Michigan One-Room Schoolhouses (Paperback)

Resume and credentials and Biography of photo journalist and artist... Mary Keithan

Artist / photographer Mary Keithan began photography when her father encouraged her with a gift of a 35 mm camera outfit in 1970. Her enthusiasm continued throughout her college art studies, graduating with a Master of Fine Arts degree in 1976. Keithan has enjoyed many successful exhibitions of her work both in Michigan and nationally. Keithan photography brings attention to our American heritage and preserves it on film before it is lost.

Mary Keithan began her career as an artist - photographer upon completing her studies in art at Hunter College in New York City and The Pennsylvania State University culminating with a Master of Fine Arts degree. She has taught classes in art, (at Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pa. and also at Penn State), worked as a professional photographer, and has had many solo exhibitions of her photographs and art work.

Click on above new Photos to enlarge these photos of a Old Church, School house Bell and a real Ol' Fashioned OutHouse build for men and women. Yes those were considered modern plumbing in their times.

Mary Keithan is a professional photographer living in Ray, Michigan. Her previous books include Michigan's Heritage Barns and A Time in Michigan: A Photographic Series. New York Times critic Vicki Goldberg selected Keithan's 1995 image "Desert Storm Barn" for the Light Impression Biennial.

During her time as an art student in New York City, Mary Keithan never imagined that one day she would drive the state of Michigan's labyrinthine back roads in search of architectural subjects for her photographs. But, in 1990, shortly after acquiring an 8" x 10" view camera, she began just such an odyssey. In the process she captured on film and preserved images of the rural landscape's most endangered visual treasures, its aging, historic barns.  
 
Many of her "subjects" are in poor condition; many no longer stand. And while we might expect a photographic series on aging barns to be a sad chronicle of America's rural decline, instead Keithan gives us a visual story of endurance and perseverance, of a way of life that in our modern times continues to thrive.  
 
What Keithan has captured with her camera and presented in Michigan's Heritage Barns is enriched with her own narrative, often including interesting histories from the barn owners themselves. Photographs from most of Michigan's eighty counties are included to create a collection that celebrates Michigan's rural heritage as no other does. To use Theodore Roethke's words, it is a visual hymn to "nobility of soul at odds with circumstance.

Limited Edition Posters & Books

12 Photo collage POSTER -Michigan Heritage Barns ......... $ 20.00

12 Photo collage POSTER-Michigan One-Room Schools ... $ 20.00

Photo album book " Michigan's Heritage Barns" 144 pages, 11x9" with 81 large duotone photos and cloth book cover ...... $ 39.95

New One Room Schoolhouse Photo diary soft cover book ... $24.95

( You may also purchase the books from a local bookstore or use links on the left)

For signed copies make a check or money orders in US funds made payable to Mary Keithan. Mail order form to 22062 27 Mile Road, Ray, Michigan 48096. I ship all orders via UPS in damage proof packaging. Click below for printable order form. Jot down image # from this page, poster type or book title from this page.

One room Schools

Michigan barns

Rural Scenes

Everglades Photos