George Koltanowski: Father of Northern California Chess

Kolty in California: 1947-2000

Koltanowski

March 1940 George Koltanowski plays in California Championship (Chess - British magazine)

February 24, 1947 Poster for Kolty's Santa Rosa Blindfold Chess Exhibition

May 9, 1948 San Francisco Chronicle 1st Chess column - Problem 1

October 1, 1948 Santa Rosa Press Democrat Chess Chats column starts Play Koltanowski by Mail

June 11, 1949 Postcard from R.W. Landre Jr. to George Koltanowski about Chronicle game by mail.

August 7, 1949 Valley of the Moon postcard. (The postcard was from Leah Koltanowski's scrapebook. The back of the card says Sonoma 1947. I believe that Kolti's memory was a little off. The 1st Open air chess festival held in Sonoma was in 1949.)

November 9, 1949 Strengthen Your Chess Game, SF Chronicle

November 14, 1949 Koltanowski's Replies in Chess-by-Mail, SF Chronicle

November 18, 1949 Stamina in Chess, SF Chronicle

November 20, 1949 SF Chronicle Chess Column (Chess Record Play-As Rough as a Channel Swim - Leisure Chess Problem 81)

November 25, 1949 Chronicle Chess Festival, SF Chronicle

November 28, 1949 San Francisco Chronicle, Chess Players

November 28, 1949 San Francisco Chronicle, Chess Master Koltanowski, Blindfold Champion, Never Forgets Until He Wants To.

November 29, 1949 San Francisco Chronicle, Chess History

November 30, 1949 San Francisco Chronicle, Meet The Master

December 4, 1949 Ticket for Kolty's SF Chronicle Chess Festival

December 4, 1949 SF Chronicle note, which accompanied ticket for Kolty's SF Chronicle Chess Festival

December 4, 1949 Flyer for Kolty's SF Chronicle Chess Festival

December 5, 1949 San Francisco Chronicle, A Chess Virtuoso Battles All Comers in Twelve-Hour Marathon Play.

December 6, 1949 Chess Expert Tells How He Did It , SF Chronicle

December 6, 1949 SF Chronicle Inter-Department Memo about Kolty's SF 271 Player Simultaneous Exhibition

December 9, 1949 SF Chronicle Special Services letter to Houston Chronicle about Kolty's SF 271 Player Simultaneous Exhibition

December 9, 1949 Dave Ohman letter to Jim Grady (Radio Station KCBS) about Kolty's SF 271 Player Simultaneous Exhibition

December 9, 1949 Dave Ohman letter to Major General Evans O. Ames about Kolty's SF 271 Player Simultaneous Exhibition

1949 Chess Chats Column reprints from the Sunday edition of Santa Rosa Press Democrat

January 6, 1950, Jane Alter (American National Red Cross) letter to SF Chronicle Chess-By Mail Editor about Kolty's SF 271 Player Simultaneous Exhibition

February 19, 1950 San Francisco Chronicle, Koltanowski's First Draw in Chess-by-Mail.

September 21, 1950 Santa Rosa Press Democrat; George Koltanowski, 'Engram' to 'Dianetics' 4-Check!, Science Mates the Chess Master.

October 1950 Chess in California (Chess - British magazine)

February 19, 1951 FORTNIGHT Newspaper

February, 1951 San Francisco Fireman's Fund Record, The Walking Brain.

May 28, 1951 FORTNIGHT Newspaper

June 19, 1951 Letter from Thelma Arney thanking George Koltanowski for instructing the boys on chess at the SF Chapter of the American National Red Cross

June 19, 1951 Anecdote concerning the letter from Thelma Arney to George Koltanowski

December 20, 1951 Chess Life; Perform Blindfold Record

February 24, 1952 Letter from Kolty to Harry Shaw, San Jose CC

August 21, 1952 Olympic Chess, San Francisco Chronicle

August 27, 1952 Chess Olympics, San Francisco Chronicle

August 28, 1952 Olympic Chess, San Francisco Chronicle

August 30, 1952 Chess Olympics, San Francisco Chronicle

September 4, 1952 Chess Olympics, San Francisco Chronicle

November 1, 1952 An Analysis of World Chess Meet, San Francisco Chronicle

February 1953 Golden Gate CC vs Belgium (Chess - British magazine)

January 31, 1954 Exhibition Wednesday, Top U.S. Player, Reshevsky, To Play Here, SF Chronicle

August 15, 1954 Signature of George Koltanowski for winner of the Valley of the Moon Chess Festival, Group 16, in Sonoma.

August 15, 1954 Signature of George Koltanowski for winner of the Valley of the Moon Chess Festival, Group 22, in Sonoma.

May 22, 1955 Ticket for Kolty's 110 Board Simultaneous Exhibition in Los Angeles

May, 1955 Chess Notes pamphlet advertising SF Chronicle's Sunday Ladder Solving Competition.

June 19, 1955 San Francisco Chronicle, The Amiable Magician Of the Chess Board.

1955 Pamphlet advertising Kolti's new book, Adventures of a Chess Master.

November 18, 1956, Letter from Jim Reynolds to Al Horowitz about the upcoming Simultaneous Exhibition tour and the rivalry between the Mechanics' Institute and George Koltanowski.

December 30, 1956 Chess Notes (Exhibition Set Jan. 18), SF Chronicle

January 6, 1957 Chess Notes (Solutions To No. 13), SF Chronicle

January 17, 1957 Chess Notes (Four Events This Week), SF Chronicle

January 20, 1957 Junior Title Chess Play Set Here, SF Chronicle

January 27, 1957 Chess Notes (Entries In CFNC Open), SF Chronicle

January 27, 1957 Check Your Position On the Chess Ladder, SF Chronicle

February 1, 1957 Chess Notes (Ledgerwood Wins Open), SF Chronicle

February 3, 1957 Chess Notes (CFNC Championship Play Set), SF Chronicle

February 10, 1957 Major Chess Event Set At Quentin, SF Chronicle

February 10, 1957 Check Your Position On the Chess Ladder, SF Chronicle

March 3, 1957 Spring Chess Tournament Announced, SF Chronicle

March 10, 1957 Chess Notes (Addition to Spring Event), SF Chronicle

March 10, 1957 Check Your Position On the Chess Ladder, SF Chronicle

March 17, 1957 Spring Chess Event Begins Saturday, SF Chronicle

March 31, 1957 The Chess Column (First Spring CFNC Chess Tournament), SF Chronicle

March 1957 Kolty's Notes - Number 1

April 7, 1957 Berkeley Chess Club Wins Round, San Francisco Chronicle

April 14, 1957 Close Finish In Industrial Chess Race, San Francisco Chronicle

April 21, 1957 Chess Notes (Tournament Play Results), SF Chronicle

April 21, 1957 Check Your Position On the Chess Ladder, SF Chronicle

May 5, 1957 World Chess Title Won By Smyslov, San Francisco Chronicle

May 19, 1957 Sonoma 7th Annual Chess Festival Set, San Francisco Chronicle

May 19, 1957 Check Your Position On the Chess Ladder, SF Chronicle

May 26, 1957 U.S. Chess Open Set August 5-17, San Francisco Chronicle

June 2, 1957 The Chess Column (New Officers of Chess Friends of Northern California), San Francisco Chronicle

June 9, 1957 Chess Notes (News of The Clubs), San Francisco Chronicle

June 9, 1957 The New Chess Ladder, San Francisco Chronicle

June 16, 1957 Chess Notes (Ogden Group Wins Title), San Francisco Chronicle

June 23, 1957 Chess Notes (New Junior Entry List), San Francisco Chronicle

June 30, 1957 U.S. Junior Chess Champ To Play Here, San Francisco Chronicle

July 7, 1957 U.S. Junior Chess Title Tourney Set, SF Chronicle

July 8-July 14, 1957, TD Kolty's personal U.S. Junior Championship Chronicle Program

July 9, 1957 33 Here in U.S. Junior Chess Meet, SF Chronicle

July 10, 1957 Jr. Chess Tourney in 3-Way Tie, SF Chronicle

July 14, 1957 The Chess Column (U.S. Junior Championship Tournament), SF Chronicle

September 1957 Signature of George Koltanowski "To Neilen Hultgren Champion of Class B, Barton Chess Club", in San Francisco.

1957 A Memo from George Koltanowski of the San Francisco Chronicle pamphlet about Chess by Mail.

February 2, 1958 Chess Notes, San Francisco Chronicle, 2 Big Dates On the Bay Area Calendar

February 9, 1958 Chess Notes, San Francisco Chronicle, World Title Match Set

April 19, 1959 Santa Rosa Press Democrat Chess Chats Column, Gossip from Holland (Problem 176)

August 9, 1959 Flyer for Kolty's San Francisco Chronicle Chess Column Special Solving Competition advertising the upcoming IX Annual Sonoma Chess Festival

November, 1959 Chess Ladder, San Francisco Chronicle, Kitabayashi Wins for the Fifth Time

July 30, 1960 The Saturday Evening Post, Campaigns of Silence

September 20, 1960 Chess Life, George Koltanowski, Blindfolded, VS. 100 Chess Players!!!

September 20, 1960 Chess Life, The Tenth Annual Valley of the Moon Chess Festival

December 4, 1960 Flyer for Kolty's San Francisco Chronicle Chess Festival at the Marines' Memorial Club, where he gave a 56-game Consecutive Blindfold Exhibition

December, 1960 Check Koltanowski in the Chronicle pamphlet advertising the Sunday Ladder Solving Competition.

January 2, 1961 Signature of George Koltanowski "To R. H. Parker, Prizewinner in Paul Masson Vineyard Chess Competition."

July 30, 1961 Art Rosenbaum, Sharpening the Mind - A Master's Secret, SF Chronicle

December 8, 1961 Chess, SF Chronicle, The Development of a World Champion

May 1, 1962, Magazine ad, Try The Paul Masson Gambit

May 2, 1962 Lina Grumette letter to George Koltanowski

May 18, 1962 Jerry Spann letter to Mikhail Botvinnik

June 18, 1962 USSR Chess Federation letter to Jerry Spann concerning the purposed Koltanowski-Botvinnik and Fischer-Botvinnik Matches

December 31, 1962, Magazine ad, Your Chance To Win Paul Masson's Champagne Cup

January 20, 1963 Chess, SF Chronicle, Top Prize Of $3000 In Cup Play

February 5, 1963 Lina Grumette letter to George Koltanowski

February 7, 1963 George Koltanowski form letter to chess players informing them of his upcoming match with Paul Keres.

March 11, 1963 Unique Chess Match, SF Chronicle

March 23, 1963 Mr. K vs. Mr. K, SF Chronicle

April 25, 1963 Paul Keres letter to George Koltanowski

May 12, 1963 Your Next Move Should Be ..., SF Chronicle

May 25, 1963 Chess With the Giants, SF Chronicle

May 26, 1963 Chess, San Francisco Chronicle, Gold Teeth for Free - Curious Match Play

May 31, 1963 George Koltanowski letter about the Keres-Koltanowski Match

June 1, 1963 Winners of Chess Contest, SF Chronicle

June 6, 1963 Paul Keres letter to George Koltanowski

June 15, 1963 Paul Keres letter to George Koltanowski

June 15, 1963 Chess, San Francisco Chronicle, Koltanowski USA vs Keres USSR

August 4, 1963 Flyer for the 13th Annual Valley of the Moon Chess Festival

April 1, 1964 Magazine ad, Paul Masson's 1964 Chess Tourney! (Koltanowski's Ring!)

May 5, 1964 George Koltanowski letter to a winner of the Kolty Column Paul Masson chess tournament

July 18, 1964 - Vallejo Times-Herald, Saturday, Chats on Chess Column, (Valley of the Moon Chess Festival)

August 16, 1964 - San Francisco Chronicle Chess Column, (A Series of TV Lectures)

December 27, 1964 - Chess, San Francisco Chronicle, New Year's Plans

January 31, 1965 - Chess, San Francisco Chronicle, Tourneys, Exhibitions And Gossip

June 1, 1966 San Francisco Chronicle, From Diamonds to Rooks

July 15, 1966 Letter from George Koltanowski to Piatigorsky Foundation about Piatigorsky Cup bulletins after each round

September, 1966 Valley of the Moon

March 30, 1967 Postcard from IM George Koltanowski to Richard Shorman about Richard's phone number

April 1, 1967 Postcard from IM George Koltanowski to Richard Shorman about Lockheed

April 14, 1967 - Chess, San Francisco Chronicle, World Champions

April 29, 1967 Postcard from IM George Koltanowski to thank Richard Shorman for games

June 3, 1967 - Vallejo Times-Herald, Saturday, Chats on Chess Column, (War Of Nerves)

June 29, 1967 Paul Keres letter to George Koltanowski

August 25, 1967 - Chess, San Francisco Chronicle, Open Chess Tournament In San Francisco

December 13, 1967 Postcard from IM George Koltanowski to Richard Shorman about "Averbach's story on the Bobby Fischer case!"

April 19, 1968 Unused custom scoresheet for the William J. Cuddigan Chess Party with George Koltanowski

May 29, 1968 - Chess, San Francisco Chronicle, Candidates Semi-finals

July, 1968 Chess Digest: Kolty's Comments

July 31, 1968 Weibel Vineyards Koltanowski Chess Challenge Poster

September 3, 1968 Flyer for Newsmen's Koltanowski Chess Double Challenge

March, 1969 Chess Digest: Kolty's Comments

July 4, 1969 Flyer for the 3rd Annual San Bruno Chess Festival

September, 1969 Chess Digest: A True Story by Ken Smith

September 22-23 1969 Flyer for George Koltanowski's 20-Day Chess Cruise (California to Hawaii)

April 23, 1970 - Chess Column, San Francisco Chronicle, Bobby Fischer's World Rapid Record Special Report

June 3, 1970 - Chess, San Francisco Chronicle, Last Round Blues

September, 1970 Chess scoresheet booklet issued by Sabena Belgian World Airlines to go with their flight, hosted by George Koltanowski, to the World Chess Olympics in Siegen, Germany.

February 21, 1971 Flyer advertising Kolty Chess Exhibition at Ghirardelli Square

April, 1971 Chess Digest: Kolty's Comments

January 6, 1972 - Chess, San Francisco Chronicle, Kolty Simul in Menlo Park

March 5, 1972 Taking On The World, Sacramento Union

May 3, 1972 - Chess, San Francisco Chronicle, K. Grivainis-Dr. F. Gamboa, California Open, Fresno, 1965

July 2, 1972 - Los Angeles Herald-Examiner Chess Column, A Profile of Bobby Fischer

July 16, 1972 - Los Angeles Herald-Examiner Chess Column, More Expert Match Picks.

July 20, 1972 - Chess, San Francisco Chronicle, The Spassky-Fischer Games in Review

July 21, 1972 - Chess, San Francisco Chronicle, The Spassky-Fischer Games in Review

August 4, 1972 SF Chronicle, It's Your Move At Macy's, Koltanowski Simultaneous

September 2, 1972 - Newhall Signall Chess Column, Koltanowski Is Coming in Two Weeks (Problem 47)

September 6, 1972 - Newhall Signal Chess Column, The New World's Champion (Problem 48)

September 6, 1972 Koltanowski Simultaneous, Newhall Signal

September 13, 1972 Koltanowski To Meet Local Players, Newhall Signal

September 13, 1972 - Newhall Signall Chess Column, Koltanowski Is Coming On Friday! (Problem 50)

September 15, 1972 - Newhall Signal Chess Column, Koltanowski Appears Tonight! (Problem 51)

September 15, 1972 Koltanowski Simultaneous, Newhall Signal

September 18, 1972 Koltanowski Simultaneous, Newhall Signal

October 13, 1972 George Koltanowski postcard to Richard Shorman from the Skopje Chess Olympiad

July 11, 1973 Letter from USCF Executive Director Ed Edmondson to George Koltanowski

July 11, 1973, Flyer advertising "An Evening with Koltanowski" at the Stockton Chess Club

May 19, 1974 Chess on the Offensive - Two Big Bay Area Tourneys, SF Sunday Chronicle and Examiner

August, 1974 Flyer advertising Intermediate and Advanced Chess Classes taught by George Koltanowski at UC Berkeley

October 3, 1974 Newspaper ad for The House of Chess w/George Koltanowski

November 17, 1974 Flyer advertising "George Koltanowski on Chess" at the Concord Library League

May 6, 1975 Chess, San Francisco Chronicle, Taking Acers On

May 7, 1975 Chess, San Francisco Chronicle, Acer's Revenge

June 4, 1975 Chess, San Francisco Chronicle, Swiss Tournament

September 1, 1975 Chess, San Francisco Chronicle, Paul Keres 1916-1975

January 29, 1976 Chess, San Francisco Chronicle, The Monterey Coast Open

March 25, 1976 Chess, San Francisco Chronicle, Played in Australia, 1976

November 20, 1976 Flyer for George Koltanowski Giant Chess Board Exhibit at Morro Bay's 17th Annual Rock-O-Rama.

1976 Note from Max Euwe to Leah and George Koltanowski

July 17, 1977 In the Vineyards With Wine, Cheese, and Chess, SF Datebook

July 23-24, 1977 Fifth Annual Paul Masson American Class Championships with George Koltanowski

August 1, 1977 Chess Nuts, SF New West

June 12, 1978 Max Euwe letter to George Koltanowski

July 11, 1978 USCF Executive Director Martin Morrison letter to USCF President George Koltanowski

July 17, 1978 Mrs. Piatigorsky letter to Alfred Hansen

August 9, 1978 Guthrie McClain letter to Alfred Hansen

August 15, 1978 Arthur Dake letter to Alfred Hansen

September 5, 1978 San Francisco Mayor, George Moscone letter to Alfred Hansen

September 13, 1978 Max Euwe & FIDE telegram to George Koltanowski, c/o Alfred Hansen

September 15, 1978 California Governor, Edmund G. Brown telegram to George Koltanowski, c/o Alfred Hansen

September 16, 1978 Berkeley Chess Club Birthday card to George Koltanowski

October 27, 1978 Chess, San Francisco Chronicle, Computer Encounters Of The Chess Kind

February 12, 1979 Chess, San Francisco Chronicle, Played in the California Chess Masters' Open, Berkeley

March 19, 1979 Chess, San Francisco Chronicle, Meyer Wins People's Open By John Peters

May 24, 1979 Chess, San Francisco Chronicle, The Fallen Idol

June 4, 1979 Chess, San Francisco Chronicle, Lone Pine Highlights

June 18, 1979 Chess, San Francisco Chronicle, A Grandmaster was recently hustled out of $100 on a basic chess ending.

June 21, 1979 Chess, San Francisco Chronicle, California State at Hayward hosted a Mexican touring chess group

July 11, 1979 Chess, San Francisco Chronicle, Readers Send In

July 24, 1979 Gerard Dullea (USCF) letter to Mrs. Jacqueline Piatigorsky about her receiving the Koltanowski medal

July 26, 1979 Chess, San Francisco Chronicle, Readers Send In

July 30, 1979 Chess, San Francisco Chronicle, Paul Masson Seventh Annual Class Championship

October 9, 1979 Chess, San Francisco Chronicle, From The Bookshelf

October 16, 1979 Chess, San Francisco Chronicle, International Master Titles for U.S. Players

October 19, 1979 Chess, San Francisco Chronicle, International Master Titles for U.S. Players

July 21, 1980 Chess, San Francisco Chronicle, Kenny Fong, of Hayward, who came in fifth in the World Championship Tournament for those under 14, has been chosen for the USA under-18 team

August 25, 1980 Gerald Dullea (USCF Executive Director) letter to Richard E. Fauber about Mr. Fauber awarded the Koltanowski Silver Medal

August 25, 1980 Chess, San Francisco Chronicle, Played By Mail, Australia, 1945

August 27, 1980 Chess, San Francisco Chronicle, Paul Masson Chess Festival

August 28, 1980 The Chess Column, San Francisco Chronicle, Paul Masson Chess Festival Spassky Exhibition

August 29, 1980 Chess, San Francisco Chronicle, Spassky's Only Loss

September 1, 1980 Chess, San Francisco Chronicle, Dr. Max Euwe's Only Loss

September 5, 1980 First United States Microcomputer Chess Championship flyer

January 16, 1981 George Koltanowski postcard to Kerry Lawless about a Macy's event that was cancelled

February 12, 1981 Alan Benson letter to George Koltanowski returned with Kolti note about Alan's 5-board Blindfold Simultaneous Exhibition

March 15, 1981 Signature of George Koltanowski "Dedicated to Kerry Lawless with best wishes."

March 17, 1981 The Chess Column, San Francisco Chronicle, Fast Blindfold Chess

April 20, 1981 Chess, San Francisco Chronicle, CalChess Masters Open

May 21, 1982, Dr. Terrel Bell, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education, letter to George Koltanowski

November 29, 1982 Dr. Lim Kok Ann, General Secretary of FIDE, letter to George Koltanowski about "Dean of American Chess" title

July 29, 1983 Chess, San Francisco Chronicle, Excitement In Pasadena

August 4, 1983 Los Angeles Times, Soviets Won't Budge-Boycott of Pasadena Chess Tourney Seems Certain

August 7, 1983 Kolty Directs Korchnoi-Kasparov Match, Pasadena Star-News

August 8, 1983 Chess, San Francisco Chronicle, The Kasparov Question

August 8, 1983 San Francisco Chronicle, A Very One-Sided Chess Match

August 19, 1983 Pasadena Star-News, Checkmate!

August 28, 1983 The Dean's Gambit By Will Chapin, SF Chronicle

December, 1983 Senior Times V2N12 North Bay Edition, Veteran Chess Champ Still Dazzles Audiences Today

March 30, 1984 Chess, San Francisco Chronicle, A Chess Festival will be held at Longfellow School in Berkeley

May 15, 1984 Chess, San Francisco Chronicle, Upcoming Masters Event

May 17, 1984 Arthur & Helen Dake letter to George & Leah Koltanowski

June 13, 1984 Chess, San Francisco Chronicle, World Correspondence Chess Title

June 21, 1984 Chess, San Francisco Chronicle, U.S. Chess Championship, 1984

June 19, 1984 Leonid Shamkovich letter to George Koltanowski

July 4, 1984 Chess, San Francisco Chronicle, Coinciding Championships

August 20, 1984 Chess, San Francisco Chronicle, U.S. Chess Championship

August 21, 1984 Chess, San Francisco Chronicle, U.S. Chess Championship

October 12, 1984 The George Koltanowski Endowment Fund, The Northern California Jewish Bulletin

November 4, 1985 Chess, San Francisco Chronicle, Stars On The Chess Board

April 10, 1986 1986 Kolty Open tournament flyer

August 21, 1986 Letter from State Senator Milton Marks to George Koltanowski

April 28, 1987 Alfred Hansen letter to Mr. Kirkbride.

December 13, 1988 USCF Vince McCambridge letter to George Koltanowski about his forthcoming GM Certificate & Pin

1988 George Koltanowski's FIDE Honorary Grandmaster Diploma

January 14, 1989 Donald Lieberman letter to George Koltanowski about his overdue Grandmaster title

June 4, 1989 Karin Busch-Strangl (Mephisto Chess Computers) letter to George Koltanowski

October 2/3, 1993 Signature of George Koltanowski; "To Carolyn Withgitt and Tom Dorsch for the fine directing of the San Francisco Chronicle's tournament."

October 3, 1993 George Koltanowski Blindfold Chess Exhibition ticket to the Hyatt Regency San Francisco, Embarcadero Center.

May 16, 1995 George Koltanowski postcard to Chris Mavraedis about games Chris sent in to the column

January 25, 1996 Letter from Michael Lange, Youth At Risk Coordinator, to George Koltanowski about the First Annual Young Knights Chess Mentor Tournament

August 16, 1996 Signature of GM Arthur Dake, inscribed to GM George Koltanowski.

October 17, 1998 Kolty Chess For Youth Foundation, Inc., Minutes of Board of Directors Meeting

February 2-10, 1999 Mechanics' Institute Koltanowski International Chess Tournament Poster

2004 email from Laura Sherman about George Koltanowski

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