PMA Archive News Archive 2011
Spring 2011 | Summer 2011 | Fall 2011
fall 2011:
The HENRY WILCZNYSKI COLLECTION is a recent donation to the PMA Archives from Theodore Swigon, former PMA President (1979-1984), given in the name of Helen Zon Wilczynski. The materials concern the life and family of Henry Wilczynski, who was Mr. Swigon’s uncle. The collection includes photographs (now under the process of scanning by J. Siegal), artifacts, and documents, such as vital records spanning several generations of the family, as well as Henry’s military records. He was a sergeant in the US Army during World War II. He was also a baker – his parents, Stanley and Irene Wilczynski, were the proprietors of Lincoln Bakery, located at 1321 W. 51st St. in Chicago. Several photographs, as well as three reels of film (which we hope to convert to DVD or digital format), depict what this Polish bakery looked like in the 1940s.
Such donations are important to the PMA – they provide researchers and future generations a look back into how a family fit into Polonia life. These types of items tell us about the voyage of immigration, of adjusting to a new country, of building a home, a business, and a family on new soil.
Mr. Swigon also assisted the PMA is strengthening relationships with our Polish counterparts. Among his possessions, he held an architectural sketch of the water mill in Debica, my hometown. As such an item does not fit with the PMA collection policy, Mr. Swigon chose to donate it to the Muzeum Regionalne w Debicy [Regional Museum of Debica]. On a recent visit, I presented it to Jacek Dymitrowski, Museum Director, on behalf of the PMA and Mr. Swigon.
We appreciate Mr. Swigon’s renewed interest in the PMA.
Dec. 13, 2011 marks the 30th anniversary of the declaration of MARTIAL LAW IN POLAND. Stan wojenny w Polsce [literally, “the state of war”] refers to the drastic restrictions on normal life through martial law, as imposed by the authoritarian government of the People's Republic of Poland from Dec. 13, 1981 to Jul. 22, 1983. In an attempt to crush political opposition, thousands of activists were interned without charge and many people were killed. Although martial law was lifted in 1983, many of the political prisoners were not released until the general amnesty in 1986.
The PMA Archives is interested in collecting materials pertaining to Polonia’s reactions to the events of this time period. Polonia was an active supporter of the democratic opposition in Poland, including the Solidarity movement, and we are looking for documents, posters, flyers, and other materials gathered by individuals or institutions. Many researchers are fascinated by these events, and donations of such materials are welcome in order for us to understand and commemorate our past.
HARRIET BERTOLA, my long time volunteer and friend, will be taking a break from the Archives. Harriet has assisted me for ten years, and has been a constant help in organizing and typing lists describing the vast collections we house. Her daughter was recently hired as a schoolteacher, and Harriet will now be helping with her grandchildren. Although I am sad to see her step away, I am grateful for her years of dedication and hard work. Thank you, Harriet! We hope you come back soon!
By H. Misterka & T. Sromek
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Summer 2011:
Archival Treasures of The Polish Museum of America
The PMA Archives houses a rich variety of materials, stemming from many sources representing Polish life in America: private papers of individuals; materials from businesses and organizations; newspaper and periodical collections; photos; and other resources. Within the past ten years, a majority of the collections have been cataloged through the work of several invaluable individuals. This includes not only the archival staff and volunteers, but also through cooperation with the National Archives of Poland and several visiting archivists. These combined efforts will one day be published in our long anticipated comprehensive PMA Archives guide. This project has proven to be a massive undertaking, not only from the standpoint of methodology, but also because of the sheer volume of materials, many of which were unregistered, undocumented, or unidentified.
Throughout this continuing organization process, many wonderful and unique documents, photographs, and artifacts have been rediscovered. These materials have been utilized in several exhibits in the museum, including the permanent displays in the Paderewski Room, The American Relief for Poland exhibit in 2008, and the current temporary display about Pope John Paul II at The PMA. In 2007, documents and photographs selected by Halina Misterka and Julita Siegel were scanned and sent for an exhibit on Polonia, to be presented in Warsaw. Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond our control, the exhibit was never held. It is our wish that these materials, along with newly cataloged items, will one day be presented at the museum’s own Chicago Polonia exhibit.
These efforts will provide long-term benefits to the museum and our researchers by emphasizing the treasures hidden within the Archives – our great repository of information. For a behind the scenes look into the Archives, please view the Polish language segment entitled, “W archiwum Muzeum Polskiego w Ameryce” [In the Archives of The Polish Museum of America]. The segment aired during the last week of June on Polsat 2’s Oblicza Ameryki and is currently available online at www.tvpolish.com. We would like to say thank you to our friends at Polsat 2 for showcasing PMA’s wonderful treasures to the world.
Did you know …
Histories are pieced together like a puzzle through the many collections in the archives. Through interested research, the story of an individual, or an organization, or of a people, is told. One such history is the life of Stanislaw Adamkiewicz, who was born in 1875 in Sulmierzyce, Poland, and was successful in Chicago. Within our archival treasure box, we have his June 4, 1900 wedding invitation. This very delicate article is unique, just like Adamkiewicz’s career in America. In 1905, he was elected to an executive office of PRCUA, then as president in 1909 and again in 1911. He was also one of three Polish American delegates to the Grunwald Celebration held in Krakow, Poland in 1910. From previous research, we know IJ Paderewski sponsored the Grunwald Monument; this was not the last connection between these two men. Paderewski, during his 1926 visit to Chicago, decorated Polonia leaders with the order of "Polonia Restituta" for their efforts to help liberate Poland; Adamkiewicz was one of the recipients. A photograph found in the Paderewski Collection captured this moment. Adamkiewicz was also elected as a Chicago alderman in 1917 and in 1919, and since 1893, was a co-founder and member of St. John Kanty parish in Chicago. These two items are only a portion of what is found in the archives about this individual, and this brief account is only one example of the rich histories told through The PMA Archives.
by Halina Misterka, PMA Archivist & Teresa Sromek, Assistant Archivist
Adamkiewicz wedding invitation, 1900.
L-R: IJ
Paderewski, Stanislaw Adamkiewicz, Zygmunt Stefanowicz.
PRCUA building, Chicago, IL. April 26, 1926.
NOTE! The images above may not used in any publication or posted in anyway on an Internet site without written permission from The PMA.
Spring 2011:
“Tylko narod z przeszloscia moze miec przyszlosc”
- His Eminence Karol Cardinal Wojtyla, at The PMA, 1969
Apr. 2, 2011 marked the sixth anniversary of the death of Pope John Paul II. On May 1, 2011, our beloved Pope was beatified. In addition to the museum’s permanent Papal Exhibit in the Great Hall, the Archival team has created a commemorative display about Cardinal Wojtyla’s Chicago visits.
The PMA has a special connection to Cardinal Wojtyla. As archbishop, he visited Chicago in 1969 and 1976, and then as pope in 1979. During the 1969 and 1976 trips, Cardinal Wojtyla visited The PMA.
On Sep. 26, 1969, His Eminence Karol Cardinal Wojtyla, Archbishop of Krakow, arrived in Chicago, as the first Polish Cardinal to visit the US. His visit was at the invitation of His Eminence John Cardinal Cody, Archbishop of Chicago. To commemorate His visit to Chicago, Sep. 27 was proclaimed “Karol Cardinal Wojtyla Day” by Mayor RJ Daley.
His one-day visit of Chicago included an unscheduled stop to The PMA, thanks to His Excellency Auxiliary Bishop Alfred L. Abramowicz. Arriving at 3:35 p.m., Museum Chaplain Walerian S. Karcz welcomed the guests, and asked Cardinal Wojtyla to bless the museum and all its visitors; He did so. Although the trip organizers were in a hurry, Cardinal Wojtyla was not; he showed interest in the museum’s collections, including the kings’ letters and the memoirs of Archbishop Cieplak. In the Paderewski Room, he posed for a picture next to the Paderewski bust. His visit lasted until 4:20 p.m. In appreciation, He stated, “tylko narod z przeszloscia moze miec przyszlosc” [Only a nation with a past, can have a future]. These extraordinary words marked the magnitude of this first visit.
In 1976, Cardinal Wojtyla, along with 15 Polish bishops, visited Chicago for the second time following the Eucharistic Congress in Philadelphia, Aug. 1-8. Our Archives include an Aug. 30, 1979 official report prepared by the Archdiocese of Chicago; among the many details is mentioned His visit to The PMA on Saturday, Aug. 21, 1976.
The future pope and the entire delegation arrived at O’Hare International Airport on Aug. 20, and were greeted by Cardinal Cody, Bishop Abramowicz, and other ecclesiastical officials. Day one of the tour included an official welcome at the newly constructed St. Mary of Nazareth Hospital; prayers at Holy Name Cathedral; a Lake Michigan boat tour; views from the Sears Tower observation deck; and a fete hosted by the Resurrection Fathers at Gordon Tech High School. Bishop Abramowicz once again hosted Cardinal Wojtyla in Five Holy Martyrs Parish for the evening. On the second day, the delegation visited the Resurrection Mausoleum in Justice, IL; early afternoon dinner at the White Eagle Restaurant; a tour of The PMA; and mass at St. Hedwig Parish. The third day included mass at Five Holy Martyrs Parish, followed by a testimonial banquet, which attracted over 2000 guests. On His fourth and final day in the Midwest, Cardinal Wojtyla lectured at the University of Wisconsin in Stevens Point.
During that second day’s afternoon visit to The PMA, Cardinal Wojtyla and Cardinal Cody, along with the delegation of Polish bishops, examined original letters of George Washington, Tadeusz Kosciusko, and IJ Paderewski. The PMA guest book bears a lasting witness to this historic moment. Many photographs and clippings held in the Archives, and currently on display, also illustrate the event.
Only two years later, on Oct. 16, 1978, Cardinal Wojtyla was elected Supreme Pastor of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope John Paul II.
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NOTE! The images above may not used in any publication or posted in anyway on an Internet site without written permission from The PMA.
Anniversary of the Smolensk Tragedy
One year ago, on Apr. 10, 2010, a Polish Air Force plane crashed in Smolensk, Russia, killing all 96 passengers, including Pres. Lech Kaczynski, his wife, and senior government and military officials, many of whom were friends of The PMA.
The PMA Archives has created a topical collection to honor this tragic event. Included are: the condolence book signed by The PMA guests in Apr.-May 2010; letters of sympathy from American organizations; Chicago-based memorial event invitations, programs, and tickets; and clippings from English and Polish language newspapers.
What many may not know is The PMA was scheduled to host a reception with Pres. and Mrs. Kaczynski after the Polish Constitution Day parade on May 1, 2010. Unfortunately, this visit did not occur. The official invitations are also included with this collection.
We would like to continue collecting materials marking this one-year anniversary, and welcome your submissions to the Archives.
PMA Archives in the Media
The Mar. 8, 2011 Chicago Tribune featured Pat Dunnigan’s article, “Helping museum workers collect know-how.” It focused on the University of Chicago’s Graham School of General Studies certificate program on artifact collection care. The PMA is included in this piece, available on the Tribune website; we encourage you to take a look.
Polsat 2’s Oblicza Ameryki/ Faces of America TV crew visited the Archives on Mar. 10, 2011. A look behind the scenes, highlighting unique documents in our collections, will be featured. The segment is scheduled to air in May and will be available online at tvpolish.com.
Lastly, we would like to remind you of the weekly radio broadcasts on Polskie Radio1030AM hosted by Jacek Niemczyk, featuring different perspectives from The PMA. Our dedicated staff wants to keep you informed of upcoming events and histories of our collections, as well as current topics that affect the museum and our community. Tune in every Monday at 2:20 p.m.
By Halina Misterka & Teresa Sromek
70th Anniversary of IJ Paderewski’s Death
To mark the 70th Anniversary of Paderewski’s death on June 29, 2011, I am presenting an excerpt of my lecture, entitled, IJ Paderewski Collection in The PMA Archives. PMA President Maria Ciesla will present the full lecture on my behalf at a conference dedicated to Paderewski’s anniversary of death, in Warsaw on Jun. 20-21, 2011.
IJ Paderewski Collection in The PMA Archives (excerpt)
Copyright, Halina Misterka
[…] Ignacy Jan Paderewski came to the US, for the last time, from Lisbon, Portugal, to New York on the ship of the American Export Line on Nov. 6, 1940. We learned this from the letter of Commander Captain WW Kuhne sent to the museum. He also included an IJP luggage tag - from which we learn that the ship left Portugal on Oct. 27, 1940.
A valuable piece of information on Paderewski’s trip from non-occupied France to Portugal was reported in Click: The National Picture Monthly (Philadelphia, PA, May 1941). The description on the side of picture #6 reads, “in Saragossa the first shadow of Nazism descended where, kept captive in their hotel for six days, the group learned with dismay that their return had been demanded by Berlin.”
I mention this because we also have correspondence from the Spanish embassy sent from Washington on Oct. 4, in answer to Joseph Kania’s telegram from Oct. 3, regarding Paderewski’s stay in Spain. The embassy referred to an article from the Washington Post as the real explanation for Paderewski’s delay in leaving for the US. In the Archives, we have a very faint signed blue copy of Paderewski’s speech given in New York on Nov. 6, 1940, where he explains the reasons for his decision to come to the US at this time.
Coincidentally, because of the delays, Paderewski arrived in New York on the day of his 80th birthday.
That same day, at the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago, the Polish National Council sponsored the “Program Commemorating the 80th Birthday Anniversary of IJ Paderewski.” During the intermission, the audience was asked for voluntary donations for the Paderewski Fund. According to the reports found in The PMA Archives, they collected over $2000.
I must mention the group of documents in The PMA Archives which pertain to the Paderewski Fund for Polish Relief. Long before Paderewski’s birthday, a group of American representatives decided to demonstrate their love and admiration for Paderewski by raising in his honor a substantial sum for the relief of his countrymen. On Apr. 16, 1940, Bart Andress, National Campaign Director, arranged the speech of IJP to be broadcast over a national hook-up of the National Broadcasting Company from his home in Switzerland; The PMA has a recording of this speech.
Mieczyslaw Haiman, curator of the museum, and Kania, president of PRCUA, visited Paderewski in his hotel room on Nov. 8, 1940, two days after his arrival in New York. In the Archives, we hold a manuscript of Haiman’s report from the visit written Nov. 9, 1940. Additional information can be found in the clipping from Narod Polski dated Nov. 14, 1940.
The current exhibit includes a photo and thank you notes, which were signed by Paderewski for all who sent him greetings for his 80th birthday. […]
Paderewski made his last public appearance against the advice of his closest friends. On Sunday, Jun. 22, 1941, he made a trip to Oak Ridge, NJ, for the convention and the 20th anniversary of The Polish Army Veteran’s Association of America. Paderewski’s arrival was announced on the first page of the June issue of Weteran - the official veteran’s monthly publication. The July issue was dedicated entirely to Paderewski and includes his final speech.
Paderewski, speaking from an automobile, was surrounded by a huge number of people who came to see the legendary Pole. The PMA also has a recording of this speech. Speaking in the summer heat made him thirsty - he drank ice water. At midnight on Friday, Jun. 27, he became ill - the doctors diagnosed it as pneumonia. He died a minute before 11 o’clock in the evening on Jun. 29, 1941. Most of the photos from his last appearance, as well as the hat that blocked the sun from Paderewski’s head, are on exhibit in The PMA Paderewski Room.
The PMA Archives also holds: issues of the New York daily, Nowy Swiat, Jul. 1-6, 1941, covering a running commentary regarding the death and funeral of the late Paderewski; formal funeral announcements; materials about Paderewski’s heart enshrinement, Doylestown, PA, Jun. 29, 1986; and materials referring to the Ceremonial Events Honoring the Return of Paderewski's Remains to Poland, Jun. 1992.
An unusual discovery shows the correspondence from the Director of the Polish Library in Paris, Franciszek Pulaski, to PRCUA President Kania, dated Mar. 19, 1952. Pulaski remarks, “It was Paderewski’s wish that his remains be buried in his family burial plot, next to his son, Alfred Paderewski and his wife, Helena Paderewska in the famous Polish cemetery in Montmorency, near Paris.” Pulaski included notarized copies from Dec. 4, 1920 with proof of purchase of the lot. […]
Further research on this issue is open for scholars to investigate.
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NOTE! The images above may not used in any publication or posted in anyway on an Internet site without written permission from The PMA.
By Halina Misterka
Posted May 11, 2011
