Polly Knoll Papers, circa 1960-2017

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Summary

Creators:
Knoll, Polly
Abstract:
Polly Knoll was an Arabian Horse photographer who was active from the 1960s until the early 2000s. The collection includes photographic negatives and prints, as well as notes from her photo shoots and drafts of her writings.
Extent:
106.5 Linear Feet (251 boxes)
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Box/folder# or item name], Polly Knoll Papers, Collection no. 0058, W.K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Library, Special Collections and Archives, University Library, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection contains photographic prints and negatives of Polly Knoll's work, accompanied by captions providing details about the photographs. Additionally, it includes notebooks associated with Knoll's photography sessions, drafts of her writings, as well as programs and materials from horse shows. The photographs within the collection document horses in various settings, both on farms and at events. These events include prominent gatherings such as the Egyptian Event, the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show, and the United States Nationals. Furthermore, the collection encompasses photographic prints and negatives featuring not only Polly Knoll but also her family, horse breeders, and owners. Additionally, there are images of celebrities who owned horses and frequented horse shows, as well as images capturing international locales, including Egypt and Austria.

Biographical / historical:

Polly Knoll was born on May 31, 1932, in Kenosha, Wisconsin, to parents Evan W. and Grace Muriel Ost. Her passion for photography was inherited from her father, a photographer and cinematographer.

Along with her interest in photography, Knoll developed a deep love for horses. She studied various aspects of riding, including dressage and jumping, and gained expertise in driving harness horses. Later, she and her husband, Merle, owned Brooknoll, a farm in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, which featured a private half-mile racing track. Following their divorce in the late 1960s, the farm was divided.

Knoll's photography career began in the 1960s, shortly after the birth of her daughter, Jan. While previously employed as a secretary, she had also pursued photography studies for several years, attending night classes. Her professional career began with work for prominent farms in Wisconsin, capturing images of horses at Arabian horse competitions in the Midwest. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, she shifted her focus to photographing horses on farms.

In 1972, Knoll took one of her most famous photographs: a portrait of the stallion *Morafic, owned by Gleannloch Farms. Notably, Knoll chose to photograph the stallion without a halter, framed against the dark background of a barn door. This photograph catapulted Knoll to recognition in the field. She occasionally added hand-illustrations to her black and white photographs using oil paint and a toothpick with cotton at the end.

In 1984, Knoll captured another career-defining image, this time featuring the stallion Ruminaja Ali. This photograph would later be used for the cover of her 2010 book, Treasures of a Lifetime. The book showcases a portfolio of her career's photographs and provides background stories for some of the photo shoots. Polly Knoll's work was also featured in prestigious Arabian Horse publications, including Arabian Horse World.

In addition to visiting farms, Knoll covered three major annual events: The Egyptian Event, the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show, and the United States Nationals. Knoll also ventured abroad to photograph Arabian horses, embarking on trips to Egypt, Afghanistan, and Pakistan in 1978, returning to Egypt in 1980 and 1984, and visiting Austria in the mid-1990s.

Knoll's photography career brought her into contact with not only horses and owners but also the occasional celebrity. In 1991, Knoll photographed actor and Arabian horse owner Patrick Swayze, capturing him with his horse Tammen, standing with his back to the camera. This image was used in a poster, with proceeds benefiting the International Arabian Horse Association's youth and judges' education programs.

Furthermore, Knoll was an active member of several organizations, including the Pyramid Society, the Wisconsin Arabian Horse Association, and the Arabian Horse Association. In 2013, the Pyramid Society honored her with one of its highest accolades, the Trustees Award, recognizing her lengthy career and unwavering dedication to the Pyramid Society and the Egyptian Arabian horse breed.

Polly Knoll passed away on November 24, 2019, at the age of 87.

Acquisition information:
The collection was donated to California State Polytechnic University, Pomona by Polly Knoll's daughter Jan Burgan in 2020.
Processing information:

The collection was processed by Rob Strauss, with the assistance of Special Collections and Archives student assistants: Iman Mirza, Marissa Matthews, Leila Al-Shibibi, Radhika Epps, Luis Frausto, and Elsie Voong between 2021 and 2024.

Arrangement:

The collection is organized into the following series: Series 1. Photographic Prints and Negatives and Series 2. Textual Materials.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Advance notice required for access.

Terms of access:

Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright. Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder.

Preferred citation:

[Box/folder# or item name], Polly Knoll Papers, Collection no. 0058, W.K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Library, Special Collections and Archives, University Library, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.

Location of this collection:
3801 West Temple Ave.
Pomona, CA 91768, US
Contact:
(909) 869-3775
speccollections@cpp.edu
Website