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Laura K. and Valerian Lada-Mocarski papers

 Collection
Call Number: GEN MSS 616

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of material created and accumulated by Laura K. Lada-Mocarski and Valerian Lada-Mocarski, stemming from their collecting activities and relating particularly to their book collection, which they donated to the Beinecke Library. Material includes bibliographies, notes and lists of books, valuation information, personal and professional correspondence, photographs, and printed material.

Dates

  • 1796 - 1985
  • Majority of material found within 1933 - 1985

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

The materials are open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

The Laura K. and Valerian Lada-Mocarski papers is the physical property of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University. Literary rights, including copyright, belong to the authors or their legal heirs and assigns. For further information, consult the appropriate curator.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Bequest of Laura K. Lada-Mocarski, 1997.

Arrangement

The collection is organized into two series: I. Bibliographic Material, and II. Personal Papers.

Extent

5.46 Linear Feet (8 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Catalog Record

A record for this collection is available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog

Persistent URL

https://hdl.handle.net/10079/fa/beinecke.lada

Abstract

The collection consists of material created and accumulated by Laura K. Lada-Mocarski and Valerian Lada-Mocarski, stemming from their collecting activities and relating particularly to their book collection, which they donated to the Beinecke Library. Material includes bibliographies, notes and lists of books, valuation information, personal and professional correspondence, photographs, and printed material.

Laura K. Lada-Mocarski (1902-1997) and Valerian Lada-Mocarski (1898-1971)

Laura K. (or Polly) Lada-Mocarski was a bookbinder and book preservation advocate, who in later life invented the PolyCase, a box-like plastic exhibition case for rare books, documents, and artifacts.

Valerian Lada-Mocarski was a commercial banker and scholar who collected rare books, particularly volumes about Alaska and travelers in Russia before 1750.

The Lada-Mocarskis were married in Paris in 1924, and settled in New York City after World War II. They moved to New Haven after Valerian's retirement in 1960. While in New Haven, Valerian compiled a bibliography of his collection and advised the Yale University Library on its collection of Russian books. Polly lectured on bookbinding at Yale and helped establish programs in bookbinding and related arts in New York and New Haven.

Processing Information

This collection received a basic level of processing, including rehousing and very minimal organization. Descriptive information is drawn in large part from information supplied with the collection and from an initial survey of the contents. Folder titles appearing in the contents list below are often based on those provided by the creator or previous custodian. Titles have not been verified against the contents of the folders in all cases. Otherwise, folder titles are supplied by staff during initial processing.

This finding aid may be updated periodically to account for new acquisitions to the collection and/or revisions in arrangement and description.

Title
Guide to the Laura K. and Valerian Lada-Mocarski Papers
Author
by Tina Evans and Jennifer Meehan
Date
2008
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English.

Part of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library Repository

Contact:
P. O. Box 208330
New Haven CT 06520-8330 US
(203) 432-2977

Location

121 Wall Street
New Haven, CT 06511

Opening Hours

Access Information

The Beinecke Library is open to all Yale University students and faculty, and visiting researchers whose work requires use of its special collections. You will need to bring appropriate photo ID the first time you register. Beinecke is a non-circulating, closed stack library. Paging is done by library staff during business hours. You can request collection material online at least two business days in advance of your visit, using the request links in Archives at Yale. For more information, please see Planning Your Research Visit and consult the Reading Room Policies prior to visiting the library.