Lada-Mocarski, Laura K. (Laura Klots), 1902-1997

Laura K. (or Polly) Lada-Mocarski was a bookbinder and book preservation advocate, who in later life invented the PolyCase, a boxlike plastic exhibition case for rare books, documents, and artifacts.

Valerian Lada-Mocarski was a commercial banker and scholar who collected rare books, particularly volumes about Alaska and travelers in Russia before 1750.

The Lada-Mocarskis were married in Paris in 1924, and settled in New York City after World War II. They moved to New Haven after Valerian's retirement in 1960. While in New Haven, Valerian compiled a bibliography of his collection and advised the Yale University Library on its collection of Russian books. Polly lectured on bookbinding at Yale and helped establish programs in bookbinding and related arts in New York and New Haven.

From the guide to the Laura K. and Valerian Lada-Mocarski papers, 1796-1985, 1933-1985, (Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library)