B-5.4 Series 2-FFB Alumni Collections - Fred F. Barzyk Collection, 1957- 2021

Note that this collection is currently being processed and the inventory is an in-process, partial inventory. 

Biographical Note:  Frederick F. Barzyk was born on the south side of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He attended Marquette University and was active in the theater program under the directorship of Rev. John J. Walsh, S.J. He received his bachelors of art in 1958. Barzyk then moved to Boston, where he attended Boston University and studied for a masters degree in communication. In addition to being producer and director for WGBH in Boston, he is president of his own company, Creative Television Associates. Barzyk has made pioneering contributions to the development of broadcast television and video art. His projects include work with artists William Wegman, Nam June Paik, Bill Viola, Peter Campus, and Allan Kaprow; writers Kurt Vonnegut, James Baldwin, and Charles Johnson; actors Lily Tomlin and Gilda Radner; and dancers Trisha Brown, Gus Solomons, Jr., Louis Falco, and Rudy Perez. As the founder and first director of the WGBH New Television Workshop (1967-1979), Barzyk created an environment where the first generation of video artists, in conjunction with dancers, photographers, and actors, expanded the creative boundaries of both broadcast television and video art.

From September through December 2001, the Haggerty Museum of Art on the Marquette University campus held an exhibition featuring experimental television and video arts developed during Barzyk's tenure as director and producer at WGBH Boston. In September 2001, Marquette University honored Barzyk with the Karios Award, which is given annually to recognize the achievements of individuals and organizations who have helped to further the advancement of the fine arts through contributions and services to the Haggerty Museum, or through other fine arts-related activities at Marquette and in  the greater community.

Restrictions:  Access to these records is unrestricted. However, the researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright which may be involved in the use of these records. Consult an archivist for further information.

Scope and Content:  The collection is divided into 8 sub-series that highlight different periods of Barzyk's life or work done with different organizations or companies. The audiovisual material material is on a variety of formats, but most of the material is digitized.  

Barzyk curated and provided commentary on his work on vimeo: https://vimeo.com/fredbarzykarchive 

Related Materials:  The University Archives' general videotape collection includes a copy of Fred Barzyk's appearance on I Remember (© 2001 MPTV).

Arrangement:  The collection is divided into eight sub-series.