Frederick Keep Monument
Encyclopedia
Frederick Keep Monument is a public artwork by American
artist James Earle Fraser, located at Rock Creek Cemetery
in Washington, D.C.
, United States
. "Frederick Keep Monument" was originally surveyed as part of the Smithsonian's
Save Outdoor Sculpture!
survey in 1993. This sculpture rests at the site of the grave of Frederick & Florence Keep and their child.
. The female figure has a cape on over the back of her head and she looks downwards. The male figure gazes out to the distance. They stand in front of a narrow granite wall.
The lower right side of the sculpture is signed: J.E. FRASER
The lower left side of the sculpture is marked: Kunst-Foundry N.Y.
The back of the granite base is inscribed:
FREDERIC A. KEEP
, one of the founders of the American Red Cross
and American socialite
Josephine Porter Boardman
. Her father, William J. Boardman, a lawyer and philanthropist, died August 2, 1915, is also buried in Rock Creek Cemetery. She traveled frequently (often with her sister Josephine) to places such as Panama
and New Orleans
. Florence was quite the socialite running in circles with the likes of Secretary of State John Hay
, Agnes Meyer, Katharine Graham
, Ruth Draper
and President & Mrs. Taft
. A number of Florence Keep's personal belongings were donated to the National Museum of American History
by her sister Josephine, including a late 1920s evening dress
that was exhibited in the Hall of American Costume from 1964-1973.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
artist James Earle Fraser, located at Rock Creek Cemetery
Rock Creek Cemetery
Rock Creek Cemetery — also Rock Creek Church Yard and Cemetery — is an cemetery with a natural rolling landscape located at Rock Creek Church Road, NW, and Webster Street, NW, off Hawaii Avenue, NE in Washington, D.C.'s Michigan Park neighborhood, near Washington's Petworth neighborhood...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. "Frederick Keep Monument" was originally surveyed as part of the Smithsonian's
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
Save Outdoor Sculpture!
Save Outdoor Sculpture!
Save Outdoor Sculpture! is a community-based effort to identify, document, and conserve outdoor sculpture in the United States. By fostering awareness and appreciation, SOS! aims to advocate proper care of a nationwide public resource....
survey in 1993. This sculpture rests at the site of the grave of Frederick & Florence Keep and their child.
Description
The main portion of this sculpture features a bronze male and female couple standing on a low rectangular base. The female raises both of her arms with her proper right and left hands resting on their respective shoulders. The male figure stands closely on her proper left side with his proper left arm behind her. Both of the figures are bare chested and wear loosely draped Roman-style drapery that is rolled at the waist as well as Roman sandalsBuskin
A buskin is a knee- or calf-length boot made of leather or cloth which laces closed, but is open across the toes. It was worn by Athenian tragic actors, hunters and soldiers in Ancient Greek, Etruscan, and Roman societies....
. The female figure has a cape on over the back of her head and she looks downwards. The male figure gazes out to the distance. They stand in front of a narrow granite wall.
The lower right side of the sculpture is signed: J.E. FRASER
The lower left side of the sculpture is marked: Kunst-Foundry N.Y.
The back of the granite base is inscribed:
FREDERIC A. KEEP
- DIED JUNE 2, 1911
- AGE 53 YEARS
- FLORENCE SHEFFIELD BOARDMAN KEEP
- DIED JAN 26, 1954
- AGE 89 YEARS
- INFANT OF F AND F. KEEP
- DIED OCT. 6, 1902
Information
Frederick Keep was a prominent Washington business man. His wife, Florence, was the sister of Mabel Thorp BoardmanMabel Thorp Boardman
Mabel Thorp Boardman was an American philanthropist involved with the American Red Cross. She led the Red Cross in the United States following its receiving congressional charter in 1905 until World War I, however she did not take up the post of chairman since she believed the organisation would...
, one of the founders of the American Red Cross
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross , also known as the American National Red Cross, is a volunteer-led, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the United States. It is the designated U.S...
and American socialite
Socialite
A socialite is a person who participates in social activities and spends a significant amount of time entertaining and being entertained at fashionable upper-class events....
Josephine Porter Boardman
Josephine Porter Boardman
Josephine Porter Boardman Crane was an American socialite and patron of the arts.-Personal life:Boardman was from a well-to-do family. Her father, William Jarvis Boardman , a lawyer and active in politics, was the grandson of the Senator Elijah Boardman...
. Her father, William J. Boardman, a lawyer and philanthropist, died August 2, 1915, is also buried in Rock Creek Cemetery. She traveled frequently (often with her sister Josephine) to places such as Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
and New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
. Florence was quite the socialite running in circles with the likes of Secretary of State John Hay
John Hay
John Milton Hay was an American statesman, diplomat, author, journalist, and private secretary and assistant to Abraham Lincoln.-Early life:...
, Agnes Meyer, Katharine Graham
Katharine Graham
Katharine Meyer Graham was an American publisher. She led her family's newspaper, The Washington Post, for more than two decades, overseeing its most famous period, the Watergate coverage that eventually led to the resignation of President Richard Nixon...
, Ruth Draper
Ruth Draper
Ruth Draper was an American actress, dramatist and noted diseuse who specialized in character-driven monologues.-Early life and family:...
and President & Mrs. Taft
William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft was the 27th President of the United States and later the tenth Chief Justice of the United States...
. A number of Florence Keep's personal belongings were donated to the National Museum of American History
National Museum of American History
The National Museum of American History: Kenneth E. Behring Center collects, preserves and displays the heritage of the United States in the areas of social, political, cultural, scientific and military history. Among the items on display are the original Star-Spangled Banner and Archie Bunker's...
by her sister Josephine, including a late 1920s evening dress
Evening gown
An evening gown is a long flowing women's dress usually worn to a formal affair. It ranges from tea and ballerina to full-length. Evening gowns are often made of a luxury fabric such as chiffon, velvet, satin, or silk...
that was exhibited in the Hall of American Costume from 1964-1973.