex relationship please consider compassion #or the fact that non consensual sex can actually oh idk result in pregnancy #stay safe out there people

[firefox-official]

You’re joining the ski team? The SKI TEAM??? That’s not even a real type of sport! A fake jock! A winter flavored joke! And What KIND of rich ass college even has a ski team?? Jeez how can you pretend to having a meaningless bully facade when that’s something you just openly admit to??? I’m going to steal twenty thousand from you so your limo to the ski resort has to be *silver* plated instead of *gold* plated

A FUCKING SKI TEAM??? Rich ass fake bully 1%er

a lot of things wrong here but are you trying to tell me that being a stuck up jerk ass skier ISN’T prime bully material? go watch a movie. secondly if it isnt a sport to you go ahead and try it out

#>implying only rich colleges have ski teams #anon you ever been to vermont

[saresmusings]

Martha Graham and Erick Hawkins, Bennington College, VT, Photo by Barbara Morgan, 1938

#saresmusings #martha graham #erick hawkins #bennington college #1938 #vermont #barbara morgan #modern dance #modern dance choreographers #dance photography #black and white #foryoupage #Barbara Morgan photography #blackandwhite #dancers #photographer

[charbies]

Thank you @rae-nell !! tonight maple is taking over the blog lol

I adopted maple last year and I actually know next to nothing about her. she’s approximately 2-3 years old, we think she’s a maine coon/tabby mix. I live in new england and she came from somewhere in the midwest, she was a stray living in a trailer park. she has had babies.

I sometimes wonder what her old life was like, and how many people she crossed paths with in her short existence before coming into my life. she used to be skittish but now is very silly, loving, and seems content sticking by me. I’m very lucky to have her :)

#in conclusion: the cat ever #I had no idea what to expect when I got her and MAN if old me could see us now #it took 8 months for her to get comfy enough to sit on my lap in that pic #anyway she’s my whole life and that’s pretty much it #I named her maple bc my bf and I met & started dating when we were in college in vermont and she looks like #these little maple candies we used to get

[grungeouttakesabstracts]

Watch your step

Montpelier, Vermont - 6/22/13

#fotografía #fotografía nocturna #fotografía original #vermont #vermont college #night #nighttime #night photography #photography #original photography #photographers on tumblr #artists on tumblr

[joytri]

A morbid longing for the picturesque at all costs.

Richard Papen

#aesthetic #dark academia #art #coffee #spotify #books #academia #Tosh #the secret history #richard papen #Donna tartt #english literature #Fatal flaw #All I've ever wanted #Me through my high school years #college #Vermont #hampden #literary quotes

[bruce-morrow]

Honored to be a Fiction Writer at the 2023 Bread Loaf Writers' Conference

#bruce morrow #brucemorrow #bruce-morrow #animated gif #digital art #animated gifs #the moment that #my art #myart #my writing #fiction #bread loaf #bread loaf writers' conference #vermont #middlebury #Middlebury college #safe from harm

[racingtoaredlight]

GO CATAMOUNTS!!!

FUCK UMASS-LOWELL!

#University of Vermont #College Basketball #America East Conference

[displayheartcode]

🌹

from the boarding school story that sits rotting in my folder -

#folatefangirl #orig #yes the campus is a weird combination of amherst college and university of vermont but as a boarding school

[theivorybilledwoodpecker]

Today, I'm getting replies to months' worth of emails from John Fetterman's office. It's interesting becausd they include a section that lets me see what he wrote.

I had asked him to tell me where I could find a statement of his speaking out against the shooting of Kinnan Abdahlhamid, a Palestinian American Pennsylvania college student who was shot in an Islamophobic attack.

I did not even reference Hamas or Gaza.

He sent back the same response as to my inquiries as to why Israel is bombing Lebanon and Syria and my demands for a ceasefire:

The message is clear: He sees all Palestinians as Hamas. The mere mention of a Palestinian American, his constituent or not, makes him write any message off as directly about Hamas.

#palestine #israel #Islamophobia #kinnan abdalhamid #pennsylvania #Vermont #Haverford college #Muslim #America