Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
John Franklin Koenig papers, 1930-2011
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Koenig, John Franklin, 1924-2008
- Title
- John Franklin Koenig papers
- Dates
- 1930-2011 (inclusive)19302011
- Quantity
- 25.74 cubic feet (45 boxes, 2 audio cassettes, and 1 vertical file)
- Collection Number
- 2734
- Summary
- Correspondence, artwork, exhibit materials, invitations, writings, and other papers of John Franklin Koenig, an artist based in Paris, France and Seattle, Washington
- Repository
-
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu - Access Restrictions
-
Open to all users.
Some records are stored off site; advance notice required for use.
- Languages
- English, French
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
John Franklin Koenig was born on October 24, 1924, in Seattle, Washington. He attended Lincoln High School and began college at the University of Washington, but left in 1943 to serve in World War II in the 11th Armored Division, 22nd Battalion in France. Following the war, Koenig returned to Seattle and re-enrolled at the University of Washington in 1948, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Romance Languages with a minor in Art. While in Seattle, he became familiar with the Northwest School of Art, particularly the work of Morris Graves and Mark Tobey. He returned to France in 1948 to study French literature and remained there for the majority of his life, though he returned to live in Seattle in 2004.
While in France, Koenig studied at La Sorbonne in Paris. In 1952, he co-founded the international art magazine Cimaise with Jean-Robert Arnaud, with whom he had worked at Arnaud's bookstore. Koenig and Arnaud also opened the Galerie Arnaud, where Koenig held his first solo art exhibition in 1952. Koenig's work has since been featured in hundreds of exhibits throughout Europe, North America, Africa, and Asia. In 1985, Koenig was named Officier de l'Ordre des Arts and Lettres by the French Ministry of Culture, an award rarely given to a person who is not of French origin. He also won the Gold Medal of the City of Paris that same year.
John Franklin Koenig died in 2008.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Oral history recording and transcript, correspondence, clippings, exhibition materials, artwork, notebooks, publicity and reviews, and other papers of artist John Franklin Koenig.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
Restrictions may exist on copying, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
Organized into 4 accessions.
- Accession No. 2734-001, John Franklin Koenig papers, 1971
- Accession No. 2734-002, John Franklin Koenig papers, 1900s-2011
- Accession No. 2734-003, John Franklin Koenig papers, 1947-2003
- Accession No. 2734-004, John Franklin Koenig papers, 1942-2008
Preservation Note
Some records are stored off site; advance notice required for use.
Separated Materials
Material Described Separately:John Franklin Koenig embellished book bindings (Collection 6082)
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Accession No. 2734-001: John Franklin Koenig papers, 1971Return to Top
Scope and Content: Tape recorded interview conducted by Lucy and Blair Kirk on 22 April 1971; transcript; exhibit catalogues.
This conversation serves as a career chronology and covers philosophical and aesthetic views of the artist.
Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.
Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.
Acquisition Info: Donated by Lucy and Blair Kirk, April 22, 1971.
Accession No. 2734-002: John Franklin Koenig papers, 1900s-2011 (bulk 1950s-1970s)Return to Top
- Exhibition Catalogs and Articles
- Invitations
- Original Artworks on Paper
- Exhibition Posters
- Engraving Plates
- Linoleum Cuts
- Biographical Materials
- Interviews and Recordings
- Subject files on other artists
- File on Deryl Walls v. Quickfish Media
- Cimaise
Scope and Content: Correspondence, clippings, DVDs, exhibition catalogs, drawings, essays, notes on projects, photographic materials, prints, posters, and other materials.
Physical/Technical Access: Records stored off site; advance notice required for use.
Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.
Records stored off site; advance notice required for use.
Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights retained. Contact Special Collections for details
Acquisition Info: Donated by Claire A. and John C. Koenig, June 30, 2011.
Processing Info: Processing completed by Sarah Caldwell and Deborah Hamilton in 2011.
Processing Info:
- A film reel, a roll of PNW Artist posters, and photograph of William Merchant Pease by Mary Randlett were separated and routed to the Visual Materials curator.
- 2 cartons of collage covered books and artists' books made by Koenig were separated and routed to the Book Arts curator.
- 36 architecture magazines were separated and routed to UW Libraries gifts program
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Exhibition Catalogs and Articles
General Notes: A paper index to the "C" series of exhibition catalogs and
articles can be found in Special Collections.
|
|||
Box | Accession | ||
1 | 2734-002 | C101-C125 |
1958-1990 |
2 | 2734-002 | C126-C157 |
1956-1998 |
3 | 2734-002 | C158-C186 |
1952-1985 |
4 | 2734-002 | C187-C204 |
1952-2005 |
5 | 2734-002 | C205-C218 |
1954-2007 |
6 | 2734-002 | C219-C227 |
1958-2007 |
7 | 2734-002 | C228-C245 |
1952-1992 |
8 | 2734-002 | C246-C268 |
1954-2008 |
9 | 2734-002 | C269-C277 |
1955-2008 |
10 | 2734-002 | C278-C298 |
1955-1981 |
11 | 2734-002 | C299-C311 |
1953-2009 |
12 | 2734-002 | C312-C315 |
1956-1990 |
13 | 2734-002 | C316-C318 |
1967-1993 |
14 | 2734-002 | C319-C320 |
1955-1975 |
15 | 2734-002 | C320-C321 |
1975-1979 |
16 | 2734-002 | C322-C329 |
1957-1992 |
box:oversize | |||
17 | 2734-002 | C330-C341 |
1953-2007 |
Box | |||
18 | 2734-002 | C342-C368 |
1956-2008 |
19 | 2734-002 | C369-C428 |
1952-2008 |
20 | 2734-002 | C429-C536 |
1956-2008 |
21 | 2734-002 | C537-C675 |
1963-1976 |
box:oversize | |||
22 | 2734-002 | C676-C820 |
1952-2010 |
Box | |||
23 | 2734-002 | C821-C1096 |
1952-2008 |
24 | 2734-002 | C1097-C1187 |
1949-2011 |
Invitations
General Notes: A paper index to the "I" series of invitations can be found in
Special Collections.
|
|||
Box | Accession | ||
25 | 2734-002 | I101-I270 |
|
26 | 2734-002 | I271-I449 |
|
27 | 2734-002 | I450-I615 |
|
Original Artworks on Paper |
|||
Box | Accession | ||
28 | 2734-002 | Untitled ; 6- ½ inches by 5-1/8 inches
|
1989 |
28 | 2734-002 |
VI ; 6- ½ inches by 5-1/8 inches
|
1989 |
28 | 2734-002 | Untitled ; 11-1/8 inches by 6-3/4 inches
|
1990; 2002 |
28 | 2734-002 | Untitled Collages 4 collages ; 10 inches by 13 inches
|
1953-1955 |
box:oversize | |||
31 | 2734-002 |
Kyot IV ; 17-3/4 inches by 13-3/4 inches
|
1989 |
31 | 2734-002 |
Tantrit ; 20-7/8 inches by 17-7/8inches
|
1978 |
31 | 2734-002 | Untitled ; 18-1/16 inches by 18-1/16 inches
|
1959 |
31 | 2734-002 |
Alll ; 8-1/2 inches by 8-1/2 inches
|
1962 |
31 | 2734-002 |
Dai I ; 19-1/8 inches by 19-1/8 inches
|
1962-1963 |
31 | 2734-002 | Untitled
General Notes: This piece is similar to the one in C322,
Quinta Viennale d'Arte
Sacra--see pages 78-79 in
Museum of Modern Art Dunkerque
(France) 1992. Folding panels attached with ribbon.
|
undated |
Box | Accession | ||
28-29, 32 | 2734-002 | Prints
General Notes: A paper index for the prints can be found in Special
Collections.
|
|
29-30, 32 | 2734-002 | Exhibition Posters |
|
28 | 2734-002 | Engraving Plates |
|
box:oversize | |||
29 | 2734-002 | Linoleum Cuts |
|
Box | |||
33 | 2734-002 | Biographical Materials |
circa 1900s-1942 |
33 | 2734-002 | Interviews and Recordings
General Notes: Includes the following:
|
1969-2008 |
34 | 2734-002 | Subject files on other artists |
1956-2000 |
34 | 2734-002 | File on
Deryl Walls v. Quickfish Media
|
1998 |
35 | 2734-002 |
Cimaise
General Notes: Includes the following:
|
1953-2008 |
Accession No. 2734-003: John Franklin Koenig papers, 1947-2003Return to Top
Scope and Content: Address books, notebooks, notes and lists of artwork, slides, photographs, sketchbooks, invitations, CDs and DVDs of electronic documents, and other materials.
Physical/Technical Access: Records stored off site; advance notice required for use.
Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.
Records stored off site; advance notice required for use.
Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights retained. Contact Special Collections for details
Acquisition Info: Donated by Claire A. and John C. Koenig, August 05, 2011.
Processing Info: Processing completed by Sarah Caldwell in 2011.
3 boxes of postcards returned to donor.
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box/Folder | Accession | ||
1 | 2734-003 | Address books and notebooks |
undated |
2/1 | 2734-003 | Artwork (DVD) - images
General Notes: Corresponds with art inventory
|
undated |
2/2-6 | 2734-003 | Artwork - notes and lists |
undated |
2/7-15 | 2734-003 | Artwork files |
1947-1961 |
3 | 2734-003 | Artwork files |
1962-1980 |
4/1-5 | 2734-003 | Artwork files |
1981-2003 |
4/6-10 | 2734-003 | Artwork files-unsorted |
undated |
4/11 | 2734-003 | Sketchbook |
undated |
4/12 | 2734-003 | Sketchbook |
1977 |
4/13 | 2734-003 | Invitations - unsorted |
1954-1960 |
5/1 | 2734-003 | Documents (CDs) - covering 1914 to 1961 |
undated |
5/2-8 | 2734-003 | Documents |
1948-1961 |
Accession No. 2734-004: John Franklin Koenig papers, 1942-2011Return to Top
Scope and Content: Correspondence; clippings; notes and sketches; biographical materials; artwork and exhibition planning materials, publicity, and reviews; and writings primarily related to John Franklin Koenig's career as an artist. Some personal papers are also included, especially personal correspondence and other documents from Koenig's service during World War II. Some of the papers, especially correspondence, are in French.
Physical/Technical Access: Records stored off site; advance notice required for use.
Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.
Records stored off site; advance notice required for use.
Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights retained. Contact Special Collections for details.
Acquisition Info: Claire A. and John C. Koenig, 2011-09-27 and 2012-05-25
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Box | Accession | ||
1 | 2734-004 | Biographical data |
1949-1988 |
1 | 2734-004 | Passports and IDs |
1940s-2000s |
1 | 2734-004 | Documents |
1942-1977 |
2 | 2734-004 | Documents |
1978-1999 |
3 | 2734-004 | Documents |
1999-2007, undated |
3 | 2734-004 | Essays |
undated |
3 | 2734-004 | Invitations |
1968-2011 |
3 | 2734-004 | Galeries D'Art |
1982 |
4 | 2734-004 | Lecture notes and slide show |
1985 |
4 | 2734-004 | Smithsonian Cummings interview |
1976 |
4 | 2734-004 | Miscellaneous |
undated |
4 | 2734-004 | KCTS |
1999-2003 |
4 | 2734-004 | Koenig's lecture notes on dance |
undated |
4 | 2734-004 | "La Danse Contemporaine" working documents |
circa 1980 |
4 | 2734-004 | Cloud Orchard |
undated |
4 | 2734-004 | "John Franklin Koenig: Northwest Master, Home and Away"
exhibit at the Whatcom Museum |
2008 |
4 | 2734-004 | Documents |
2008-2010 |
4 | 2734-004 | Galerie Treize 13 |
1980s |
4 | 2734-004 | Additional Seattle State Exhibition
documents |
undated |
4 | 2734-004 | Miscellaneous documents |
undated |
4 | 2734-004 | War Years documents |
May 1943-February 1946 |
5 | 2734-004 | War Years documents |
May 1945-February 1946 |
5 | 2734-004 | Thoughts and drawings by Koenig |
undated |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Art--Washington (State)--Seattle
- Art--Washington (State)--Seattle--Exhibitions
- Artists--Washington (State)--Seattle
- Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)
Personal Names
- Koenig, John Franklin, 1924-2008--Archives
- Koenig, John Franklin, 1924-2008--Interviews