Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/1546676
P a t e r f a m i l i a s D o n a l d Barthelme once reigned f r o m a r e n o w n e d professorial perch at the University of Houston, as did his father before him. Donald Sr., Katharine's g r a n d f a t h e r, w a s a n acclaimed modernist architect known for redefining public-school design at the mid- century; he was also designer of Dallas Fair Park's landmarked Deco icon, the 1936 Texas Hall of State. Donald Jr. co-founded the university's creative-writing program, along with its pendant Gulf Coast literary journal following a legendary stint penning short stories for The New Yorker. He met his fourth wife, Marion Knox Barthelme, in Manhattan and was smitten on the spot. Marion Barthelme's own literary chops included The New Yorker features and Talk of the Town pieces, and her byline appeared in Time magazine as correspondent. Marion was also a Menil Collection trustee, while Donald helmed the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston as an early director (1961-1962). He enjoyed close friendships with the day's leading artists and critics including Elaine de Kooning; her 1965 portrait of Barthelme hangs in a museum in France. With such DNA, Katharine Barthelme Frank's life is enfolded within Houston art and literary circles, with long-standing service on the Inprint and Gulf Coast boards, as well as UH Board of Visitors; she is past co-chair of Holocaust Museum Houston Art Circle and