John F. Keough was born August 4, 1906 in Providence, Rhode Island. He died on July 14, 1979. He was the eldest child of John F. and Katherine Keough and brother to Joseph Keough, Margaret Keough (Mrs. Herbert Smith) and Mark Keough. Mr. Keough was married to Mary E. (Murphy) Keough, an elementary school teacher in the Pawtucket and Cumberland, Rhode Island school systems. They had 2 children, John F. and David A. Keough. Mr. Keough's elementary education years were spent at Holy Trinity School in Central Falls from 1912-1921. Upon leaving he won a competitive high school scholarship an attended LaSalle Academy, graduating in 1925. Mr. Keough then went on to earn a B.A. in Classics from Providence College in 1929. He completed coursework for a Master's Degree from Brown University in 1930. In the late 1950's he attended the NSF Mathematical Sciences Institutes and then received a Master's in Education from Rhode Island College in 1962. He was employed by Quonset Shipyard from 1942-1945 and the U.S. Postal Service from circa 1950-1954. Teaching credentials include: Central Falls High School, 1958; Mount Pleasant High School, 1958-1959; Hope High School, 1959-1969; Rhode Island College, 1960; Providence College, and Attleboro High School (Massachusetts), 1969-1971. Mr. Keogh's professional affliations included the Rhode Island Teachers Institute (RI EA-NEA) from the late 1940's to early 1950's in which he was part of the Association's leadership which obtained legislation for a minimum salary scale and state funding of education. From circa 1955-1956 he was President of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Association of Teachers of Mathematics in New England.
The collection is arranged in 3 series:
The collection consists of materials compiled by John F. Keough relating to mathematics and mathematical education. The Research and Notes series includes high school completed mathematical exams and assignments by students from East Providence High School and Central High School located in Rhode Island.
The Printed Material series contains materials from the National Science Foundation Mathematics Summer Institues authored by Alphone J. Jackowski and Stanley A. Sprague. Other significant journal material from the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics; National Education Association of the United States (N.E.A.); the Association of Teachers of Mathematics in New England (A.T.M.N.E.); and Sadlier Education Notes are also represented in the collection. Additionally, there are clippings on education professionalism; Rhode Island College student papers; Rhode Island College Bulletin List; notebooks; a chart, "Men of Modern Mathematics a History Chart of Mathematics from 1000 to 1900"; and Boston College Math Series Study Program (Co-op Unit Study Program Course).
The Published Material series contains 3 items which have been retained with the collection: "Introductory Probability and Statistical Inference for Secondary Schools"; "Guide to Undergraduate Programs in Mathematics" by Clarence Bernhard Lindquist; and "Program Provisions for the Mathematically Gifted Student in the Secondary School."
There are no restrictions on access, except that the collection can only be seen by prior appointment. Some materials may be stored off-site and cannot be produced on the same day on which they are requested.
Although Brown University has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. Researchers should note that compliance with copyright law is their responsibility. Researchers must determine the owners of the literary rights and obtain any necessary permissions from them.
John F. Keough Papers, MS.2011.0012, Brown University
Gift of his widow, Mary E. Keough, August 8, 1979