ContentsScope and Contents of the Collection
Polish and English; much art; remarks on writing 1954-1955, 1962 No artwork; nearly all Polish 1958-1960 "John told the truth" around page ends 1960-1963 |
Michael Z. Kislo Notebooks, 1954-1974Finding AidFinding aid prepared by Linda Seidman.Encoding funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.2003
Administrative InformationAcquired from: Susan Kislo via Stanley Radosh, 1989. Processed by Linda Seidman. Preferred CitationCite as: Michael Z. Kislo Notebooks (MS 246). Special Collections and University Archives, W.E.B. Du Bois Library, University of Massachusetts Amherst. The collection is open for research. Return to the Table of Contents Biographical NoteMichael Z. Kislo (1896-1978) of Dzieciekowo, Poland, immigrated to the United States and married Mary A. Skowronek (1907-65) of Holyoke, Massachusetts. He began work in a basket shop in Northampton and eventually became a machinist at International Silver Company. The Kislos lived in Florence, Massachusetts. Return to the Table of Contents Scope and Contents of the CollectionThe collection comprises 9 volumes (1954-74) of Michael Kislo's writing and artwork. The writing, mostly in Polish, handwritten and typewritten, is frequently religious, but also patriotic, personal, and autobiographical. It is usually in the form of "songs," as Kislo calls them. Allusions to the F.B.I., especially in 1962, are of interest. The drawings and paintings are Chagall-like at times-a floating world of religious allusions. At other times, Polish costumes make appearances, as do weapons, imaginary animals, and fanciful landscapes. It is unclear whether the images are traditional, re-interpretations of traditional ones, or unique to Kislo's imagination. The notebooks make accessible the thoughts and feelings of a Polish immigrant in a uniquely intense way, when ordinarily the inner life of this generation is lost to the future. Return to the Table of Contents Search TermsReturn to the Table of Contents
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