Title: Polish Army Veterans Association of America. Post 3: Records
Inclusive Dates: 1920-1974

Creator:

• Polish Army Veterans Association of America. Post 3 (Milwaukee, Wis.)

Call Number: Milwaukee Mss 45; Milwaukee Micro 27; Micro 916

Quantity: 1.2 c.f. (3 archives boxes) and 1 reel of microfilm (35mm)

Repository:

Housed at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries’ Archives Department / Milwaukee Area Research Center; owned by the Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Library, Archives, and Museum Collections

Archival Locations:

COLLECTION MAY BE STORED OFF-SITE: see catalog entry to request materials and for additional information.

UW-Milwaukee Libraries, Archives / Milwaukee Area Research Ctr. (Map)

Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)

Abstract:

Records of Milwaukee Post #3 of the Stowarzyszenie Weterano Armii Polskiej, or Polish Army Veterans Association (PAVA). PAVA is an organization of Americans and Canadians who enlisted as volunteers in World War I and II service with the Allied Polish Army in Europe. After each of these wars, the duty of providing and securing financial relief for the disabled veterans fell to the association because these veterans of the Polish Army are not entitled to United States Veteran Administration benefits, and as Americans or Canadians they would not receive assistance from Poland. Post #3 was active in patriotic affairs, the life of the Polish community, and the national organization. Records consist of correspondence, minutes, speeches, newspaper clippings, and convention and anniversary books.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-mil00045

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The Polish Army Veterans Association is an organization of American and Canadian veterans who enlisted as volunteers in World Wars I and II, serving with the Allied Polish forces in Europe. In May 1921, the association was founded in Cleveland, Ohio, for the sole purpose of aiding the physically disabled and handicapped veterans. Post #3 was organized in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, prior to the establishment of the National Association, in July 1920.

Ways and means had to be found to meet the needs of the disabled, and by 1925 the demands for financial aid for hospitalization and burials began to be felt deeply. A special fund for these purposes was established. The first person to realize the necessity for helping the disabled Polish Army Veterans was Polish patriot and patron of PAVA, Ignace Jan Paderewski, who contributed 10,000 dollars. In appreciation of this gesture, the fund was named the Ignace J. Paderewski Invalid Fund.

Much of the correspondence and a significant number of the speeches and reports were written by Barney F. Spott, Sr., founder of Post #3, State Commander for many years, frequent delegate to international conventions, and member of the Wisconsin Legislature (1927-1928). A prominent concern expressed through much of the collection is the securing of aid for the disabled veterans through the Ignace J. Paderewski Invalid Fund. A primary fundraising method was an annual appeal through the Milwaukee area Polish churches. However, it was noted in a letter of October 26, 1954 (Box 2, Folder 7) that it was becoming increasingly difficult to raise funds through the churches as the younger pastors were not sympathetic to PAVA's needs. Several letters to the Catholic bishops of Milwaukee outline the history of the Fund. Also, an attempt was made through Congressman Clement Zablocki to secure Veterans Administration benefits for PAVA veterans.

The triennial International Conventions and Post activities also illustrate a continued concern for the disabled Polish Army veteran and a wide interest in patriotic affairs, the life of the Polish community and the national organization. Of special interest are the records of the 1964 Convention hosted by Post #3 in Milwaukee. In addition to general program materials, these records contain planning notes and correspondence.

On microfilm are three series of newspaper clippings: a scrapbook of a 1927 trip to Poland contest sponsored by Post #3, clippings of special interest to veterans, and clippings on Polish community activities.

Acquisition Information

Presented by Stowarzyszenie Weteranow Armii Polskiej, via E. Konieczny, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1981. Accession Number: M81-121

Processing Information

Processed by Mark G. Thiel and Joanne Hohler, October 1981.

Milwaukee Mss 45	Series: Administration
	Minutes
Box   1 Folder   1	Directors of the Post Home, 1945-1950
Box   1 Folder   3	Post Meetings, 1947-1956
	Financial Records
Box   1 Folder   3	Cash Book, 1953-1967
Box   1 Folder   4-5	Beverages, 1952-1975
Box   2 Folder   1	Group Meetings and Hall Rental, 1939-1962
Box   2 Folder   2	Dues, Addresses and Attendance, l923, 1925-1934
Box   2 Folder   3	Scattered Statements, 1922, undated
Box   2 Folder   4	Government Forms, 1928, 1938-1
Box   2 Folder   5	Autograph Guest Book, 1934-1949
	Series: Correspondence	⇧
Box   2 Folder   6	General, 1949-1951, 1955, 1961-1968
Box   2 Folder   7	Other PAVA Groups, 1928, 1934-1970
Box   2 Folder   8	Clergy, 1942-1953, 1959, 1967
Box   2 Folder   9	Government Agencies, 1928, 1937, 1943-1973
Box   3 Folder   1	Re: Salomeja Burger, 1958-1959
Box   3 Folder   2	Re: Alfonso Korzeniowski, 1920, 1937, 1952
	Series: Conventions	⇧
	International
Box   3 Folder   3	XI, 1952
Box   3 Folder   4	XII, 1955
Box   3 Folder   5	XIII, 1958
Box   3 Folder   6	XIV, 1961
Box   3 Folder   7	XV, 1964
Box   3 Folder   8	XVI, 1967
	District One
Box   3 Folder   9	1947
Box   3 Folder   10	1956
Box   3 Folder   11	1960-1968
Box   3 Folder   12	1970
Box   3 Folder   13	1972
Box   3 Folder   14	1955
Box   3 Folder   15	1960
Box   3 Folder   16	1966
	Series: Activities	⇧
Box   3 Folder   17	Auditorium Bingo Party, 1938
Box   3 Folder   18	Eulogies, Obituaries, Funeral Programs, and Notes, undated
Box   3 Folder   19	50th anniversary of the Battle of Warsaw, 1968
Box   3 Folder   20	Speeches and Songs from Post Activities, undated
	Series: Historical Records	⇧
Box   3 Folder   21	Histories and Historical Notes on PAVA and Post #3, 1945
Box   3 Folder   22	Articles on Josef Pilsudski, 1934
Milwaukee Micro 27/Micro 916	Series: Scrapbook and Newsclippings	⇧
Reel   1 Frame   1-50	Scrapbook, 1926-1927 (Trip to Poland Contest)
	Veterans Newsclippings
Reel   1 Frame   26-50	1937, 1943-1945
Reel   1 Frame   51-75	1946-1949
Reel   1 Frame   76-100	1950-1954
Reel   1 Frame   101-125	1955-1959
Reel   1 Frame   126-150	1960-1965
Reel   1 Frame   151-175	1965-1967
Reel   1 Frame   176-200	1967-1972
Reel   1 Frame   201-225	Undated
Reel   1 Frame   226-250	General Newsclippings Concerning Polonia, 1955-1967
Reel   1 Frame   251-275	General Newsclippings, 1968-1971, undated