Summary Information
Alfred J. Sokolnicki Papers
1936-1980
- Sokolnicki, Alfred J., 1918-2002
Milwaukee Mss 39; Micro 910; Milwaukee Micro 37; Milwaukee Tape 7
0.4 c.f. (1 archives box and 1 oversize folder), 1 reel of microfilm (35mm), and 1 tape recording
UW-Milwaukee Libraries, Archives / Milwaukee Area Research Ctr. (Map)Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)
Papers of Sokolnicki, dean of the College of Speech at Marquette University and prominent member of Milwaukee's Polish-American community, consisting of a variety of personal and collected documents. Included in the collection are programs and news clippings regarding the Mazur Polish Dancers; news clippings concerning individuals and groups in the Milwaukee Polish community; and a tape recording of three events: a speech made by President Jimmy Carter at an awards dinner honoring Rep. Clement Zablocki, a 1979 Marquette University Carillon Festival, and music at a 1968 Polish Wedding Mass. On microfilm are a scrapbook of clippings about the Polish Summer School, 1936-1951; and play, radio, and television scripts, in Polish and in English, written by Sokolnicki for presentation by local Milwaukee drama clubs such as the Marshal Pilsudski Club, the Polish Fine Arts Club, student groups, and the Mazur Dancers.
English
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-mil00039 ↑ Bookmark this ↑
Biography/History
Alfred Sokolnicki was born in Milwaukee, May 21, 1918, and was educated at St. Adalbert's School (from which he graduated in 1933), South Division High School (1937), the University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee (1939), and Marquette University (1942), Ph. B. in speech correction. Sokolnicki served in the Army during World War II as a sergeant. After his return from Europe following the war, Sokolnicki was appointed to the faculty of the School of Speech, Marquette University and director of its Speech Correction Clinic. As of 1981, Sokolnicki was still at Marquette, and had become dean of the College of Speech and Secretary of the Slavic Institute.
Throughout his lifetime, Sokolnicki was interested in speech and drama, and in maintaining Milwaukee's Polish ethnic heritage. He organized and advised many youth clubs and organizations presenting Polish-language plays and musicals, and Polish folk dances; among these were the Polish Club at South Division High School, the Mazur Dancers (formed in 1940), the Marshal Pilsudski Club (1935) and its forerunner, the Polish Youth Circle, and the Joseph Conrad Club at Marquette University (1920). Sokolnicki's major participation was with the Mazur Dancers, which was organized to take part in the 1941 American Legion Convention. During the 1950s the dance group performed with Jerky Bojanowski at Mitchell Park concerts and in 1970 began the first of the “Hi Neighbor” concerts. Sokolnicki was also the first choreographer for the Mazur dancers, and he traveled in Poland to collect information on the different styles of dance used in performances. The Mazur Dancers distinguish themselves from other folk dance groups by linking dances and scenes into elaborately staged pageants.
Alfred Sokolnicki passed away in St. Louis, Missouri on April 12, 2002.
Scope and Content Note
The paper portion of the collection emphasizes the activities of the Mazur Polish Dancers and of individuals and groups within the Milwaukee Polish community. Files on the Mazur Dancers consist of mimeographed histories of the group, and programs and news clippings from performances. There is also a microfilmed script of a televised dance program presented March 15, 1974. The activities of Milwaukee Polonia are represented primarily by news clippings taken from local papers, with a scattering of correspondence, notes, and other near-print material. Most numerous are papers concerning Representative Clement Zablocki, who was honored in 1979 as Marquette University's Alumnus of the Year. Also present in these files are Sokolnicki's responses to anti-Polish and ethnic humor, photographs illustrating local events, clippings concerning the 1976 visit to Milwaukee of Bishop Ignatius Jez of Poland, and a 1967 history of Federation Life Insurance of America. In an oversize folder is a poster from Milwaukee Summerfest, 1968. That year, Sokolnicki was one of the production staff for the National Folk Festival, held in conjunction with Summerfest. Also included are a few articles and a biographical sketch by Sokolnicki, and a program from the 1949 Chicago world premiere performance of Halka.
On microfilm are materials which further illustrate Sokolnicki's long-standing interest in and work with the Polish heritage of Milwaukee. There is a scrapbook, 1936-1951, of the Milwaukee Polish Summer School (Szkolka Wakacyjna), sponsored by the Pulaski Council every summer since the early 1930s. The School is offered in Kosciuszko Park as a means of teaching children the Polish language, Polish songs, and dances. Sokolnicki taught classes there during the 1930s, and collected news clippings and photographs in a scrapbook depicting teachers and students. Also on microfilm are scripts of plays, and radio and television broadcasts, all apparently written by Sokolnicki. Most are in Polish. The plays were written during the late 1930s and early 1940s, and were presented by the Marshal Pilsudski Club, the Joseph Conrad Club, and similar groups. The radio scripts for “Nasza Mlodziez” were written by Sokolnicki for the Marshal Pilsudski Club, and presented in 1938-1939 at the Forest Home Avenue Social Center. The play was later presented in twelve episodes, December 17, 1939-March 3, 1940, over WEMP radio. Also present are a few scripts written for television productions, concerning both ethnic and speech-related topics.
The tape recording in the collection includes a speech by President Jimmy Carter given March 31, 1979 at the testimonial dinner honoring Rep. Zablocki at Marquette University; the September 16, 1979 Marquette University Carillon Festival, featuring poetry of Jerzy Bojanowski; and music recorded at a Polish Wedding Mass at St. Stanislaus Church, June 16, 1968. Unfortunately, some portions of the recording are distorted and difficult to understand. The originals, and other recordings were retained by Sokolnicki.
Administrative/Restriction Information
Presented and loaned for copying by Alfred J. Sokolnicki, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1980-1981. Accession Number: M81-43, M81-95
Processed by Menzi Behrnd-Klodt and Mark Thiel, March 1982. Nicole Jackelen at the Milwaukee ARC reprocessed and added some additional materials to the paper portion of the collection in May 2002.
Contents List
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Milwaukee Mss 39
Box
1
Folder
1
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Articles, Authored, 1952-1991
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Box
1
Folder
2
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Awards and Honors, 1962-1988
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Box
1
Folder
3
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Correspondence, 1966-1990
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Mazur Polish Dancers
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Box
1
Folder
4
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Articles and Features, 1941-1977
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Box
1
Folder
5
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Programs, 1951-1981
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Box
1
Folder
6
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Publicity and Awards, 1950-1976
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Milwaukee Polonia
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Box
1
Folder
7
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Activities, Events and Festivals, 1944-1991
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Box
1
Folder
8
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Articles, Editorials, and Correspondence, 1931-1991
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Box
1
Folder
9
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Photographs
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Box
1
Folder
10
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Poland Christian Millenium, 1966
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Box
1
Folder
11
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Poland's Millenium Achievement Award Committee, 1970-1990
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Box
1
Folder
12
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Zablocki, Clement J., Congressman, 1975-1988
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Oversize Folder
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Poster from Summerfest, 1968
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Milwaukee Micro 37/Micro 910
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Polish Summer School Scrapbook
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Reel
1
Frame
1-25
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1936
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Reel
1
Frame
26-96
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1937
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Reel
1
Frame
97-100
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1938
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Reel
1
Frame
101-115
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1937-1951
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Play Scripts
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Reel
1
Frame
116-123
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Do Krolewej Pokoju, January, 1940
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Reel
1
Frame
124-137
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Ja Potrzebuje Meza, undated
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Reel
1
Frame
138-152
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Janowscy, undated
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Reel
1
Frame
153-157
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Maz w Sukience, undated
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Reel
1
Frame
158-171
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Milosc na Rowerze, undated
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Reel
1
Frame
172-175a
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Please Stand Up!, May 7, 1937
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Reel
1
Frame
175b-213
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Szelma Delma, April 1938
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Reel
1
Frame
214-230
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Triplets to the Rescue, undated
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Radio Scripts
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Reel
1
Frame
231-411
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“Nasza Modziez,” Nos. 1-12, December 17, 1939- March 3, 1940
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Television Scripts
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Reel
1
Frame
412-422
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Television Showcase, “Polish Panorama,” December 13, 1950
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Reel
1
Frame
423-429
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Marquette University, School of Speech, Television Program, January 6, 1951
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Reel
1
Frame
430-434
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Joseph Conrad Television Program, 1957
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Reel
1
Frame
435-450
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“How Is Your Speech?” Live and Learn, August 10, 1958
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Reel
1
Frame
451-468
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Mazur Dancers Script, March 15, 1974
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Milwaukee Tape 7
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Recording of speech of President Jimmy Carter, Marquette Univesity Carillon Festival and Polish Wedding Mass
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