Benjamin Polk Collection 1994.-01
Amir Soltani
Arrangement and description of this collection was funded by a grant from the Getty Foundation.
University of California, Berkeley. College of Environmental Design. Environmental Design Archives
1998
230 Bauer Wurster Hall #1820
Berkeley, CA 94720-1820
designarchives@berkeley.edu
Contributing Institution:
University of California, Berkeley. College of Environmental Design. Environmental Design Archives
Title: Benjamin Polk Collection
Creator:
Polk, Benjamin K., 1916-2001
Identifier/Call Number: 1994.-01
Physical Description:
2 Linear Feet:
2 boxes
Date (inclusive): 1938-1993
Language of Material:
English
.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
All requests for permission to publish, reproduce, or quote from materials in the collection should be discussed with the
Director.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of Item], Benjamin Polk Collection, Environmental Design Archives, University of California, Berkeley.
Biographical / Historical
Benjamin Kauffman Polk was born in 1916 in Des Moines, Iowa. He attended Amherst College, the University of Chicago, and studied
structural engineering at Iowa State University. In 1952 he earned an equivalent master's degree from the School of Planning,
Gordon Square, London, in the field of Research in Regional Development. Polk served in the U.S. Army from 1942 until 1946,
and married Emily De Spain, poet, artist, and designer in 1946.
Polk practiced architecture in San Francisco from 1946-1952, and in Asia from 1952-1966. He designed and constructed more
than fifty projects during this time. In 1957 he established the partnership of Chatterjee and Polk, which become the largest
architecture firm in Asia. His major projects include: The Jallian Walabagh National Memorial in Amritsar, India, the Royal
Palace for King of Nepal in Katmandu, and the great Buddhist Tipitaka Library in Rangoon, Burma. He also designed many large
commercial and industrial buildings, universities and schools, and a theater in Calcutta, India.
In 1966 he returned to California, settling in Los Osos. From 1966-1980 he was a professor of architecture at California Polytechnic
State University in San Luis Obispo. During these years he also developed an improvisational piano technique, and traveled
to Paris in 1977 to study with French composer Nadia Boulanger. After living in Salisbury, England, from 1981-1991, he returned
to his home in Los Osos, California.
Polk is the author of Architecture and the Spirit of the Place, published in Calcutta in 1961, and India Notebook - Two Americans
in South Asia of Nehru's Time, written with his wife Emily.
Scope and Contents
The Benjamin Polk collection spans the years 1938-1993 and is comprised of his scrapbooks. The collection contains photographs,
correspondence, Polk's writings, and news clippings, primarily about Polk's projects. The scrapbooks also include some personal
papers, such as biographical information, correspondence, and material about his music.
The collection was donated in 1994 in four binders, and its order has been maintained. The original binder number is marked
on each folder.
Box 1, Folder 1
Triptake Library Rangoon Burma
1956
Box 1, Folder 3
Jallianwala Bagh, National Memorial Amritsar India
1954-55
Box 1, Folder 4
Times Press Building New Delhi India
1954-55
Box 1, Folder 5
Architecture & the Spirit of the Place
1961
Box 1, Folder 6
A Structure of Music
1978
Box 1, Folder 7
Map from thesis, School of Planning London England
1953
Box 1, Folder 9
Baharat Ramhorn New Delhi India
1961
Box 1, Folder 10
American Library New Delhi India
n.d.
Box 1, Folder 11
Paliani Central Museum
n.d.
Box 1, Folder 12
Domestic Science College Karachi India
n.d.
Box 1, Folder 14
Utkal University Bhubenswar Bengal
1960
Box 1, Folder 15
Material testing lab Rouikela India
n.d.
Box 1, Folder 16
Kalingo Tubes Orissa
n.d.
Box 1, Folder 17
Imperial Chemical Industries House Calcutta India
n.d.
Box 1, Folder 18
India National Theater New Delhi India
1961
Box 1, Folder 20
Reviews and Articles (general)
n.d.
Box 1, Folder 21
A Figure in the Landscape
1993
Box 1, Folder 22
Kalmandir Theater Calcutta India
n.d.
Box 1, Folder 23
Woodland Residence Flats Calcutta India
n.d.
Box 1, Folder 24
Minto Park Residentia Calcutta India
n.d.
Box 1, Folder 25
Nepal Schools Katmandu Nepal
n.d.
Box 1, Folder 26
Fireplaces of Polytechnic Institute Sani Thimi Nepal
n.d.
Box 1, Folder 27
Young Island Hotel St. Vincent WI
n.d.
Box 1, Folder 28
Education Development Center
1967
Box 1, Folder 29
Miscellaneous Clippings
n.d.
Box 1, Folder 30
Article, Town Planning, "Architecture & the Spirit of the Place"
n.d.
Box 2, Folder 32
Biography and Resume
n.d.
Box 2, Folder 34
Hall, Lowell Los Osos CA
n.d.
Box 2, Folder 35
Dorby, Michael Los Osos CA
n.d.
Box 2, Folder 36
Miscellaneous Photographs
1948
Box 2, Folder 37
Kitchen Breakfast Difference Santa Barbara CA
n.d.
Box 2, Folder 39
Litpon Tea Company Calcutta India
n.d.
Box 2, Folder 41
Summary of Polk's books
n.d.
Box 2, Folder 42
Design in 49, Open Fireplace, Article
1947
Box 2, Folder 43
Garden Shelter and Showcase
1948
Box 2, Folder 44
Miscellaneous Industrial Architecture
n.d.