Summary Information
Edmund I. Zawacki Papers
1942-1957
- Zawacki, Edmund I., 1908-1993
La Crosse Micro 12; Micro 948; SC 775; Disc 166A; Tape 1068A; PH SC 775
0.1 c.f. (1 folder), 3 reels of microfilm (35mm), 59 disc recordings, and 4 photographs
UW-La Crosse Murphy Library / La Crosse Area Research Ctr. (Map)Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)
Papers primarily on a two-year study, 1946-1948, proposed and conducted by Professor Edmund I. Zawacki of the Department of Slavic Languages, University of Wisconsin, which aimed at taking a microscopic look at a Polish-derived community in Wisconsin, measuring how both the culture of the Polish immigrant and the culture of the American inhabitant were changed as a result of heavy Polish immigration into the area. The study was part of the Committee on Studies in American Civilization, a research and teaching program conducted at the University of Wisconsin from 1946 to 1953 sponsored by the Rockefeller Foundation. The collection consists of correspondence; research material obtained from a year's field work by Harriet Pawlowski in Independence, Wis., including eighty case histories of Polish families in the area; various explanations and summaries of the study; and an outline and chapter drafts for the projected but never completed study report. The sound recordings contain Polish and American folk songs, religious hymns sung in Polish and in English, instrumental Polish folk music, and discussions of Polish and American folk ways. Also present in paper form only are several articles and lectures, 1953-1957, by Zawacki on U.S. international relations and the Cold War. The photographic portion of this collection includes images of Zawacki at a Marquette University presentation; speaking on the Cuba situation at a YGOP rally in Madison, Wis.; and driving a car with a placard on top, “Vote Right, Vote Yes, Frank Lloyd Wright Monona Terrace Site.”
English
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-micr0948 ↑ Bookmark this ↑
Biography/History
In 1946, under the sponsorship of the Rockefeller Foundation, the University of Wisconsin created the Committee on Studies in American Civilization to conduct a program of research and teaching in the materials of American civilization. Several University departments participated in the twelve-part program that sought, first, to study several aspects of culture in Wisconsin and, then, relate the findings to the nation as a whole. The Study of a Polish Community, designed as a microscopic examination of a Polish-derived community in Wisconsin, was proposed by Professor Edmund I. Zawacki, chairman of the Department of Slavic Languages, as part of the American civilization study. The endeavor began in 1946 and lasted approximately two years under Zawacki's supervision, while the University Committee lasted through 1953.
The major purpose of Zawacki's study was to demonstrate, through detailed analysis of one community, how Polish culture changed through the generations after immigration. He sought to measure how the Poles influenced the surrounding community as well as assessing the extent the community affected their Americanization. Zawacki hoped his study would be the genesis of a state and national examination of the history of Poles in the United States, something that had never been the subject of a serious scholarly work.
Zawacki chose Independence, a small city in Trempealeau County, Wisconsin, for his study because it seemed fairly representative of early Wisconsin settlements; contained a high concentration of Poles from its inception; and had descendants of the first Polish families still residing in the community. Harriet Pawlowski conducted the study's field work. She was a Detroit high school teacher who not only spoke Polish but had experience collecting folklore. From 1 July 1946 through 1 July 1947 Ms. Pawlowski was in Independence studying the community's development, interviewing various residents and participating in community activities and events. A rich store of data on the development and history of Independence, its attitudes and customs as well as the achievements and troubles of its Polish-origin Inhabitants resulted from Ms. Pawlowski's efforts. Although Professor Zawacki never produced a final report on the study, he authored a tentative outline of his findings which he read to the Madison Literary Club in 1947 or 1948.
Scope and Content Note
The collection consists primarily of explanations and plans for the Polish study, case histories, notes on Independence, correspondence, materials relating to the projected study report, and sound recordings. A few items not concerning the study designated MISCELLANY are followed by the research project materials; these materials are organized in four series: Correspondence and Study Explanation, Research Material, Study Report, and Discs and Tapes.
The CORRESPONDENCE AND STUDY EXPLANATION series details the purpose and intent of the study and its preparation; and includes some correspondence between Zawacki and Pawlowski. The correspondence, while documenting the progress of the study, is quite fragmentary therefore does not permit reconstruction of the exact study chronology.
The core of the collection is the RESEARCH MATERIAL series. It contains materials from Pawlowski's field work such as case histories and notes on residents; interviews with community officials; notes on city and county governments, and community institutions and their development; and summaries and reports on local activities and events. The bulk of the series is eighty-four case histories consisting of the questionnaires, several hundred questions in length, asked of each subject during an interview. The interview sought information on family history, religious and political beliefs and marriage and funeral customs, among other things. These were often supplemented by Pawlowski's notes and any relevant published information. The case histories are arranged chronologically by date of the interview and are preceded in the collection by an annotated table of contents produced by Zawacki.
Included in the STUDY REPORT are outlines, notes and questions, the introduction to the report, and two chapter drafts of the proposed report. Though sketchy, the material outlines Zawacki's strategy for establishing control over the research data as well as his basic summaries of the study's findings.
There are 59 DISC RECORDINGS with tape copies of Polish and American folk songs and religious hymns sung in Polish and in English. In addition, they include discussions of Polish and American folkways and instrumental Polish folk music. The discs were probably recorded by Ms. Pawlowski as part of her field work in Independence.
Administrative/Restriction Information
One folder presented with the Roy L. Matson papers, 1963; the remainder presented by Mr. Zawacki, 1967 and 1978. Accession Number: M63-196, M67-263, M78-376
Processed by Carolyn Dellenbach, Vivian Laflamme and Joanne Hohler, 1975 and 1984.
Contents List
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Series: Miscellany
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SC 775
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Articles and Lectures, 1953-1957
: Five items by Zawacki concerning United States international relations and the Cold War.
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PH SC 775
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Photographs
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La Crosse Micro 12/Micro 948
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Series: Correspondence and Study Explanation
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Reel
1
Frame
01-14
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Correspondence, 1947 August-1948 April
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Reel
1
Frame
15-80
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Study Explanation, Plan and Bibliographic Notes, undated
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Series: Research Material
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Case Histories
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Reel
1
Frame
81-198
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Annotated Table of Contents (index)
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Reel
1
Frame
199-343
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Lyga, Michel A.
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Reel
1
Frame
344-408
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Bautch, Albert John
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Reel
1
Frame
409-447
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Kowal, Mary Magdalene Klimek Kampa (Mrs. Frank)
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Reel
1
Frame
448-489
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Kulig, Zuzanna Wojcik (Mrs. Jyacinth)
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Reel
1
Frame
490-556
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Sabota, Mary Salby (Mrs. Ignatius)
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Reel
1
Frame
557-588
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Sura, John
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Reel
1
Frame
589-661
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Bautch, Frances Pietrik (Mrs. John L.)
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Reel
1
Frame
662-667
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Marsolek, Charles F.
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Reel
1
Frame
678-711
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Jelen, Victoria Filla (Mrs. Edward)
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Reel
1
Frame
712-764
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Grutzik, Edmund
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Reel
1
Frame
765-790
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Bautch, Frank J.
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Reel
1
Frame
791-815
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Skroch, Mary Skroch (Mrs. Urban)
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Reel
1
Frame
816-838
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Kwosek, Frank F.
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Reel
1
Frame
839-867
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Crippo, Eliza Zimme (Mrs. Giles)
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Reel
1
Frame
868-905
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Maule, Frederick George
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Reel
1
Frame
906-935
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Olson, Elizabeth Marsolek (Mrs. Ole)
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Reel
1
Frame
936-962
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Kulig, Clara Rombolski (Mrs. Bert)
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Reel
1
Frame
963-998
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Skroch, Praxida Kamla (Mrs. Stanley)
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Reel
1
Frame
999-1018
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Filla, Anna Matchey (Mrs. Sam)
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Reel
1
Frame
1019-1051
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Sobota, Emma Tescher (Mrs. Anton)
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Reel
1
Frame
1052-1071
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Libowski, Rose Tomala (Mrs. Frank)
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Reel
1
Frame
1072-1095
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Karasch, John
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Reel
2
Frame
01-20
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Kulig, Lucy Smieja (Mrs. Peter)
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Reel
2
Frame
21-49
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Mish, Euphrisine Macrosek (Mrs. Frank)
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Reel
2
Frame
50-83
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Skroch, John C.
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Reel
2
Frame
84-113
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Skroch, Roman S.
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Reel
2
Frame
114-119
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Pampuch, Maria Klink (Mrs. Thomas)
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Reel
2
Frame
120-146
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Skroch, Simon and Skroch, Lucy Zila
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Reel
2
Frame
147-161
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Kuka, Anastasia Sonsalla (Mrs. Peter)
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Reel
2
Frame
162-169
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Sendelbach, Blanche Kuka (Mrs. George)
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Reel
2
Frame
170-187
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Jonietz, Amelia Symiczek (Mrs. Paul)
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Reel
2
Frame
188-223
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Mlynek, Peter
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Reel
2
Frame
224-241
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Killian, Gertrude Gondera (Mrs. Albert)
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Reel
2
Frame
242-253
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Elstad, Mary Jelen (Mrs. Elmo)
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Reel
2
Frame
254-270
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Symicek, Peter
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Reel
2
Frame
271-302
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Jaszewski, Catherine Rybarczyk (Mrs. John)
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Reel
2
Frame
303-320
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Weier, Rose Smieja
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Reel
2
Frame
321-341
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Klimek, Simon
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Reel
2
Frame
342-368
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Skroch, Elizabeth Sygulla (Mrs. George)
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Reel
2
Frame
369-389
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Smieja, Clara Sobota (Mrs. George)
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Reel
2
Frame
390-442
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Sonsalla, Ignace
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Reel
2
Frame
443-455
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Sygulla, Monica Skroch (Mrs. Henry)
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Reel
2
Frame
456-474
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Sygulla, Ralph
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Reel
2
Frame
475-485
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Smick, Ralph
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Reel
2
Frame
486-504
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Sonsalla, Luke
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Reel
2
Frame
505-533
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Smieja, Roman Paul
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Reel
2
Frame
534-549
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Szczepanski, Leo
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Reel
2
Frame
550-572
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Skroch, Michael and Emil
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Reel
2
Frame
573-593
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Dejno, Julianna Halama (Mrs. John)
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Reel
2
Frame
594-608
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Woychik, Julia Suchla (Mrs. Louis F.)
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Reel
2
Frame
609-619
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Passon, Sophia Macrosik (Mrs. Andrew)
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Reel
2
Frame
620-632
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Szczepanski, Alfred
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Reel
2
Frame
633-655
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Susa, Susan Mrsolek (Mrs. Matthias)
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Reel
2
Frame
656-674
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Smick, Louis
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Reel
2
Frame
675-703
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Woychik, Paul F.
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Reel
2
Frame
704-727
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Matchey, Thomas
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Reel
2
Frame
728-748
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Sygulla, Lawrence
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Reel
2
Frame
749-771
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Rombolski, Ignatz
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Reel
2
Frame
772-793
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Sylla, Thomas
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Reel
2
Frame
794-811
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Pientok, Thomas
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Reel
2
Frame
812-836
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Dejno, Andrew
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Reel
2
Frame
837-850
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Smick, Walter
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Reel
2
Frame
851-867
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Sosalla, Melchior (Melvin)
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Reel
2
Frame
868-888
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Cripps, Arthur L.
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Reel
2
Frame
889-910
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Skonieczny, Albert
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Reel
2
Frame
911-929
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Halama, Edmund
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Reel
2
Frame
930-952
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Kwocek, Anna Roskos (Mrs. Thomas)
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Reel
2
Frame
953-974
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Pientok, Andrew
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Reel
2
Frame
975-1004
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Kulig, Louis
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Reel
2
Frame
1005-1028
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Bautch, John T.
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Reel
2
Frame
1029-1047
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Dejno, Michael
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Reel
2
Frame
1048-1062
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Lisowski, Mrs. Albert (Dejno)
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Reel
2
Frame
1063-1078
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Schneider, Clara Oberlatz (Mrs. Ben V.)
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Reel
3
Frame
01-21
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Wiemer, Martin
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Reel
3
Frame
22-40
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Marsolek, Adelbert Dominic
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Reel
3
Frame
41-64
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Pietrek, Raymond
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Reel
3
Frame
65-81
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Susa, Clara Bautch (Mrs. Jacob)
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Reel
3
Frame
82-109
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Sonsalla, Rudolph
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Reel
3
Frame
110-187
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Sobota, Frederick
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Reel
3
Frame
188-228
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Kulig, John F.
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Historical Background on Trempealeau County and Independence, Wisconsin
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Reel
3
Frame
229-263
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“Annual reports of Aid Granted by Trempealeau County Pension Department,” 1942-1946
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Reel
3
Frame
264-391
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“Histories of School Districts in Trempealeau County,” 1948
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Reel
3
Frame
392-501
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Notes and Interviews with Government Officials, undated
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Reel
3
Frame
502-569
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News Items, undated
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Reel
3
Frame
570-592
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Selective Service Notes, undated
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Reel
3
Frame
593-646
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School Notes, undated
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Reel
3
Frame
647-683
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High School Graduates, 1947
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Reel
3
Frame
684-790
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Miscellaneous Notes, undated
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Reel
3
Frame
791-990
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Songs
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Series: Study Report
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Reel
3
Frame
991-1062
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Preparatory Notes
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Reel
3
Frame
1063-1127
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Introduction
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Reel
3
Frame
1128-1206
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Report Chapters
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Reel
3
Frame
1207-1284
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Miscellaneous
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Tape 1068A/Disc 166A
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Tape and Disc Recordings
: The discs are the original recordings; the tapes are user cassette copies produced at the Historical Society.
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Cassette
1
Disc No.
1-3
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Polish folk songs
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Cassette
2
Disc No.
4-6
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Folk songs and narrative
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Cassette
3
Disc No.
7-9
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Conversations on Polish food; Singing of Christmas carols in Polish and English; Other singing in Polish
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Cassette
4
Disc No.
10-12
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Singing in Polish; “Home on the Range” in English; Narrative in Polish
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Cassette
5
Disc No.
13-15
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Primarily group singing
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Cassette
6
Disc No.
16-18
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Singing, including several duets and one version of “On Wisconsin” with lyrics in English about a farmers' federation
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Cassette
7
Disc No.
19-21
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Singing by a solo male voice; and a man telling about his personal History in English
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Cassette
8
Disc No.
22-24
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A man discussing in English his life on a farm
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Cassette
9
Disc No.
25-28
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A man discussing his farm work; a woman discussing her father's coming to the U.S. and her life; Women singing
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Cassette
10
Disc No.
29-31
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A hand organ; A man and woman singing
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Cassette
11
Disc No.
32-33
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A man and woman singing
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Cassette
12
Disc No.
34-36
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A man and woman singing; Brief talking
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Cassette
13
Disc No.
37-39
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A man singing; A man and woman singing
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Cassette
14
Disc No.
40-42
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A man singing; Instrumental music by a violin and ukelele(?); Solo violin; A woman singing
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Cassette
15
Disc No.
43-45
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Solo violin; An organ; Singing
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Cassette
16
Disc No.
46-48
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A man being interviewed about threshing; Singing by individuals and a chorus
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Cassette
17
Disc No.
49-51
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A man being interviewed about threshing; A man discussing his family history
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Cassette
18
Disc No.
52-54
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A man singing; A chorus and organ
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Cassette
19
Disc No.
55-57
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A chorus and organ (includes “Silent Night”)
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Cassette
20
Disc No.
58-59
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A chorus and organ; A child recites a poem and a story; Children singing
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