ABSTRACT: Collection includes a folder entitled "An American Born in Poland," consisting of memoirs written in 1981 of Zukowski's boyhood in Poland, his family, emigration to the United States, and life in Milwaukee until 1917. A second folder contains the Memoirs of Sergeant 'Zuki' (written in 1976), which recount Zukowski's military experiences during World War I, based on a diary he kept while serving with an ammunition supply unit of the 32nd "Red Arrow" Division. These include newsclippings, lists of officers and enlisted men, and a list of the dates in places where Zukowski served while in the Army. In addition, there is a small file of correspondence and clippings relating to World War I veterans, "Polish Jokes," and other concerns of the Polish American community.
ACCESS RESTRICTIONS: Walter Zukowski retains all literary rights to his memoirs.
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).
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: Walter Zukowski was born in Augustow in Russian Poland on 8 January 1899. In 1905 he came to the United States with his mother; his father, Joseph, had preceded the family by several years and had worked as a miner in Spring Valley, Illinois. The family eventually settled in St. Hedwig's Parish in Milwaukee; later they moved to the parishes of St. Casimir's and St. Mary of Czestochowa. Zukowski attended parochial grade school until age 14, then worked a variety of jobs to earn money for his family, while attending school.
During World War I, Zukowski served with the American Expeditionary Forces in England, France, and Germany. Following the war he returned to Milwaukee where he worked as an insurance agent, a salesman, and a public relations man. From 1923-1931, he worked in the public relations department of Holeproof Hosiery Company, using the name of Walter Stanley at the company's request. Apparently Zukowski lost his job with the company because of his involvment with the Textile Workers Union. Subsequently, Zukowski worked as a floor manager for Schusters Department Store and at Sears until his retirement in 1964.
COLLECTION CITATION: This collection should be cited as:
Zukowski, Walter, 1899- . Papers, 1976-1981. Milwaukee Small Collection 93. Wisconsin Historical Society. Milwaukee Area Research Center. Golda Meir Library. University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee.
Gurda, Francis S., 1895-1976. Papers, 1886-1981. (Milwaukee Manuscript Collection 49)
Krukar, Phyllis. Papers, 1928-1956. (Milwaukee Small Collection Oversize 3)
MARC RECORD SEARCH TERMS: The following terms were used in the online bibliographic MARC record to this collection:
| MILWAUKEE SMALL COLLECTION 93 | FOLDER |
|---|---|
| "An American Born in Poland," 1981 | 1 |
| Correspondence and News Clippings, 1977-1978 | 3 |
| World War I Memories, Memoirs of Sergeant "Zuki," 1976 | 2 |
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Last edited on Wednesday, June 5, 2002.
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