Keen Johnson Papers, 1870-1964 | Eastern Kentucky University - Special Collections and Archives

By Charles Hay, Rebecca Quillen, Eden Lewis, Alisha Rhymer

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Collection Overview

Title: Keen Johnson Papers, 1870-1964

Predominant Dates:1914-1960

Primary Creator: Johnson, Keen (1896-1970)

Extent: 31.68 Cubic Feet

Date Acquired: 03/27/1980. More info below under Accruals.

Subjects: Democratic Party (Ky.), Kentucky--Politics and government--1865-1950., Politics, Practical, Reynolds Metals Company., Richmond Register., World War, 1914-1918., World War, 1939-1945.

Languages: English

Abstract

The Keen Johnson Papers provide information to researchers interested in twentieth century Kentucky newspaper history and its relationship to the often confusing course of state politics.

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Through correspondence, photographs, diaries and appointment books, speeches, newspaper clippings, and other primary source materials, the public career and personal life of Kentucky's forty-second governor and his family is documented. Of particular interest is a portion of the Correspondence Series in which letters exchanged between husband and wife during Johnson's tour of duty overseas in World War I reflect social life and conditions on the homefront and battlefield. Also of interest are the letters to Eunice Johnson during Johnson's tenure as governor illustrating the role of the first lady in influencing political issues. The extensive Photograph Series includes early twentieth century photograph albums of Mrs. Johnson documenting life in Missouri, photographs from the campaign trail, and many from his extensive travels around Kentucky and the United States as Governor of Kentucky. Also, a large number of photographs taken during Johnson's tenure as an executive in the Reynolds Metals Company document various company plants. The Speech Series, consisting of nearly 1,000 speeches from 1925 to the 1960s, reveals Johnson's charming wit and why he achieved national prominence a speaker. The speeches, along with newspaper clippings and research notes gathered by Dr. Frederic D. Ogden, editor of the Public Papers of Governor Keen Johnson, help to document the turbulent and uncertain times Johnson's governorship faced during World War II.

Biographical Note

Keen Johnson, journalist, politician, business executive, was born at Brandon's Chapel in Lyon County, Kentucky, to Robert and Mattie Holloway Johnson on January 12, 1896. Keen was the only son born to the Johnsons along with two daughters--Catherine (Keturah) and Christine. His father, a circuit riding preacher of the Methodist Church, was his earliest teacher and in following his profession took the family throughout western Kentucky. Johnson received his elementary education in the common schools of the region and in 1914 graduated from Vanderbilt Training School, a boy's preparatory institute at Elkton, Kentucky. In the fall and for the next three years, he pursued academic studies at Central College, Fayette, Missouri. While there he married Eunice Lee Nichols, daughter of Robert Lee and Mary (Avery) Nichols of Higbee, Missouri, on June 23, 1917. Mrs. Johnson, through her father, descended from a Barren County, Kentucky, pioneer who moved to Missouri. Her father, a physician, died when she was nine months old. When America entered World War I, Johnson enrolled in the Reserve Officer's training Camp at Fort Riley, Kansas, May 15, 1917. He was appointed second lieutenant, Infantry, Officers Reserve Corps on August 15, 1917, and assigned to active duty with the 354th Infantry, 89th Division at Camp Funston, Kansas. Promoted to first lieutenant, Infantry, National Army, on March 29, 1918, Johnson embarked for France, June 4, 1918. He spent considerable time receiving instruction in logistical communications at the Army School of the Line and Staff College. After the armistice he remained in Europe with the Allied Expeitionary Force until April, 1919, and was honorably discharged, October 31, 1919. Following his discharge Johnson began his career in journalism. He bought The Mirror, a weekly newspaper at Elizabethtown, and operated it for one year. Then he enrolled at the University of Kentucky completing his A.B. degree in Journalism in 1922. While attending the university, he worked part-time as a reporter for the Lexington Herald, receiving tutelage under two of Kentucky's leading journalists, Desha Breckinridge and Tom R. Underwood. Following gradution he bought an interest in The Anderson News at Lawrenceburg and published and edited the newspaper until he moved to Richmond in 1925, where he purchased half interest in the Richmond Daily Register from Shelton M. Saufley, Sr. He served as editor and co-publisher from 1925 until 1939, and continued to write any of the paper's editorials until the late 1960's. One daughter, Judith, was born to the Johnsons on May 19, 1927, in Richmond. Now Mrs. Richard Jaggers, she is the mother of two sons Robert Babbage, Jr. and Keen Johnson Babbage. Johnson launched his political career in 1932 by being elected secretary of the Democratic State Central and Executive Committee. Through contacts made while serving as secretary, numerous columns he wrote in the Daily Register which were reprinted in other Kentucky Democratic daily and weekly newspapers, and his lively speeches, Johnson's importance and strength in the Democratic party grew. In 1935 he ran for lieutenant governor and defeated J. E. Wise and B. F. Wright, contenders in the Democratic primary. On September 7 he defeated Wise in a runoff election, and in the November general election defeated Repubcan candidate, J.J. Kavanaugh. As Lieutenant Governor and President of the Senate in the administration of Governor A. B. "Happy" Chandler, Johnson supported many of Chandler's governmental reorganization plans and became a favorite candidate for the 1939 Democratic gubernatorial ticket. He announced his candidacy for governor on May 17, 1939. A bitterly fought primary campaign against John Y. Brown, Sr., produced a Johnson victory in August 32,000 votes. He opened his gubernatorial campaign on October 7, 1939, in Mt. Sterling. Fate, however, intervened. United States Senator Marvin Mills Logan died on October 3 and on October 9 Governor Chandler resigned. Keen Johnson took the oath as governor and his first official act was to appoint Chandler fill Logan's unexpired Senate term. Johnson was elected for a full term on November 17, defeating Republican King Swope of Lexington by more than 100,000 votes. Inaugurated on December 12, 1939, as Kentucky's forty-second governor, Johnson and his administration strove for modest improvements in the state's social service program, especially increased funding for public health facilities, legislative enactment of the Tennessee Valley Authority Enabling Act, and strong support of President Franklin Roosevelt's wartime domestic policies. Shortages of civilian labor and materials plus Johnson's fiscal conservatism, however, prevented the growth of state capital construction projects. Johnson did erase the state's debt and left a $10 million surplus in the treasury when he left office in December, 1943. On January 1, 1944, Johnson joined the Reynolds Metals Company as a special assistant to President Richard Samuel Reynolds, Sr. advising him on postwar unemloyment problems. In 1945 he became Vice President for Public Relations. Because of his ability to work well with union leaders, President Harry Truman and Senator Alben Barkley prevailed upon him to accept a newly created position undersecretary of labor to secretary, Louis B. Schwellenbach. Johnson took leave of absence from Reynolds in August, 1946 to mid-1947 to work for the government. Due to the illness of Secretary Schwellenbach, Johnson attended severaI presidential cabinet meetings. Returning to Reynolds, he resumed his vice-presidency and in 1950 became a member of the Board of Directors. Johnson maintained an office in Louisville, but spent many days travelling throughout the nation and occasionally overseas promoting the company's aluminum products and organizing Reynolds sales executive meetings. He retired from Reynolds in January, 1961. Johnson was a stalwart in the Democratic party for years, serving as a member of the Democratic National Committee from 1940 to 1948. He engaged in his last political campaign in 1960 when he ran for a seat in the United States Senate. Again he defeated his longtime opponent, John Y. Brown, Sr., in the primary but lost to the Republican incumbent, John Sherman Cooper, in the November general election. Over the years, Johnson served with various professional, fraternal, social, and military organizations. He was president of the Kentucky Press Association and of the Kentucky Social Workers Association. He served as president of the Louisville Advertising Club and the Louisville Safety Council during his active years with Reynolds Metals Company. He was chairman of the Kentucky Disabled Service Men's Board and campaign chairman for the Kentucky Crippled Children's Society. He was a board member of the Kentucky Heart Association, the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, the Louisville International Center, and the Richmond Methodist Church. Johnson belonged to many clubs and organizations including the Civil War Round Table, National Press Club, Metropolitan Club in Washington, D.C., Public Relations Society of America, Pendennis Club, Keeneland Club, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, 40 and 8, Masonic F. and A.M., Rotary, Elks, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Omicron Delta Kappa, Sigma Delta Chi, and Scabbard and Blade. The University of Kentucky awarded Johnson an honorary doctor of laws degree in 1940 and later a Centennial Award. He received a Distinguished Service Plaque from Eastern Kentucky University where he served for eight years a member of the Board of Regents. He was president of the University of Kentucky Alumni Association. He served on the Kentucky Council on Higher Education for many years and for two terms on the Kentucky Board of Education. Keen Johnson died February 7, 1970, in Richmond and is interred in the Richmond Cemetery. * Information for this biographical sketch comes primarily from Frederic D. Ogden (ed.) The Public Papers of Governor Keen Johnson (Lexington: The University Press of Kentucky, 1982), pp. 1-3; obituary The Richmond Daily Register, February 9, 1970, p. 1; and assorted newspaper clippings found in Box 23 of the Correspondence Series. IMPORTANT DATES IN THE LIFE OF KEEN JOHNSON: (1896-1970) 1896 Born at Brandon's Chapel in Lyon County, Kentucky. 1914 Graduated from Vanderbilt Training School, a boy's preparatory school, at Elkton, Kentucky. 1917 Attended Central College, Fayette, Missouri. 1917 Enrolled in Reserve Officers' Training Camp at Ft. Riley, Kansas. Married Eunice Lee Nichols of Higbee, Missouri (June 23) 1917 Appointed second lieutenant in the Army (August 15) 1918 Overseas in France (June 4 - April 28, 1919) 1919 Discharged from the Army (October 31) 1919 Purchased and edited weekly newspaper, The Mirror, in Elizabethtown, KY 1920-1922 Attended University of KY and received A.B. degree in journalism 1922-1925 Editor and publisher on the weekly Anderson News in Lawrenceburg, KY 1925 Editor, co-publisher, co-owner of Richmond Daily Register 1927 Daughter, Judith, born in Richmond (May 10) 1932 Elected Secretary of the Democratic State Central and Executive Committee 1935-1939 Elected Lieutenant Governor 1939 Announced candidacy for Governor May 17) 1939 Defeated John Brown, Sr., in Democratic Gubernatorial primary (August 5) 1939 Became Governor when A. B. "Happy" Chandler became U.S. Senator (Oct 9) 1939 Elected Governor of KY over Republican Swope by over 100,000 votes (Nov 17) 1939-1943 Kentucky's 42nd Governor 1944-1946 Joined Reynolds Metals Company as assistant to President Reynolds, Sr. 1946-1947 Appointed by President Truman as Undersecretary in Department of Labor 1947-1961 Vice President for Public Relations and member of the Board of Directors (1950) for Reynolds Metals Company 1960 Defeated John Brown, Sr., in Democratic primary for U.S. Senator Lost in general election to Republican incumbent, John Sherman Cooper 1970 Died in Richmond. Interred in the Richmond Cemetery (Feb. 7)

Subject/Index Terms

Democratic Party (Ky.)
Kentucky--Politics and government--1865-1950.
Politics, Practical
Reynolds Metals Company.
Richmond Register.
World War, 1914-1918.
World War, 1939-1945.

Administrative Information

Repository: Eastern Kentucky University - Special Collections and Archives

Accruals:

1980-017, 05-22-1980

1981-004, 01-22-1981

1981-006, 01-28-1981

2002-024, 06-08-1981

2011-016, 02-04-2011

Acquisition Source: Johnson, Eunice

Acquisition Method: gift

Finding Aid Revision History: Collection reprocessed in 2020-2021 to provide additional description.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Robert Johnson Papers],
[Series 2: Military Service Documents],
[Series 3: Correspondence Series],
[Series 4: Diary and Appointment Book Series],
[Series 5: Executive Order and Proclamation Series],
[Series 6: Financial Series],
[Series 7: Newspaper Clipping Series],
[Series 8: Photograph Series],
[Series 9: Publication Series],
[Series 10: Speech Series],
[Series 11: Memorabilia and Oversize],
[All]

Series 7: Newspaper Clipping Series

Box 35

UnitID: 31234013023055

Folder 1: Newspaper Clippings, 24 June 1935 - 6 November 1935: Mostly following the lead-up to the Governor's race and primaries, following all candidates. Keen serves as Lt. Governor under Chandler.
Folder 2: Newspaper Clippings, 25 January 1936 - 23 December 1936: Contains articles regarding Keen's service as Lt. Governor, as well as various awards and honors given to him.
Folder 3: Newspaper Clippings, 1937: Following Keen as Lt. Gov. and Chandler as Governor, including honors and awards, as well as speeches and activities.
Folder 4: Newspaper Clippings, January 1938 - June 1938: As Chandler begins his Senate race, many newspapers speculate that Keen will be Kentucky's next governOR
Folder 5: Newspaper Clippings, July 1938 - December 1938: During a short illness, Keen takes over for Chandler as acting Governor Newspapers continue to remain optimistic about Keen's ability to win Governor when he runs.
Folder 6: Newspaper Clippings, January 1939 - June 1939: Keen officially opens his campaign for Governor At the opening, his speech stand falls, causing injuries but no fatalities. Other clippings describe Keen's campaign, speeches, and editorials. One series of editorial, "Diary of a Substitute Governor", seems especially popular, including descriptions of daily activities and cases of public interest, such as opinions on the "Battle of Evarts" in Harlan, KY.
Folder 7: Newspaper Clippings, Jul, 1939: Continued following of the Johnson campaign for Governor Some back and forth between Brown and Johnson in the press, and Keen pushes for support from labor divisions and from women.
Folder 8: Newspaper Clippings, August 1939 - September 1939: Keen gives his closing addresses, and begins to take lead over Brown in the governor race.
Folder 9: Newspaper Clippings, Oct, 1939: After Chandler becomes Senator of Kentucky, Keen takes over in his place and continues to try to gather support for the election in November that would allow him to maintain his position as acting governOR
Folder 10: Newspaper Clippings, ca. 1935 - ca. 1939: Various publications on Keen's actions, editorials, and speeches.
Folder 11: Newspaper Clippings, ca. 1939 - ca. 1943: Various publications on Keen's actions, editorials, and speeches.

Box 36

UnitID: 31234013023063

Folder 1: Newspaper Clippings, Nov, 1939: Follows the election up until Keen's victory, and then captures as he outlines his platform and resigns from his position as editor of the Richmond Register.
Folder 2: Newspaper Clippings, Dec, 1939: Highlights many inaugural activities held for the new governor, as well as highlighting some of Keen's opinions on taxes and finances.
Folder 3: Newspaper Clippings, January 1940 - February 1940: Highlights early legislation and ideas, mostly involved with lowering spending and taxes in Kentucky while meeting to address education and environmental concerns.
Folder 4: Newspaper Clippings, Mar, 1940: Topics: labor bills, education reform, liquor laws, building dedications, State Fair Act, and farm bills.
Folder 5: Newspaper Clippings, April 1940 - June 1940: Topics: highway and industrial plans, hospital improvements, Capitol maintenance, University of Kentucky president appointment, economic goals for KY, pleas for pardons in the case of Harlan Labor Strikes and "Battle of Evarts", and bridge dedications.
Folder 6: Newspaper Clippings, July 1940 - September 1940: Topics: increased state funding, plans to remain frugal, women movements, democratic women groups, housing improvements, highway improvements, Keen's moves to speak at various events
Folder 7: Newspaper Clippings, October 1940 - November 1940: The media reflects on Keen's first full year as governOR

Box 37

UnitID: 31234013023071

Folder 1: Newspaper Clippings, Dec, 1940: Topics: Naming of new commissioner of welfare, debates between Kentucky and Indiana regarding ownership of the Green River Island, KY Mining Institute meeting, Keen making statements on frugality with the goal of decreasing debt, more hospital improvements, pay being denied to Eastern KY miners, and Christmas pardons sought for Battle of Evarts men.
Folder 2: Newspaper Clippings, ca. 1941 - February 1941: Topics: Keen urging support for Roosevelt and for Britain, continued concerns about Eastern Kentucky coal strikes, conversation about state income tax law repeals, continued hospital improvements and appointments, and the FDR Inauguration.
Folder 3: Newspaper Clippings, March 1941 - April 1941: Topics: Passing of State Chief Ruby Laffoon, road/highway development, Eastern State Hospital developments, speeches and events, new appointed president at University of Kentucky, challenges to raise teacher pay, and continued violence in Harlan county mines, involved with union/labor issues, forcing Keen Johnson and FDR to intervene. Mine operators are urged to meet to compromise with union demands in order to urge miners to return to work and to stop violence.
Folder 4: Newspaper Clippings, May, 1941: Topics: Notes of holiday proclamations, street dedications, highway development, Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival, mine disputes in Harlan and Bell counties. Prominent is the dispute between Keen Johnson and Attorney General Hubert Meredith, who accused Keen of pay violations. Further disputes between the two cause rift between them.
Folder 5: Newspaper Clippings, June 1941 - July 1941: Topics: Keen pushes for education aid, more Harlan county mine disputes at Benham mines, continued aid to highways and streets in cities, continued hospital improvements, State Purchasing Division Investigation, defense jobs, and airport dedication.
Folder 6: Newspaper Clippings, August 1941 - September 1941: Topics: Pay for the elderly, more violence in Harlan county mines, pushes for national unity, employment growth, continued State Purchasing Division Investigation, State Fair info, mental hospital issues discussed, and further hospital improvements.
Folder 7: Newspaper Clippings, Oct, 1941: Topics: tobacco investigations, issues with bondholder rules, continued challenges between Johnson and Meredith, continued Purchasing Division Investigation, Education reform and adjustments, push for the use of license plates.
Folder 8: Newspaper Clippings, Nov, 1941: Topics: Social security and unemployment, state institution funding, school funding, purchases of bonds, state growth, State Purchasing Division Investigation continued, budgeting for further hospital improvements
Folder 9: Newspaper Clippings, Dec, 1941: Topics: Defense capacity reports, funding for the Cumberland Gap National Park, production of war materials, and tire rationing due to rubber shortage.

Box 38

UnitID: 31234013023089

Folder 1: Newspaper Clippings, Jan, 1942: Topics: Kentucky Sesquicentennial Celebration plans, warnings of tax increases due to the war, and defense measure reinforcement.
Folder 2: Newspaper Clippings, Feb, 1942: Topics: Passage of bill that would enable T.V.A. measures, fund collection attempts from states, salvage "victory drive" for materials, more State Purchasing Division Investigation, 5,000 salary limit challenged.
Folder 3: Newspaper Clippings, Mar, 1942: Topics: Salary limit repealed, beer vote passed and then vetoed, debt decreased to the point that KY nears zero debt, vehicle registration laws, hospital remodeling is stopped due to war, Meredith offers to put aside differences to work with Johnson. Johnson accepts Meredith's offer but insults him in the process, and Meredith feels as though his offer for unity was not accepted.
Folder 4: Newspaper Clippings, April 1942 - May 1942: Topics: Johnson pushes for further voter registration, urges the curbing of prostitution use in order to lessen disease, state park dedications, and continued hostility between Keen and Meredith.
Folder 5: Newspaper Clippings, June 1942 - August 1942: Topics: Meredith suit stops hospital developments, Keen speaks at the opening of several schools, Keen condemns the strike at the War Plant, and continued back and forth between Johnson and Meredith.
Folder 6: Newspaper Clippings, September 1942 - October 1942: Topics: Government pushes for unity within the state, focus on agriculture in the U.S., another successful scrap drive for materials in KY.
Folder 7: Newspaper Clippings, November 1942 - December 1942: Topics: Military honored and memorialized (Pearl Harbor, Armistice Day, Military grad speeches), farm labor requirements, continued conflict between Johnson and Meredith.
Folder 8: Newspaper Clippings, January 1943 - February 1943: Topics: Food rationing as well as other conservation efforts (coffee, scrap, soil, etc.), new hospital renovations, continued issues with Meredith
Folder 9: Newspaper Clippings, March 1943 - April 1943: Topics: Raises to employees of state institutions, funding for schools and education, continued conservation of food and other items, continued back and forth with Keen and Meredith.

Box 39

UnitID: 31234013023097

Folder 1: Newspaper Clippings, May, 1943: Topics: Democratic Editor Meeting, printed text of Churchill's address to Congress, published doubts by Meredith on Johnson's plans for aid to elderly.
Folder 2: Newspaper Clippings, June 1943 - July 1943: Topics: Pension bonuses, Harlan voting scandal which led to the resignation of state employees, added education funds. Meredith changed mind, now supports old age fund distribution.
Folder 3: Newspaper Clippings, August 1943 - December 1943: Topics: Johnson's support of Democratic candidate for Governor, J. Lyter Donaldson, continued hospital improvements, Home-Front Battle promises, urging of the purchase of more War Bonds, Democratic State Loss, and reflections on Keen's time as governOR
Folder 4: Newspaper Clippings, 1944 -1947: Topics: Editorial regarding the brutality of the concentration camps in Germany, variety of clippings about Keen's work at the Reynolds Metal Company, Chandler senate resignation, Keen states that he won't run for senate to take Chandler's place, Kentucky Newspaper Executives Annual Conference, Keen named Undersecretary of Labor to work in Washington, after a year as Undersecretary of Labor Keen returns to Reynolds Metal Company.
Folder 5: Newspaper Clippings, 1948 - 1951: Topics: Keen talks business sense, Reynolds Metal Company gets safety award, other awards given to Keen, tax considerations, and notes on Keen speaking at various events.
Folder 6: Newspaper Clippings, 1952 - 1959: Topics: Keen in talks to run for senate seat for 1960 race.
Folder 7: Newspaper Clippings, January 1960 - September 1960: Topics: Democratic leaders support for Keen during upcoming senate race, Keen puts his official bid for nomination, Smith Broadbent to lead campaign, Chandler supports other Democratic candidate, John Brown. Keen wins primary nomination, extended coverage of campaign and rallies.
Folder 8: Newspaper Clippings, October 1960 - November 1960: Topic: Extended clippings of Keen's campaign again John Cooper, Republican Senate Nominee, to which he eventually loses.
Folder 9: Newspaper Clippings, 1962-1979: Topic: Keen Johnson's death, February of 1970, in addition to topics related to him after his passing such as health, education, and highway development.
Folder 10: Newspaper Clippings, ca. 1960: Various clippings from 1960, mostly involving the senate race.
Folder 11: Newspaper Clippings, ca. 1944 - ca. 1965: Various clippings mostly related to speeches and appearances at events made by Keen and his family during his time as Governor and after.