John Franklin Koenig papers

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)

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)

John Franklin Koenig photographs (PH2017-043)

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Accession No. 2734-001: John Franklin Koenig papers, 1971Return to Top

2 sound cassettes (3 sides, 80 minutes) plus 1 transcript (26 pages)

Arrangement: Arranged as received.

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

17.35 cubic feet (35 boxes)

Arrangement: Arranged into 11 series:

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.

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: Interview with John F. Koenig. KRAB- Seattle, WA. April 16, 1970. 1 CD with transcript. Letters between J. F. Koenig and Michel Ragon. Read by J. F. Koenig. 1969. 1 CD. Portrait d'Artiste. RTL Service Television Luxembourg. Interview with Mme. Thorn. 1976. 1 DVD. 14 minutes. Interview with John F. Koenig. Fuji Television Gallery. June 19, 1972. 1 DVD Interview with John F. Koenig. WNTV Bravo. December 2, 1993. 1 DVD. 7 minutes The Letter: John Franklin Koenig Northwest Master, Home and Away by: Galen Garwood. 2008. 1 DVD. Interview with John F. Koenig and Serge Guilbaut. For B.Bomb Book and Exhibition at Evergreen Adult Family Home, Seattle, WA. June 7, 2006. 1 DVD.	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: Vol. 1, No. 1. November 1953 Vol. 1, No. 2. December 1953 Vol. 1, No. 3. January 1954 Vol. 1, No. 4. February-March 1954 Vol. 1, No. 5. April 1954 Vol. 1, No. 6. May 1954 Vol. 1, No. 7. June 1954 Vol. 1, No. 8. July-August 1954 Vol. 2, No. 1. September-October 1954 Vol. 2, No. 2. November-December 1954 Vol. 2, No. 3. January-February 1955 Vol. 2, No. 4. March 1955 Vol. 2, No. 5. April 1955 Vol. 2, No. 6. May 1955 Vol. 2, No. 7. June 1955 Vol. 2, No. 8. July 1955 Vol. 3, No. 1. October-November 1955 Vol. 3, No. 2. December 1955 Vol. 3, No. 4. March 1956 Vol. 3, No. 6. May 1956 Vol. 3, No. 7-8. June-August 1956 Vol. 4, No. 1. September-October 1956 Vol. 4, No. 2. November-December 1956 Vol. 4, No. 3. January-February 1957 Vol. 4, No. 4. March-April 1957 Vol. 4, No. 5. May-June 1957 Vol. 4, No. 6. July-August 1957 Vol. 5, No. 1. September-October 1957 Vol. 5, No. 3. January-February 1958 Vol. 5, No. 4. March-April 1958 Vol. 5, No. 5. May-June 1958 Vol. 6, No. 2. December 1958 Vol. 6, No. 4. March-April 1959 Vol. 54, No. 287. September-November 2007 Vol. 55, No. 288. December 2007-February 2008 Les sommaires du no.1 au no. 152. 1953-1981 Couvertures et sommaire des no. 1 a 102. 1953-1971	1953-2008

Accession No. 2734-003: John Franklin Koenig papers, 1947-2003Return to Top

4.16 cubic feet (5 boxes)

Arrangement: Arranged alphabetically by subject.

Scope and Content: Address books, notebooks, notes and lists of artwork, slides, photographs, sketchbooks, invitations, CDs and DVDs of electronic documents, and other materials.

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

4.23 cubic feet (5 boxes including 9 CDs)

Arrangement: Papers are arranged chronologically.

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.

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

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