Work Continues on Polakoff Collection

Archival processing work continues on the Joseph Polakoff Collection with approximately half of the collection having been processed. Polakoff, a 1932 graduate, started his career in journalism for the college newspaper and then wrote for the Scranton Tribune. He worked for the United States government during World War II and continued his government career after the war as an information specialist for the State Department. In 1969 he left government service and became Washington bureau chief for the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. In 1981 he left that position to become the Washington bureau chief for the Intermountain Jewish News. Polakoff continued to write nearly until his death on April 12, 1996, at age 87.

 

The collection, which numbered more than 200 boxes when it arrived in 1996, reflects the career of the University alumnus and journalist. The material is being organized into series based on format of the material. Polakoff's writings are being retained both in their typescript form and as clippings from various publications in which they appeared. The collection also contains substantial, but incomplete, runs of a number of journalistic newsletters such as the Jewish Telegraphic Agency Daily and Monthly bulletins. These newsletters have been organized. Some material from Polakoff's early career as a State Department employee is also included in the collection.

 

Polakoff also donated a significant number of books to the Library dealing with politics, history, and culture. Many of these books have been added to the Library's collection, and those that contain autographs have been added to Special Collections.