Archives of American Art
Freda Koblick papers
Koblick, Freda
AAA.koblfred
Archival Resource Key
5.8 Linear feet
1934-2011
The papers of sculptor Freda Koblick measure 5.8 linear feet and date from 1934 to 2011. The collection documents her career through scattered biographical material, correspondence with family and friends, personal business records, writings, printed material, artwork, and photographs.
English
.
Conditions Governing Access
Use of original papers requires an appointment.
Terms of Use
The Archives of American Art makes its archival collections available for non-commercial, educational and personal use unless restricted by copyright and/or donor restrictions, including but not limited to access and publication restrictions. AAA makes no representations concerning such rights and restrictions and it is the user's responsibility to determine whether rights or restrictions exist and to obtain any necessary permission to access, use, reproduce and publish the collections. Please refer to the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for additional information.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated in 2012 by Freda Koblick via Julia Fremon, Freda Koblick Living Trust.
Preferred Citation
Freda Koblick papers, 1934-2011. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Processing Information
The collection was processed to a minimal level and a finding aid prepared by Erin Kinhart in 2013. The collection has been minimally rearranged and retains the existing/original folder titles when possible. All materials have been rehoused in archival folders and boxes for long-term stability, but often staples and other fasteners have not been removed. Materials within folders have not been rearranged.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged as 7 series.
Missing Title
- Series 1: Biographical Material, 1942-2011 (5 folders; Boxes 1, 6)
- Series 2: Correspondence, 1934-2007 (1.5 linear feet; Boxes 1-2)
- Series 3: Personal Business Records, circa 1950s-2009 (1.7 linear feet; Boxes 2-4, OV 7)
- Series 4: Writings, circa 1962-1998 (0.2 linear feet; Box 4)
- Series 5: Printed Material, 1943-1990 (0.3 linear feet; Boxes 4, 6)
- Series 6: Artwork, circa 1950s-1980s (1 folder; Box 4)
- Series 7: Photographs, circa 1930s-2007 (1 linear foot; Boxes 4-6)
Scope and Contents
The papers of sculptor Freda Koblick measure 5.8 linear feet and date from 1934 to 2011. The collection documents her career through scattered biographical material, correspondence with family and friends, personal business records, writings, printed material, artwork, and photographs.
Scattered biographical material includes resumes and awards. Family correspondence includes many letters from her brothers David and Daniel. General correspondence is primarily personal correspondence with friends. Personal business records consist of Koblick's files on commissions, exhibitions, travels, grants, sales, and publicity. Writings include 11 notebooks and loose notes. Printed material includes news clippings and exhibition announcements as well as printed material of interest to Koblick, but not directly documenting her career. Artwork consists of a small grouping of pencil sketches, possibly depicting her sculpture designs. Photographs depict Koblick, her family, friends, and artwork.
Biographical / Historical
Freda Koblick (1920-2011) was a sculptor in San Francisco, California. Koblick attended San Francisco City College and San Francisco State College. She then moved to Los Angeles and received a certificate as a plastics engineer in 1943 from the Plastics Industries Technical Institute. She worked only in plastics as a medium for sculpture, with an emphasis on cast acrylic. At the start of her career she focused on designing and producing functional cast plastic objects such as doors, lighting, doorknobs, and fountains often in collaboration with architects.
By the 1960s Koblick was exhibiting her sculptures and was regularly teaching, lecturing, and offering workshops on plastics sculpture. From 1965 to 1967 she was a Senior Research Fellow at the Royal College of Art, London, where she set up the Experimental Plastics Unit and taught plastics theory and application. During the 1970s she received several large scale commissions, most notably a sculpture for the North Terminal of the San Francisco International Airport. In 1980 she moved into a former synagogue in the Mission District of San Francisco where she had a large studio and living space. She continued producing new artwork until she was in her mid-80s, at which point her health limited her ability to work.
Sculptors -- California -- San Francisco
Women artists
Women sculptors
Photographs
Sketches
Koblick, Daniel
Koblick, David
Biographical Material
Series 1
Archival Resource Key
5 Folders
Boxes 1, 6
1942-2011
Scope and Contents
Found here are biographical documents regarding Freda Koblick, including her obituary and a selection resumes, award certificates, and identification and membership cards. Also found are a few documents belonging to other Koblick family members.
Identification and Membership Cards
Archival Resource Key
circa 1990s-2010
1
1
Koblick Family Documents
Archival Resource Key
1946-1959
1
2
Obituary
Archival Resource Key
2011
1
3
Resumes
Archival Resource Key
1970s
1985
1
4
Award Certificates
Archival Resource Key
1942
1962
6
1
Correspondence
Series 2
Archival Resource Key
1.5 Linear feet
Boxes 1-2
1934-2007
Scope and Contents
Correspondence is arranged into two subseries: Family Correspondence and General Correspondence. Family correspondence is primarily from the 1940s and 1950s. Included are many letters sent by Daniel and David Koblick, Freda's brothers, to family while they were serving in World War II. Also included are letters from Freda to her family and letters to her from her brothers and father, Morris. A small number of letters to Morris and his wife Rae from others are also found here.
General correspondence is mostly of a personal nature, including letters to Freda from friends. A small amount of professional correspondence is also found here. Additional professional correspondence is included within Series 3: Personal Business Records.
Arrangement
This series is arranged as 2 subseries:
Missing Title
- 2.1: Family Correspondence, 1934-1996
- 2.2: General Correspondence, 1938-2007
Family Correspondence
2.1
Archival Resource Key
1934-1996
Daniel Koblick Letters to Family
Archival Resource Key
1955-1959
1945-1946
1943
1
5-7
David Koblick Letters to Family
Archival Resource Key
1936
1955
circa 1961
1934
1943-1947
1
8-13
Freda Koblick Letters to Family
Archival Resource Key
1952-1954
1941-1942
1
14-16
Daniel Koblick Letters to Freda Koblick
Archival Resource Key
1959-1989
1
17
David Koblick Letters to Freda Koblick
Archival Resource Key
1961-1996
1
18-20
Morris A. Koblick Letters to Freda Koblick
Archival Resource Key
1963-1970
1
21
Correspondence between Morris A. and Rae Koblick
Archival Resource Key
1952
1
22
Morris A. and Rae Koblick Correspondence with Others
Archival Resource Key
1951-1961
1
23-25
Holiday Cards
Archival Resource Key
circa 1950s-1970s
1
26
General Correspondence
2.2
Archival Resource Key
1938-2007
American Craftmen's Council
Archival Resource Key
1960
1965
1
27
American Institute of Architects
Archival Resource Key
1966-1967
1
28
Arnautoff, Victor M.
Archival Resource Key
1963-1964
1
29
A, Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
1965-2005
1
30
Bendien, Just
Archival Resource Key
1968-1971
1
31
Braun, Murray
Archival Resource Key
1969
1
32
Breskin, Charles
Archival Resource Key
1969-1970
1
33
B, Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
1963
circa 1970-1995
1
34
Cancogni, Franca
Archival Resource Key
1973-1989
1
35
Cummings, John and Kaye
Archival Resource Key
1968-1987
1
36
C, Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
1964-1998
1
37
Davis, Jane
Archival Resource Key
circa 1949-1980
1
38
DeVillar, Liv
Archival Resource Key
circa 1974-1978
1
39
D, Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
circa 1973-1984
1
40
E, Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
1963-1986
1
41
Froud, Nina
Archival Resource Key
circa 1955-1978
1986
1
42-43
F, Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
1957-1995
1
44
Galerie Bouma
Archival Resource Key
1978-1980
1
45
G, Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
1961-1980
1
46
Harris, Henrietta
Archival Resource Key
1951
1955-1976
1995
1
47-56
H, Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
1964-1987
1
57
I-J, Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
1966-1984
1
58
Karasik, Bereni
Archival Resource Key
1963-1970
1
59
K, Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
circa 1963-1983
2
1
Long, Trevor
Archival Resource Key
circa 1964-1969
2
2
L, Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
1968-1986
2
3
Musgrave, Thea
Archival Resource Key
circa 1967-1974
2
4
M, Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
1955-1986
2
5
Narmour, Kathryn
Archival Resource Key
1994
2
6
N-O, Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
1964
circa 1979-1986
2
7
P-Q, Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
1964
1974-1987
2
8
Rider, J.
Archival Resource Key
1965-1969
2
9
Rukeyser, Muriel
Archival Resource Key
1948-1978
2
10
R, Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
1965-1984
2
11
Samson, Frederic
Archival Resource Key
1964-1986
2
12
Stanley, Peter
Archival Resource Key
1968-1984
2
13
Steffens, Pete
Archival Resource Key
circa 2000
2
14
St. Armand
Archival Resource Key
1968-1987
2
15
S, Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
circa 1968-2007
2
16
T-V, Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
1970-1997
2
17
Watterston, Henning
Archival Resource Key
circa 1968-1990
2
18
Weldon, Estela d'A.
Archival Resource Key
1967-1982
2
19
West, Marie Welch
Archival Resource Key
1938
1951-1975
2
20
West, Mariquita
Archival Resource Key
1987
1964-1976
2
21
Winfield, Armand
Archival Resource Key
1963-1969
2
22
Wollitz, Ken
Archival Resource Key
circa 1963-1968
2
23
W-Y, Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
circa 1964-1986
2
24
First Names Only, A-Z
Archival Resource Key
1958-2003
2
25-32
Unidentified and Illegible Names
Archival Resource Key
circa 1950-1980
2
33-34
Personal Business Records
Series 3
Archival Resource Key
1.7 Linear feet
Boxes 2-4, OV 7
circa 1950s-2009
Scope and Contents
Koblick's personal business records document her work as a sculptor. Included are her files regarding commissions, exhibitions, travels, grants, artwork sales, and publicity. Of note are extensive commission files for her sculpture at the San Francisco airport, including contracts, photographs, fabrication plans, and legal records. Also of note is an interview transcript and related correspondence for an article about Koblick in Craft Horizons.
Addresses and Mailing Lists
Archival Resource Key
circa 1980s
2
35
Architectural Commissions
Archival Resource Key
1964
2
36
Business Cards
Archival Resource Key
circa 1950s-1980s
2
37
California Arts Council Maestro-Apprentice Program
Archival Resource Key
1981-1982
2
38
Check Stubs
Archival Resource Key
1981-1983
2
39-40
Commission Lists
Archival Resource Key
circa 1962
2
41
Commission, Pennsylvania Ballet
Archival Resource Key
1977-1980
2
42
Commission, Rohm and Haas Company
Archival Resource Key
1963-1965
2
43-45
Commission, San Francisco Airport
Archival Resource Key
1977-1983
3
1-12
Commission, San Francisco General Hospital
Archival Resource Key
1977-1978
3
13
Craft Horizons Article
Archival Resource Key
1963-1964
3
14
Exhibits through 1962
Archival Resource Key
1960-1962
3
15-16
Exhibitions
Archival Resource Key
1970-1971
3
17
Exhibition, Philadelphia Art Alliance
Archival Resource Key
1978-1979
3
18
Exhibition, "Living Treasures of California"
Archival Resource Key
1984-1985
3
19
Exhibitions, Current and Pending
Archival Resource Key
1986-1994
3
20
Europe
Archival Resource Key
1963
circa 1977
3
21-22
Fairfax Property
Archival Resource Key
1959-1984
3
23
Grant Applications
Archival Resource Key
1963-1969
3
24
Guggenheim Fellowship
Archival Resource Key
1969-1971
3
25
Hereward Lester Cooke Foundation
Archival Resource Key
1984-1985
3
26
Insurance Documents
Archival Resource Key
2009
3
27
Lectures and Workshops
Archival Resource Key
1963-1966
3
28-29
Lee Nordness Galleries
Archival Resource Key
1968-1969
3
30
Ministry of Labour Permit
Archival Resource Key
1965
3
31
New York Trip
Archival Resource Key
1962
3
32-33
Plans for Convention Foyer, Inn on the Park
Archival Resource Key
circa 1962
3
34
Scope and Contents
Oversized material housed in OV 7.
Proposals and Contracts for Work on Property
Archival Resource Key
1998-1999
3
35
Sales Records
Archival Resource Key
circa 1950s-1980s
3
36-39
San Francisco Art Commission
Archival Resource Key
1992-1993
3
40
Shop Log Book
Archival Resource Key
1962-1963
3
41
Sold Pieces
Archival Resource Key
1977-1980
3
42
Studio Sale
Archival Resource Key
1963
3
43
Tiffany Grant
Archival Resource Key
1968-1969
3
44
Travel
Archival Resource Key
1964-1965
3
45
Woman's Day Article
Archival Resource Key
1957-1958
4
1
Oversize Plans for Convention Foyer, Inn on the Park
Archival Resource Key
circa 1962
OV 7
Scope and Contents
Oversized material from Box 3, Folder 34.
Writings
Series 4
Archival Resource Key
0.2 Linear feet
Box 4
circa 1962-1998
Scope and Contents
Writings consist of eleven notebooks and notes on scraps of paper. Some notebooks only contain entries on a few pages while others include to-do lists, contacts, project notes, and small design sketches.
Notebook
Archival Resource Key
1962-1963
4
2
Notebook
Archival Resource Key
circa 1970
4
3
Notebook
Archival Resource Key
circa 1979
4
4
Notebook
Archival Resource Key
circa 1980
4
5
Notebook
Archival Resource Key
1986-1987
4
6
Notebook
Archival Resource Key
1987
4
7
Notebook
Archival Resource Key
circa 1998
4
8
Notebooks
Archival Resource Key
undated
4
9-12
Notes
Archival Resource Key
circa 1960s-1990s
4
13
Printed Material
Series 5
Archival Resource Key
0.3 Linear feet
Boxes 4, 6
1943-1990
Scope and Contents
The small amount of printed material in this collection includes exhibition announcements and news clippings documenting Koblick's career and the work of other artists. Additional programs, brochures, cards, and miscellaneous printed items were collected by Koblick but do not directly document her career as a sculptor.
Booklets on Woodworking Materials
Archival Resource Key
1947
1962
4
14
Cards from Antiquarian Book Fair
Archival Resource Key
1969
4
15
Event Programs and Announcements
Archival Resource Key
1946-1990
4
16
Scope and Contents
Oversized material housed in Box 6, Folder 2.
Exhibition Announcements
Archival Resource Key
circa 1951-1986
4
17
News Clippings
Archival Resource Key
circa 1946-1971
1980
4
18-21
Travel Brochures
Archival Resource Key
circa 1960s
4
22
Miscellaneous Printed Material
Archival Resource Key
1943-1988
4
23
Oversize Event Programs and Announcements
Archival Resource Key
circa 1950s-1960s
6
2
Scope and Contents
Oversized material from Box 4, Folder 16.
Artwork
Series 6
Archival Resource Key
1 Folder
Box 4
circa 1950s-1980s
Scope and Contents
Found here is one folder of unidentified pencil sketches which may be preliminary designs for sculptures.
Sketches
Archival Resource Key
circa 1950s-1980s
4
24
Photographs
Series 7
Archival Resource Key
1 Linear foot
Boxes 4-6
circa 1930s-2007
Scope and Contents
Included are photograph portraits of Freda Koblick, as well as photographs of her with family, friends, at a few events and in her studio. The bulk of the photographs depict her artwork either during fabrication or after installation. Slides mostly depict artwork but also include a few images of Koblick. Additional photographs are included within the commission files in Series 3: Personal Business Records.
Freda Koblick
Archival Resource Key
circa 1940s-1990s
4
25-27
Scope and Contents
Oversized material housed in Box 6, Folder 3.
Freda Koblick with Others
Archival Resource Key
circa 1930s-2007
4
28-29
Photographs of Others
Archival Resource Key
circa 1940s-1980s
4
30-31
Exhibition at Magnes Museum
Archival Resource Key
1980
4
32
Miscellaneous Personal Photographs
Archival Resource Key
circa 1960s
4
33
Miscellaneous Studio Shots
Archival Resource Key
circa 1970s-1992
4
34
Sculpture Fabrication
Archival Resource Key
circa 1970s
4
35
Technique Samples
Archival Resource Key
circa 1960s
4
36
Artwork - Bank of California
Archival Resource Key
circa 1961
4
37
Artwork - David's Restaurant
Archival Resource Key
undated
4
38
Artwork - Early Functional Small Pieces
Archival Resource Key
1950s
4
39
Artwork - Fountain for Vallejo Marina Vista
Archival Resource Key
circa 1966-1967
4
40
Artwork - Hardware
Archival Resource Key
circa 1960s
5
1
Artwork - International Building, San Francisco
Archival Resource Key
circa 1960-1961
5
2
Artwork - Morton Salt Building
Archival Resource Key
undated
5
3
Artwork - "Sea Totem"
Archival Resource Key
circa 1990s
5
4
Artwork - Studio Wall
Archival Resource Key
circa 1960s
5
5
Artwork - Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
circa 1960s-1980s
5
6-10
Slides
Archival Resource Key
circa 1960s-1980s
5
11-14
Oversize Photographs of Freda Koblick
Archival Resource Key
circa 1940s-1970s
6
3
Scope and Contents
Oversized material from Box 4, Folders 25-27.
Photograph Album of Artwork
Archival Resource Key
circa 1960s-1980s
6
4