Russell and Ingrid Keune in 2011 at the SBCS Washington DC convention.
Russell V. Keune, F.A.I.A., of Arlington, Virginia died at home on December third at age 77. He is survived by Ingrid Christina Keune to whom he was married for 47 years, their son Eric who lives in Chicago, Illinois with wife Kubinne Kim and their son Alexander. A graduate of the University of Illinois with both Bachelor and Master’s Degrees in Architecture, he worked for the National Park Service, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the U.S. Committee on Monuments and Sites for the U.N., and the American Institute of Architects as the Director of International Affairs. His work led him to pursue a lifelong love of collecting miniature buildings, amassing a collection of more than 800; along with two antique Packard automobiles which were an ongoing source of engagement.
Family and Friends will gather to celebrate his life at a later date. In lieu of flowers contributions should be made to the National Building Museum in the name of Russell V. Keune memorial fund.
Above are just a few of the souvenir buildings included John Beasley’s collection. Check out the collection being offered as a whole by John Beasley in the Sales/Classifieds by clicking here.
This SBCSociety website is a forum for selling or exchanging whole collections or individual buildings among collectors of miniature buildings. It is a good way to upgrade your collection or give others the opportunity to build their collections.
Here’s your chance! That one special building or many sought-after pieces from noted SBCS member Howie Gelbtuch’s collection and other consignors! All you have to do is have a winning bid!
Following the SBCS Convention tour of the Florida Southern College Architectural District, a collection of Frank Lloyd Wright buildings, it was observed that a miniature of the Annie Pfeiffer Chapel had been created as a building fundraiser some time in the 1930s. Steven and Ethan C have a one in their collection. It was purchased about 2010 from a collector in Atlanta who would only part with one of a pair of bookends.
Community Collections: A Sampling fo Souvenir Buildings. Photo courtesy of Anna GrantCommunity Collections: A Sampling of Souvenir Buildings. View at the City Reliquary Museum. Exhibit closes in September 2015. Photo courtesy of Anna Grant.
The City Reliquary Museum in Brooklyn, NY is showcasing in their Community Collections exhibit: “A Sampling of Souvenir Buildings” from the collection of SBCS President Joe Kopitz. They can be viewed in person at the Museum, on the City Reliquary Museum Facebook page and on the Souvenir Building Collectors Society Facebook page.
FACE BOOK Friend Days:
Of late, the Souvenir Building Collectors Society Facebook page has been hosting some lively discussions and a spate of interesting souvenir building photo postings requesting and receiving identifications. Carolyn C. kicked off these discussions on a Wednesday some weeks ago with a “Where Is It Wednesday?”.This has morphed into “Who Has It Wednesday?”, “and “What Is It Wednesday?” with resulting ID’s and pictures of the actual buildings.
Where Is It Wednesday? Identified as Dormition Church, Kondopoga.
Friday Finds: Resin Replica of Maine-Montparnasse Tower, Paris.
Added to this ‘Day of the Week’ conversation is “Throwback Thursday” and “Test Tarun Thursday” (Tarun V. having shown an unbelievable rapidity in identifying previously unidentified souvenirs). And Tarun has contributed another category, “Friday Finds.”
ARCO Center, Los Angeles, Grey Metal on Marble, circa 1980
The first contribution toward building a checklist of souvenir buildings / monuments / statues located in Los Angeles or Orange Counties has arrived. Chris S. sent in this photo of the ARCO Center, ARCO Products Company Headquarters. He wrote, “This Arco Tower was a spec building built in the late 1980s prior to the office building bust in the 1990s. This was the ‘lesser’ ARCO building, not the more famous ARCO Tower that housed the oil company headquarters. This building housed the ARCO Products Division, the AM/PM Mini Marts. ARCO has ended their lease and taken the signage off of the building.” He speculates that this miniature was made as a souvenir for the initial occupancy or as a sales reward. Chris found it at the Mart Collective in Venice, CA in the fall of 2014.
Volumes 1 to 5 of the JOURNAL OF THE SOUVENIR BUILDING COLLECTOR SOCIETY are now available for download in the Membership section of the website. Members Only / SBCS Newsletters / Listing of Back Issues. Go to the bottom of the page.
Jay M, Michael E, and Joe K have contributed photos from the 2015 Convention that can be viewed at Members Only / Convention Photos / 2015. Roll over caption to get full captions. If you have pictures to share, please forward them. Also, check out the public tab, 2015 Convention Redux. We’ll keep it up for a while and could use some photos.
We could use some more pictures of buildings and monuments acquired during the convention to post and increase the number of buildings that will come up in a internet search.
Lance Oldham’s definitive work Banthrico Buildings, Then and Now. Check it out and download it for your research files.
Front Cover of Banthrico Buildings, Then and Now by Lance G. Oldham
WANTED:
Photos and descriptions of your souvenir buildings / monuments / statues with a Los Angeles City, Los Angeles County, or Orange County location. We will start posting some of these photos as a run-up to the June 10 – 12, 2016 SBCS Convention in Los Angeles. A further intent is to create a locale (LA and Orange Counties) specific checklist for members. Email your photos to bookendcollector@bookendcollector.com.
Elizabeth L. and Joe K. took advantage of the “First to Fly” promotion for the Orlando EYE and got the birds-eye view of the Orlando countryside. Joe took 2 flights and received 2 commemorative “First to Fly” pins. Joe said, “While there is not that much to see while up in the sky (after all, it is in central Florida – not on the edge of the Thames), there are several worthwhile sites to discover and see from a different perspective”.
ORLANDO EYE
View of Central Florida from high up on the rotation of the Orlando Eye.
Katherine and Jerry tickled Frank Lloyd Wrights’ fancy.
Frank Lloyd Wright Statue, Florida Southern College, Lakeland, FL
Donna S. picked up 2 keys to the 1933 Century of Progress, Chicago’s World Fair, at an antique mall in the city of Winter Park. Of course, the keys had buildings depicted on them.
Keys to the 1933 Century of Progress, Chicago World’s Fair. Gray Metal, 8 1/2″ and 10″ in length.
On his way out-of-town, Joe K. found a $1 treasure at the Belville Corner Old Time Market in Bushnell, FL.
Firemen’s Memorial Monument, Department 56, American Pride Collection, Ht – 4 1/2″, W – 6″, Depth – 2 3/4″. Composite (plastic)
Base of Monument
Reverse of Monument
The Swap and Shop tables, the after dinner raffle, and the auction yielded more treasures for the 2015 convention attendees.
Checking out the Auction and Raffle Items
Unidentified Mexican Temple, 2 3/4″, Plastic
Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico, 1 3/4″, Plaster
The Fish House, Rockport, Mass. Sebastian Miniatures, 1950, Ceramic. 2 3/4″
Even a bashed up General Motors, Detroit, MI miniature building is all good if you don’t have one in your collection. Grey metal, 3 1/2″ in height.
The Souvenir Building Collectors Society 2015 Convention in Orlando, Florida is in the bag. The next gathering will be June 10-11-12, 2016 in Los Angeles.
As SBCS members trickled out of Orlando, they carried bags of memories and packed suitcases of small buildings.
Early arrivals were treated to a walking tour of historical downtown Orlando, which included the SBCS & SBCCA Exhibit of miniature buildings in the Orlando City Hall Rotunda. This exhibit runs until May 9th.
SBCS (Souvenir Building Collectors Society) and SBCCA (Still Bank Collectors Club of America) Orlando City Hall Exhibit 2015
Collection of small building replicas as Salt and Pepper Shakers and other types of souvenirs
Souvenir Buildings and Monuments
SBCS Attendees caught up with each other at our hosts’ Meet & Greet soiree. Many shared stories of their newest or their special souvenir building finds.
Annie Pfeiffer Chapel, Florida Southern College, Frank Lloyd Wright architectJust in case you get lost!
One member found a photo of a cast metal model of the the Annie Pfeiffer Chapel that was sold to raise money for building the chapel. Have you seen one?
Cast Metal Model of the Annie Pfeiffer Chapel
The Swap Meet on Saturday gave everyone a chance to trade, sell, or buy souvenir buildings. More treasures were added to the suitcases with the annual auction and raffle. It was hard not to go home with more real estate!
Tie the proverbial string around your finger! Or just make a list or a note to yourself!
Don’t forget to bring your Show-and-Tell buildings.
Bring your Bidding Strategy and Dinero (Cash) for the Saturday Night Auction Action.
Remember to pack some goodies to donate for the raffle.
Be prepared to Swap and Shop at the annual SWAP Meet on Saturday morning.
SBCS 2014 SWAP Meet
Schedule:
FRIDAY, MAY 1
Hospitality Room (in hotel): Where you can pick up Registration Packets and drop off Raffle Items. Wed. 3 – 5 PM, Thurs & Fri. 10 AM – 12 Noon, and in afternoon.
City of Orlando Walking Tour: Conducted by members of the City of Orlando Historical Society. Will end at City Hall for SBCS Exhibit of Souvenir Buildings. 8:30 AM Friday – Meet in hotel lobby.
A quick tour will be offered to late arrivals in the afternoon and end at the City Hall SBCS Exhibit.
Meet & Greet: Light Dinner and Dessert with Hosts Marty and Jakob. Venue for Show-and-Tell with a theme of “recent finds or super favorite finds.” Sign-up in Hospitality Room for Shuttle or Car Pool. Walkable Distance. Early Evening Friday.
SATURDAY, MAY 2
Annual Business Meeting
SBCS Swap Meet
Bus Tour to Lakeland, FL and historic Southern College
Shelby Street Pedestrian Bridge, Nashville, TN
Admiring a maquette of the Parthenon Frieze, Nashville, TN
Parthenon Gift Shop, Nashville, TN.
Cocktails, Dinner, Auction and Raffle
Gala Dinner and Raffle Anticipation, SBCS 2014
Southern Elegance and Cake in shape of Parthenon. SBCS Dinner and Raffle 2014.
SUNDAY, MAY 3
Oh so many choices. Meet for breakfast then onto personal interests – Cape Canaveral to Hogwarts, Antiques to Disney World.
What an Opportunity! Be one of the first to ride the Orlando Eye! The 2015 Souvenir Building Collectors Society Convention from May 1 – 3 in Orlando is on the same weekend that tickets first become available for the Orlando Eye. Tickets can be purchased for the “First to Fly” promotion by clicking on this link to the ORLANDO EYE. Act NOW! Tickets are going fast!
SBCS 