Raymond Karl Sobota (1914-2010) was the son of Stanley and Josephine Sobota, second generation immigrants from Poland and Germany, respectively. Raymond and his twin brother, Gerald (1914-1987), were born just a year after their sister Dorothy (Mrs. Leslie Bohn). Another brother, Thomas (d. 1997), followed about 11 years later.

Sobota's uncle, Karl Schmidt, for whom he was named, designed for the Berkey & Gay Furniture Company, among others.

Sobota graduated from the furniture design program at Kendall School of Art & Design in 1946 and apprenticed with his uncle for seven years. This experience led to design work for the Grand Rapids Bookcase and Chair Co., the Mt. Airy Furniture Co. and Hekman Furniture. Sobota has the longest association, however, with the Century Furniture Co., first designing for them in 1954 and being most visible in their trade literature from the 1960s into the 1990s. As the furniture companies moved to the southeast, so did Raymond and his wife Jeanne, first living part-time in Florida in the winters, and becoming permanent residents there in May 1973.

Sobota was honored with the American Society of Furniture Designers' (ASFD) Distinguished Designer Award in 1989. He also received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Ferris State University’s Kendall College of Art and Design in 2000, honoring his 60 years as a furniture designer. That award was accepted for him by his nephew, David Sobota.

This collection was given to the Library by Bonnie Terpstra, who is Raymond Sobota’s daughter, as well as a former employee of the Grand Rapids Public Library.

Mr. Sobota lived in Florida from 1972 until his death in 2010.