Summary Information
Polish National Alliance of the United States of North America. District 14: Records
1957-1979
- Polish National Alliance of the United States of North America. District 14
Milwaukee Mss 65
0.4 c.f. (1 archives box)
UW-Milwaukee Libraries, Archives / Milwaukee Area Research Ctr. (Map)
Records of the regional District 14 of a fraternal and mutual benefit society for Americans of Polish ancestry, and of the district's women's division. All of the Milwaukee councils are affiliated with District 14. Included in the collection are programs from conventions, bowling tournaments, and the annual debutante ball; minutes, papers, and mandates from district, state, and local conventions and meetings; and correspondence and papers of the women's division. Some records are in Polish.
English, Polish
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-mil00065 ↑ Bookmark this ↑
Biography/History
The Polish National Alliance of America (Zwiazek Narodowy Polski w Ameryce) was organized by Polish refugees and immigrants in Philadelphia in 1880. The purpose of the new group was to provide mutual support and cultural activities. Membership in the Polish National Alliance is open to men and women “who are by birth, extraction, consanguinity or affinity, of Polish, Lithuanian, Ruthenian, or Slovak nationality.” There is a juvenile division for those under 16. As a fraternal and mutual benefit society, the PNA sells life insurance, provides death and sick benefits, promotes social and cultural events, and raises funds for local and PNA charities.
Individual lodges or groups were founded in urban areas with Polish populations throughout the country; these lodges were grouped into councils, and both lodges and councils were affiliated with regional districts or circuits. The first PNA group in Milwaukee, Lodge 14, was organized in 1880. The two Milwaukee councils, 8 and 115, and all individual lodges, belong to District 14, which encompasses Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, northern Michigan, North Dakota, and parts of Canada. A national PNA Women's Division was formed in 1907, with its Milwaukee counterpart organized in 1932. Each district has two commissioners, one man and one woman; the female commissioner automatically becomes the head of the Women's Division. For many years the female commissioner of District 14 was Gladys Podkomorski, who was very active in organizing local lodges, youth activities, and the PNA bowling tournaments. She was succeeded by Virginia Posnanski, who in turn was followed by June Grudichak.
Scope and Content Note
Records in this collection have been donated by two commissioners of District 14, Gladys Podkomorski, who donated all of the albums and pamphlets, and June Grudichak, who gave the remaining items. Included are partial records of the District. General District records consist of a few convention, bowling tournament, and other programs, including one form the first PNA bowling tournament, organized by Mrs. Podkomorski and held in Milwaukee in 1957. There is a folder of mandates from both general and Women's Division meetings, listing names of lodge members selected to attend state and district conventions; and minutes and papers of district-wide and state conventions, and of meetings of the Women's Division. There is also an incomplete run of programs from the Annual Debutante Ball, sponsored by the Women's Division, correspondence and other papers of the Division, and miscellany consisting of a PNA coloring book and brochure concerning famous Poles. Some of the records are in Polish.
Administrative/Restriction Information
Presented by June Grudichak of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and by Gladys Podkomorski of Greenfield, Wisconsin in 1980. Accession Number: M81-17, M81-39
Processed by Menzi Behrnd-Klodt, January 1982.
Contents List
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Box
1
Folder
1
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Convention, Bowling Tournament, and Other Programs, 1957, 1962, 1964, 1975, 1978
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Box
1
Folder
2
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Mandates, 1971, 1974-1975
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Box
1
Folder
3-4
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Minutes and Papers of Conventions and Joint Meetings, 1970
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Women's Division
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Box
1
Folder
5
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Annual Debutante Ball-Programs, 1961-1977
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Box
1
Folder
6
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Correspondence and Other Papers, 1969-1974
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Minutes and Papers of Meetings
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Box
1
Folder
7
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1960-1969
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Box
1
Folder
7
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1971-1976
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Box
1
Folder
8
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Miscellaneous, 1976, undated
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