Glenveagh Mystery: The Life, Work and Disappearance of Arthur Kingsley Porter
By Lucy Costigan
Irish Academy Press, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-908928-11-5
Arthur Kingsley Porter (1883-1933?) was an American multi-millionaire, an eminent Harvard Professor of fine arts, an international traveller and researcher of medieval architecture, an award-winning author, and owner of Glenveagh Castle, Co. Donegal, Ireland. While spending a night at the fisherman’s hut that he built on Inishbofin Island, off Co. Donegal, Porter disappeared without trace, on July 8th 1933? The subsequent inquest was the first to be held in Ireland without a body. Sightings of the professor continued to be reported from locations all over the world for many years after his disappearance.
Many theories were proposed as to the fate of Kingsley Porter. Recent remarkable facts reveal the inner turmoil that Kingsley and his wife, Lucy, grappled with before his disappearance and carried with them to their graves.
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It was while visiting Glenveagh Castle, some seven decades later, that Thomas Williams discovered the Professor’s incredible story and along with author, Lucy Costigan, and photographer, Michael Cullen, began on an amazing journey to unearth the full truth of Kingsley Porter’s disappearance.
Excerpt: In November 1928 the Porters continued their journey to Africa. Kingsley’s responsibilities lay many thousands of miles west, in Harvard. No matter how glamorous his home may have seemed, or how prestigious his Harvard position appeared, to the romantic adventurer it was still mediocre and he could only take so much mediocrity. For Kingsley, rela living was crossing oceans, traversing continents, delving into exotic cultures and wallowing in the allure of great, sweeping landscapes. There had already been several times when Kingsley had fled the mundane. In times of crisis this need was even greater, such as when Louis was ill and his nerves were shattered after years of family litigation. The 19-year old Kingsley had conjured up a world tour to revive his brother’s ailing health. When his own plans to develop a Faculty of Art History had been rejected, he accepted the French government’s offer of relocating to France during the final, perilous months of a world war. His yearly flights from Harvard were his latest attempts to flee the constraints imposed by a conformist institution at the heart of an ultra-conservative society.
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At the age of 45, Kingsley Porter possessed every asset that most mortals can only dream of. Within his chosen field of Romanesque architecture his ingenious theories, his original research methods and his brilliant publications were highly respected. Besides the mammoth books he had authored, he had also written countless articles that had been printed in leading periodicals and collective works in Europe and the US. He was a lecturer who was truly loved by his students, celebrated by his peers and championed by one of the most influential universities in the world. Financially, Kingsley Porter possessed a fortune; romantically, he was adored by his intelligent, charming wife. Together with Lucy he travelled the world for months at a time, seeking out landscapes of exquisite natural beauty; visiting monuments, cathedrals and castles of rich significance; meeting artists, writers and politicians: all doors were fully opened to satisfy his every desire.
Despite all of these worldly advantages, Kingsley Porter was growing more restless and despondent. At the very height of his success, Kingsley began to experience serious bouts of depression. An inner secret that had remained bottled up and hidden his whole life was about to erupt and shatter his private world forever.
By Lucy Costigan
Irish Academy Press, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-908928-11-5
Arthur Kingsley Porter (1883-1933?) was an American multi-millionaire, an eminent Harvard Professor of fine arts, an international traveller and researcher of medieval architecture, an award-winning author, and owner of Glenveagh Castle, Co. Donegal, Ireland. While spending a night at the fisherman’s hut that he built on Inishbofin Island, off Co. Donegal, Porter disappeared without trace, on July 8th 1933? The subsequent inquest was the first to be held in Ireland without a body. Sightings of the professor continued to be reported from locations all over the world for many years after his disappearance.
Many theories were proposed as to the fate of Kingsley Porter. Recent remarkable facts reveal the inner turmoil that Kingsley and his wife, Lucy, grappled with before his disappearance and carried with them to their graves.
It was while visiting Glenveagh Castle, some seven decades later, that Thomas Williams discovered the Professor’s incredible story and along with author, Lucy Costigan, and photographer, Michael Cullen, began on an amazing journey to unearth the full truth of Kingsley Porter’s disappearance.
Excerpt: In November 1928 the Porters continued their journey to Africa. Kingsley’s responsibilities lay many thousands of miles west, in Harvard. No matter how glamorous his home may have seemed, or how prestigious his Harvard position appeared, to the romantic adventurer it was still mediocre and he could only take so much mediocrity. For Kingsley, rela living was crossing oceans, traversing continents, delving into exotic cultures and wallowing in the allure of great, sweeping landscapes. There had already been several times when Kingsley had fled the mundane. In times of crisis this need was even greater, such as when Louis was ill and his nerves were shattered after years of family litigation. The 19-year old Kingsley had conjured up a world tour to revive his brother’s ailing health. When his own plans to develop a Faculty of Art History had been rejected, he accepted the French government’s offer of relocating to France during the final, perilous months of a world war. His yearly flights from Harvard were his latest attempts to flee the constraints imposed by a conformist institution at the heart of an ultra-conservative society.
At the age of 45, Kingsley Porter possessed every asset that most mortals can only dream of. Within his chosen field of Romanesque architecture his ingenious theories, his original research methods and his brilliant publications were highly respected. Besides the mammoth books he had authored, he had also written countless articles that had been printed in leading periodicals and collective works in Europe and the US. He was a lecturer who was truly loved by his students, celebrated by his peers and championed by one of the most influential universities in the world. Financially, Kingsley Porter possessed a fortune; romantically, he was adored by his intelligent, charming wife. Together with Lucy he travelled the world for months at a time, seeking out landscapes of exquisite natural beauty; visiting monuments, cathedrals and castles of rich significance; meeting artists, writers and politicians: all doors were fully opened to satisfy his every desire.
Despite all of these worldly advantages, Kingsley Porter was growing more restless and despondent. At the very height of his success, Kingsley began to experience serious bouts of depression. An inner secret that had remained bottled up and hidden his whole life was about to erupt and shatter his private world forever.
Click here to visit the book’s website
Click here to read ‘Finding Harvard’s Missing Legacy’ from the Harvard Crimson
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