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Bobri (Vladimir) Collection
IGRA.VBO
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Contributing Institution:
Special Collections & Archives
Title: Vladimir Bobri Collection
Creator:
Bobri, Vladimir
Identifier/Call Number: IGRA.VBO
Physical Description:
0.46 linear feet
Date (inclusive): 1944-1972
Date (bulk): 1971
Abstract: Vladimir Bobritski, better known as
Bobri, was born May 1898 in Kharikiv, Ukraine. He was an illustrator, author, composer,
educator and guitar historian who arrived in the United States in 1921. Bobri's career and
hobbies overlapped over time and he became an integral part of the classical guitar
community by joining the Society of Classic Guitar, illustrating for the Society's Guitar
Review magazine, and becoming friends with Andrés Segovia. The majority of the collection
consists of photographs documenting his visit to Spain to visit Andrés Segovia, all which
were taken in the early 1970s. Other materials in the collection are papers associated with
Society of the Classic Guitar and a published composition.
Language of Material:
English.
Vladimir Bobritski, better known as Bobri, was an illustrator, author, composer, educator
and guitar historian. He was born in Kharikiv, Ukraine in 1898. He attended the Kharkiv
Imperial Art School and began designing sets for the Great Dramatic theatre of Kharkiv
thereafter. During the Russian revolution Bobri created a handmade passport where he passed
through the English, French, Italian and Greek consular authorities without it being
noticed. Bobri immigrated to the United States in 1921. Upon his arrival he worked as a
textile printer. Within ten years he was hired and illustrated for Saks Fifth Avenue and The
New Yorker, and eventually gained notoriety and clients to begin his freelance career. As a
freelance illustrator, he contributed work to well-known companies such as Hanes, Avon,
Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, and McCall's.
By this time Bobri continued to study the guitar and, in 1936, was one of the founders of
the New York City Society of the Classic Guitar (SCG). He served as editor and art director
of the Society of the Classic Guitar's magazine
Guitar Review
for close to 40 years. Bobri offered to paint Andrés Segovia's portrait, which started a
life-long friendship. Andrés Segovia would also become an honorary president of the Society,
which would influence the direction of the Society for years to come.
On November 3, 1986, Bobri lost his life in a house fire where the majority of his art and
music were lost.
The Vladimir Bobri Collection consists of mostly photographs documenting his trip to Spain
in between the years 1971 and 1972 where he visited his friend Andrés Segovia at his home,
the Alhambra, Generalife, and Granada. Other photographs unrelated to the Spain trip are
also found in this collection, which are photographs of some Society of Classic Guitar (SCG)
members, family, and friends. In addition to the photographs, the collection also includes
one music composition by Bobri and a Guitar Review application with one of his drawings on
the front. There is a significant gap between materials from Bobri's early membership of SCG
and music composition to his trip to Spain in 1971, it is speculated that this has occured
because of the house fire in 1986 where most of his belongings were burned. These are the
few items that were saved from the fire. Materials are arranged alphabetically by folder
title.
The collection is open for research use.
Copyright for unpublished materials authored or otherwise produced by the creator(s) of
this collection has not been transferred to California State University, Northridge.
Copyright status for other materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials
protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires
the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be
commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any
use rests exclusively with the user.
For information about citing items in this collection consult the appropriate style manual,
or see the
Citing Archival Materials
guide.
Julieta Garcia, 2019
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Documents
Photographs