Collection V/04/018-019 - Sylvia Gross Bubalo Papers

Identity area

Reference code

US GCA V/04/018-019

Title

Sylvia Gross Bubalo Papers

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

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

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Finding aids

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Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

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Description control area

Description identifier

ArchonInternalCollectionID:693

Institution identifier

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Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

2012-05-23

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

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Accession area

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