During the early 20th century in Paris, authors like Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald — plus artists including Pablo Picasso — convened for creative conversation at the home of writer and LGBTQ+ icon Gertrude Stein. If it weren’t for her salons, it’s possible these literary greats would never have put their best ideas to paper.
But before she became the organizer of these visionary rendezvous, Stein had her heels in Pittsburgh. There’s a plaque outside 850 Beech Avenue where she was born in 1874. Her family left what was, at the time, Allegheny City just six months later — but Pittsburgh still claims her.
The birthplace of Gertrude Stein in Allegheny West. (Francesca Dabecco / City Cast Pittsburgh)
This Feb. 3, her 150th birthday, the City of Pittsburgh will proclaim it “Gertrude Stein Day” at City Books on Galveston Avenue, just steps away from her birthplace.
Local author of “Such Friends: The Literary 1920s,” Kathleen Dixon Donnelly will be there to lead a discussion of Stein’s international legacy. If, like me, you haven’t read much of Stein’s work, I asked Donnelly what to dive into first.
“The one to start and end with is the “Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas,” Donnelly says. “It's a romp. It's the one that really made her famous.”
Alice B. Toklas was Gertrude Stein’s partner. They met the day after Toklas arrived in Paris in 1907 and were together from then on. The book is written by Stein, but in Toklas’ voice.
“And it's a nice picture of that time, too,” Donnelly says.
The book captures glimpses of Nazi-occupied France, and you can’t overlook Stein’s political opinions at the time. History shows she supported Philippe Pétain, head of state of the pro-Nazi collaborationist Vichy regime — which is a bit of a head scratcher, considering that Stein and Toklas both were queer, Jewish women.
This speaks to the importance of telling someone’s whole story, strengths and flaws alike. Even the MET didn’t get her right back in 2012.
If you want to learn more about Stein, join City Books and Hugh Lane Wellness for activities from 12 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 3.
