Walter Cook Keenan New Orleans Architecture Photograph Collection

Collection

Identifier: SEAA-078

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection includes 1800+ loose and mounted photographic prints of New Orleans architecture made by New Orleans architect Walter Cook Keenan (1881-1970). Original negatives are also maintained. Historic structures include a number of Keenan preservation projects that often show buildings before, during, and after restoration.

Dates

1945–1952

Creator

Keenan, Walter Cook, 1881-1970 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

This collection is the physical property of Tulane University Special Collections. Copyright belongs to the creators or their legal heirs and assigns. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the copyright owner or owner’s heir for permission to publish where Tulane University Special Collections does not hold the copyright. For further information, please contact Research Services at specialcollections@tulane.edu.

Biographical / Historical

Keenan was a New Orleans architect and civil engineer. He was educated at Tulane University and partnered with fellow Tulane graduate, Leon C. Weiss (1882-1953) establishing the firm of Keenan and Weiss. The two ended their partnership around 1912, each going on to establish their own practices. Keenan was appointed to the Audubon Park Commission in 1911, and held the position until 1969. From 1937 to 1952, Keenan was also director and architect of the Vieux Carre Commission. The photographs in this collection are believed to have been made in conjunction with his role in that organization.

Extent

433.93 Linear Feet (1,841 photographic prints)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement

Collection files are mostly arranged alphabetically by location name, then organized numberically by address numbers within the files.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Photographs and negatives were given by Mrs. Richard C. Keenan, Walter Cook Keenan’s daughter-in-law, to Tulane in 1978.

Subjects

Architectural photography Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Architectural surveys Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
City planning -- Louisiana -- New Orleans Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
New Orleans (La) -- Buildings Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings