Marian Helm-Pirgo
Architect, artist, author
Born Mar. 25, 1897, Lwow, Poland; came to U.S., 1952; son of Adam and Klementyna (de Novak).
Education: Technical University of Lwow, 1918-20; Master of Architecture, Technical University of Warsaw (Poland), 1925; Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts, 1927-29.
Career: selfemployed architect, Zakopane (Poland), 1928-34; director of construction, Upper Silesia, lecturer, Silesian Techical Science Institute, Katowice (Poland), 1930-32; director Bureau of Building Supervision, Lwow, 1932-39; imprisoned by Soviets and deported to Kazachstan, 1939-41; architectural assistant, Ministry of Works, British Government, London (United Kingdom), 1949-52; architect, New York City, 1952 -.
Author: Kartoznawstwo i wojskowe uzyskanie terenu, 1928; Podanie o Helmie, 1931; Grota Stadecka, 1932; O wlasciwe traktowanie zagadnien architektonicznych i podniesienie poziomu budownictwa, 1936; W okowach i w walce, 1946; Virgin Mary, Queen of Poland, 1957, 1966; Poczatki kartografii wojskowej w Polsce odrodzonej, 1918-1920, 1971; Royal Dragoons: Immortal Love, 1976; Zew Lwowa, 1989; painting exhibitions, Polish, Italian and British galleries; contributor to Polish, American and Canadian journals.
Member of, i.a.: International Biographical Association (United Kingdom); Academie Europeen des Sciences, des Arts et des Lettres (France); president, Society of Polish Architects Abroad, 1947-52, Polish Ex-Combatants Association (United Kingdom); representative, National Treasury, New York City; Polish Veterans of World War II - Stowarzyszenie Polskich Kombatantow (S.P.K.); Polish Institute of Arts and Sciences of America (P.I.A.S.A.); Polonia Technica.
Honors, i.a.: 1st prize for regulation and development plan city of Bedzin, Association of Polish Town Planners, 1929; Golden Cross of Merit, Polish Government, 1939; Silver Cross of Merit with Swords; Monte Cassino Cross; Italian State and Defense Medal, British Government; Gold Medal of National Treasury; Combatant's Cross; "Faithful Service" badge, Polish Veterans of World War II - Stowarzyszenie Polskich Kombatantow (S.P.K.); Chivalry Cross - Polonia Restituta, 1973, Officer Cross - Polonia Restituta, 1979, Polish Government in Exile, London (United Kingdom); listed in: Contemporary Authors, Five Thousand Personalities in the World; The International Who's Who of Intellectuals; The International Authors and Writers Who's Who.
Served with: World War I, Austrian - Hungarian Army, Artillery, 1915-18; Polish Army, 1918-28, 1941-49, participated in defense of Lwow, 1918-19, and Polish - Bolshevik War, 1919-21, instructor, Military - Geographic Institute, 1920-28; World War II, Polish Armed Forces in Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R.), in the Middle East and Italy, 2nd Corps, major, 1941-49; promoted to Iieutenant - colonel, 1992.
Affiliation: Roman Catholic
Languages: Polish, English, German
From: "Who's Who in Polish America" 1st Edition 1996-1997, Boleslaw Wierzbianski editor; Bicentennial Publishing Corporation, New York, NY, 1996