Genealogical Resources

LIBRARY RESOURCES

The following genealogical resources are available in the Library of the Museum:

• Index to the Obituaries and Death Notices appearing in the Dziennik Chicagoski, 1890–1971.
• Dziennik Chicagoski on microfilm, 1890–1971
• Microfilmed church records (baptism, marriage, death) from:
  • St. John Cantius, Chicago, 1893–1915
  • Holy Trinity, Chicago, 1893–1915
  • St. Stanislaus Kostka, Chicago, 1869–1915
• Słownik Geograficzny Królestwa Polskiego (A gazetteer of cities, towns and villages in Poland, published circa 1900. 16 volumes, most over 800 pages. In Polish only. We do not provide translation services.)
• Numerous publications on genealogical research techniques.

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POLISH GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA (PGSA)

The roots of the Polish Genealogical Society of America (PGSA) developed in 1978 at the Polish Museum of America. The Polish Museum and Library was a natural resource for genealogical researchers and it was the suggestion of a librarian who fielded their calls that they should share their common interests. The conversations between Edward Peckwas, Joseph Dressel and others became a workshop at the Museum on April 23, 1978. The roots took hold at an organizational meeting on May 5 of that same year. Nine people were in attendance and Ed Peckwas was selected to be the first President. By September, membership had grown to 85 and represented 44 states.

The Society’s Founders were looking to uncover not only their first family members on American soil, but were also seeking their roots in Poland. They knew future researchers would have the same objectives. So the Mission Statement drafted was, and still is, “to collect, disseminate, and preserve information on Polish and Polish-American family history and to help members use that information in their own research.” Governance of the Society is through its Board, which consists of elected officers and directors and the heads of standing committees.

The PGSA staff of hard-working volunteers manage all research and administrative functions. The Society draws its almost two thousand members from every state, Canada and other countries with significant Polish population, such as Great Britain, France, Germany, Australia and, of course, Poland itself.

The PGSA uses The Polish Museum of America Library as its headquarters and stores its genealogical files there. The genealogists are at the Library every Wednesday from 9:00a.m.–1:00p.m., during which time the Library is closed to the public. PGSA’s Genealogy Saturdays are held at the Library on the third Saturday of every month from 10:00a.m.–1:00p.m.

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