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John Cofield's Oxford & Ole Miss: Faulkner Comes Home From The Hospital
In April, 1956, while Faulkner was convalescing at home after being hospitalized in Memphis for complications from a fall from his horse and a bleeding ulcer, Cofield decided to photograph Rowan Oak:
“I wanted to get a shot of the house with the rays of the early sun peeping through those ancient cedars. I drove over to Bill’s place at daybreak, got my view camera set up, ducked under the black hood and focused on the house. Before I took the exposure I could feel someone behind me! Bill had sneaked out of the house and made a wide circle and come up behind me (he was supposed to be sick in bed!), grinning at being able to do it without making a sound. I just shook my head. Bill said, ‘Mawnin, Cofield.'”
John Cofield is a HottyToddy.com writer and one of Oxford’s leading folk historians. He is the son of renowned university photographer, Jack Cofield. His grandfather, J.R. “Colonel” Cofield, was William Faulkner’s personal photographer and for decades was the Ole Miss yearbook photographer. Cofield attended Ole Miss as well.
Stay tuned for more information on Cofield’s forthcoming book: Oxford, Mississippi ~ The Cofield Collection — a pictorial history book with John’s writing on the history to go along with the photos.
Contact John at Johnbcofield@gmail.com.