The records of the Polish Roman Catholic Union include material from state, circuit, and individual society levels. Although individual societies were formed originally at particular parishes, the tendency in recent years has been for groups to hold meetings at the PRCU hall; some of the records in this collection were left at the hall after such meetings and collected by the donors. Other items came into the possession of Harriett Nowaczyk following merger of individual societies with the Pol-Americ Society, at which time their records were turned over to that group. Thus, the collection is composed of anniversary programs and books, and of partial records of four individual societies which no longer exist: St. Dorothy (Sw. Dorothy) Group No. 526, St. Florentine (Sw. Florentyny) Group No. 591, St. Anne (Sw. Anny) Group No. 781, and St. Clara Group No. 1218. (The number of each group was assigned at the date of organization.) The bulk of the collection was donated by Harriett Nowaczyk and Henry Czerwinski, with a few items given by Leonne Wozinski.
Within the series of ANNIVERSARY PROGRAMS AND BOOKS are booklets issued to commemorate anniversaries of the founding of the state PRCU, a nearly-complete run of state convention programs, anniversary programs of Circuit #6 with a scrapbook of memorabilia from its 1962 golden jubilee, and miscellaneous programs of various individual societies. In the latter file are represented St. Anne Group No. 781 (1939), St. Elizabeth Group No. 875 (1940), Ss. Peter and Paul Group No. 601 (1944), St. Stanislaus Kostka Society No. 283 (1957), St. John Evangelist Society No. 394 (1959), and Pol-Americ Society No. 1423 (1974). In addition, there are several programs from performances of the PRCU Dancers, and from other musical, dramatic, and social events sponsored by the PRCU. A file of other programs includes anniversary programs of two priests who served as PRCU chaplains, Rt. Rev. Msgr. B. E. Goral and Rev. Joseph L. Betlinski (see also the separate collection of his papers), a 1951 testimonial banquet for PRCU officers, and a program from the 1972 annual PRCU national bowling tournament, held in Milwaukee.
Records of ST. DOROTHY GROUP NO. 526, organized at St. Barbara Parish, consist of two volumes of membership records, one each for adults and children, listing names and addresses, dates of birth and membership; and amounts, beneficiaries, and assessments for insurance policies. The corresponding volumes of financial records list monthly payments made, and final disposition, if any, of benefits. The insurance policy posting book also summarizes some of this information. There are a few folders of monthly insurance financial reports and supplemental statements submitted to PRCU headquarters, listing changes in the policies or membership standing. A few items of correspondence concern insurance matters.
Similar records are present for ST. FLORENTINE GROUP NO. 591, located at Ss. Cyril and Methodius Parish, the original and a copy of the 1912 constitution, with the addition of three volumes of minute books, 1911-1945, 1947-1964. There is a volume of membership records, as described above, for both adults and children, a posting book, a cash book and a few loose policy records. The records of this society are the oldest in the collection. In 1968, part of this society merged with the Pol-Americ Society, with the rest joining St. Elizabeth Group No. 875.
For ST. ANNE GROUP NO. 781, formed at St. Casimir's Parish, there is a volume of membership records and a cash book. Records of ST. CLARA GROUP NO. 1218, St. Adalbert Parish, consist of a cash book.
