Polly Anne Earl Papers
Scope and Contents
The Polly Earl Papers (1982-2004) contain the records documenting Polly Earl's time at the Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach. Materials include personal correspondence, drafts of speeches, personal resumes, and internal PFPB records. Other materials include brochures, photographs, newspaper clippings, and press releases.
Major projects within the materials of this collection include: Pan's Garden, Earl E.T. Smith Park, Heritage Education, establishment of the Polly Earl Award, and PFPB publication Palm Beach: The Way We Were.
Dates
- 1980-06 - 2004-02
Conditions Governing Use
The Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach makes its archival collections available for non-commercial, educational, and personal use unless restricted by copyright and/or donor restrictions. The materials within the collections held by the Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach Archives are intended for research, educational, or informational purposes only. Materials in these collections may be under copyright protection, and copyright restrictions may apply. Written permission must be obtained from the copyright holder and the Preservation Foundation Archives to copy, publish, or otherwise reproduce.
Biographical / Historical
Polly Earl (1944-2004) was a graduate from Palm Beach Day School. She received her BA in History from Briar College and her MA in American History from the University of Delaware. Polly served as the Executive Director of the Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach for over twenty years from 1983-2004. During her time at the Foundation she oversaw the continued restoration and move of Sea Gull Cottage, the opening of Pan’s Garden, and the opening of Earl E.T. Smith Park. She wrote two books about Palm Beach; Palm Beach: The Way We Were and Palm Beach an Architectural Legacy. In 2005, the Preservation Foundation created an award in her honor. The Polly Earl Award honors restoration or rehabilitation of a landmarked home smaller than an estate.
Extent
0.5 Linear Feet (17 Folders)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
The Polly Earl Papers are arranged within 17 folders: Folder 1: PFPB Correspondence 1983-1988, Folder 2: PFPB Correspondence 1990, Folder 3: PFPB Correspondence 1991, Folder 4: PFPB Correspondence 1992, Folder 5: PFPB Correspondence 1993, Folder 6: PFPB Correspondence 1994, Folder 7: PFPB Correspondence 1995, Folder 8: PFPB Correspondence 1996, Folder 9: PFPB Correspondence 1997, Folder 10: PFPB Correspondence 1998, Folder 11: PFPB Correspondence 1999, Folder 12: PFPB Correspondence 2002-2006, Folder 12: Financial Documents and Member History 1988-1993, Folder 14: FAU Correspondence June 1980 Historic Preservation Course, Folder 15: Polly Earl W Correspondence 1990-1999, Folder 16: Press 1982-2004, and Folder 17: Photos. Materials within folders are arranged chronologically.
Existence and Location of Copies
Secondary copies of PFPB institutional records can be found in the Institutional Records Collection including, but not limited too: description of the Polly Earl Awards, 1993 and 2004 Dinner Dance photos, and membership history.
Processing Information
An inventory for the Polly Earl Papers was created in 2021, but a finding aid was not created until 2025. The collection remains arranged as it was designated in the 2021 processing.
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach Repository