Collection Guide
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Kessler (Friedolin Edward) Art Collection
MSS.2012.09.28
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Table of contents
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
SJSU Special Collections & Archives
Title: Friedolin Edward Kessler Art Collection
creator:
Kessler, Friedolin Edward, 1913-1995
Identifier/Call Number: MSS.2012.09.28
Physical Description:
1.0 flat file drawers
(1 Folder)
Physical Description:
1 Box
(2 Linear Feet)
Date (inclusive): 1935-1977
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 wood artist. Kessler died in San Jose
on Sept. 28, 1995.
The collection is open for research.
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.
Friedolin Edward Kessler Art Collection, MSS-2012-09-28, San José State University Library Special Collections & Archives.
Collection processed by Danelle Moon. Finding aid created in the Archivist Toolkit.
Artist, Friedolin Kessler (1913-1995) was born in St. Louis, Missouri on July 12, 1913, the only son of Czech and German parents.
At age 16 he entered art school at Washington University in St. Louis. After he graduated he joined the Missouri Civilian
Conservation Corps (CCC) and in 1936 with his camp he was relocated to California. The camp settled in the New Almaden Quicksilver
County Park. As the resident artist of the camp he was hired to document life in the CCC. His forte was linoleum cuts, but
he also worked with oil and acrylic, as well as having talent in wood art and mosaics. In 1938 he took a bicycle trip visiting
every California Mission in the state, which he sketched and photographed and later produced beautiful linoleum cuts of each
mission. The resulting prints were exhibited around California and at the World’s Fair in Treasure Island and the Palace
of the Legion of Honor in San Francisco.
Kessler spent the majority of his life San Jose and became a well-known artist in the area. In 1938 with his wife Carol, he
co-founded the San Jose Art League, and taught art at San Jose State and at Stanford. The combined artwork of the Kessler’s
spanned 70 years. The Kessler’s were avid hikers and back-packed up Mt. Whitney with friends Allen and Cindy Perry. The Perry’s
helped care for Carol for many years as well as Friedolin, who died of cancer in 1995 at the age of 82. They had no children.
Civilian Conservation Corps Collection, MSS-2010-07-29, San José State University Library Special Collections & Archives.
http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt1t1nd9tb/entire_text/
Scope and Content of Collection
Friedolin Edward Kessler Art Collection consists of 35 10x8 linoleum block prints, 4 12x14, linoleum block prints, a California
Mission Cards book consisting of 21 6x8 linoleum prints of all of the missions in the state, and four exhibit panels 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 College, 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 Civil Conservation Core during the Great Depression. 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. Kessler came to California as an artist working for the Civilian
Conversation Corps in 1935 and in 1938 he and his wife Carol co-founded the San Jose Art League. He also taught art and San
Jose State and at Stanford University. His forte was linoleum block printing, but he also painted in oil and acrylic, and
had a talent in mosaics and wood art. Kessler died in San Jose on Sept. 28, 1995.
This collection is arranged by format and ordered alphabetically into three series: Series I: Linoleum Block Prints, 1935-1938;
Series II: California Missions Greeting Cards; Series III: San Jose Art League Exhibit Poster Boards.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Art -- California -- San Jose
Linoleum block-printing, American
Kessler, Friedolin Edward, 1913-1995