Audrey Mae SpencerSpencer Historical CemeteryHenry Straight / William Spencer Family Cemetery
Vaughn Historical CemeterySpencers of East Greenwich, RI
Conversations
10 July 2002

Heather: What are you reading?

Audrey: I love Emily Dickinson’s poems  “…a route of effervescence on a revolving wheel” is a humming bird never stopping… I didn’t have anyone to discuss this (poetry) with. I always explained everything I liked to Edna Tarbox and I thought afterward, “Was she bored to tears?”.

10 July 2002

Heather: How did it happen that you decided to go to the R.I. School of Design?

Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI


Audrey: Maisie Kenyon said to me “Let’s go to the School of Design. They have free scholarships.” She was a beautiful girl; she was nice to me. She flunked after the first session! She married Art Harpen and that put her out of my category; the minute she married Harpen, she was out of my class. She didn’t want me to visit her.

10 July 2002

Heather: How did that make you feel?

ddm

Audrey: It didn’t bother me a bit.


10 July 2002

Heather: Was it difficult leaving R.I.S.D. after attending for three years?

Heather Dale MacDonald

 

 

Audrey: I enjoyed having Spen so much…

When you were born, I argued with the Doctor, I said “no no”, it can’t be a girl born on the 9th! All the males in my family were born on the 9th. Dad’s the 9th; Spencer’s the 9th; Douglas’ the 9th!



10 July 2002

Heather: Sorry about that, Mother. (Laughter)

Crystal Gay MacDonald

 

 

Audrey: Oh, but I loved all my babies! … Crystal couldn’t wait to get up and get into mischief…

10 July 2002

Heather: Did you miss anything in life?

Audrey: I always felt so bad I never had a black friend.

10 July 2002

Heather: Tell me more about your grandfather, John Johnson Spencer.

Pvt. John Johnson Spencer, Co. H, 1 Reg’t R.I. Cavalry

Audrey: John Johnson Spencer, my grandfather, died in our house in Coventry. He was sick all his life because of his treatment when he was a prisoner of war. I was 12 years old when my father sold the farm and we moved to the Coventry house. My grandmother, Anna Maria died much earlier than John Johnson Spencer. Aunt Mandy died in 1927, I think.

10 July 2002

Heather: How are you doing these days?

Audrey: It feels good sleeping and resting. I like lying down and sleeping. I sit up and look out the front window because the neighbor across the street is having a room built on his house. Also, a neighbor, Michael J., walks by daily because he has to walk 5 miles a day because of his health. Crystal calls him my boyfriend, because he always waves to me.

17 July 2002

Heather: How are you this morning?

Audrey: I’m tired all the time. I have no pain. I’m slow but I get tired easily! (Audrey Mae is now ninety years old.)

17 July 2002

Heather: What are you reading these days?

Audrey: I love Emily Dickinson’s work. Some of her poems are so beautiful, so easy (to read). I love her work. Her life is very interesting—a little odd, two or three steps from crazy.  (Laughter)