​1903 August 9: Dusti Bongé (Eunice Lyle Swetman) is born in Biloxi, Mississippi.
 
1919 Dusti attends Blue Mountain College. She completes her studies there in two years.
 
1922 Dusti moves to Chicago to attend the Lyceum Arts Conservatory (later Bush Conservatory) to study drama. She joins the traveling lyceum system. She meets Archie Bongé, a cowboy and artist, from Nebraska. She acquires the nickname “Dusty”.
 
1924 Dusti moves to New York to continue her acting career. Archie Bongé is already in New York, and they date. She continues acting on stage, with the lyceum, and at Astoria Studios (Queens NY)
 
1928 Dusti marries Archie in Biloxi. Artist Walter Anderson is best man at their wedding. acting in early “Talkies.”
 
1929 Dusti is offered a part in a play. She declines the offer, as she is pregnant. On November 5, Lyle Bongé is born at her parents’ house in Biloxi. The young family continues to live in New York.
 
1934 Dusti, Archie and Lyle move to Biloxi. Dusti shows serious interest in painting and abstract art. She spends more time in the studio with Archie, who inspires her to paint but discourages her from attending art school.
 
1936 Archie dies of a nervous system disorder (from ALS, or an experimental vaccine). Dusti never marries again. Dusti begins painting full-time at age 33. To support herself and Lyle, she works for shrimp companies collecting rent from the factory workers’ camps.
 
1939 Dusti’s work is included in her first New York show at the Contemporary Arts Gallery, 57th Street.

 

1945 Dusti’s work is included in a show at the Mortimer Brandt Gallery where she meets Betty Parsons.
 
1946 The Betty Parsons Gallery in New York opens. The gallery represents many AbEx painters, including Dusti.
 
1952 Dusti makes her first of many trips to Mexico. This first trip is to visit Lyle who is studying in Mexico City.

 

1954 Dusti makes a trip to Mexico with Betty Parsons and photographer Jack Robinson.
 
1956 First solo show in Betty Parsons Gallery.
1958 Solo show in Betty Parsons Gallery.
1960 Solo show in Betty Parsons Gallery.
1962 Solo show in Betty Parsons Gallery.

1964 Dusti travels the world on a freighter, the Wonoratu.

1975 Last solo exhibition in Betty Parsons Gallery.

 

1982 Dusti writes and publishes her book The Life of an Artist.
 
1991 Dusti paints her last watercolor.
 
1993 Dusti passes away at her home in Biloxi.​