Biographical Sketch:  William R. Keen (1882-1931) was a merchant in Four Oaks from around 1910 until his death. He was also mayor of the town for a number of years in the early 20th century. He was an active member of the Four Oaks Methodist Church and the Four Oaks Masonic Lodge. A native of Ingrams Township, he was the son of John W. and Lou Tiner Keen and was married to Helen Pierce.

Collection Description:  These papers, including chattel mortgages, real estate mortgages, crop liens, and other records of debts owed to the Keen business, apparently were turned over to Congressman Edward W. Pou, an attorney in Smithfield, when William R. Keen's estate was being settled in the early 1930s. Illiterate farmers signed many of the documents with an "x" mark.