Finding Aid for the Don Polsky papers, 1953-2009
Processed by Gloria Gonzalez with assistance from Kelley Wolfe Bachli, July 2012; machine-readable finding aid created by
Caroline Cubé.
UCLA Library Special Collections
Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575
Email: spec-coll@library.ucla.edu
URL: http://www.library.ucla.edu/libraries/special/scweb/
© 2012
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Don Polsky papers
Date (inclusive): 1953-2009
Collection number: 1972
Creator:
Polsky, Donald.
Extent:
2 document boxes (2 linear ft.)
and 1 oversize flat box
Abstract: Donald Perry Polsky (born September 20, 1928) is an American mid-century modern style architect. Polsky worked for the Richard
Neutra firm early in his career (1953-1956), then continued with other firms and established his own in 1956. Polsky's works
are influenced by Neutra and modernist architecture. Located in Southern California and Nebraska, his works are primarily
single family residences, with some multi-family residential and commercial buildings. The Polsky papers contain publication
features, a book of career highlights, and portfolios that define design problems faced by clients and Polsky's solutions
using photographs and architectural plans.
Language: Finding aid is written in English.
Language of the Material: Materials are in English.
Repository:
University of California, Los Angeles. Library Special Collections.
Los Angeles, California 90095-1575
Physical location: Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact UCLA Library Special Collections
for paging information.
Administrative Information
Restrictions on Access
Open for research. STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact UCLA Library
Special Collections for paging information.
Restrictions on Use and Reproduction
Property rights to the physical object belong to the UC Regents. Literary rights, including copyright, are retained by the
creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the copyright
owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright.
Provenance/Source of Acquisition
Gift of Donald and Corinne Polsky, 2012.
Processing Note
Processed by Gloria Gonzalez with assistance from Kelley Wolfe Bachli, July 2012.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Don Polsky papers (Collection 1972). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research
Library, UCLA.
UCLA Catalog Record ID
Biography/History
Donald Perry Polsky, an American mid-centruy modern style architect, was born on September 20, 1928. Polsky is known for his
emphasis on intelligent simplicity, and combination of light with economy of line, plane and space. Polsky received his bachelor's
of arts from the University of Nebraska College of Engineering and Architecture in 1951. Early in his career, Polsky worked
as a Project Architect for the Richard Neutra from 1953 to 1956. Polsky then continued to work with other firms and in 1956
established his own architectural firm, Donald P. Polsky, AIA & Associates. After contributing greatly to architectural design
in Southern California, Polsky brought his modern style to the Midwest in 1970 and settled in Omaha, Nebraska. Throughout
his career Polsky has received many awards for his work, including a fellowship in the American Institute of Architects (AIA),
one of the highest honors in the field. Other achievements include the AIA President's Award of Merit, the Harry F. Cunningham
Gold Medal for Architectural Excellence in the State of Nebraska, several other awards from AIA Nebraska and the AIA Omaha
Section, and dozens of publication features.
Scope and Content
The Donald Polsky papers document the career of the distinguished architect, and include materials dated from 1953 to 2009.
Polsky primarily designed single family residences, with some multi-family residential buildings and commercial buildings.
Included in the collection are extensive photograph portfolios of Polsky's work located in Southern California and Nebraska.
The Polsky papers also contain architectural images and records, Polsky's American Institute of Architects fellowship nomination
portfolio, and a variety of articles and press releases documenting Polsky's work and numerous career achievements. Materials
include photographic design portfolios, architectural plans and images, and additional documentation of Polsky's work and
awards.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Subjects
Polsky, Donald --Archives.
Box 1
Photograph portfolios of single family residence, commercial, industrial, apartment and condominium designs in Southern California
and Nebraska.
ca. 1953-2000
Box 2
American Institute of Architects Fellowship nomination career portfolio; architectural design portfolio of townhouses in Omaha,
Nebraska; professional resume; residential design photographs, and publication features.
1953-2009
Box 3
"Survival and Design," Metropolis magazine; "A Modern Master," Omaha World Herald; "What Postwar California Gave to Art, Design
and Culture," The Wall Street Journal; and Career Highlights Book: Donald P. Polsky, AIA.
1992-2009
