Guide to the Friedolin Edward Kessler Papers MSS.2018.01.12
Lauren DeCelle
SJSU Special Collections & Archives
2018
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library
San José State University
One Washington Square
San José, CA 95192-0028
special.collections@sjsu.edu
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
SJSU Special Collections & Archives
Title: Friedolin Edward Kessler Papers
Identifier/Call Number: MSS-2018-01-12
Physical Description:
3 boxes
(2.42 linear ft.)
Date (inclusive): 1927-1996
Abstract: The materials in this collection relate to the life and art career of Friedolin Edward Kessler. The materials consist of personal
papers, photographic reproductions of his art, and a few original art pieces.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research.
Preferred Citation
Friedolin Edward Kessler Papers, MSS-2018-01-12, San José State University Library Special Collections & Archives.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Lauren DeCelle and David Fournier.
Biographical History
The artist, Friedolin Kessler (1913-1995), was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on July 12, 1913, and was the only son of Czech
and German parents. At age sixteen, he enrolled in art school at Washington University in St. Louis. After he graduated, he
joined the Missouri Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). Then in 1936, he was relocated to California with his camp, where
they settled in the New Almaden Quicksilver County Park. As the resident artist, the CCC hired him to document life in the
work camp. His specialty was linoleum cuts, though he also created paintings, wood art, and mosaics. In 1938, he took a bicycle
trip to photograph and then sketch every California Mission, later producing linoleum cuts of each mission. Those prints were
exhibited around California, including at the Golden Gate International Exposition at Treasure Island and the Palace of the
Legion of Honor in San Francisco.
Kessler spent most of his life in San Jose and became a well-known local artist. In 1938 with his wife Carol, he co-founded
the San Jose Art League and taught art at San Jose State College, Stanford, and in the San Jose Adult Education System. The
combined artwork of the Kesslers spans 70 years. The Kesslers were avid hikers and back-packed up Mt. Whitney with friends
Allen and Cindy Perry. In the Kesslers' later years, the Perrys helped care for Carol and Friedolin as they continued to produce
artwork. Friedolin died of cancer in 1995 at the age of 82. They had no children.
Publications Rights
Copyright has not been assigned to the San José State University Library Special Collections & Archives. All requests for
permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of Special Collections. Permission
for publication is given on behalf of the SJSU Special Collections & Archives as the owner of the physical items and is not
intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader. Copyright restrictions
also apply to digital reproductions of the original materials. Use of digital files is restricted to research and educational
purposes.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged in two Series: I. Art and II. Personal Papers.
Scope and Contents
Materials in this collection are related to the life and art career of Friedolin Edward Kessler. Series I. Art consists mainly
of photographic reproductions of Kessler's work through the decades. Also present are some original linoleum block prints,
sketches, and some paintings. His early work mainly consisted of linoleum prints and paintings, while his later work was primarily
in wood artwork and mosaics. Series II. Personal Papers consist of correspondence, awards, photographs, newsprints, San Jose
Art League papers, and various work-related financial papers. Additionally, materials in this series include his sporadic
architectural work, photos of his numerous hiking trips, and life work recollections.
Related Materials
Friedolin Edward Kessler Art Collection, MSS 2012-09-28
Related Materials
Civilian Conservation Corps Collection, MSS 2010-07-29
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Art, American -- California -- 20th century
Missions, Spanish -- California -- Photographs
San Jose Art League
Linocuts
San José State University. Library. Special Collections & Archives
Series I. Art
1936-1989
Arrangement
This series is organized by decade
Scope and Contents
This series consists mainly of photographic reproductions of Kessler's work through the decades. Also present are some original
linoleum block prints, sketches, and some paintings. His early work was primarily linoleum prints and paintings, whereas his
later work comprised of mainly woodwork and mosaics.
Box 1, Folder 2
Printouts of various Paintings
Box 1, Folder 3
Linoleum Prints of San Jose
Box 1
Linoleum Prints of California Missions on Tissue
Box 1
Linoleum Prints of California Missions on Cards
Box 1
10x12 3/4 Linoleum Prints of California Missions
Box 1
Exhibit Linoleum Prints of California Missions
Box 1
Wooden Binder for Linoleum Prints
Box 1
Prints and Negatives of Various Paintings
Box 1, Folder 10
Detention Home Mosaics, 1959
Box 1
Precipitation: Santa Clara Valley Water District Mosaic
Box 1
First National Bank Tile Wall Mural
Box 1
Orchard Supply Hardware Store Signs
Box 1
Weaver Gas Co. Store and Truck Design
Box 1
Slides of Architecture Work
Box 1
Slides of Paintings, Sketches, and Woodwork
Box 1, Folder 19
Grocery Store 3D Wall Art
Box 1, Folder 20
Lynbrook High School Murals, 1978
Box 1, Folder 22
Pruneyard Mural: Bank of the West, 1974
Box 1, Folder 23
San Jose Water Company Office Mural
Box 1, Folder 29
Contracted Work - Mosaics
Box 1, Folder 30
Slides of Paintings and Wires
Box 1, Folder 32
Textiles, Carol Kessler's?
Box 1, Folder 33
Pruneyard Mural: Bank of the West 1989 Earthquake Damage and Repair
Box 1, Folder 34
Three Boys of New Almaden and Other Stories of California Cover Art and Layout, 1988
Series II. Personal Papers
1927-1996
Arrangement
This series contains 10 subseries that are arranged alphabetically by title.
Scope and Contents
This series consists of correspondence, awards, photographs, newsprints, San Jose Art League papers, and various work-related
financial papers. Additional materials in this series include his sporadic architectural work, photos of his numerous hiking
trips, and life work recollections.
Subseries 1. Architectural Work
1981-1990
Box 3, Folder 1
Cabinet Plans for Richard and Doris Davis, 1981
Box 3, Folder 2
House Designs, Rivera 1987
Box 3, Folder 3
Bank of the West Pruneyard Mural Restoration Project, 1990
Subseries 2. Correspondence
1935-1992
Box 3, Folder 4
Archie T. Goulden Letter to Sister, 1937
Box 3, Folder 5
Various Correspondence, circa 1938
Box 3, Folder 6
Miscellaneous Correspondence, 1935-1992
Box 3, Folder 7
Grain Mill Oil Painting Purchase Correspondence, 1944-1945 & 1987-1989
Box 3, Folder 8
Bank of the West Pruneyard Mural Correspondence, 1973, 1974, & 1990
Box 3, Folder 9
Birthday Card for Carol Kessler, undated
Subseries 3. Exhibits and Awards
1941-1988
Box 3, Folder 10
San Francisco Art Association Exhibition, 1941
Box 3, Folder 11
Springfield Art Exhibit, 1941
Box 3, Folder 12
County Fair and Museum Ribbons, 1941-1953
Box 3, Folder 13
Mission Print Title Cards, circa 1942
Box 3, Folder 14
Portrait of America Exhibit, 1945
Box 3, Folder 15
Wood Mosaics Exhibit, circa 1970
Box 3, Folder 16
Richmond Art Center Exhibition, 1971
Box 3, Folder 17
San Jose Art League Awards, 1988
Subseries 4. Financial and Legal Papers
1938-1992
Box 3, Folder 18
Concealed Firearm License, 1938
Box 3, Folder 19
Miscellaneous Financial Papers, 1939-1989
Box 3, Folder 20
Art Prices and Sales Paperwork, 1940s, 1989, & 1995
Box 3, Folder 21
Tax Information & Auto Registration, 1945, 1951, 1954, & 1960
Box 3, Folder 23
Letter to General Insurance Agency, 1962
Box 3, Folder 24
Job Cost Envelopes, 1974-1990
Box 3, Folder 25
Kessler House Remodeling Paperwork, 1986-1992
Subseries 5. Newspapers and Clippings
1927-1992
Box 3, Folder 26
Newspaper Articles of Kessler, 1927 & 1937
Box 3, Folder 27
Newspaper Clippings of Kessler's Mission Prints, January - March 1942
Box 3, Folder 28
Grain Mill Newspaper Article, 1944
Box 3, Folder 29
San Jose Art League Newspaper Clippings, 1948-1953
Box 3, Folder 30
Clippings and Pamphlets of California Missions, 1968-1970, & 1992
Box 3, Folder 31
The Bulletin 1983 Article about Kessler's Woodwork
Box 3, Folder 32
San Jose Historical Museum Association News CCC Article, September 1992
Subseries 6. Pamphlets and Handouts
1941-1992
Box 3, Folder 33
Santa Clara County Fair Art Exhibition, 1941
Box 3, Folder 34
First Capitol Building Handout, 1949
Box 3, Folder 35
International Design Conference Papers, June 21-28, 1953 Aspen, Colorado
Box 3, Folder 36
Bank of the West Pruneyard Mural Pamphlet and Preview Invitation, 1974
Box 3, Folder 37
New Almaden Quicksilver County Park Field Trip Guide, 1984
Box 3, Folder 38
New Almaden Quicksilver County Park Association Handout, 1985
Box 3, Folder 39
New Almaden Quicksilver County Park Brochure, 1987
Box 3, Folder 40
CCC Dedication Pamphlet New Almaden County Park, 1992
Subseries 7. Personal Collections
Subseries 8. Photos
1930-1996
Box 2, Folder 1
Photos of Friedolin Kessler, 1930s-1990s
Box 2, Folder 2
Miscellaneous Photos, 1930s-1980s
Box 2, Folder 3
Photos of 1938 California Mission Bike Trip
Box 2, Folder 4
Negatives of 1938 California Mission Bike Trip
Box 2, Folder 5
Carol Kessler Photos and Negatives, 1950s-1960s
Box 2, Folder 6
Construction of Highway 101 Interchange, 1960
Box 2, Folder 7
Wood Cross Sections, circa 1965
Box 2, Folder 8
Landscapes and Sceneries, 1970s-1990s
Box 2, Folder 9
Photos of Friedolin and Carol Kessler with Friends, 1980s-1990s
Box 2, Folder 10
Pearl White Walls, circa 1980
Box 2, Folder 11
Golden Gate Bridge and Strait Photos, circa 1985
Box 2, Folder 12
Whitney Trip Photographs, circa 1985
Box 2, Folder 13
New Almaden Quicksilver County Park Photos, circa 1987
Box 2, Folder 14
Mission Photos: 1990s Trip with Julie Erickson
Box 2, Folder 15
CCC Monument at New Almaden County Park Photos, 1992
Box 2, Folder 16
Friedolin Kessler's Bike, March 1996
Box 2, Folder 17
Friedolin Kessler Memorial Tree, 1996
Subseries 9. Recollections and Writings
1932-1995
Box 3, Folder 44
Book Reviews by Kessler, 1932-1937 (1 of 2)
Box 3, Folder 45
Book Reviews by Kessler, 1932-1937 (2 of 2)
Box 3, Folder 46
Laborer Portrait Notes, circa 1935
Box 3, Folder 47
CHeck List for 1938 Bike Trip
Box 3, Folder 48
Notes on Camera Film Usage, circa 1938
Box 3, Folder 49
CCC Recollections, approx 1986
Box 3, Folder 50
Me and The Bicycle Drafts, circa 1989
Box 3, Folder 51
BicycleTrip Diary Notes, 1989 &1990
Box 3, Folder 52
1938 Bicycle Trip Audio Tapes
Box 3, Folder 53
Frank Harper's Cross Country BIke Trips, 1977-1995
Box 3, Folder 54
Reccollections of Driving Length of Baja Peninsula, circa 1980s
Box 3, Folder 55
Reflections of Life and Chemotherapy, circa 1990
Box 3, Folder 56
Medical Journal, circa 1991
Box 3, Folder 57
Miscellaneous Hand Written Notes, Undated
Box 3, Folder 58
Professional Letterheads, Envelopes, and Cards
Subseries 10. San Jose Art League
1938-1988
Box 3, Folder 59
San Jose Art League Constitution and Members
Box 3, Folder 60
San Jose Art League Meeting Minutes and Reports
Box 3, Folder 61
San Jose Art League History
Box 3, Folder 62
San Jose Art League Exhibit Invitations, 1946-1949
Box 3, Folder 63
San Jose Art League Correspondence, 1952-1987
Box 3, Folder 64
San Jose Art Center, 1960-1988
Box 3, Folder 65
San Jose Art League Recollection Audio Recordings, March 27, 1980 & February 1, 1988
Box 3, Folder 66
San Jose Art League 50th Anniversary, 1988
Box 3, Folder 67
San Jose Art Associations
