Mary Jane Keeney
Encyclopedia
Mary Jane Keeney and her husband Philip Olin Keeney
were librarians and charter members of the liberal The Progressive Librarians Council. She worked at the Board of Economic Warfare
in Washington D.C. during World War II
. In November 1945, Keeney travelled to Europe to work with the Allied Staff on Reparations.
She was alleged to be passing information to the Soviet Union
through Joseph Milton Bernstein
. After the war Keeney worked at the United Nations
. Deciphered Venona cables and her own diaries, corroborate the fact that Keeney and her husband, Philip Keeney
, both worked for the GRU
. Keeney's diary details that Sergey Kurnakov became their new KGB
handler.
In February 1950, Senator Joseph McCarthy
accused Keeney of being a member of the Communist Party, not an agent serving a foreign government. By the end of 1950, Keeney lost her position with the United Nations. She was convicted of contempt of Congress
, however the decision was overturned upon appeal.
The Keeneys then opened a theatre in Greenwich Village
called Club Cinema to air mostly foreign-language titles, with occasional live performances. Mary Jane died in 1969 at the age of seventy-one. She was preceded by her husband.
Philip Keeney
Philip Olin Keeney , and his wife, Mary Jane Keeney, were librarians who became part of the Silvermaster spy ring in the 1940s.Keeney met Mary Jane when both were working as librarians at the University of Michigan in 1929. In 1931, he became head librarian at Montana State University at Missoula...
were librarians and charter members of the liberal The Progressive Librarians Council. She worked at the Board of Economic Warfare
Board of Economic Warfare
The Office of Administrator of Export Control was established in the United States by Presidential Proclamation 2413, July 2, 1940, to administer export licensing provisions of the act of July 2, 1940 . Brigadier General Russell Lamont Maxwell, United States Army, headed up this military entity...
in Washington D.C. during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. In November 1945, Keeney travelled to Europe to work with the Allied Staff on Reparations.
She was alleged to be passing information to the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
through Joseph Milton Bernstein
Joseph Milton Bernstein
Joseph Milton Bernstein was an American accused of spying for the Soviet Union.-Career:Bernstein allegedly recruited his fellow Communist T.A. Bisson who had stopped working at the Board of Economic Warfare and began working in the Institute of Pacific Relations and in the editorial offices of...
. After the war Keeney worked at the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
. Deciphered Venona cables and her own diaries, corroborate the fact that Keeney and her husband, Philip Keeney
Philip Keeney
Philip Olin Keeney , and his wife, Mary Jane Keeney, were librarians who became part of the Silvermaster spy ring in the 1940s.Keeney met Mary Jane when both were working as librarians at the University of Michigan in 1929. In 1931, he became head librarian at Montana State University at Missoula...
, both worked for the GRU
GRU
GRU or Glavnoye Razvedyvatel'noye Upravleniye is the foreign military intelligence directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation...
. Keeney's diary details that Sergey Kurnakov became their new KGB
KGB
The KGB was the commonly used acronym for the . It was the national security agency of the Soviet Union from 1954 until 1991, and was the premier internal security, intelligence, and secret police organization during that time.The State Security Agency of the Republic of Belarus currently uses the...
handler.
In February 1950, Senator Joseph McCarthy
Joseph McCarthy
Joseph Raymond "Joe" McCarthy was an American politician who served as a Republican U.S. Senator from the state of Wisconsin from 1947 until his death in 1957...
accused Keeney of being a member of the Communist Party, not an agent serving a foreign government. By the end of 1950, Keeney lost her position with the United Nations. She was convicted of contempt of Congress
Contempt of Congress
Contempt of Congress is the act of obstructing the work of the United States Congress or one of its committees. Historically the bribery of a senator or representative was considered contempt of Congress...
, however the decision was overturned upon appeal.
The Keeneys then opened a theatre in Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village, , , , .in New York often simply called "the Village", is a largely residential neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan in New York City. A large majority of the district is home to upper middle class families...
called Club Cinema to air mostly foreign-language titles, with occasional live performances. Mary Jane died in 1969 at the age of seventy-one. She was preceded by her husband.