Los
Angeles County
Biographies
MRS. EDWIN KEITH HARKNESS
Versatile and accomplished, Mrs. E.
Keith Harkness has an enviable record of achievement as an educator, lecturer,
historian, author and artist. She
resides at 1217 South Magnolia Avenue, Los Angeles, and is the wife of Edwin
Keith Harkness, a painter and sculptor of note.
Mr. Harkness was born in Illinois, but pursued his education in Kansas
and was graduated from the State Teachers College at Emporia. In preparation for the career of an artist,
he became a pupil of Vanderpoel, of Chicago, and next
studied under Anson Cross, of Boston.
Volunteering for service in the United States Army at the time of the
World War, Mr. Harkness was assigned to the Education Commission and aided in
the establishment of the University for the American Expeditionary Forces at Beaume. He was
appointed Director of Education in the Vierzon
district, and later continued his art studies with the painter of the Pantheon
de Guerre, Auguste Francoise Gorguet.
Returning to America, Mr. Harkness
took his Master’s degree at the University of Oregon, acted as an assistant
instructor in the art department of that institution, and was the winner of the
Benson and Gurlinger prizes. Since coming to Los Angeles in 1925, his work
has been shown at Exposition Park, Artland, San
Diego, Santa Monica, Long Beach and at numerous local
exhibitions. His portrait of Miss Garfias held the place of honor at Barkers during the Art
Fiesta in 1931. He is one of the directors
of the Painters and Sculptors Club of Los Angeles.
The bust of John Muir, of Carrara marble, is attracting wide attention and winning
for the artist, E. Keith Harkness, the highest praise of eminent critics. John Austin, who designed the new city hall,
Shrine Auditorium and many school buildings of Los Angeles and who is represented
elsewhere in this work, has said that such a bust of John Muir should be in
every school in the state, especially those bearing the name of the great
naturalist, to inspire the boys and girls with high ideals.
On the 1st of January,
1903, in Parsons, Kansas, E. Keith Harkness was united in marriage to Miss Ione
Juanita Beal, a native of that city.
Mrs. Harkness was a charter member of and historian for Mary Lacy
Chapter, D. A. R., in Centralia, Washington; organized the first Child Welfare
Circle, and the first City Beautiful League, now a large club; became secretary
and treasurer of the Women’s Foreign Missionary Society; was district chairman
of young people’s work, and a member of the “Trail Marker” state committee. She lectured throughout the north and west on
Tibetan history—a subject on which she is qualified to speak with
authority. She is a gifted reader,
impersonator and speaker. Mrs. Harkness
has delved deeply into historical research work; her articles were used by Dr.
R. C. Clark in his recent History of Oregon, and by Dr. Smith in his Geography
of Oregon. She received her Phi Beta
Kappa and Pi Lambda Theta honors, and was subsequently elected to Alpha Delta
Iota, national historical society of the University of South California.
The Carnegie Library at Centralia,
Washington, was secured largely through the efforts of Mrs. Harkness, who
became its librarian. It was in 1924
that she took up her residence in Los Angeles.
She is art chairman for the Los Angeles district of the California Federation
of Women’s Club; art chairman and a charter member of the California Women of
the Golden West; past art chairman and director of the California History and
Landmarks Club; a past president of the University Book Club of Los Angeles; a
member of the Town and Gown Club; a charter member and hostess of the Pacific
Geographic Society.
Transcribed by
V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: California of the South
Vol. IV, by John Steven McGroarty, Pages 489-491, Clarke Publ.,
Chicago, Los Angeles, Indianapolis. 1933.
© 2012 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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NUGGET'S LOS ANGELES BIOGRAPHIES