WAUKoenigJohnFranklinPH2017_043.xml Guide to the John Franklin Koenig Photographs circa 1940-2008 Koenig (John Franklin) Photographs Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries © 2017 (Last modified: 5/8/2018)
Seattle, WA 98195
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections PH2017-043 Koenig, John Franklin, 1924-2008 John Franklin Koenig photographs circa 1940-2008 5 boxes of photographs, negatives, and slides Collection materials are in English. Photographs, negatives, and slides related to the life and career of John Franklin Koenig, an artist based in Paris, France and Seattle, Washington

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 Arnuad, 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.

Photographs, negatives, and slides related to the life and career of John Franklin Koenig. Includes photographs of his childhood in Seattle, his service during World War II, his international travels, his artwork, and his family and friends.

No restrictions on access.

Request at UW

Copyrights retained by creator. Contact University of Washington Libraries Special Collections for details.

Donor: Claire A. and John C. Koenig, September 27, 2011 and Ma

y 25, 2015.

 Material Described Separately:

John Franklin Koenig papers (Collection 2734)

John Franklin Koenig embellished book bindings (Collection 6082)

Koenig, John Franklin, 1924-2008--Archives Koenig, John Franklin, 1924-2008--Photographs Koenig, John Franklin, 1924-2008--Family--Photographs Koenig, John Franklin, 1924-2008--Friends and associates--Photographs Koenig, John Franklin, 1924-2008--Travel--Photographs Seattle (Wash.)--Photographs Japan--Photographs France--Photographs Soldiers--United States--Photographs World War, 1939-1945--Photographs Photographs Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington) Fine Arts Photographs International

 

1 Photographs of John Franklin Koenig 1940s-1950s 1 Portraits taken by John Franklin Koenig 1970s-1990s 1 Japan 1960s 1 Photographs of John Franklin Koenig 1960s-1980s 2 Maucouvert th. u l'occident 1968 2 Pour le mercredi 1967 2 Paul Taylor Theatre des Nations 1967 2 Bejart undated 2 Nikolais undated 2 Harkness undated 2 Photographs of dance not taken by Koenig circa 1960s 2 Exhibitions 1950s-2000s 2 Photographs of John Franklin Koenig 1990-2008 2 Photographs of Paris and Koenig's residences 1960s-1990s 2 France 1950s-1990s 2 Washington 1960s-1990s 3 Washington 1960s-2000s 3 Photographs of artwork by Northwest artists circa 1960s 3 Friends of John Franklin Koenig 1970s-2000s 3 Europe 1950s-1990s 3 United States and Mexico 1960s-1970s 3 Miscellaneous Europe photographs (unidentified locations) 1940s-1960s 3 Miscellaneous travel 1960s-1980s 3-4 UW Japan 1960s-1980s 4 Koenig's French residences 1960s-1990s 4 Asia 1960s-1980s 5 Exhibition booklet circa 1970s 5 Osaka Expo 1970 5 Hirofumi photographs and publications 1960s-1970s 5 Artwork photographs 1970s 5 Miscellaneous art images 1980s 5 Photograph by Koenig of New York City and Paris artist Beauford Delaney undated 5 Inde-Burma photographs 1977 5 Exhibitions 2000s 5 World War II photographs 1940s 5 Artwork negatives Undated