University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives Department.

Kosmatka, Mary J., 1906- .

Family papers, 1896-1979.

Milwaukee Manuscript Collection 76

.2 cubic ft. (1 oversize box)

ABSTRACT: Family photographs and genealogies, a few letters, news clippings, and other items presented by Mary Grochowska Kostmatka, a former business woman and VISTA worker. Among those represented in the collection are members of the Kuszewski and Grochowski families in Milwaukee. There are many photographs of the parents, grandparents, siblings, and other relatives of Mary Kosmatka, as well as photos of herself as a young woman, and as a member of the Marya Konopnicka Dramatic Circle. The Dramatic Circle, which presented plays in Polish at St. Casimir's Church in Milwaukee, is also well represented by cast and banquet photos from the 1920s and 1930s. To supplement the many photographs are a family genealogy compiled by Mary Kosmatka, her own autobiographical sketch, news clippings of her VISTA experiences in Arizona, and a few family records.

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 majority of the collection is composed of photographs of Mary Kosmatka, her parents, siblings, and other relatives, of the Marya Konopnicka Dramatic Circle (to which Mary Kosmatka belonged), c. 1930, and of a few Milwaukee priests. A listing of brief descriptions of the photos is attached, although not all have been identified. To supplement the photographs are a family history compiled by Mrs. Kosmatka; a lengthy autobiographical letter and sketch, dated 17 May 1981; her 1981 remembrances of working in her uncle's store; two letters from a relative describing two of the photographs and giving additional genealogical details; a copy of the speech delivered by Mary Grochowska when accepted in the Marya Konopnicka Dramatic Circle; and news clippings regarding Mrs. Kosmatka's VISTA experiences. There are a few printed items which mention Mrs. Kosmatka's name, a loan repayment record book of Rosa Grochowski, an accounting exercise book of Clara Grochowska (Mary's sister), and a small packet of holy cards.

The papers of Mary Kosmatka are most significant for the photographs of her family, relatives, and friends, and for their depiction of the Marya Konopnicka Dramatic Circle casts, and scenes of Milwaukee during the first two or three decades of the twentieth century.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: Mary J. (Maryanna Joanna) Grochowska was born in Milwaukee 2 September 1906 to Rosa (Kuszewska) and Simon (later James) Grochowski, Jr. She attended several grade schools, including St. Casimir's, Lapham Park Open Air School, and Palmer Street Public School, followed by Riverside High School. She also took the two-year commercial course offered by the Milwaukee school systems, and attended McDonald's Business College, finishing before she was sixteen years of age. Mary then worked for her uncle, Joseph B. Kuszewski, at his grocery store on North Bremen Street for three years, and later in the office of the Milwaukee Shoe Company until her marriage on 22 May 1934. Throughout her youth and following her marriage, Mary Kosmatka was active in numerous civic, church, and social organizations. When she was nineteen, she was accepted as a member of the Marya Konopnicka Dramatic Circle, which gave performances at St. Casimir's Church.

In 1936 Mary and her husband, Valentine Kosmatka, opened the Lincoln Gift Shoppe on West Lincoln Avenue, which they operated until 1940. Both Mr. and Mrs. Kosmatka subsequently held a variety of jobs in several Milwaukee businesses. Their daughter, Rose Marie, was born in 1936. Valentine Kosmatka died in 1961. In 1966, Mary Kosmatka joined VISTA and spent a year working with families on the Navajo reservation at Ft. Defiance, Arizona. Since that time she has lived in Oconomowoc, Milwaukee, and in Watertown, where she has lived with her daughter and son-in-law since 1977.

COLLECTION CITATION: This collection should be cited as:

Kosmatka, Mary J., 1906- . Family papers, 1896-1979. Milwaukee Manuscript Collection 76. Wisconsin Historical Society. Milwaukee Area Research Center. UWM Libraries. University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee.

RELATED COLLECTION:

Wojtczak, Pelagia. Papers, 1937-1976. (Milwaukee Small Collection 103)

ACQUISITION: Presented by Mary J. Kosmatka of Watertown, Wisconsin in 1980 and 1981 (accession numbers M811-20, and M81-371).

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

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

Grochowska family.
Kostmatka, Mary J. (Maryanna Joanna), 1906- .
Kuszewski family.
Marya Konopnicka Dramatic Circle.
Milwaukee (Wis.)--History--Sources.
Polish Americans--Wisconsin--Milwaukee--History.
Volunteers in Service to America.

MILWAUKEE MANUSCRIPT COLLECTION 76	BOX	FOLDER
Accounting Exercise Book of Clara Grochowska, 1910-1911	1	2
Historical and Biographical Materials, 1967, 1981, undated	1	1
Holy Cards, 1927-1961, undated	1	2
Loan Repayment Book of Rosa Grochowski, 1935-1939	1	2
Photographs, 1896-1970, undated [envelope 1]	1
Photographs, 1930, undated [envelope 2]	1
Photographs, Marya Konopnicka Dramatic Circle, 1925, undated [envelope 3]	1