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Emile Bocian collection

 Collection
Identifier: 2014.029

Content Description

Emile Bocian (1912-1990) was a photographer who worked steadily in the 1960s-1980s in New York City. Although there is not a lot of information about Bocian, he worked for Waldo Mayo Associates Public Relations in the 1950s; this firm provided publicity for the film, radio, and television industries. In the early 1970s, Bocian began working for "The China Post" as the Director of Advertising and Public Relations and most likely became an editor at some point. According to his own account, he was given this position at the newspaper after running a successful advertising campaign for the Pagoda Theater for the Bruce Lee film "Fist of Fury." The theater owner, Lucas Liang, also owned "The China Post." He seems to have stopped working there around 1986. "The China Post" was a daily Chinese-language newspaper published in Chinatown, New York.

In addition, Bocian headed his own public relations firm, Emile Bocian Associates, where he provided photographs and press releases for various individuals and organizations in the Chinese and Chinese-American communities. Bocian was also a writer of screenplays, plays, and television scripts. He published articles in "The New Yorker," in 1947 and 1951, and in "Comedy World," in the late 1940s-1950s. Around 1986, he was a reporter for the "United States-China Economic Journal," based on a quote from a February 21, 1986, article in "The New York Times."

Dates

  • Majority of material found within 1940s-1980s

Language of Materials

Some materials are in Chinese.

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is unrestricted.

Conditions Governing Use

For reference use only; not for reproduction, distribution, or deposit in another collection. Requests for permission to publish material from this collection should be discussed with the Director of Collections. If publishing, cite: Emile Bocian Collection, Museum of Chinese in America.

Extent

38 Linear Feet (36 archival boxes, 2 oversized boxes) : This collection contains: contact sheets, negatives, objects, original newspapers, paper documents, printed material (books, newspapers, journals, etc.), and photographs.

Arrangement

Arranged into 6 series: [1] Business writing, [2] Personal writing, [3] Printed material, [4] Subject files, [5] Objects, and [6] Photographs

Condition Description

The paper documents in Boxes 1-7 are yellowed; some are brittle and creased. The photographs and negatives in Boxes 9-34 show signs of heavy buckling. Gloves should be worn when handling all boxes.

General

This finding aid was created with grant support from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).

Title
Emile Bocian collection
Status
Completed
Author
Lauren Stark
Date
July 29, 2015
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the Museum of Chinese in America Repository

Contact:
70 Mulberry Street,2nd floor
New York NY 10013 USA