Frederick Polley

Frederick Polley was born in Union City, IN in 1875. He studied at Indiana University and the Corcoran School of Art in Washington, D.C.

His painting “Industry (Capitalism)” likely depicts Marktown, IN, a utopian company town built by industrialist Clayton Mark in 1917 for his steel manufacturing operation, Mark Manufacturing Company. Mark hired notable architect Howard Van Doren Shaw to design over 200 English-Style cottages for his workers. The original plan for the town included housing for 8,000 employees, but the plan was thwarted by WWI and only 10% of the community was actually built. In the 1920s, Youngstown Sheet & Tube Company bought the factory and during WWII allowed its workers to purchase their homes. The enclave, which is now surrounded by steel mills and oil refineries, still exists today. Although in disrepair, the community is on the National Register of Historic Places. Marktown is a unique example of an early 20th Century planned industrial community, designed as a picturesque English village surrounding a gritty & towering factory.

Polley was the illustrator for the "Indianapolis Star" newspaper Sunday edition from 1924-1947, as well as for magazines such as "Ladies Home Journal" and "Esquire”. He authored a book called "Our America, Historic Churches in America" and illustrated a book called “Indianapolis Old and New". Polley taught at Herron Art School, Indiana University and Arsenal Technical High School, where he headed the graphic arts department.

Polley exhibited at Society of Etchers, Brooklyn, NY, Philadelphia Society of Etchers, Library of Congress 1944 and 1945, Carnegie Institute 1945, Delgado Museum. He won prizes at the Hoosier Salon 1942 and 1943, Indiana Art Club 1939, 1943, 1945, New Orleans Art League 1943 and Herron Art Institute, Indianapolis, IN in 1934.

His work can be found in the collections of the National Museum, Washington, DC, Herron Art Institute, Indianapolis, IN, Iowa State University and the University of Pittsburgh.

He died in Brown County, IN in 1957.