Dora Keen

Dora Keen
Born	1871 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Died	31 January 1963 Hong Kong, China
Residence	West Hartford, Vermont
Nationality	American
Alma mater	Bryn Mawr College
Known for	Mountaineering, Adventuring, Lecturing
Spouse	George Handy
Children	None
Parents	William Williams Keen

Dora Keen (1871–1963) was an American traveler and Alpinist, also a social and educational worker.

Dora Keen climbing the Dent Du Requin in France, 1910

Early life

She was born in Philadelphia, a daughter of the surgeon William Williams Keen. After graduating from Bryn Mawr College in 1896, she held various positions in philanthropic organizations, in Philadelphia, including the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, the American Society for Labor Legislation, and the Society for Organizing Charity,^[1] helping to bring about important reforms.

Alpine climbing

In her travels she covered the North American continent from Alaska to Panama, both coasts of South America and the interior of the southern portion, eastern, western, and southern Asia and northern Africa; and she made numerous visits to Europe. Her activity as an Alpinist began with eight ascents of first-class peaks in the Alps in 1909-10. Starting with the opportunity to climb the Matterhorn, Keen traveled to Zermatt in the summer of 1909, where she climbed the Zinal Rothorn, the Monte Rosa, the Weisshorn, and the Matterhorn.^[2]

In the midsummer of 1911 her inadequately outfitted expedition, hastily organized for the ascent of Mount Blackburn (16, 140 feet) (4919 m) in Alaska, was unsuccessful, as the expedition wasted 4½ days trying to climb two different glaciers at the mountain base, compared with a total expected climb time of 12 days. Each effort was abandoned as avalanches had rendered the glaciers impassable.^[3] Keen returned early in 1912, with only local prospectors for companions, and accomplished the record first ascent of the mountain 19 May^[4] of this sub-Arctic peak. Out of 33 days which the party spent entirely on glaciers, for 20 they were without tents, sleeping in snow caves at low temperatures in extreme storms;^[4] and for 10 days they had only candles for fuel.

Expeditions

This expedition was immediately followed by a journey of 300 miles (483 km) on foot and by open, camp-built boat across the Alaskan wilderness to the Yukon River; for 125 miles (201 km) the route lay over Skolai Pass, which Miss Keen was the first woman ever to cross. In 1914, with three men, she made scientific observations of the glaciers of Harriman Fjord and College Fjord, Prince William Sound, Alaska, and made the first explorations of the Harvard Glacier, reaching its sources (6100 ft) (1859 m).

Miss Keen contributed numerous articles to popular and geographical magazines and lectured on her experiences. She became a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, London, in 1914.

Personal

Keen married George Handy on 8 July 8, 1916, in McCarthy, Alaska, within sight of Mount Blackburn. They settled in West Hartford, Vermont and operated a farm. The couple divorced after 16 years of marriage. Following the divorce Keen sold insurance products and continued to travel throughout the world. In 1962 Keen went on a world tour at age 91, including Alaska where she had not been since 1916. She died on this tour, in Hong Kong on 31 January 1963.^[1]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Miller, Dorcas S. (2000). Adventurous Women. Pruett Publishing. pp. 63. ISBN 9780871088642. http://books.google.com/?id=ceTHmqEw-y0C&pg=PA55&dq=%22dora+keen%22. Retrieved 18 June 2009. 
2. ^ Keen, Dora (July 1911). "A Woman's Climbs in the High Alps". National Geographic Magazine (Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Society) XXII: 643–675. http://books.google.com/?id=Sp9-AAAAMAAJ&pg=PA599&dq=magazine+1911. 
3. ^ Keen, Dora (Jan-Oct, 1912). Read this book The Bulletin of the Geographical Society of Philadelphia. X. Philadelphia, PA: Geographical Society of Philadelphia. http://books.google.com/?id=ZSh9Fk5N-1AC&pg=RA2-PA172&dq=%22dora+keen%22. Retrieved 18 June 2009. 
4. ^ ^{a b} "Woman Reaches Top Of Alaskan Peak. Dora Keen of Philadelphia Climbs Mount Blackburn in Spite of Storms". New York Times. 26 May 1912. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9C05EED8103AE633A25755C2A9639C946396D6CF. Retrieved 2009-06-18. "The following telegrams were received in this city to-night, telling of the successful ascent of Mount Blackburn, Alaska, by Miss Dora Keen of Philadelphia:" 

• This article incorporates text from an edition of the New International Encyclopedia that is in the public domain.

Persondata
Name	Keen, Dora
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1871
Place of birth	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Date of death	31 January 1963
Place of death	Hong Kong, China