Polish American Collections, H-O

Subject Listing:
Polish Americans, H-O

Holy Name Polish National Catholic Church (Milwaukee, Wis.).
Records, 1954-1980.
Milwaukee Small Collection 117
Records of the oldest Polish National Catholic Church in Milwaukee (founded 1914), consisting of anniversary albums and programs of the church and its pastor, a parish hymnal and songbook, and other materials. Finding aid available in the Archives.

Idzinkowski, Kazimiera, 1911- .

Family papers, 1903-1978.
Milwaukee Small Collection 116

Family papers and photographs including passports and naturalization certificates, genealogical notes, and a 1933 photo of the United Polish National Choir concert. Finding aid available in the Archives.

In commemoration of the unveiling of the Pulaski Monument in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1931.
Milwaukee Small Collection 147
Commemorative booklet and newsclippings on the unveiling of the Pulaski Monument, designed by architect Francis S. Gurda; including a biography of General Casimir Pulaski, a hero of the American Revolution, written by Casimir Gonski; and a history of the monument.

Janik, Arthur S., 1904-1967.
Papers, 1932-1956.
Scrapbook, photographs, and miscellaneous materials pertaining to Janik's activities with the Wisconsin Tavern Keepers Association and the South Side Business Men's Club, a South Side Polish American organization; his two taverns, Balcony Inn and Club Rogers; and his political activities. Noteworthy among the photographs are a 1932 picture of Janik's tavern showing customers drinking "moonshine" during Prohibition, and a 1941 picture of the grand opening of the Club Rogers. Finding aid available in the Archives.

Kaminski, Jan Nepomucen, 1777-1855.
Script, undated.
UWM Manuscript Collection 68
Undated script in Polish of "Skalmierzanki," a operetta of the women of Skalmierz village, by dramatist Jan Nepomucen Kaminski (1777-1855). Musical score for the operetta was written by Karol Kurpinski (1785-1857), a prominent composer of Polish operettas and musicals. Finding aid available in the Archives.

Kaminski, John G., 1893-1960.
Papers, 1912-1960.
Milwaukee Manuscript Collection 146
Papers of a Polish American aviator, stunt pilot, and the first licensed pilot in Wisconsin, mainly documenting the period of his active career, 1912-1919. Includes correspondence and contracts with the Curtiss Exhibition Company concerning exhibition flights; and broadsides, newsclippings, and numerous photographs and newsclippings documenting his flights. The photographs are mostly of Kaminski and his Curtiss Model D pusher aircraft "Sweetheart," taken between 1912-1914 at public exhibitions or flight training schools.

Kleczka, Leonard J., 1892-1980.
Papers, 1911-1980.
Milwaukee Manuscript Collection 83
Papers concerning Kleczka's activities and career as a Milwaukee attorney and public servant, consisting primarily of Kleczka and Gorski family photographs and certificates. Finding aid available in the Archives.

Kopernik 500th Anniversary Committee of Wisconsin.
Records, 1971-1978.
Milwaukee Manuscript Collection 20
Records of the Kopernik Quincentennial committee formed by Edward J. Tomasik to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the birth of the Polish astronomer Mikolat Kopernik (Nicolaus Copernicus), with information on a banquet, an exhibit of artifacts, and other activities. Finding aid available in the Archives.

Korducki, Sandra, 1937- .
Papers, 1951-1956.
Milwaukee Small Collection 119
Photographs, newsclippings, and programs illustrating Korducki's involvement in the Mazur Polish Dancers, the Polish Summer School, and the Walker's Point Youth and Family Center in Milwaukee. Finding aid available in the Archives.

Kostmatka, Mary J., 1906- .

Family papers, 1896-1979.
Milwaukee Manuscript Collection 76

The majority of the collection is composed of photographs of Kostmatka's relatives, including those in the Grochowska and Kuszewski families, and of the Marya Konopnicka Dramatic Circle. Also includes a family genealogy, and materials pertaining to Kostmatka's experiences as a VISTA volunteer in Arizona. Finding aid available in the Archives.

Krakow Polish Dancers (Milwaukee, Wis.).
Records, 1973-1981.
Milwaukee Small Collection 136
Materials regarding a folk dance troupe organized in Milwaukee in 1967, including a handbook and history, a memorandum on costumes, and tour programs.

Krolasik, Casimir, 1913- .
Papers, 1917-1980.
Milwaukee Small Collection 143 and Milwaukee Tape 10
Photographs, newsclippings, and other materials from a Milwaukee tool and die maker and his wife Marie concerning organizations in which they were active, especially the Polish Young People's Alliance (Towarzystwa Zwiaku Mlodziezy Polskiej); and two bands, the Kazimierz Krolasik Orchestra and Stanley and the Original Revelers. Finding aid available in the Archives.

Krukar, Phyllis.

Papers, 1928-1956.
Milwaukee Small Collection Oversize 3

Miscellaneous papers collected by Phyllis Krukar, including building committee records from a local church on which a relative served; a holy card from the burial mass for baseball star Al Simmons; and a list of soldiers, and a photo of officers who served in Company K, 127th Infantry, 32nd Division during World War II. Finding aid available in the Archives.

Kucharski, Thaddeus M.
Papers, 1914-1953, 1960.
Milwaukee Manuscript Collection 31
Collection documents Kucharski's involvement with theatrical groups at St. Hedwig's Catholic Church in Milwaukee, especially St. Hedwig's Dramatic Society, and some records of church committees that Kucharski was a member of. Finding aid available in the Archives.

Kuryer Polski (Milwaukee, Wis.).
Records [microform], 1907-1961.
Milwaukee Micro Collection 29
Partial records of the first Polish newspaper in the United States, consisting of board minutes (1915-1926); a scrapbook of memoranda and other records (1907-1916); subscriber lists (1960-1961); and papers of the newspaper's founder Michael Kruszka, which include correspondence on the disputes between Kruszka and Milwaukee Archbishop Sebastian Messmer on a variety of subjects. Most of the collection is in Polish. Finding aid available in the Archives.

Kuryer Publishing Company (Milwaukee, Wis.).
Records, 1893-1961.
UWM Manuscript Collection 46
Collection includes records of the Kuryer Publishing Company that printed the Polish language daily newspaper, Kuryer Polski, and managed the Kuryer Agency. Although the collection consists of only partial records of the Kuryer Publishing Company, the material is especially valuable for both documenting the demise of the ethnic press and for a study of inter-war immigration policies. In addition, the collection possesses valuable genealogical material. The Kuryer Agency's records are primarily correspondence in Polish and English relating to the Agency's efforts in assisting its clients in citizenship matters, transmitting funds to Poland, investing in Polish bonds, purchasing steamship tickets to and from Poland, and obtaining immigration visas for relatives in Poland. The Kuryer Publishing Company's records are primarily correspondence and business records concerning the daily operations of the Kuryer Polski. Extensive correspondence with various Polish organizations document the Kuryer's importance in Polish-American communities throughout North America. Letters from readers with various requests for information and assistance chronicle the Kuryer's prominence in America's Polonia. Finding aid available in the Archives.

Kwasniewski, Roman B. J., 1886-1980.
Papers, 1892-1953.
Papers of four generations of the Kwasniewski and Dyniewicz families, collected by Roman Kwasniewski, a Milwaukee photographer, including correspondence, business records, records of cultural and fraternal societies. On microfilm are reference materials and correspondence used by Jozef and Roman Kwasniewski for their use as editors of the agricultural page of Kuryer Polski. Finding aid available in the Archives.

Kwasniewski, Roman B. J., 1886-1980.
Photographs, 1907-1947.
UWM Manuscript Collection 19
The collection was created by Kwasniewski, largely at his Park Studio in Milwaukee. Many of the photographic images depict family events such as anniversaries, first communions, funerals, graduations, and weddings. Other images include scenes of accidents; fires; floods; fraternal organizations; homes; construction scenes; individual businesses; political parties; ceremonies such as church anniversaries, ordinations, and dedications; and social events such as New Year's Eve celebrations and "Hard Times" parties that were popular in the 1920s. The result is a striking picture of Milwaukee Polish Americans and their contributions to the city in which they lived. Finding aid available in the Archives.

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

Lechita Society (Milwaukee, Wis.).
Records, 1936-1980.
Milwaukee Manuscript Collection 35
Minutes and other records, mostly in Polish, of a Polish American mutual benefits organization (Towarzystwa Narodowych Lechitow) founded in 1912 which became a purely social group in 1980. Finding aid available in the Archives.

Lukaszewski, Anthony J., 1882-1956.
Papers, 1923-1977.
Milwaukee Small Collection 123
Newsclippings and photographs of Lukaszewski; also includes programs, score, and text for the Polish opera Halka. Finding aid available in the Archives.

Maciejewski, Wallace E.
Papers, 1931-1979.
Milwaukee Small Collection 115
Miscellaneous materials compiled by Maciejewski, a journalist with the Kuryer Polski newspaper, including a 1931 program and newsclippings on the Pulaski Monument in Milwaukee; brochures on the art of Edmund D. Lewandowski.

Malopolan Club. Milwaukee Chapter.
Records, 1954-1979.
Milwaukee Small Collection 105

Mazovian Society (Milwaukee, Wis.).
Program, 1969.
Milwaukee Small Collection 145
25th anniversary program, in Polish, of an organization (Towarzystwo Mazoszan) whose members were immigrants from the Mazovian region in Poland, including a history of the group.

Mazur Polish Dancers (Milwaukee, Wis.).

Records, ca. 1940-1978.
Milwaukee Small Collection 151

Photographs of the group from the 1940s, and of various dances and routines, including a mock Polish wedding. Also contains a 1978 article on the Dancers. Few of the photographs are clearly identified. Finding aid available in the Archives.

Milwaukee Polish Millennium Committee.

Records, 1962-1991.
UWM Manuscript Collection 45

Records, largely consisting of correspondence, of a Polish American group which promoted the celebration of Poland's Millennium of Christianity (966-1966). Some of the primary events that were documented in the collection are the convocation of Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski, the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra concert, and the establishment of Poland's Millennium Achievement Awards Program. The Millennium celebration was also used as a forum for protesting the political conditions facing the people of Poland. Many of the items in the collection denounce the activities of the communist government in Poland. Mrs. Leonne Wozinski, acting chairman of the Committee, compiled the records.

The later records are primarily newspaper clippings about the Poland's Millennium Achievement Awards Program, which was discontinued in 1989. Many of the records in the collection are in Polish. Finding aid available in the Archives.

Milwaukee Social-Democratic Publishing Company (Wis.).
Records, 1905-1935.
Milwaukee Manuscript Collection 169
Records of a Milwaukee, Wisconsin company which published several socialist newspapers, including the Milwaukee Leader, Social Democratic Herald, and Vorwaerts, all of which were edited at one time by Milwaukee socialist Victor Berger. Berger was a major stockholder and director of the company which also published socialist books, socialist party election material, several monthly newspapers, a weekly Polish language paper in Milwaukee, and the Oklahoma Leader. Although rarely profitable, the firm played an important part in the electoral success of the Milwaukee Social Democratic Party. The collection includes minutes of stockholders and directors meetings (1905-1935) and a small number of miscellaneous papers including by-laws, legal documents, reports, financial statements, and correspondence. Finding aid available in the Archives.

Mink, Robert.
Polish-Jewish Relations in Milwaukee Oral History Project, 1990.
UWM Manuscript Collection 118
Consists of seven oral history interviews conducted in 1990 with Jewish merchants and their descendants who were active on Milwaukee's Polish South Side. Interviews contain information on inter-ethnic relations, anti-semitism, the experience of Jewish immigrants, and conducting business with immigrant clientele. Transcripts, although not complete, exist for each interview. Finding aid available in the Archives.

Nastal, Stanley I. (Stanislaus I.), 1899-1947.
Papers, 1922, 1934-1954.
Milwaukee Manuscript Collection 69
Papers of a pioneer Milwaukee radio broadcaster and of his son, Stanley H., who succeeded him in 1947. The collection documents ethnic programming from the 1930s through the 1950s, and includes biographical information, a copy of Nastal's World War I recollections, programs logs, and scripts. The logs, written in English, are from "Our Polish Hour," dating from 1947-1954; the scripts, in Polish, are from "Theater of the Air" and daily serialized sketches. The collection also contains eleven tape recordings of broadcasts. Finding aid available in the Archives.

New Life Chorus (Milwaukee, Wis.).
Records, 1972-1979.
Milwaukee Small Collection 144
Three performance programs and an historical essay by Raymond Orzechowski concerning the New Life Chorus (Chor Nowe Zycie), organized as a men's chorus in 1962, including lists of officers and biographies of featured soloists.

Polish American Collections, A-G

Polish American Collections, P

Polish American Collections, R-Z