Learn More About Us!
The Polish Museum of America is the “crown jewel” of the Polish
American community. Established 75 years ago it has preserved and exhibited
the history and culture of the Polish American community and our
ancestral homeland – Poland. Its all-inclusive exhibits are
both educational and entertaining. Its Library
and extensive Archives have rendered invaluable
services to historians, researchers, students and genealogists.
become a member
The Polish Museum of America, one of the oldest and largest ethnic
museums in the United States, offers visitors a range of exhibits,
resources and activities related to Polish history, culture and
heritage, as well as Polish American history. Tour guides are
available to assist visitors and provide additional information.
There is handicapped access and a wheelchair is available upon
request.
In the Museum, you will find on permanent display:
- Polish folk art in wood, textiles, leather and needlework
- Authentic regional Polish folk dress
- Paintings and sculptures by 18th, 19th and 20th century Polish and Polish American artists
- Polish coins, medals, books and photographs
- Exhibits from the Polish Pavilion at the 1939 New York World's Fair
- Examples of szopkas (nativity scenes) and Polish Christmas and Easter traditions
- Wycinanki – traditional Polish paper-cutting art
- Polish military uniforms and winged Hussar armor
- Exhibits on famous Poles: Pope John Paul II, General Casimir Pulaski, General Tadeusz Kosciuszko and Shakespearean actress Helena Modrzejewska (Modjeska)
- Paderewski Room exhibit dedicated to Ignacy Jan Paderewski, pianist, composer and statesman, including his piano and personal belongings
- Stations of the Cross from Panna Maria, Texas, the first permanent Polish settlement in the United States (1854)
Special temporary exhibits, which change periodically, are also on
view. These exhibits focus on a specific artistic or
historical topic.
return to top of page | learn more
The Archives of the Polish Museum of America preserve historic
material from various Polish American organizations, churches and
individuals. These include Polish newspapers, magazines, jubilee
brochures, program books, flyers, private papers of well-known Poles
and Polish Americans, maps, photos and much more.
The Archives are not accessible to the public. Due to the fact that
vast parts of the collections are not cataloged, the archival
holdings can be accessed only by calling or writing in advance. Patrons can request
research to be done; research fee is $20 per hour. When
an order is processed, the archival material is available for use in
the Museum’s library or can be reviewed with the Archivist by
appointment. Genealogical material is not available.
return to top of page | learn more
The Polish Museum of America Library has over 100,000 books in both Polish
and English languages on subjects of interest to Polish Americans, including
such topics as Polish art, music, biographies, genealogy, immigration and history.
The public is welcome to use these resources for on-premises research, but the lending
library is open only to members for an annual fee or at certain levels of
membership to the Museum. Both English and
Polish-speaking personnel are available to assist library patrons.
return to top of page | learn more
The Gift Shop is a treasure trove of Polish culture that you can take home with you. Among the items we carry are:
- Books
- Boxes & Woodcraft
- Crystal and Ceramic Ware
- Dolls & Toys
- Jewelry
- Museum Souvenirs
- Music
- Pins, Magnets, Flags
- Polish Greeting Cards
- ...and Much More!
At this time you can order by phone or by mail (a printable order form is available in the Gift Shop section of this website). Unfortunately we do not yet have a secure site for online transactions, but be sure to revisit the Museum home page often during the coming year to keep abreast of our plans.
return to top of page | learn more
Frequently asked questions
- I have items that belonged to a deceased relative. Can I donate these to the Museum?
It depends. We have limited
storage space and must be selective about what we will accept. Please
prepare a list of the items you want to donate and send it to the Museum.
We will advise you what we will accept.
- I have a painting by a Polish artist. Can you tell me its value?
No! This is potentially a conflict
of interest. Contact the agent who handles your property or renter's insurance and ask
the agent to recommend a qualified appraiser.
- My ancestor lived in Chicago around 1900. Can you give me more information about him/ her?
No.
We do not have information about past residents of Chicago or any other city.
We have newspaper obituaries and some selected church records available on
microfilm. Please go to our genealogy page for
more information on getting started with your genealogical research.
- My family will be visiting the Museum next month. What else is there to do in Chicago?
Please click on the links page for
information about Chicago tourism.
- Are there any Polish restaurants near the Museum?
Yes. Podhalanka restaurant is about three city-blocks from the
Museum. Any Museum Staff can give you directions at the time of your
visit. The restaurant is very near to the Division Street Blue Line
subway station.
- Where is the Polish neighborhood in Chicago located?
The nearest Polish neighborhood to the Museum is located
about four miles northwest of the Museum, at the junction of Belmont Avenue and
Milwaukee Avenue. It can be reached by car or Public Transportation.
Museum Staff can give you more information at the time of your visit.
- Can we get a guided tour of the Museum?
This would be difficult. The Museum is large and has a great many
exhibits. We have very limited staff available, usually just one person
who handles visitor questions as well as the Gift Shop. We can give
visitors an overview of the Museum and its history. We can answer
questions and provide additional information on specific exhibits. Taking
your group from exhibit to exhibit is not practical.
- I have some letters written in Polish. Can you translate these for me?
Generally, no. We can suggest people who can translate but they will charge you a fee.
However, sometimes there are exceptions to this general rule. It is best
to send a description (quantity, dates, nature of the documents, if known,
etc.,) of the documents to the Museum. For example, some years ago a
person came in with quite a number of letters, correspondence between two
sisters in the U.S. and their father in Poland. What interested us was
that the letters spanned the period of 1914 to 1925. This was a critical
period in Polish history and a long sequence of letters is very rare. We
scanned all the letters and provided translations at no charge in order to add
this information to our Archives.
- I would like to rent the Museum space for an upcoming wedding reception, how do I arrange this?
The Polish Museum of America is available for rental to community groups, organizations and
businesses, however we regret that we are unable to host private celebrations (such as weddings).
For more information about planning a special event at the PMA, please contact: Pat Tropp at (773) 782-2605 or Kasia Budzyn at (773) 782-2604
Joseph A. Drobot, Jr., Chairman
Anna Sokolowski, Vice-Chairman
Maria Ciesla, President
(Maria Ciesla, President of The Polish Museum of America, began her
volunteer activities in the late 1970s as a
Sunday docent. She served on the Museum Board for several two-year
terms, and was elected President in 2004. She
is active in Chicago’s Polonia, civic organizations, and in ovarian
cancer awareness advocacy, and has served as
President for several of these groups.)
Richard Owsiany, Vice-President
Geraldine Balut Coleman, Secretary
Thaddeus J. Makarewicz, General Counsel
return to top of page
GREETINGS
FOR 2013
May the best of 2012 be the worst of 2013!
The Polish Museum of America is pleased to present
our 2013 Staff:
Jan M.
Lorys Director
Malgorzata Kot
Head Librarian
Krystyna Grell
Librarian
Halina Misterka
Head Archivist
Richard
Kujawa
Operations Manager
Fred Tuytens
Weekend Operations Manager
Teresa Sromek
Archivist & Librarian
Julita
Siegel
Photography Collections Archivist
Leonard Kurdek
Museum Assistant
Lisa Terlecki
Graphic Designer/Museum Assistant
Katarzyna Przychodzen
Development Coordinator
Anna Wolan
Tour Guide
Kasia Sobieraj-Tesar
Museum Assistant/Tour Guide
Beata Pupczyk
Tour Guide
Greg
Wiley
Weekend Security
Kathryn Rosypal
PMA Newsletter Editor-in-Chief
And our Board of Directors:
Joseph A. Drobot,
Jr. Chair
Anna Sokolowski
Vice Chair
Maria Ciesla
President
Richard Owsiany
Vice President
Henriette
Rocks
Vice President
Geraldine Balut
Coleman Secretary
Thaddeus J. Makarewicz
Legal Advisor
David
Lewandowski
Institutional Director
Ann Burzcycki
Director
Virginia Cudecki
Director
John Garrido
Director
Kenneth P.
Gill
Director
Victoria Granacki
Director
Edmund
Gronkiewicz
Director
Delphine Huneycutt
Director
Michelle Kurzydlowski
Director
Stephen Kusmierczak
Director
Paul
Odrobina
Director
Andrzej Pawlowski
Director
Polish Consulate General in
Chicago Director
Mary Jane
Robles
Director
Kevin Ryba
Director
Teresa Sinkowski
Director
Betty Uzarowicz
Director
And approximately 100 appreciated volunteers,
interns, and community service volunteers
return to top of page
Jan M. Lorys, Director
Jan M. Lorys attended Catholic primary school and high school in Chicago. He graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago Circle in 1971 with a B.A. in Political Science. He worked for the Federal Government for nineteen years before taking a disability retirement, after which he earned an M.A. in History, also from UIC. From September 1992 till June 1996, Mr. Lorys was a bilingual (Polish) teacher with the Chicago Public School System, teaching History and Social Studies. He is the co-producer and writer of a short film on Casimir Pulaski. Jan. Lorys has been the Director of the Polish Museum since June 28, 1996. Mr. Lorys played an important role as a Steering Committee member in the creation of the Chicago Cultural Alliance, a Chicagoland partnership of 20 ethnic museums and cultural institutions. He has also initiated contacts with cultural and government institutions in Poland that have resulted in several beneficial exchanges and collaborations.
Małgorzata Kot, Head Librarian
Małgorzata Kot completed her education in Poland, and received a Master’s Degree in Polish Philology from the Jan Kochanowski Pedagogical University (Swietokrzyska Academy) in Kielce, Poland. In 1995, she joined the staff at the Museum as the Head Librarian. Mrs. Kot’s chief responsibilities include oversight and maintenance of the permanent book and media collection; cataloging acquisitions; processing donations; keeping inventories; and updating records. She is the editor of and a contributor to the Guide to the History and Collections of The Polish Museum of America published in 2003. She has several other publications to her credit and frequently writes articles for the Polish press. Mrs. Kot often represents the Museum on ethnic and local television and radio broadcasts.
Krystyna Grell, Librarian
Krystyna Grell earned a Master’s Degree from the Department of Philology, with a major in Library Science and Scientific Information, at Wroclaw University, Poland. She has experience working in Polish libraries and at the Department of Culture and Art of the Governor’s State Office in Legnica, Poland. Ms. Grell received the award for Meritorious Service to Polish Culture from the Minister of Culture and Arts of the Republic of Poland. After her arrival in the United States, Ms. Grell initially volunteered at the Museum and several Chicago Public libraries. As of 2004, she is a staff Librarian at The Polish Museum of America Library. She is also a co-organizer of many activities and cultural events that take place at the Museum.
Agnieszka Migiel, Library Assistant
Agnieszka Migiel joined the Museum as an Assistant Librarian in 2003. A Chicago native, she is currently a fourth year student at Loyola University, pursuing a B.B.A. in International Business. She completed her primary and secondary education in the Polish language at Holy Trinity Polish School in Chicago. Ms. Migiel’s responsibilities at the Museum include: maintaining the Library’s book collection; translating material for PMA publications; undertaking translations for Museum patrons (letters, documents, articles, etc.); research; providing statistical analysis for the Library; book-keeping. Ms. Migiel also assists with preparations for special events at the Museum and occasionally serves a tour guide.
Halina Misterka, Head Archivist of the PMA
Born in Przeworsk, Poland, Halina Misterka came to America in 1993. She completed her education in Poland, receiving degrees, first in teaching and later in Cultural and Ethnographic Studies of the Carpathian Region. In 2000, she began working at The Polish Museum of America as Head Archivist. Since then, she has processed the majority of the known collections, with the goal of the first published, bilingual guide of The PMA Archives. She has served as curator for several exhibits and as author of archival articles, utilizing the documents and photographs from the collections. She has presented the results of organizing and cataloging the Paderewski Collection in her lecture, I.J. Paderewski Documents in The PMA Archives at the Chopin & Paderewski 2010 International Conference at Loyola University. Mrs. Misterka has also coordinated professional relationships with the Ministry of Culture of Poland and the National Archives. This relationship included visits to Poland for symposiums, training sessions, and workshops, as well as several visiting archivists to The PMA, who have aided in the continued efforts of organizing the Archives. Currently, she is enrolled in The Graham School of Continuing Studies to complete a certificate in Artifact Collection Care.
Teresa Sromek, Assistant Archivist & Librarian
Teresa Sromek received a MA in English from DePaul University, Chicago, IL, in late 2006, and a MLIS from Dominican University, River Forest, IL, in early 2009. In addition to library fundamentals, her studies focused on archival theory and special collections, and she began her involvement with The PMA through an archival practicum in autumn 2008. The practicum turned into regular volunteering, which in turn became employment as Assistant Archivist. On Saturdays, she can also be found in The PMAL as Assistant Librarian.
Richard Kujawa, Operations Manager
Richard Kujawa joined the Museum staff in 1998. In many ways, this was a homecoming since Mr. Kujawa’s ancestors were deeply engaged with the PRCUA, almost from the founding of the institution. After a long first career in industry and business, he has embarked on this second career in the non-profit sector. His duties include scheduling and conducting tours, scheduling programs and special events, overseeing the programs calendar, routine Museum maintenance, supervising installations and repairs, and managing the Museum’s Website. In addition he gives a specially developed lecture on Polish immigration to Chicago. Mr. Kujawa has a B.S. degree, 1971, in chemical engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana.
His strong technical background has been a surprisingly
significant asset to the Museum.
Fred Tuytens, Museum Operations
Anna Wolan, Museum Operations
Anna Wolan studied political studies at Rzeszów University in Poland. She came to the United States in 2004 and became a volunteer at the Polish Museum of America Library. Since December 2004 she has been employed as a guide at the Museum. In 2005 she joined the staff of Polish Roman Catholic Union of America.
Kasia Soberaj-Tesar, Museum Operations
Leonard Kurdek, Museum Assistant
Leonard Kurdek commenced his activities at the Museum as a volunteer in July, 2000, and was honored as the Volunteer of the Year in 2003 for his outstanding contributions. Now on staff, he has prepared an inventory of the Museum’s Polonica book catalogs eventually to be posted online. Leonard’s other duties are the review and organization of the Museum’s music collection, which comprises sheet music, records, scores, player piano rolls, promotional material, etc. He has a B.A. in History from Loyola University, Chicago.
Lisa Terlecki, Graphic Designer/Museum Assistant
Greg Wiley, Weekend Security
return to top of page
Volunteers are a vital part of our organization and we appreciate all of them. Only our regularly scheduled volunteers are listed here, but there are over one hundred helpers who come in at various times throughout the year. Thank you and God Bless You!
Please visit the Museum if you want to do volunteer work. Discuss your interests with any staff member. Unpaid internships are welcome. Please email to the address in the header above and include a brief resume.
- Małgorzata Palka
Malgorzata Palka lives in Chicago since 2007. She is interested in fine art and is a devoted volunteer at the Polish Museum of America. She currently helps with inventorying the collection of posters and books, and also participates in many museum activities. She is a current member of the International Women Associates, where she co-organizes many interesting events relating to international affairs and is also a major figure in the operation of the fundraising for the Swift School.
-
- Mary Jane Robles (Gift Shop Manager)
Mary Jane Robles, a volunteer since 1997, is the Museum Gift Shop Manager and handles sales, supervises the inventory, orders merchandise, and organizes the annual Christmas Gift Show, as well as the Amber and Crystal Sale. She also serves as secretary to the Resident Vice-President of the PRCUA, generously donating her time for shop duties. Ms. Robles also assists during Museum events, often volunteering for the much-appreciated task of clean up afterwards.
-
- H. Bertola
- H. Bieniewska
- M. Boruch
- K. Derus
- C. Jankowski
- E. Kapuscinska
- S. Gasior
- C. Jankowski
|
- H. Kulesza
- R. Lindberg
- K. Nowakowski
- E. Witek
- B. Yon
- P. Podczaski
|
| | |
| | |
return to top of page
- Julita Siegel, Photo Collection Registrar
Julita Siegel came to Chicago after graduating from the University of Adam Mickiewicz in Poznan, Poland, with a Masters Degree in Art History. Her work at the Museum consists of cataloging and digitizing documentary photographs in the permanent collection. These responsibilities combine Mrs. Siegel’s love of photography and art with an interest and respect for the past, as well as for Polish culture and heritage. She also serves as graphic designer for many of the Museum’s invitations, cards, bookmarks, and mailers. She oversees requests for reproduction of material from the collections and photographs objects in the collections. As a photographer, her work appears in many publications, among them
American Photo Magazine, Photographer’s Forum, Best of College Photography, and the 2007 book,
Polish Chicago: Our History, Our Recipes, a project she coordinated with the publisher. Mrs. Siegel excels in graphic design and her biggest achievement in this field to date is receipt of the Grand Prix in the
Ex Libris (book plate) international competition organized by the Semper Polonia Foundation in Warsaw, Poland. Mrs. Sigel continues her education in photography and graphic design. She freelances as a professional photographer, often as a team with her husband Bart.
- Kathryn G. Rosypal, Editor-In-Chief, PMA Newsletter
return to top of page
