Judith and Jan Zach papers

Judith and Jan Zach papers, 1937-2002

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Zach, Jan, 1914-1986
Title: Judith and Jan Zach papers
Dates: 1937-2002 (inclusive)
19372002
Quantity: 26 linear feet, (50 boxes)
Collection Number: WUA084
Summary: The Judith and Jan Zach papers contain biographical information about sculpture artist Jan Zach, photographs of Zach's sculptures, and publications by and about Zach.
Repository: Willamette University Archives and Special Collections
Archives and Special Collections
Mark O. Hatfield Library
900 State Street
Salem, OR
97301
Telephone: 5033706866
Fax: 5033706141
archives@willamette.edu
Access Restrictions: This collection is open to researchers.
Languages: English, Czech, English, Portuguese

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Jan Zach, the youngest of sixteen children, was born July 27, 1914 in Staný, Czechoslovakia. He attended the Superior School of Industrial Arts from 1932 to 1934 and the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague from 1934 to 1938. Zach studied painting and sculpture, his greatest inspiration being the illuminated kinetic sculptures of Zdeněk Pešánek.

In December 1938, Zach travelled to New York to decorate the Czechoslovakian pavilion at the 1939 Worlds Fair in New York. A few weeks before the Fair opened, the Nazis invaded Czechoslovakia and Zach was one of many unable to return home. Zach remained in the United States until April 1940 when he moved to Rio de Janeiro for a two-week free lance assignment. His charge was to create a report on the industrial development of Brazil and the Bat'a Shoe Company. Zach completed his assignment and remained in Brazil for eleven years.

During his time in Brazil, Zach continued to study sculpture. He also exhibited paintings at the National Museum of Fine Arts in 1943 and the Institute of Brazilian Architects in 1948. He also met Judith Ella Monk, a Canadian working for the United Nations. Jan and Judith married in 1947. In 1951, they left Brazil for Victoria B.C. where Zach opened a school of painting and sculpture.

In 1958, Zach joined the faculty at the University of Oregon. He taught there until his retirement in 1979. While in Oregon, Zach's sculpture commissions included Drapery of Memory in the Oregon state capitol, Prometheus at the University of Oregon Museum of Art, Flower of Freedom #1 near New Orleans, Louisiana, and Galaxy at the Lower Columbia College in Longview, Washington. Zach used a wide range of media to create his sculptures including sand, cement, cast iron, stainless steel, and wood.

In addition to his sculpture, Zach designed stage sets and costumes for the Original Ballet Russe in Sao Paulo, Brazil and wrote articles for the art magazine Leonardo. Awards he received include a Fulbright Travel Grant, the Eugene Arts and Letters Award, a National Endowment for the Arts grant for a Sculpture Symposium, and a 1964 award from the Oregon Chapter of the American Institute of Architects.

Zach continued to sculpt until his death in 1986. His final, uncompleted work, Lady, was completed in 1996 by former student, Jerry Harpster.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The Judith and Jan Zach papers consist of correspondence, photographs, biographical information and publications related to sculpture artist Jan Zach. Judith and Jan Zach correspondence focuses on Zach's artwork including commissions for his work and the establishment of the Jan Zach trust. The bulk of the photographic material are photographs of Zach's sculptures. Also included are photographs taken during his time in Brazil, Czechoslovakia and Canada. Documentation of Zach's involvement with the National Sculpture Center and the National Sculpture Conference can be found in correspondence and subject files.

These papers also contain publications by and about Zach as well as various art publications that Zach kept in his personal library.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Library acts as "fair use" reproduction agent.

For further information, see the section on copyright in the Regulations and Procedures of the Willamette University Archives and Special Collections.

Copyright Information: Before material from collections at Willamette University Archives and Special Collections may be quoted in print, or otherwise reproduced, in whole or in part, in any publication, permission must be obtained from (1) the owner of the physical property, and (2) the holder of the copyright. It is the particular responsibility of the researcher to obtain both sets of permission. Persons wishing to quote from materials in any collections held by University Archives and Special Collections should consult the University Archivist. Reproduction of any item must contain a complete citation to the original.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Judith and Jan Zach papers, Archives and Special Collections, Mark O. Hatfield Library, Willamette University.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

This collection is arranged into six series: I. Correspondence, II. Photographs, III. Artwork, IV. Subject Files, V. National Sculpture Center and VI. Publications.

Location of Collection

Mark O. Hatfield Library

Acquisition Information

Materials in this collection were initially given to the Hallie Ford Museum of Art, then transferred to the Willamette University Archives and Special Collections. These papers are part of the Pacific Northwest Artists Archive.

Processing Note

This collection was processed at the Hallie Ford Museum of Art by Karly Schubothe under the direction of Faculty Curator and Art History professor, Roger Hull.

Related Materials

Related collections include the Roger Hull Research Files on Pacific Northwest Artists and the Bill Rhoades Northwest Art Archive.

Bibliography

Hull, Roger. Intersections: The Life and Art of Jan Zach. Willamette University. Distributed by the University of Washington Press. 2003. Hull, Roger. "Jan Zach (1914-1986) The Oregon Encyclopedia. https://web.archive.org/web/20150221035034/http://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/zach_jan_1914_1986_/#.VQMRTY7F98E Zach, Jan. "Imagery, Light and Motion in My Sculptures." Leonardo 3 (1970): 265-287. Zach, Jan. "My Sculpture 'Galaxy'." Leonardo 13 (1980): 315-316.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series I: Correspondence, 1940-1996Return to Top

This series includes correspondence to and from Judith and Jan Zach regarding sculpture and artwork. Subjects of the correspondence include: Zach's work in the Department of Fine and Applied Arts at the University of Oregon; the University of Kansas International Sculpture Conference and various sculpture conferences and symposia around the United States; Zach's sculptures; exhibitions of Zach's work; and commissions for Zach's sculptures. Letters from family and friends, some written in Czech and Portuguese, are also included.

Correspondence is arranged in chronological order.

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
1	1	To Judith and Jan Zach	undated
1	2	To Judith and Jan Zach	1943-1948
1	3	To Judith and Jan Zach Letters regarding the sculpture, Aphrodite, plans for a fountain and mural.	1950-1954
1	4	To Judith and Jan Zach	1955-1971
1	5	To Judith and Jan Zach	1955-1971
1	6	To Judith and Jan Zach	1955-1971
1	7	To Judith and Jan Zach	1955-1971
1	8	To Judith and Jan Zach	1955-1971
1	9	To Judith and Jan Zach	1955-1971
2	1	To Judith and Jan Zach	1972-1978
2	2	To Judith and Jan Zach	1972-1978
2	3	To Judith and Jan Zach	1972-1978
2	4	To Judith and Jan Zach	1972-1978
2	5	To Judith and Jan Zach	1972-1978
2	6	To Judith and Jan Zach	1972-1978
2	7	To Judith and Jan Zach	1972-1978
2	8	To Judith and Jan Zach	1972-1978
2	9	To Judith Zach Includes correspondence regarding the Jan Zach Trust, contracts regarding Jan Zach's work, and the Visual Artists Rights Act of 1990.	1987-1994
2	10	To Judith Zach Includes correspondence regarding the Jan Zach Trust, contracts regarding Jan Zach's work, and the Visual Artists Rights Act of 1990.	1987-1994
2	11	To Tommy Griffin, Presentation Design Group	1993-1995
2	12	About Jan Zach	1973-1991
2	13	About Jan Zach	1973-1991
3	1	From Jan Zach	undated
3	2	From Jan Zach	undated
3	3	From Jan Zach	undated
3	4	From Jan Zach	undated
3	5	From Jan Zach	undated
3	6	From Jan Zach	undated
3	7	From Jan Zach	undated
3	8	From Jan Zach	undated
3	9	From Jan Zach	undated
3	10	From Jan Zach	undated
3	11	From Jan Zach	undated
3	12	From Jan Zach	undated
3	13	From Jan Zach	undated
3	14	From Jan Zach	undated
3	15	From Jan Zach	undated
3	16	From Jan Zach	undated
3	17	From Jan Zach	undated
3	18	From Judith Zach	1987-1991
3	19	From Tommy Griffin	1991-1996
3	20	Notes and scraps	undated

Series II: Photographs, 1940-1985Return to Top

The bulk of the material in this series comprises images of Jan Zach's sculptures. Slides, negatives, and various sizes of black-and-white and color photographs of sculptures are included. Also included are photos of Zach's travels, works by other artists, and mounted photographs used for exhibitions.

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box
4		Photo-murals Large black and white images adhered to styrofoam. Images are of Zach's sculptures completed in the early 1950s, artists statement, and a statement on Zach written by Tommy Griffin.	1979
5		Photo-murals Large black and white images adhered to styrofoam. Images are of Zach's sculptures completed in the late 1960s including Sculpture in Suspension, Galaxy, and Mermaid.	1979
6		Slides (binder) Section headings for binder of slides include: Stainless Steel, Can Can, Oregon Relief, Sculpture in Suspension, Works in Wood, Phoenix, Venus, Drapery of Memory, and Galaxy.	1967-1985
7		Slides (binder) Section headings for binder of slides include: Marching Women, Cast Works, Prometheus, Three Rivers, Paintings, Misc. Zach Art, Photos of Jan Zach, Jan Zach's Studio and Home, Jan Zach Exhibitions.	1967-1985
8		Slides (binder) Section headings for binder of slides include: University of Oregon, Travels/Places, Brazil, Aleijadinho, Rome, Greece, New York, Utah, Arizona, India - Banares, Ganges.	1967-1985
9		Slides (binder) Photographs of works by other artists.	circa 1970s
10		Slides (binder) Section headings for binder of slides include: unknown artworks and natural inspirations.	1967-1985
11		Slides (binder) Section headings for binder of slides include: Black and white photos, historic art, Mexico, Aztec/Central American Art, Various Architecture, miscellaneous, and medium format slides. Also includes assorted slides transferred by Roger Hull in 2010.	1967-1985
	Folder
29	1	8x10 Stainless Steel Art by Jan Zach	undated
29	2	8x10 Stainless Steel Art by Jan Zach	undated
29	3	8x10 Windflower	1967
29	4	Sculpture in Suspension	1968
29	5	8x10 Can Can	1970
29	6	8x10 Wood Works by Jan Zach	undated
29	7	8x10 Drapery of Memory	1975
29	8	8x10 Reclining Form	1964
29	9	8x 10 Cast Works by Jan Zach	undated
30	1	8x 10 Cast Works by Jan Zach	undated
30	2	8x10 Prometheus	1958
30	3	8x10 Three Rivers	undated
30	4	8x10 Wrestlers Model in Clay	1951
30	5	8x10 Wrestlers Cast in Stone	1951
30	6	8x10 Constructed Works by Jan Zach	undated
30	7	8x10 Paper and Cardboard Models for Constructions	undated
30	8	8x 10 Works by Jan Zach from Brazil	undated
30	9	8x 10 Works on paper by Jan Zach	undated
30	10	8x10 Furniture design by Jan Zach	undated
30	11	8x10 Jan Zach's Art Installed or in Galleries	undated
30	12	8x10 Retrospective Exhibition Opening	1979
30	13	8x10 Photos from Brazil	circa 1940-1951
31	1	8x10 Photographs from Victoria B.C.	circa 1950s
31	2	8x10 Photographs from Victoria B.C.	circa 1950s
31	3	8x10 Studio and school in Victoria	circa 1951-1958
31	4	8x10 Jan Zach in Eugene	circa 1958-1979
31	5	8x10 Eugene Studio	circa 1958-1979
31	6	8x10 Home/Studio in Elmira	undated
31	7	8x10 Foundry	undated
31	8	8x10 Art by other artists	undated
31	9	8x10 Natural inspiration	undated
31	10	Proof sheets	undated
31	11	Proof sheets	undated
32	1	Proof sheets	undated
32	2	Proof sheets and negatives	undated
32	3	Mural by student	undated
32	4	Student carvings	undated
33		Photographs (binder) Subjects include: Unidentified, Stainless Steel, Drapery, and Lady.	undated
34		Photographs (binder) Subjects include: Drawings, Galaxy, Neon Sculpture, Ondine in progress, Phoenix, and Lumino - Kinetic sculpture.	undated
35		Marching Women photographs (binders)	circa 1982
36		Marching Women photographs (binders)	circa 1982
37		Photographs (binder) Subjects include: Sculpture in Suspension, Seattle Reliefs, Eugene City Hall, Totemic Sculpture, Three Rivers, Windflower, Gardens of Art (Bellingham, WA), Rio, and Brazil.	1940s-1970s
38		Brazil photographs (binder)	1979
39		Elmira, Oregon photographs (binder)	circa 1980
40		Photographs (binder) Subjects include: Elmira, OR; England - Patterns in City; Eugene Studio; and Leaf Slides.	circa 1980
41		Photographs and negatives (binder) Subjects include: New York; Salem Civic Center sculpture proposal; Seattle; Venezuela; Thunderbird Park, Victoria BC; Victoria BC; and Eliot Miller.	1950-1971
	Folder
42	1	5x7 Cast Works	1950-1971
42	2	5x7 Prometheus Clay Model	1952
42	3	5x7 Prometheus	1958
42	4	5x7 Constructed Works	undated
42	5	5x7 Wood Works	undated
42	6	5x7 Ondine	undated
42	7	5x7 Stainless Steel Works	undated
42	8	5x7 Sculpture in Suspension	1968
42	9	5x7 Painted Works	undated
42	10	5x7 Painted Works from Brazil period	circa 1979
42	11	5x7 Postcards of Zach's work	undated
42	12	5x7 Proof sheets of Zach's works	undated
42	13	5x7 Pictures of Jan Zach: Brazil	circa 1979
43	1	5x7 Pictures of Jan Zach: Canada	1950-1971
43	2	5x7 Pictures of Jan Zach: Oregon	1952
43	3	5x7 Jan Zach's studio/school in BC	1958
43	4	5x7 Exhibit opening	1979
43	5	5x7 Natural and other art inspiration	undated
43	6	5x7 Pesanek postcards	undated
43	7	5x7 Mural by Student	undated
43	8	5x7 Miscellaneous (profile of unknown man)	1968
44		Zach and Ken McAllister photographs (oversize)	1950-1979
45		Zach artwork photographs (oversize)	1968
46		Large photos of Zach's artwork Includes black and white images of Zach's sculptures as well as a photo of Zach in Victoria in 1952.	1948-1971

Series III: Artwork, 1940-1989Return to Top

This series includes Zach's sketches, rubbings, and drawings of sculptures. Also included are presentation materials about Zach's sculptures, a portfolio of his work, and a proposal for Eugene Performing Arts. Among the artwork are paintings and drawings by other artists.

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
20	1	Sketches	undated
20	2	Sketches	1940s
20	3	Sketches	1951-1958
20	4	Sketches	1959-1980s
20	5	Sketches for House and Studio at Elmira	1969-1970
20	6	Rubbings	undated
20	7	Drawings by others	undated
20	8	Disassembled maquette	undated
21		Sketches, cocktail covers, book jackets	undated
	Folder
25	3	Presentations: Kinetic Illumination	undated
25	4	Presentations:Proposal for Eugene Performing Arts	1979
25	5	Presentations: Portfolio of Work	undated
26		Presentations Display boards containing images of Zach's artwork.	circa 1970
27		Presentations Display boards containing images of Zach's artwork.	circa 1970
28		Photographs of artwork	undated
47		Posters and artwork Various oversize posters, cocktail covers, art pieces, and two Bob Prauda paintings.	circa 1960-circa 1980
	Folder
48	1	Drawing of large building/sculpture Rolled oversize.	undated
48	2	Drawing of Marching Women Rolled oversize.	undated
48	3	Abstract painting on paper Rolled oversize.	undated
48	4	Transparency - Stainless cable/Bridge Rolled oversize.	undated
48	5	Drawing of large building/sculpture Rolled oversize.	undated
48	6	Shell/spiral drawing on tracing paper Rolled oversize.	undated

Series IV: Subject Files, 1937-2002Return to Top

Material in this series includes biographical information about Zach, his curriculum vitae, catalogues and brochures of his work, teaching materials, and his writing. Also included are brochures and catalogs of other artists.

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
12	1	Jan Zach - Catalogues	1948-1985
12	2	Jan Zach - Catalogues	1948-1985
12	3	Jan Zach Sculpture: A Retrospective Exhibition catalog Exhibition at the University of Oregon Museum of Art.	1979
12	4	Biographical Information	circa 1960 - circa 1980
12	5	Personal Papers Includes marriage licence and Canadian citizenship certificate.	1947, 1957
12	6	Czech Pavilion, New York Worlds Fair Exhibition brochure and letter.	1938-1939
12	7	Curriculum Vitae	circa 1967 - 1986
12	8	Inventories	undated
12	9	Crucifixion Report of findings about the painting.	1986
12	10	Prometheus Report about the sculpture.	undated
12	11	Eugene City Hall, Public Art	1985, 2002
12	12	Stainless Steel Artworks	1968
13	1	Can Can Includes articles about the removal of Zach's Can Can sculpture and information on the Visual Artists Rights Act.	1989-1990
13	2	Galaxy Lower Columbia College	1977
13	3	Receipts, bills	circa 1970
13	4	Ken McAllister	1961
13	5	University of Oregon Teaching materials.	circa 1960 - circa 1970
13	6	University of Oregon contracts	1958-1964
13	7	University of Oregon Art Museum	1963
13	8	Sculpture Symposium, Eugene Includes publication In Retrospect: The Oregon International Sculpture Symposium of 1974	1973-1974
13	9	India Trips	1983-1986
13	10	Jan Zach Teaching	undated
13	11	Czech miscellaneous	circa 1950
13	12	Miscellaneous from Brazil	circa 1964
13	13	Miscellaneous Assorted brochures, copies, and notes.	undated
14	1	Leonardo draft	1970
14	2	Jan Zach's writings	circa 1960
14	3	Jan Zach's writings	circa 1960
14	4	Jan Zach's writings	undated
14	5	Jan Zach's writings in Czech	undated
14	6	Jan Zach's writings from Brazil	circa 1960 - circa 1970
15	1	Exhibition Announcements	circa 1970
15	2	Colleagues/Sculptors	1968-1969
15	3	Behl, Wolfgang	1968-1969
15	4	Fiala, Jaromir	1970-1971
15	5	Kysela, Frantisek	circa 1987
15	6	Masaryk, Thomas	1937, 1966
15	7	Moore, Henry	undated
15	8	Nejedly, Otakar	undated
15	9	Pesanek, Zdenek	undated
15	10	Siebner, Herbert	1962
15	11	Zeyer	undated
15	12	Students	1969-1970
15	13	Mayhew, Elza	circa 1992
15	14	NW (Northwest) Institute of Sculpture	1955, 2002
15	15	Vancouver Art Gallery	1954
15	16	Teatro Municipal, Sao Paulo	1946
15	17	Slavic Studies Association	circa 1962
15	18	Writing on Art by others	circa 1965
15	19	Rotary	1975

Series V: National Sculpture Center, 1962-1986Return to Top

The National Sculpture Conference began in 1960 at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas. It was organized by Professor of Sculpture Elden Tefft. In 1967, a committee including Tefft and Zach organized to form a National Sculpture Information Center. Materials in this series include the 1967 proposal, advisory board minutes, bulletins from the Center, and information about the National Sculpture Conference. Conference materials consist of budgets, handouts, correspondence, and program materials.

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
16	1	National Sculpture Center Copies of newspaper articles and information about the National Sculpture Center.	1976-1977
16	2	Proposal Project proposal for forming the National Sculpture Center.	circa 1967
16	3	Bulletins Bulletins numbered 1, 3, 12, 13, 14.	1969-1975
16	4	Conferences	1962-1974
16	5	Round Tables	circa 1970
16	6	International Artists	undated
16	7	Agendas and Minutes of Advisory Board	1969-1974
16	8	Zach itineraries	1973
16	9	Correspondence	1968-1974
16	10	French Sculpture Photo Exhibition	1974
16	11	Miscellaneous Notes and photograph of group in Lawrence, Kansas.	undated

Series VI: Publications, 1941-1990Return to Top

Publications include articles that Zach gathered from Canada, Brazil, and Czechoslovakia. A scrapbook of news clippings from the 1940s is included along with inspirational magazine and newspaper clippings and articles about other artists. Also included are publications written by Zach, as well as articles written about him and his sculpture. Zach's personal library is included which contains exhibition catalogs, journals and exhibition brochures.

Container(s)		Description	Dates
		Subseries A: Articles Both photocopies and original newspaper clippings	1941-1982
Box
17		Scrapbook	1941-1947
	Folder
18	1	Brazilian Articles	1947-1948
18	2	Canadian Articles	1956
18	3	Canadian Articles	1951-1967
18	4	Oregon Articles	1958 - circa 1969
18	5	New York Times Articles	1966-1970
18	6	Czech Publications	1947, 1982
18	7	Czech Political News	1968, 1979
18	8	Scrapbook copies	1941-1947
19	1	Brazilian Articles	1947-1948
19	2	Canadian Articles	1956
19	3	Canadian Articles	1951-1967
19	4	Oregon Articles	1958 - circa 1969
19	5	New York Times Articles	1966-1970
19	6	Czech Publications	1947-1982
19	7	Czech Political News	1968, 1979
19	8	Time Magazine Clippings	circa 1953
19	9	Articles on major artists	circa 1955
19	10	Miscellaneous articles on art	undated
19	11	Clippings about Henry Moore	1955
19	12	Brazilian Clippings	undated
19	13	Clippings of art by others	undated
19	14	Inspiration clippings	undated
19	15	Native American Art	undated
19	16	Otero clippings	1969
19	17	Views of Prague	undated
19	18	List of Artists	undated
25	1	Album de Pintura	undated
25	2	Album de Pintura	undated
		Subseries B: Publications by and about Zach	1948-1980; 1967-1980
Box	Folder
22	1	Leonardo	1970
22	2	Writings by Jan Zach Includes Kinetic Art: Theory and Practice which includes "Imagery, light and Motion in my Sculptures" and "My Sculpture, 'Galaxy'".	1974, 1980
22	3	Publications about Jan Zach Includes The Studio, Old Oregon, and the Weekly SW Magazine.	1967-1969
22	4	Brazilian Guest Signatures (for Zach exhibition)	1948
		Subseries C: Personal Library	1942-1990
Box	Folder
23	1	Books and Brochures	1960s
23	2	Bibles	1957
23	3	Journals	1942-1990
23	4	Journals	1942-1990
24	1	Exhibit Catalogs Includes Seattle World's Fair exhibition publication "Art since 1950."	1945-1962
24	2	Exhibit Catalogs Includes Seattle World's Fair exhibition publication "Art since 1950."	1945-1962
24	3	Xeroxed articles	undated
28	1	J. Carlos	undated

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

Arts--Northwest, Pacific
Fine Arts
New York World's Fair (1939-1940 : New York, N.Y.)
sculpture (visual work)
sculpture (visual work)

Personal Names

Behl, Wolfgang
Fiala, Jaromír, 1892-1967
Griffin, Tommy
Kysela, Frantisek, 1881-1941
Masaryk, T. G. (Tomáš Garrigue), 1850-1937
Mayhew, Elza
McAllister, Ken
Moore, Henry, 1898-1986
Nejedlý, Otakar, 1883-1957
Pešánek, Zdeněk, 1896-1965
Prauda, Bob
Siebner, Herbert
Zach, Judith

Corporate Names

Century 21 Exposition (1962 : Seattle, Wash.)
International Sculpture Center
National Sculpture Center (U.S.)
National Sculpture Conference
University of Kansas

Geographical Names

Bellingham (Wash.)
Brazil
Czechoslovakia
Elmira (Or.)
Eugene (Or.)
Vancouver (B.C.)

Form or Genre Terms

design drawings

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