Archival Finding Aids
Title
Friedolin Edward Kessler Art Collection
Dates
1935-1977 (Bulk 1935-1938)
Collection Number
MSS.2012.09.28
Abstract
Artist, Friedolin Kessler (1913-1995) was born in St. Louis, Missouri and studied art at Washington University in St. Louis. Following art school he settled in California, initially working as an artist for the Civil Conservation Corps (CCC). With his wife Carol, he co-founded the San Jose Art League, and he taught art at San Jose State and at Stanford. The Friedolin Kessler Art Collection represents some of the art work he produced over his life-time. The collection consists of 35 10x8 linoleum block prints, 4 12-14, linoleum block prints, a California Mission Greeting Cards book consisting of 21 6x8 linoleum prints of all of the missions in the state, and four exhibit poster boards highlighting the work of the San Jose Art League through Mercury News Clippings dated between 1940-1977. The 10x8 prints document famous landmarks in Santa Clara County, including the famous light tower, Stanford Memorial Chapel, Santa Clara University, Alum Rock Part, Santa Clara Court House, and the California State Capitol Building in San Jose, San Jose Normal School, and the Winchester House. The 12x14 prints relate to the work of the CCC. The California Mission Greeting Cards book describes Kessler’s bicycle journey across California to capture the missions through photography and sketches, which he used to produce the linoleum prints. His forte was linoleum block printing, but he also created mosaics, painted in oil and acrylic, and was talented woord artist. Kessler died in San Jose on Sept. 28, 1995.
Document Type
Finding Aid
Upload Date
2012
Recommended Citation
Friedolin Edward Kessler Art Collection, MSS-2012-09-28, San José State University Library Special Collections & Archives.
Indexing Terms
Note: This finding aid may be out of date. Please find the most current finding aid at the Online Archive of California.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Kessler, Friedolin Edward, 1913-1995 Art -- California -- San José Linoleum block-printing, American