Accession Number: 2009.24.16.1050-1059
Description: .1050: BW print; long tables filled with dining guests stretching away from the camera; a head table is arranged perpendicular to the guests at the end of the room; the guests, wearing dress clothing, are speaking amonst themselves and the tables are loaded with glassware, silverware, and coffee cups; the people at the head table in the background are also seated and speaking amongst themselves; stamped "Braun Photo Service, File#262313-3"; .1051: BW print; closer view of head table from same scene; an older man in a dark suit, Winthrop H. Battles, stands in front of a portable wooden lectern set on top of the table, speaking; a wired stand microphone marked "WRVR" is beside the lectern and a vase of flowers; a second man, Dwight Smith, sits at right of Battles; other men and women at the table listen; stamped "Braun Photo Service, File#262313-4"; .1052: BW print, same head table; Battles and Smith sit; a woman to left of Battles, dressed in a jacket with a large corsage, stands and speaks; the stand microphone has been moved down in front of her; stamped "Braun Photo Service, File#262313-5"; .1053: BW print; same head table; Battles and Smith are standing, but leaning over, examining record LP in paper sleeve apparently just removed from a cardboard envelope that lies open on the table; other guests at the head table look over or down as if listening; stamped "Braun Photo Service, File#262313-6"; .1054: BW print; same head table; Battles, standing in front of lectern, turns to left; man on that side is standing , smiling, and holding papers; other guests at head table look on and smile or laugh; stamped "Braun Photo Service, File#262313-7"; .1055: BW print: Head table at banquet; man standing, Winthrop H. Battles, hands record LP in sleeve to Rev. Sam H. Beamesderfer, also standing; third man, Dwight Smith, sits at right with his hands clasped; women also sit at table on flanking edges of the picture; a small lectern stand sits on the table in front of Battles, beside a wired stand microphone with a sign reading "WRVR"; stamped "Braun Photo Service, File#262313-8"; .1056: BW print; slightly wider angle of head table with more of guests in room in foreground; Dwight Smith stands at the lectern, speaking; stamped "Braun Photo Service, File#262313-9"; .1057; BW print: similar scene but a different JMS banquet event at a different date from the images in 1050-1056; tables of guests set at right angles to a head table; at far left a waitress can be seen serving something to guests at the head table; a draped stand is set up behind the head table; stamped "Braun Photo Service, File#63317-3"; .1058: BW print; painting of Helen Keller has been set up on the draped stand behind the head table; right to left, Dwight Smith, standing; older woman in dark dress and flat hat with corsage, standing; Nelson Chappel, seated, and unidentified man standing; large floral spray in vase in foreground; stamped "Braun Photo Service, File#63317-2"; .1059: BW print; woman from head table (seen speaking in .1052) stands in center with her arms around two other women, whose eyes do not focus on camera and may be visually impaired; woman on left wears ear length dark hair and a high waisted floral print dress; woman on right has Asian features, dark hair, and wears a Asian style dress with high collar and elaborate print made from a shiny fabric.
Medium: Photographic Paper
Date: ca. 1968
History/Provenance: Winthrop H. Battles, son of JMS founding president Frank Battles and grandson of pioneering educator William Wait, became president of the John Milton Society in 1960, when Helen Keller decided she could no longer serve, a position he held until 1970. Battles was also the last president of SPERL (Society for Providing Evangelical Religious Literature) before its merger with JMS in 1960. Dwight Smith was the JMS General Secretary from 1956-1968. Nelson Chappel was the JMS General Secretary from 1953-1956. The painting seen in .1058 is a 1962 portrait of Helen Keller by Josephine Van Peursem, now in the AFB Helen Keller Archive.
Credit Line: AFB Migel Memorial Library Collection, 2009.24
Subjects: Banquets
