University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives Department.

Polish Fine Arts Club (Milwaukee, Wis.).

Records, 1921-1949, 1978.

Milwaukee Manuscript Collection 63

.2 cubic ft. (1 small archives box, and 1 oversize folder)

ABSTRACT: Records of the Polish Fine Arts Club, founded in Milwaukee in 1930 by Conrad Saskowski and others, as a means of disseminating Polish culture by performing and sponsoring serious and comic plays, concerts, and operas. Included in the collection are minutes of meetings, 1930-1933; correspondence; fragmentary financial records, with a few box office statements; membership records; and programs, some script materials, news clippings, and photographs from performances. Among the photographs are characters from Halka, Masked Ball, and Martha, presented by the Polish Opera Club, 1921-1927.

ACCESS RESTRICTIONS: There are no access restrictions on the materials, and the collection is open to all members of the public in accordance with state law. However, the researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright which may be involved in the use of this collection (Wisconsin Statutes 19.21-19.39).

SCOPE AND CONTENT: The collection consists of minutes of meetings of the Club, 1930-1933; correspondence, primarily concerning membership information; fragmentary financial records, with a few bills and box office statements; and membership lists and dues records. Records of the Club's productions include programs, news clippings of reviews, some script materials and other writings, probably by Conrad Saskowski. The photographs are of productions of Halka, Masked Ball, and Martha which were performed by the Polish Opera Club, 1921-1927. Pictured in the photographs are characters from these productions, most of them portrayed by Rose Saskowski.

Also in the collection are news clippings, 1938-1940, regarding Club activities, with a 1978 clipping and copy of a certificate honoring Conrad Saskowski at the time of the performance of his operetta "Spring Song." A folder of miscellaneous includes programs of other dramatic events and concerts, and brochures from exhibits of art work by Polish artists. Some of the papers have been damaged by mice.

ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY: The Polish Fine Arts Club (Klub Kultury Polskiej) was organized following a 1930 lake front festival in Milwaukee. Festival singers and dancers who participated in the favorably received "Polish Wedding" ceremony were asked to perform again on several occasions, and thus decided to form a group to disseminate Polish culture to others. Charter members included Conrad Saskowski, Stasia Pokora, and Felicia Kwasieborska. The Club produced and sponsored both light comedies and more serious works, operas, and concerts, among them being Words and Music (1932), Ladies and Hussars (1932), Yours to Command (written by Saskowski, 1935), Children Be Good (1937), Ach Te Wakacje (written by Stasia Pokora, 1937), Polonaise (1939), and the annual Night in Poland ball. Several symphony concerts, usually featuring Polish conductor Jerzy Bojanowski, were also sponsored by the Club. While the operas and serious concerts and plays of the Polish Fine Arts Club generally broke even financially, the comedies and spoofs were fundraisers for the group. After 1949 the Club disbanded due to declining interest among the membership.

COLLECTION CITATION: This collection should be cited as:

Polish Fine Arts Club (Milwaukee, Wis.). Records, 1921-1949, 1978. Milwaukee Manuscript Collection 63. Wisconsin Historical Society. Milwaukee Area Research Center. UWM Libraries. University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee.

RELATED COLLECTIONS:

Bojanowski, Jerzy, 1893- . Papers, 1967-1979. (Milwaukee Small Collection 118)

Budziszewski, Joseph B., 1922- . Papers, 1949-1981. (Milwaukee Manuscript Collection 38)

Landowski, John C., 1879-1961 . Papers, 1905-1961. (Milwaukee Manuscript Collection 78)

Pankiewicz, M. Emil (Mikolat Emil), 1909- . Papers, 1917-1980. (Milwaukee Manuscript Collection 71 and Milwaukee Micro Collection 36)

ACQUISITION: Presented by Conrad and Jane Saskowski of Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1980 (accession number M80-42).

PROCESSING: Processed by Menzi Behrnd-Klodt in January 1982.

MARC RECORD SEARCH TERMS: The following terms were used in the online bibliographic MARC record to this collection:

Ethnic performing arts--Wisconsin--Milwaukee.
Milwaukee (Wis.)--History--Sources.
Milwaukee Polish Opera Club.
Opera--Wisconsin--Milwaukee.

MILWAUKEE MANUSCRIPT COLLECTION 63	BOX	FOLDER
Correspondence and Related Papers, 1930-1939	1	1
Financial Records, 1939-1949, undated	1	2
Membership Lists, 1931-1933	1	3
Minutes, 1930-1933	1	4
Miscellaneous, 1938, 1940	1	5
News Clippings, 1938-1940, 1978	1	6
Photographs, 1927-1940 [oversize folder]
Play Scripts, Directions, and Other Writings, 1931-1933	1	7
Programs and News Clippings, 1933-1939	1	8