Albin Polasek Collection
Scope and Contents
The Albin Polasek Collection includes materials on the life and work of Czech sculptor and Winter Park resident Albin Polasek. Included in the collection are four photographic scrapbooks made by the artist. The scrapbooks have been dismantled and contents placed in archival boxes. Other materials are divided into series and then arranged in folders by subject. Some folders are arranged chronologically, whereas the correspondence series is arranged alphabetically.
Dates
- created: 1897-2004
- Other: Majority of material found in 1906-1977
Creator
- Polasek, Albin, 1879-1965 (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
The entire collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Unpublished records are protected by copyright. Permission to publish quote or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder.
Biographical or Historical Information
Albin Polasek was born at Frenstat in Moravia, the Czech Republic in 1879. He came to the United States in 1901 making his trade as a wood carver. In 1906 he studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts under the instruction of Charles Grafly and won the Cresson Traveling Scholarship in 1907, 1908, and 1909. Albin was a Fellow at the American Academy in Rome from 1910 to 1913 and, subsequent to his studies in Rome and Greece, he started his own studio in New York City. In 1916 he went to Chicago, where he was head of the Department of Sculpture at the Art Institute until 1943. During this time he created numerous pieces covering a broad range of subjects. In 1949, Mr. Polasek purchased a piece of property on Lake Osceola in Winter Park, Florida and built his retirement home and studio. In 1961 the Albin Polasek Foundation was established and a gallery built to house his works. He continued to create his art until he died at age 86 on May 19, 1965. The Albin Polasek Foundation operates his residence and studio in Winter Park, Florida as the Albin Polasek Museum and Sculpture Gardens.
Extent
3.75 Linear Feet (9 Boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Albin Polasek Collection includes materials on the life and work of Czech sculptor and Winter Park resident Albin Polasek. The Collection consists of scrapbooks, correspondence, business records, certificates, speeches, photographs, pamphlets, programs, invitations, newspaper clippings, and related papers.
Method of Acquisition
The collection was donated to the University of Central Florida in 1993 (CFM1993_03).
Processing Information
Originally processed by Nadine Helm; finding aid prepared by Nadine Helm. Additional reprocessing and changes, specifically correspondence series, by Natasha White, supervised by Laila Miletic-Vejzovic. The collection was organized and refoldered into archival folders. Albums were taken apart for preservation and materials were foldered in the album order.
Subject
- Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens (Organization)
- Albin Polasek Foundation (Organization)
- Title
- Albin Polasek Collection
- Author
- Nadine Helm
- Date
- 00/00/2006
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the UCF Special Collections Repository
Special Collections & University Archives
University of Central Florida Libraries
P.O. Box 162666
Orlando Florida 32816-2666 US
(407) 823-2576
speccoll@ucf.edu