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 11: Memorabilia and Oversize

The Memorabilia Series consists of various awards and certificates, cartoons, sketches and election posters, scrapbooks, oversized photographs, some publications, and a large assortment of miscellaneous items and artifacts.

Box 73

Barcode: 31234013923568

Folder 1

Item 1: Certificate of Merit: Congressional Selective Service Medal issued to Keen Johnson for administration of the Selective Training and Service Act.
Item 2: The Columbus Society Sunday Dispatch, 1943: First Ladies of the United States, Eunice Johnson is the Kentucky First Lady.

Folder 2: The Legislative Digest, 1940-1942

Folder 3: Plaque, "To Have to Hold", 1941

Physical Description: 15" x 19"

Folder 4: World War I Military Documents, 1918

Organization charts, blueprints, maps.

Folder 5: World War I Military Documents, 1918

Blueprints, maps.

Folder 6: Map Problems from the 3rd and 4th Courses, ca. 1918

Box 74

Barcode: 31234013923576

Folder 1: Oversized Photographs and Printed Items

Item 1: Whirlaway: Physical Description: 16" x 12"
Item 2: Large Dinner Meeting
Item 3: Kentucky state Reformatory Staff, 1940: Physical Description: 13" x 19"
Item 4: Keen Johnson with Kentucky State Police: Physical Description: 11" x 14"
Item 5: Prentice Cooper, Governor of Tennessee: Autographed; Physical Description: 11" x 14"
Item 6: Portrait of Keen Johnson: Physical Description: 11" x 14"
Item 7: Reynolds Metal Company - Dinner meeting, 1950s: Physical Description: 10 1/2" x 14"
Item 8: Reynolds Group Photographs: 2 images.; Physical Description: 11" x 12"; 10 1/2" x 14"
Item 9: Richard Samuel Reynolds, Jr.: Physical Description: 11" x 12"
Item 10: David Reynolds: Physical Description: 11" x 12"

Folder 2: Prints, Scores, Ephemera

Item 1: Caribbean Travel Brochure, Jan., 1953: Physical Description: 7" x 11"
Item 2: Farewell Dinner Menu, Jan., 1953: Physical Description: 7" x 11"
Item 3: Jamaican Hand-embroidered Handkerchief: Physical Description: 5 3/4" x 7"
Item 4: Ye Cakes and Ale Club, The Governors of Kentucky, 1792-1942, 1942: Kentucky Sesquicentennial Souvenir; Physical Description: 2" x 16"
Item 5: Down Kentucky Way: Original musical score by Ruth Norris (Mrs. Charles Curtice Hawkins), dedicated to Keen Johnson; Physical Description: 4" x 9"
Item 6: Color Print, Reproducta, Inc., 1941: Physical Description: 8 1/2" x 11"
Item 7: Musical score, "Let's Send Harry Back to the Farm", 1942: Physical Description: 8 1/2" x 11"
Item 8: Print of Mount Vernon (House), 1937: Physical Description: 12" x 14"

Folder 3: Awards and Certificates

Item 1: Selective Service Medal Award: From U.S. Congress to Charles Biswell.
Item 2: American National Red Cross certificate to Mrs. Keen Johnson, ca. 1942: Physical Description: 8 1/2" x 11"
Item 3: American Red Cross, Louisville Chapter, Certificate of Merit, 1954: Physical Description: 8 1/2" x 11"
Item 4: Appointment to Board of Regents of Eastern State College, 6-Jun-42: Physical Description: 11" x 17"
Item 5: Appointment as Honorary Chairman, Defense Savings Committee for State of KY, 13-Jan-42: Physical Description: 9" x 12"
Item 6: Appointment to president's Committee for Department of Labor Fiftieth Anniversary Year, 3-Dec-62: Physical Description: 1/2" x 16 1/4"
Item 7: Certificate of recognition honoring Christine Johnson for loyal service to Senate of the United States, 5-Apr-51: Physical Description: 8 1/2" x 11"
Item 8: Commission as delegate to Constitution Revision Assembly, Feb. 17, 1964: Physical Description: 11" x 17"
Item 9: Kentucky Civil War Round Table Honorary Member Commission, 17-Mar-69: Physical Description: 10" x 15"
Item 10: Kentucky Colonel Commission, 12-Mar-60: Accompanied by a letter from Wilson Wyatt.; Physical Description: 10" x 15"
Item 11: Kentucky Department of Agriculture Award, 29-Oct-62: Physical Description: 9" x 13"
Item 12: Kentucky Welfare Association, Inc. Award, 3-Nov-66: Physical Description: 6" x 9"
Item 13: Lousiville Junior Chamber of Commerce Certificate of Recognition, Jan. 21, 1960: Physical Description: 8" x 10"
Item 14: N.A.A. Colonels membership certificate, Jun. 1, 1941: Accompanied by explanatory letter dated January 10, 1945.; Physical Description: 11" x 16 3/4"
Item 15: Marriage Certificate, Charles Biswell and Mary Eunice Nichols, 27-May-36: Physical Description: 8 1/4" x 14"
Item 16: National Geographic Society Membership Certificate for Mrs. Keen Johnson, 8-Jun-43: Physical Description: 8 1/4" x 10 1/2"
Item 17: National Observer Charter Subscriber Certificate, 4-Feb-62: Physical Description: 8 1/2" x 11"
Item 18: Noble Order of Persuaders Certificate of Membership, 29-May-53: Physical Description: 11" x 13 1/2"
Item 19: Governor's Award of Merit, 26-Apr-66: Physical Description: 12" x 16"
Item 20: Loyality by Elbert Hubbard: Presented to Keen Johnson by Industrial Marketers of Detroit; Physical Description: 14" x 18"
Item 21: Pan American World Airways certificate, 15-Jan-56: Declaring Johnson a "subject of the Realm of the Sun and of the Heavens"; Physical Description: 10" x 12 1/4"
Item 22: Presidential Inauguration Invitation, 20-Jan-65: Physical Description: 8 1/2" x 11"
Item 23: Reappointment to Board of Regents of Eastern State Teachers College, 24-May-54: Physical Description: 11" x 17"
Item 24: University of Kentucky Centennial Citation, 5-Feb-65: Physical Description: 9" x 12"
Item 25: University of Kentucky Alumni Centennial Award, 22-Feb-65: Physical Description: 8 1/2" x 11"
Item 26: Warranty Deed from the Heart of Texas Land Company, 15-Nov-53: Physical Description: 11" x 14"
Item 27: Widow of the Month Club Membership Certificate, 11-Oct-57: Physical Description: 10' x 12 l/4"
Item 28: Woman's Missionary Council of the Methodist Episcopal Church: Baby Division, Life Membership Certificate for Judith Johnson.; Physical Description: 8 1/2" x 11"
Item 29: Young Democratic Clubs of Kentucky Award of Merit, 15-Oct-47: Physical Description: 8 1/2" x 11"
Item 30: Invitation to Girdler Farm Dove Shoat, 19-Sep-42: Physical Description: 16 1/2" x 19 1/2"
Item 31: Expression of Appreciation, 1943: For Keen Johnson from the University of Kentucky Board of Regents, signed by each board member.

Folder 4: Newspapers

Item 1: Albert Benjamin Chandler, Governor of Kentucky, 10-Dec-35: Published in The State Journal.

Folder 5: Cartoons, Sketches, and Posters

Item 1: Caricature of Keen Johnson: Manila Chronicle.; Creator: Gat; Physical Description: 15 3/8" x 10 1/2"
Item 2: Election poster, Kentucky Democratic Candidates, 7-Nov-39: Kentucky Needs Them.; Physical Description: 14 1/4" x 22 1/2"
Item 3: Election poster, National and State Democratic Candidates, 8-Nov-60: These Democrats Care, They Care About You! Help Build a New Frontier.; Physical Description: 14" x 22"
Item 4: Election poster, "President Truman and Vice President Barkley Ran Like Citation", ca. 1942: Physical Description: 11 1/2" x 19"
Item 5: Etching, "Bluebills": Creator: Fritz Bade; Physical Description: 8 3/4" x 11"
Item 6: Etching, "The River Front", 1940: Creator: C. Winston Haberer; Physical Description: 9 1/2" x 12"
Item 7: Ink Drawing of Keen Johnson, 14-Nov-52: Guest Speaker - Advertising Club of the Columbus Chamber of Commerce by Valicka.; Physical Description: 8" x 10"
Item 8: Ink Drawing of New Orleans: Creator: John M. Grath; Physical Description: 9 1/2" x 12"
Item 9: Ink Drawing, "My Old Kentucky Home": Creator: C. Winston Haberer; Physical Description: 8" x 10 1/2"
Item 10: Etching, "On the Kentucky Blue Grass": Creator: C. Winston Haberer; Physical Description: 9 1/2" x 12"
Item 11: Political cartoon, "Keen Johnson, Platform", ca.1939: Creator: J.M. Wortham; Physical Description: 7" x 9 3/4"
Item 12: Political cartoon, "We Appeal to the Democratic Voters of Kentucky", 1939: Physical Description: 8 3/8" x 13"
Item 13: Poster of Keen Johnson, Dec, 1958: In Appreciation for Outstanding Contribution to the Growth and Prosperity of South Texas, Corpus Christi Sales Executive Club.; Physical Description: 14" x 19".
Item 14: Sketch of Keen Johnson, 1938: Creator: C. C. Coffey; Physical Description: 8" x 9 1/2"

Folder 6: Wally: His Cartoons of the A.E.F., 1919

Publication of The Stars and Stripes.

Box 75

Barcode: 31234013923626

Folder 1

Item 1: Wooden Nickel, from the Princeton, Kentucky Tobacco Festival, September 2-6, 1937: Physical Description: 2 1/4" x 4"
Item 2: Wooden plaque, "From the Last Boone Sycamore, Fort Boonesborough, KY": Physical Description: 2 1/4" x 3 1/2"
Item 3: 2 rubber stamps, "Keen Johnson," and "Keen."
Item 4: Pocket screwdriver and bottle opener, "V.F.W. Welfare Fund."
Item 5: Coins: 4 Missouri sales tax receipts, 8 foreign.
Item 6: Paperweight: Made from T58-T6 Aluminum Alloy from the Wing Root Skin of the Boeing B-47 Stratojet.; Physical Description: 2 3/8" x 3"
Item 7: Commemorative medallion, George Washington's 200th birthday, 1932: Physical Description: 3"
Item 8: Commemorative medallion, Assistant Secretary of the Treasurey, Lawrence Wood Robert, Jr., 1933-1936: Physical Description: 3"
Item 9: Wooden plaque with picture of Franklin D. Roosevelt: Physical Description: 2 3/4" x 3 3/8"

Folder 2

Item 1: Wooden Gavel: Physical Description: 10 1/2"
Item 2: Pencil, Broom, "Souvenir of Sarasota, FL": Physical Description: 8"
Item 3: 3 Ink Pens: Metal feather-shaped pen from George Rogers Clark Memorial, Vincennes, Indiana, 8 1/2"; Cincinnati Reds baseball bat pen, 5 1/2"; Louisville Slugger baseball bat pen, 6"
Item 4: 3 Letter Openers
Item 5: Minature Kentucky State Flag
Item 6: 3 Straight Razors

Folder 3

Item 1: Kentucky State Flag: Physical Description: 3 ft. x 5 ft.
Item 2: Rebel Yell Straight Bourbon Whiskey: Labeled "Especially for Gov. Keen Johnson," empty.

Box 76

Barcode: 31234013923634

Folder 1: Buttons and Ribbons

Item 1: 2 Lexington Signal Depot, Special, 29-May-42: Physical Description: 2"
Item 2: I Want Roosevelt Again: Physical Description: 3/4"
Item 3: Barkley, Roosevelt, Truman: Physical Description: 7/8"
Item 4: Lifebuoy League of Health Guards: Physical Description: 3/4"
Item 5: Penny's Back-to-School Days with Popeye: Physical Description: 1"
Item 6: Pirate Club, My Weekly Reader: Physical Description: 1"
Item 7: V Pin: Physical Description: 7/8"
Item 8: I Want Barkley Senator: Physical Description: 7/8"
Item 9: Young Democrats for Barkley: Physical Description: 5/8"
Item 10: Stand by for the 1934 Chevrolet: Physical Description: 3/4"
Item 11: University of Kentucky Alumni Association: 5 buttons.; Physical Description: 1 1/2"
Item 12: Shirley Temple - gold pin: Physical Description: 5/8"
Item 13: Onward, Kentucky: 2 buttons.; Physical Description: 1"
Item 14: Mickey Mouse Globe Trotters Member, I Eat N.B.C. Bread: Physical Description: 1 1/4"
Item 15: Patriotic - National - "100%-American, The Flag I Love": Physical Description: 1 1/4"
Item 16: Shirley Temple, The World's Darling: 3 buttons.; Physical Description: 1 1/4"
Item 17: Happy, Keen: 4 buttons.; Physical Description: 1"
Item 18: Kentucky Wants Chandler: Physical Description: 1"
Item 19: Kentucky Wants Chandler: Physical Description: 1 1/4"
Item 20: Our Next Governor, Albert B. Chandler: Physical Description: 7/8"
Item 21: Democratic State Convention Delegate, Louisville, Kentucky, Jul. 2, 1940: Physical Description: 1 3/4"
Item 22: Red Cross: 3 buttons.; Physical Description: 5/8"
Item 23: Red Cross - "I Serve": Physical Description: 5/8"
Item 24: Red Cross, 1920: Physical Description: 5/8"
Item 25: Red Cross, 1936: Physical Description: 5/8"
Item 26: Young Democratic Clubs of America, August 21-23, 1941: 5th Biennial Convention, Louisville, Kentucky.
Item 27: Glasgow Bar Association, Jul. 11, 1937: Physical Description: 1 1/2"
Item 28: Eastern Stadium Fund: Physical Description: 5/8"
Item 29: Delco, Save-a-Battery Service Twice-a-Month: Physical Description: 1 1/2"
Item 30: F.D.E.A., 1936: Physical Description: 3/4"
Item 31: Women's Field Army, Fight Cancer with Knowledge: Physical Description: 5/8"
Item 32: Kentucky Colonels: 2 buttons.; Physical Description: 1/2"
Item 33: K.E.A. Centennial, 1838-1938, April 13-16, 1938: Physical Description: 3/4"
Item 34: International Flags, "Irish Free State": Physical Description: 3/4"
Item 35: International Flags, "Malay States": Physical Description: 3/4"
Item 36: International Flags, "Malay States Federated": Physical Description: 3/4"
Item 37: International Flags, "Netherlands": Physical Description: 3/4"
Item 38: International Flags, "Spain": Physical Description: 3/4"
Item 39: Radio Orphan Annie SS Decoder Pin, 1937
Item 40: Westinghouse, Official Guest: Physical Description: 3 1/2"
Item 41: Kentucky Press Association, Annual Summer Meeting, June 11-13, 1936: Danville, Kentucky, 2 buttons.; Physical Description: 4"

Folder 2: Conference Name Badges

Item 1: Kentucky State Council, Jr. O. U. A. M., Annual Convention, August 23-25, 1937: Somerset, Kentucky; Physical Description: 4 1/2"
Item 2: Democratic National Convention, 1940: Chicago, Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms.; Physical Description: 5"
Item 3: American Legion, 17th Annual Convention, Jul., 1935: Lexington, Ky.; Physical Description: 3 1/2"
Item 4: Kentucky Press Association, Jan. 16-18, 1936: Annual Winter Meeting, , Brown Hotel, Louisville, Kentucky.; Physical Description: 4"
Item 5: Kentucky Press Association, 1938: Annual Winter Meeting.; Physical Description: 4"
Item 6: Kentucky Central Life and Accident Insurance Co., Sep. 26-27, 1941: 39th Anniversary Convention.; Physical Description: 4"
Item 7: American Legion, Jul. 20-23, 1941: 22nd Annual Convention, Lexington, KY, 2 name badges.; Physical Description: 4 1/4"
Item 8: Democratic National Convention, 1944: Chicago, National Committee Chairman.; Physical Description: 5"
Item 9: Democratic National Convention, 1944: Chicago, Official, 2 name badges.; Physical Description: 4 3/4"
Item 10: American Legion, Jul. 17, 1938: Grand Promenade, Mammoth Cave, KY.; Physical Description: 4 1/2"
Item 11: Democratic State Convention Delegate, Jun. 9, 1936: Louisville, Kentucky; Physical Description: 3 1/2"

Folder 3: Pins, Buttons and Conference Name Badges

Item 1: University of Kentucky Football - "Kentucky": 3 buttons; Physical Description: 1 3/4" and 1 1/4"
Item 2: American Medical Association, 1912: Association of State Secretaries and Editors, Atlantic City.; Physical Description: 1"
Item 3: Kentucky State Medical Association, 1941-1943: Louisville, 1941; Murray, 1942; Louisville, 1943.; Physical Description: 1 3/4"
Item 4: S.M.A.
Item 5: "To Hell with Hitler": Physical Description: 1 1/4"
Item 6: "Kentucky," with a Horse Head: Physical Description: 1 1/2"
Item 7: "Seal of the State of Kentucky": Physical Description: 1 1/4"
Item 8: American Flags: Physical Description: 1 1/4"
Item 9: American Medical Association, Minneapolis, 1913: Physical Description: 1"
Item 10: American Medical Association, Chicago, 1924: Physical Description: 1"
Item 11: American Medical Association, Philadelphia, 1931: Physical Description: 1 1/4"
Item 12: "Switch to Dodge and Save Money": Physical Description: 2 1/2"
Item 13: National Editorial Association, May 10-17, 1934: 49th Annual Convention
Item 14: American Bar Association, 1878: Physical Description: 1/2"
Item 15: Better Housing Program: 5 buttons.; Physical Description: 1"
Item 16: Business Builder: Physical Description: 7/8"
Item 17: Community Chest, Worker: Physical Description: 1 3/8"
Item 18: Community Chest, Volunteer Worker: Physical Description: 3/4"
Item 19: A.C.L.A., 1938: Physical Description: 1 1/2"
Item 20: "New Pontiac, Chief of Values": Physical Description: 3/4"
Item 21: American Medical Association, New York, 1917: Physical Description: 1"
Item 22: American Medical Association, Dallas, 1926: Physical Description: 1"
Item 23: "Our President": Physical Description: 1 1/8"
Item 24: A.F. of L., October 1938, Truck Drivers: Physical Description: 1 1/4"
Item 25: American Legion, Welcome American Legion: Physical Description: 1 1/4"
Item 26: Audubon Society: Physical Description: 7/8"
Item 27: Daniel Boone Bicentennial, 1734-1934, 1934: Physical Description: 7/8"
Item 28: Community Chest, I Gave, 1937: Physical Description: 5/8"
Item 29: Community Chest, Louisville, I Care: Physical Description: 5/8"

Folder 4

Item 1: Minature Louisville Slugger, baseball bat, engraved "Gov. Keen Johnson": Physical Description: 16 1/2"
Item 2: Leather medallion, "J.Q.M.D. Gov. Johnson, 1942: Physical Description: 4"
Item 3: Pennant, "Kentucky State Fair, Spinny": Physical Description: 10"
Item 4: Inaugural license plate, 1941: Physical Description: 6" x 12 1/2"
Item 5: Leather billfold, stamped "Gov. Keen Johnson": Physical Description: 1 5 1/2" x 12 1/2"
Item 6: Leather Wallet, 1942: Made by hand at the North Carolina State prison, presented through Governor J. Melville Broughton with the compliments of the inmates to Keen Johnson, National Governors' Conference, Asheville, North Carolina.; Physical Description: 4 1/8" x 9 3/4"
Item 8: Wood Carving of Daniel Boone and Party Overlooking the Kentucky River: Physical Description: 9 1/2" x 4 1/2"

Folder 5

Item 7: Philco safety record: Christine - Appleton - Mother - Daddy and Judy, December 25, year unknown.; Physical Description: 6 1/2"

Box 77

Barcode: 31234013923642

Folder 1

Item 1: Souvenir Ashtray: Picture of Kentucky state capitol.; Physical Description: 4"
Item 2: International Typographical Union Visitor, Sept. 11-18, 1937: Physical Description: 5"
Item 3: Kentucky Derby Souvenir, Churchill Downs, 1936: Physical Description: 4 1/2"
Item 4: Governor's Conference, North Carolina, 1942: Physical Description: 6"
Item 5: T.V.C. Reception, August 30-31, September 1-2, 1940: Physical Description: 5 3/4"
Item 6: Kentucky Press Association, 69th Annual Summer Meeting, June 9-11, 1938: Mammoth Cave.; Physical Description: 5 1/4"
Item 7: Citizen's Reception Committee to the President of the United States, Cincinnati, 1936: Physical Description: 7"
Item 8: 2nd Annual Governors' Navy Day, 1942: Great Lakes, Illinois.; Physical Description: 6 1/2"
Item 9: 39th Inaugural, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Henry A. Wallace, 1941: Physical Description: 7 1/2"
Item 10: State Central Committee, Speakers' Stand Annex, Welcome President Truman to Kentucky, Sep. 30, 1948: Physical Description: 6"

Folder 2

Item 1: World War I dog tags, "Keen Johnson, 1st Lieut., 354 Inf., USA."
Item 2: World War I uniform insignia and cuff links.
Item 3: Kentucky Press Association, January 26-28, 1939: 70th Annual Winter Meeting, Louisville, Kentucky.; Physical Description: 2 3/4"
Item 4: Reynolds Metals, Hon. Keen Johnson: Physical Description: 2"
Item 5: Eastern: Physical Description: 1 1/4"
Item 6: 2 American Legion Pins
Item 7: GCM Monogrammed Pin
Item 8: S.M.A. Red Cross Pin
Item 9: PRAA Pin, 1912
Item 10: Compass: Physical Description: 2"
Item 11: University of Kentucky Alumni Reunion: Physical Description: 2 1/2"
Item 12: KJ Tie Pin
Item 13: FLT Tie Pin
Item 14: American Legion Tie Clip
Item 15: Metal medallion, "Gott Mit Uns": Physical Description: 1 1/2"
Item 16: Roosevelt Pin
Item 17: M.W.N.A.: Physical Description: 3"
Item 18: 3 Hickok Buttons
Item 19: Penny, 1921
Item 20: 'V' Pin

Folder 3

Item 1: Kentucky Press Association, Annual Mid-Summer Meeting, June 24-26, 1937: Lexington, Kentucky.; Physical Description: 5"
Item 2: Kentucky Press Association, Winter Meeting, January 27-29, 1938: Louisville, Kentucky.; Physical Description: 4 1/2"
Item 3: Map Measuring Wheel: Physical Description: 1 1/4" x 3 1/4"
Item 4: Democratic National Convention identification card, 1940-1941: Physical Description: 2" x 3"
Item 5: Erin Go Braugh Flag Pin: Physical Description: 1 1/4" x 1 1/2"
Item 6: Matchbook - Playland at the Beach, San Francisco
Item 7: Matchbook - El Mirado Hotel, "America's Foremost Desert Resort," Palm Springs, CA
Item 8: Matchbook - Hotel Lexington, Hawaiian Room, New York, NY
Item 9: Matchbook - Pond Creek-Tug River Mining Institute
Item 10: Matchbook - The Greenbriar Golf and Tennis Club, White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia
Item 11: Matchbook - Keen Johnson
Item 12: Matchbook - Chi Omega
Item 13: Matchbook - Hotel Del Coronado, Coronado, California
Item 16: Matchbook - Walgreen Agency Drug Store
Item 17: Matchbook - C.R. Biswell for Presiding Judge, August 6, 1940
Item 18: Matchbook - Stork Club, New York, NY
Item 19: Matchbook - The Greenbriar, "160th Anniversary, 1778-1938"
Item 20: Matchbook - Judy
Item 21: Matchbook - For Victory Bundles for Britain
Item 22: Matchbook - Sun Valley, Idaho, "America's Finest Year Round Sports Center"
Item 23: Matchbook - Southern Pacific Lines
Item 24: Matchbook - Hotels and Apartments of Distinction
Item 25: Matchbook - The Brown Derby, California.
Item 26: Matchbook - Ambassador, "World Famous Cocoanut Grove," Los Angeles, CA
Item 27: Matchbook - Service
Item 28: Matchbook - Frata
Item 29: Matchbook - Hotel Lexington, New York City, NY
Item 30: Matchbook - La Central, Caja Taurina
Item 31: Matchbook - Rogers Restaurants, Lexington, Kentucky
Item 32: Matchbook - Rockefeller Center, The Rainbow Room
Item 33: Matchbook - The Trocadero, "America's Finest Cafe," Hollywood, California
Item 34: Matchbook - Ford 8V

Folder 4

Item 14: Matchbook - Robert E. Lee Hotel, Lexington, Virginia
Item 15: Matchbook - Safety-Edge Diamond Waxed Paper

Box 78

Barcode: 31234013923600

Item 1: Keen Johnson Scrapbook, 1935: Physical Description: 11" x 13".
Item 2: Governor Keen Johnson, 18-Jan-40: Memory book for Judy Johnson about Keen Johnson; Physical Description: 10" x 12 3/4".
Item 3: 20th Century Fox, "Dynamo", 6-Jan-39: Vol. VII, No. 33.
Item 4: 20th Century Fox, "Dynamo Special Supplement", 6-Jan-39: Vol. VII, No. 21B.; Physical Description: 11" x 15 1/2".
Item 5: 20th Century Fox, "1939 Extra Studio Special", 6-Jan-39: Physical Description: 11" x 15 1/2".

Box 79

Barcode: 31234013923584

Item 1: Scrapbook Belonging to Judy Johnson, ca. 1944: Physical Description: 10" x 13".
Item 2: Photograph Album Belonging to Judy Johnson

Box 80

Barcode: 31234013923618

Item 1: Keen Johnson's Inauguration Hat: Black top hat, size 7 1/8.

Folder OS 1

Barcode: 31234013923659

Item 1: Inaugural dinner in honor of Harry Truman, 19-Jan-49
Item 2: Statement of Official vote for General Election in KY, Nov. 7, 1941