Charles Kerins has been called "The artist who painted America's Childhood". In a larger sense, Kerins, more than any other artist, chronicled mid 20th century America from a young person's perspective.
These images are from the 1950s and 1960s, a time when the prejudices of America dictated the imagery be white, all white. This was largely because of the segregation in the American South which national publications tip toed around. On the three occasions that Charles Kerins submitted artwork with racially mixed subjects, the artwork was rejected, and he was directed. by the client, to redo it with all white subjects. As a result the images here represent the white, idealized, yet true experiences of small town America, but these were experiences shared by many Baby Boomers of all races and religions. Though the subjects are all white, the experiences pictured were shared by many kids of all races in the 1950s and 1960s. Enjoy what binds us together. Catholic Boy and Catholic Miss magazines were published by the Holy Cross fathers at Notre Dame University and was distributed nationally.
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Cheerleaders were a part of every school's spirit
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Sports, a constant companion and sometimes obsession in the 1950s & 60's

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Dogs ran free in the 1950's & 60's and were constant companions to kids.
At the Nativity, Kerins modeled for the Shephard on this cover.
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Often artwork was done using only two colors, above are example of red & black, and blue & yellow. and black & yellow
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Charles Kerins Portraits * An American Childhood * Catholic Boy Covers * More Catholic Boy Covers * Advertising Illustrations * Red Sox Yearbook Covers * Liberty and Other Artwork * Cardinal Cushing Portrait * Cardinal OHara Portrait * Bassil Fitzgerald Portrait * Father Corr Portrait * Father Sheehan Portrait * Father Sullivan Portrait * President Kennedy Portrait * Congressman Martin Portrait * www.CPO Aviator Portrait * More Catholic Boy Covers *
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E-mail: Atoya@aol.com
Copyright Charles Kerins and Abby Willowroot 1950 - 2010
All Rights Reserved ~ Some images used with permission of Copyright holders.