Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1934-2009 (Creation)
Level of description
Collection
Extent and medium
12.60 Linear Feet; 13 archives boxes, 3 records cartons, and 3 half archives boxes
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Sylvia Gross Bubalo was born in 1928 in Doylestown, Penn. to Titus and Olive Gross. She was one of five children and was raised in the Mennonite faith. She was born with a form of muscular dystrophy that affected her physcially throughout her life. She graduated Goshen College in 1951 with a major in Bible studies and a minor in art. She performed two years of voluntary service with Mennonite Central Committee (1951-1953). She then moved to Chicago and studied at the Mennonite Biblical Seminary (1954) and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (1955-1958).
Sylvia Gross Bubalo met her husband, Vladimir Bubalo, at the School of the Art Institute. Born into the Eastern Orthodox faith, Vladimir Bubalo converted to the Mennonite faith, and the two were married in 1957. Vladimir Bubalo graduated from the School of the Art Institute in 1959. Both Sylvia Gross Bubalo and Vladimir Bubalo exhibited their work in Chicago, but relied on non-artistic employment for subsistence. Slyvia Gross Bubalo not only painted during this time, but also began to write prose and poetry works. Both her painting and writing incorporated themes of faith, community, and Mennonite life.
The Bubalos remained in Chicago until 1970, when they moved to Scottdale, Penn. to take up work for the Mennonite Publishing House: Sylvia Gross Bubalo worked as an illustrator, while Vladimir Bubalo worked in layout and design. In 1977, they moved to Seattle, where Sylvia Gross Bubalo exhibited in the Traver Gallery and eslewhere. The couple lived under great financial stress in Seattle, and Vladimir Bubalo had difficulty finding work. In 1986, Vladimir Bubalo fell ill, and the couple moved to Goshen, Ind. to be close to family. Vladimir Bubalo died in 1989.
Upon Vladimir Bubalo's death, Sylvia Gross Bubalo stopped painting, and turned to poetry. However, she continued to exhibit her artwork at Mennonite institutions until her death. She also published poetry locally and in Mennonite publications. Sylvia Gross Bubalo died in 2007.
Name of creator
Biographical history
Repository
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
The personal papers of a Mennonite artist and poet who resided in Chicago, Scottdale, Pa., Seattle, and Goshen, Ind.
These papers are divided into seven series:
Series 1: Biographical Information, 1936-1998 Series 2: Poetry and Writing, 1958-2007 Series 3: Art and Exhibitions, 1945-2009 Series 4: Correspondence, 1946-2007 Series 5: Vladimir Bubalo Papers, 1934-1990 Series 6: Photographs and Videos, circa 1940s-2000s Series 7: Miscellaneous, 1941-2009
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
Undated, Leonard Gross, Acc. 4113
2006 and 2008, Leonard Gross, Acc. 7342
02/20/2012, Reinhild Janzen, Acc. 2012-117
System of arrangement
By series
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
These materials are open for public research.
Conditions governing reproduction
Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with 17 U.S.C. Copyright not owned by the Mennonite Church USA Archives.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Gross, Vladimir, 1934-1989 (Subject)
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
2012-05-23
Language(s)
- English