Archives of American Art

Paul F. Keene papers

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.keenpaul
Creators:
Keene, Paul F., Jr., 1920-2009
Dates:
circa 1940-1987
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
1 Microfilm reel
Repository:

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
This microfilm collection of the papers of African American painter and educator Paul F. Keene consists of correspondence regarding Keene's application for the Whitney Fellowship, Mr. Whitney's purchase of a painting, and a letter from Humbert Howard regarding an award and exhibition of Keene's painting at the Pyramid Club; diplomas; and painting inventories. Also included is a scrapbook containing portraits of Keene as a student, his time in Paris, and of his exhibitions, as well as a letter from the Whitney regarding an exhibition. Photographs and printed material are also included in the collection. Photographs depict Keene's paintings; family; students at Tyler; Keene and fellow artists in front of Galerie Huit in Paris; Keene's apartment; friends in Paris and Haiti; and Keene teaching at Philadelphia College of Art.

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Paul F. Keene, Jr. (1920-2009) was an African American painter and educator in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A Tuskegee Airman in WWII, Keene used his G.I. Bill to study at Academie Julian in Paris. While in Paris, he was a founding member of Galerie Huit, a collective gallery for American artists. Keene received a John J. Whitney fellowhip and studied and taught in Haiti from 1952-1954. He also exhibited his work while there. Upon his return to the United States, Keene taught at the Philadelphia College of Art, the Tyler School of Art at Temple University, and at Bucks County Community College.

Administration

Existence and Location of Copies
35mm microfilm reel 4234 available at Archives of American Art offices, through interlibrary loan and at the Free Library of Philadelphia.
Existence and Location of Originals
Originals returned to the lender, Paul Keene, after microfilming.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Microfilmed in 1988 as part of AAA's Philadelphia Arts Documentation Project.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access
The Archives of American art does not own the original papers. Use is limited to the microfilm copy.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Art, Modern -- 20th century -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Scrapbooks Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Painters -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
African American artists Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Educators -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
African American educators Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
African American painters Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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