Title: Jerome E. Bolan Papers
Inclusive Dates: 1932-1942

Creator:

• Bolan, Jerome E., 1909-

Call Number: Milwaukee Mss 66

Quantity: 0.8 c.f. (2 archives boxes)

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)

Abstract:

Papers, primarily consisting of scripts and programs from plays, of a Milwaukee Polish American educator and writer. While teaching at Milwaukee high schools, Bolan formed several student Polish clubs, for which he wrote and selected Polish-language plays for presentation; several of the original scripts are in the collection. Also included is a scrapbook of clippings from Polish language newspapers regarding his teaching career in Milwaukee, the activities of the Polish clubs in the Milwaukee area, and reviews of the plays. In addition, there are two handpainted letters of appreciation for clothing sent to Polish school children by the American Red Cross during World War II, miscellaneous Polish travel brochures and literature from the 1930s, and a poster.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-mil00066

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Dr. Jerome Bolan, educator and writer, was a native of Milwaukee, where he was educated at St. Josaphat Parochial School. He received a B.A. from the University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, an M.A. from Northwestern University, and a Ph.D. (1953) from the University of Wisconsin in Madison; the latter two degrees were in school administration. He also studied psychology and testing at Marquette University, and attended St. Bonaventure Minor Seminary, Sturtevant, Wisconsin, for two years, where he learned Polish. In 1935 Bolan was awarded a Kosciuszko Foundation stipend to study at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland. In 1953 he received several offers to teach at the university level, and subsequently changed his surname from Bolanowski to Bolan. Bolan remained at Bay View High School, Milwaukee, where he had taught Polish, Latin, and mathematics since the 1930s. Bolan also taught at Walker Junior High School, Kosciuszko High School, and Audubon Junior High School, where he was assistant principal at the time of his retirement in 1980. Bolan is perhaps best known in the community for his Polish language textbook, A New Polish Grammar (1st edition, 1938), which was illustrated with examples drawn from the Milwaukee Polish community, including Bay View High School. The book has had seven editions, the latest published in 1962.

While teaching in Milwaukee high schools, Bolan organized several Polish clubs for the students. In 1934 he initiated Klub Orleta (the Eaglets Club) at Bay View, to stage dances and dramas, to organize sports events and hikes, and to sew costumes for folk dance performances. About the same time he organized Klub Oswiaty (the Education or Enlightenment Club) in West Allis; club activities were held at the Horace Mann School and the Sali Wawel on 60th and Becher Streets. Bolan also started the Klub Przyjazn (Friendship Club) in West Allis. Bolan began the Klub Sposobnosci (Opportunity Club) on Milwaukee's north side; members met at the North Pier Street School and Pulaski Hall. The most active of the groups was Klub Orleta, which usually had forty to fifty members, and performed plays in Polish. Klub Orleta performed at the Wisconsin Centennial in 1948.

In addition to his other activities, Bolan acted with the St. Adalbert Drama Circle, and occasionally played saxophone with Max Skajewski's polka band. Bolan wrote seven or eight plays, all in Polish, for the student drama clubs with which he worked. He also chose all of the plays performed, with the intention of providing a “vivacious” performance.

The papers of Jerome Bolan primarily illustrate his involvement with the various Polish clubs which he founded. The collection includes a folder of programs from performances, 1932-1941, of plays and dance events; with several folders of typewritten and handwritten scripts of the plays. In a few instances more than one copy of a script is present, showing the revisions and annotations made during the course of production. Although the authors of the plays are not listed, it is likely that Bolan wrote some of the scripts. Also present are printed play scripts, apparently also used in the Polish clubs' performances. All of the plays are in Polish.

Other items in the collection include two hand-painted letters of appreciation for clothing sent to Polish school children by the American Red Cross during World War II; miscellaneous Polish travel brochures and literature from the 1930s; two issues of The Seraphic Student, the student publication from Bolan's alma mater, St. Bonaventure Seminary; and a poster from a Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra performance with Jerzy Bojanowski conducting.

Also included is a scrapbook of clippings from Polish language newspapers describing and reviewing some of the productions and documenting the activities of the Polish clubs in the area, principally the Copernicus Club and the Eaglet Club, and Bolan's teaching career.

Acquisition Information

Presented by Dr. Jerome E. Bolan, Milwaukee, Wis., 1981 and 2001. Accession Number: M81-342, M2003-129

Processing Information

Processed by Menzi Behrnd-Klodt, January 1982.

Box   1 Folder   1	Hand-Painted Letters to the American Red Cross from Polish School Children, 1940
Box   1 Folder   2	Miscellaneous, 1933-1937
Box   1 Folder   3	Polish Travel Literature, 1933, undated
Box   1 Folder   24	Poster, undated
Box   1 Folder   4	Programs, 1932-1941
	Scripts
Box   1 Folder   5	Fragments and Other Writings, undated
Box   1 Folder   6	Dom Warjatow, undated
Box   1 Folder   7	Goscie z Ogloszenia Czyli Falszywy Adres, undated
Box   1 Folder   8	Klopoty Panny Zosi, undated
Box   1 Folder   9	Lekarz Mimo Woli, undated
Box   1 Folder   10	Macocha, undated
Box   1 Folder   11	Maz Wypozyczony, undated
Box   1 Folder   12	Oj Ten Jacus, undated
Box   1 Folder   13	Papus i Synus, undated
Box   1 Folder   14	Proszek i Pigulka, undated
Box   1 Folder   15	Stryj Przyjechal, undated
Box   1 Folder   16	To Polityka, undated
Box   1 Folder   17	Wicek i Wacek, undated
Box   1 Folder   18	Za Pieniadze, undated
Box   1 Folder   19	Zabojstwo Ksiedza, undated
Box   1 Folder   20	Zamrozona Tesciowa, undated
Box   1 Folder   21	Zmartwychwstanie Wojtka, undated
Box   1 Folder   22	Scripts, undated
Box   1 Folder   23	The Seraphic Student, 1937
Box   2	Scrapbook