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Young Artist Impacted
Sul Ross Students
Teaching heightened artistic passion for Keefer
Determined and focused, Elizabeth Keefer
came to Sul Ross State Teachers College in 1926
to head the newly dedicated Art Department. A
native of Houston, Texas, Keefer showed her
tenacity to become an accomplished artist at an
early age. She withdrew from Southern Seminary
in Buena Vista, Virginia in 1917 because she felt
that she was being taught incorrectly. She
attended both the Art Institute in Chicago and
Art Students League in New York City, where
she became assistant to one of the leading
etchers of the time, Joseph Pennell.
Upon her arrival at Sul Ross, Keefer became
an instant hit with the students as she was only
slightly older than them. Keefer sponsored the
student Art Club, where she had members
reproduce “living tableaus” of famous
masterpieces for the school’s weekly chapel
sessions. In addition, she increased the course
offerings for students who were working to a
degree in art. However, Keefer did not neglect
her own artistic pursuits. In 1927, she had four
of her etchings on display at the National Exhibit
of Etchings in New York City and a color print
based on a moth she had seen in the school’s
entomology collection on exhibit at the
International Art Exhibit in Chicago.
Elizabeth continued to refine and improved
her etching techniques as she became more and
more interested in the Indians of New Mexico.
She was given permission to visit and document
the peoples of San Idelfonso, Taos and Conchiti
pueblos. Returning home, Keefer reproduced
these sketches into color etchings - a technique
that was unique to her.
Due to her continued interest in the Indians of
New Mexico and works produced from her trips
to the pueblos she earned the moniker “Etcher
of Indians.”
Selections of Elizabeth Keefer’s work.
By 1931, Elizabeth Keefer’s life took a dramatic
turn. Not only had the school’s yearbook The
Brand been dedicated to her, in part “because
she is an etcher of national reputation and an
authority on Indian folklore and art,” her
crayonex collection was exhibited nationwide by
the American Crayon Company, but she married
fellow Sul Ross instructor and folklorist Mody
Boatwright. She and Boatwright moved to
Austin in 1932 so that he could complete his
PhD. However, even with a step-daughter and
soon a son, Elizabeth continued her artistic
pursuits. She quit etching as she saw her son too
close to the acid used in the etching process.
by Mary Bones,
Museum of the Big Bend
OLD SPANISH TRAIL STUDIO
PO BOX 2167 • FORT DAVIS, TX 79734
A working studio & gallery inside the Scenic Loop 20 miles SW of Fort Davis
432-837-3375
101 E Avenue E
Alpine, Texas 79830
www.wtnb.com
18 BIG BEND GALLERIES AND ARTISTS / 2017
Lindy Cook Severns
806-789-6513 • BigBendArtist.com