Edmund I. Zawacki Papers, 1935-1993


Summary Information
Title: Edmund I. Zawacki Papers
Inclusive Dates: 1935-1993

Creator:
  • Zawacki, Edmund I., 1908-1993
Call Number: Micro 948; La Crosse Micro 12; SC 775; PH SC 775; PH 4912; Audio 1068A; M95-175

Quantity: 0.1 cubic feet (1 folder), 3 reels of microfilm (35 mm), 59 disc recordings, and 0.2 cubic feet of photographs (2 folders); plus additions of 0.2 cubic feet (1 archives box)

Repository:
Archival Locations:
UW-La Crosse Murphy Library / La Crosse Area Research Ctr. (Map)
Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)

Abstract:
Papers primarily on a two-year study, 1946-1948, proposed and conducted by Professor Edmund I. Zawacki of the Department of Slavic Languages, University of Wisconsin, which aimed at taking a microscopic look at a Polish-derived community in Wisconsin, measuring how both the culture of the Polish immigrant and the culture of the American inhabitant were changed as a result of heavy Polish immigration into the area. The collection consists of correspondence; research material obtained from a year's field work by Harriet Pawlowski in Independence, Wisconsin, including eighty case histories of Polish families in the area; various explanations and summaries of the study; an outline and chapter drafts for the projected but never completed study report; photographs, and sound recordings. Also present in paper form only are several articles and lectures, 1953-1957, by Zawacki on U.S. international relations and the Cold War, as well as materials, 1935-1993, focusing on Zawacki's interest in international relations, the Cold War, and sister cities.

Language: English and singing in Polish

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-micr0948
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Arrangement of the Materials

This collection was received in multiple parts from the donor(s) and is organized into 2 major parts. These materials have not been physically interfiled and researchers might need to consult more than one part to locate similar materials.

Biography/History

In 1946, under the sponsorship of the Rockefeller Foundation, the University of Wisconsin created the Committee on Studies in American Civilization to conduct a program of research and teaching in the materials of American civilization. Several University departments participated in the twelve-part program that sought, first, to study several aspects of culture in Wisconsin and, then, relate the findings to the nation as a whole. The Study of a Polish Community, designed as a microscopic examination of a Polish-derived community in Wisconsin, was proposed by Professor Edmund I. Zawacki, chairman of the Department of Slavic Languages, as part of the American civilization study. The endeavor began in 1946 and lasted approximately two years under Zawacki's supervision, while the University Committee lasted through 1953.

The major purpose of Zawacki's study was to demonstrate, through detailed analysis of one community, how Polish culture changed through the generations after immigration. He sought to measure how the Poles influenced the surrounding community as well as assessing the extent the community affected their Americanization. Zawacki hoped his study would be the genesis of a state and national examination of the history of Poles in the United States, something that had never been the subject of a serious scholarly work.

Zawacki chose Independence, a small city in Trempealeau County, Wisconsin, for his study because it seemed fairly representative of early Wisconsin settlements; contained a high concentration of Poles from its inception; and had descendants of the first Polish families still residing in the community. Harriet Pawlowski conducted the study's field work. She was a Detroit high school teacher who not only spoke Polish but had experience collecting folklore. From 1 July 1946 through 1 July 1947 Ms. Pawlowski was in Independence studying the community's development, interviewing various residents and participating in community activities and events. A rich store of data on the development and history of Independence, its attitudes and customs as well as the achievements and troubles of its Polish-origin inhabitants resulted from Ms. Pawlowski's efforts. Although Professor Zawacki never produced a final report on the study, he authored a tentative outline of his findings which he read to the Madison Literary Club in 1947 or 1948.

Administrative/Restriction Information
Acquisition Information

One folder presented with the Roy L. Matson papers, 1963; the remainder presented by Mr. Zawacki, 1967 and 1978. Accession Number: M63-196, M67-263, M78-376, M95-175


Processing Information

Processed by Carolyn Dellenbach, Vivian Laflamme and Joanne Hohler, 1975 and 1984.


Contents List
Part 1 (Micro 948, La Crosse Micro 12, SC 775, PH SC 775, PH 4912, Audio 1068A): Original Collection, 1942-1957
Physical Description: 0.1 cubic feet (1 folder), 3 reels of microfilm (35 mm), 59 disc recordings, and 0.2 cubic feet of photographs (2 folders) 
Scope and Content Note

The collection consists primarily of explanations and plans for the Polish study, case histories, notes on Independence, correspondence, materials relating to the projected study report, and sound recordings. Some items not concerning the study in the MISCELLANY series include articles, lectures, and photographs of Zawacki at a Marquette University presentation; speaking on the Cuba situation at a YGOP rally in Madison, Wisconsin; and driving a car with a placard on top, “Vote Right, Vote Yes, Frank Lloyd Wright Monona Terrace Site.” The Research Project Materials are organized in four series: Correspondence and Study Explanation, Research Material, Study Report, and Discs and Tapes.

The CORRESPONDENCE AND STUDY EXPLANATION series details the purpose and intent of the study and its preparation; and includes some correspondence between Zawacki and Pawlowski. The correspondence, while documenting the progress of the study, is quite fragmentary therefore does not permit reconstruction of the exact study chronology.

The core of the collection is the RESEARCH MATERIAL series. It contains materials from Pawlowski's field work such as case histories and notes on residents; interviews with community officials; notes on city and county governments, and community institutions and their development; and summaries and reports on local activities and events. The bulk of the series is eighty-four case histories consisting of the questionnaires, several hundred questions in length, asked of each subject during an interview. The interview sought information on family history, religious and political beliefs and marriage and funeral customs, among other things. These were often supplemented by Pawlowski's notes and any relevant published information. The case histories are arranged chronologically by date of the interview and are preceded in the collection by an annotated table of contents produced by Zawacki.

Included in the STUDY REPORT are outlines, notes and questions, the introduction to the report, and two chapter drafts of the proposed report. Though sketchy, the material outlines Zawacki's strategy for establishing control over the research data as well as his basic summaries of the study's findings.

There are 59 DISC RECORDINGS with tape copies of Polish and American folk songs and religious hymns sung in Polish and in English. In addition, they include discussions of Polish and American folkways and instrumental Polish folk music. The discs were probably recorded by Ms. Pawlowski as part of her field work in Independence.

Series: Miscellaneous
SC 775
Articles and Lectures, 1953-1957
Scope and Content Note: Five items by Zawacki concerning United States international relations and the Cold War.
PH SC 775
Photographs of Edmund Zawacki, circa 1954-1978
Folder   1
Item   1
Panel presentation?, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1958 November 2
Note: Left to right: Wu?, Professor Christopher Spalatin, Roving?, Zawacki, and Professor Michael Petrovich.
Folder   1
Item   2
Zawacki speaking on Cuba situation at YGOP Rally, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, 1962 October 29
Folder   1
Item   3
Zawacki driving car with placard on top, "Vote Right, Vote Yes, Frank Lloyd Wright Monona Terrace Site," circa 1954-1956
Note: Helen Zawacki with children standing next to the car on the corner of Randall Street, Madison, Wisconsin.
Folder   1
Item   4
Zawacki in his office just before retirement, 1978 June
Micro 948/La Crosse Micro 12
Series: Correspondence and Study Explanation
Reel   1
Frame   01-14
Correspondence, 1947 August-1948 April
Reel   1
Frame   15-80
Study Explanation, Plan and Bibliographic Notes, undated
Series: Research Material
Case Histories
Reel   1
Frame   81-198
Annotated Table of Contents (index)
Reel   1
Frame   199-343
Lyga, Michel A.
Reel   1
Frame   344-408
Bautch, Albert John
Reel   1
Frame   409-447
Kowal, Mary Magdalene Klimek Kampa (Mrs. Frank)
Reel   1
Frame   448-489
Kulig, Zuzanna Wojcik (Mrs. Jyacinth)
Reel   1
Frame   490-556
Sabota, Mary Salby (Mrs. Ignatius)
Reel   1
Frame   557-588
Sura, John
Reel   1
Frame   589-661
Bautch, Frances Pietrik (Mrs. John L.)
Reel   1
Frame   662-667
Marsolek, Charles F.
Reel   1
Frame   678-711
Jelen, Victoria Filla (Mrs. Edward)
Reel   1
Frame   712-764
Grutzik, Edmund
Reel   1
Frame   765-790
Bautch, Frank J.
Reel   1
Frame   791-815
Skroch, Mary Skroch (Mrs. Urban)
Reel   1
Frame   816-838
Kwosek, Frank F.
Reel   1
Frame   839-867
Crippo, Eliza Zimme (Mrs. Giles)
Reel   1
Frame   868-905
Maule, Frederick George
Reel   1
Frame   906-935
Olson, Elizabeth Marsolek (Mrs. Ole)
Reel   1
Frame   936-962
Kulig, Clara Rombolski (Mrs. Bert)
Reel   1
Frame   963-998
Skroch, Praxida Kamla (Mrs. Stanley)
Reel   1
Frame   999-1018
Filla, Anna Matchey (Mrs. Sam)
Reel   1
Frame   1019-1051
Sobota, Emma Tescher (Mrs. Anton)
Reel   1
Frame   1052-1071
Libowski, Rose Tomala (Mrs. Frank)
Reel   1
Frame   1072-1095
Karasch, John
Reel   2
Frame   01-20
Kulig, Lucy Smieja (Mrs. Peter)
Reel   2
Frame   21-49
Mish, Euphrisine Macrosek (Mrs. Frank)
Reel   2
Frame   50-83
Skroch, John C.
Reel   2
Frame   84-113
Skroch, Roman S.
Reel   2
Frame   114-119
Pampuch, Maria Klink (Mrs. Thomas)
Reel   2
Frame   120-146
Skroch, Simon and Skroch, Lucy Zila
Reel   2
Frame   147-161
Kuka, Anastasia Sonsalla (Mrs. Peter)
Reel   2
Frame   162-169
Sendelbach, Blanche Kuka (Mrs. George)
Reel   2
Frame   170-187
Jonietz, Amelia Symiczek (Mrs. Paul)
Reel   2
Frame   188-223
Mlynek, Peter
Reel   2
Frame   224-241
Killian, Gertrude Gondera (Mrs. Albert)
Reel   2
Frame   242-253
Elstad, Mary Jelen (Mrs. Elmo)
Reel   2
Frame   254-270
Symicek, Peter
Reel   2
Frame   271-302
Jaszewski, Catherine Rybarczyk (Mrs. John)
Reel   2
Frame   303-320
Weier, Rose Smieja
Reel   2
Frame   321-341
Klimek, Simon
Reel   2
Frame   342-368
Skroch, Elizabeth Sygulla (Mrs. George)
Reel   2
Frame   369-389
Smieja, Clara Sobota (Mrs. George)
Reel   2
Frame   390-442
Sonsalla, Ignace
Reel   2
Frame   443-455
Sygulla, Monica Skroch (Mrs. Henry)
Reel   2
Frame   456-474
Sygulla, Ralph
Reel   2
Frame   475-485
Smick, Ralph
Reel   2
Frame   486-504
Sonsalla, Luke
Reel   2
Frame   505-533
Smieja, Roman Paul
Reel   2
Frame   534-549
Szczepanski, Leo
Reel   2
Frame   550-572
Skroch, Michael and Emil
Reel   2
Frame   573-593
Dejno, Julianna Halama (Mrs. John)
Reel   2
Frame   594-608
Woychik, Julia Suchla (Mrs. Louis F.)
Reel   2
Frame   609-619
Passon, Sophia Macrosik (Mrs. Andrew)
Reel   2
Frame   620-632
Szczepanski, Alfred
Reel   2
Frame   633-655
Susa, Susan Mrsolek (Mrs. Matthias)
Reel   2
Frame   656-674
Smick, Louis
Reel   2
Frame   675-703
Woychik, Paul F.
Reel   2
Frame   704-727
Matchey, Thomas
Reel   2
Frame   728-748
Sygulla, Lawrence
Reel   2
Frame   749-771
Rombolski, Ignatz
Reel   2
Frame   772-793
Sylla, Thomas
Reel   2
Frame   794-811
Pientok, Thomas
Reel   2
Frame   812-836
Dejno, Andrew
Reel   2
Frame   837-850
Smick, Walter
Reel   2
Frame   851-867
Sosalla, Melchior (Melvin)
Reel   2
Frame   868-888
Cripps, Arthur L.
Reel   2
Frame   889-910
Skonieczny, Albert
Reel   2
Frame   911-929
Halama, Edmund
Reel   2
Frame   930-952
Kwocek, Anna Roskos (Mrs. Thomas)
Reel   2
Frame   953-974
Pientok, Andrew
Reel   2
Frame   975-1004
Kulig, Louis
Reel   2
Frame   1005-1028
Bautch, John T.
Reel   2
Frame   1029-1047
Dejno, Michael
Reel   2
Frame   1048-1062
Lisowski, Mrs. Albert (Dejno)
Reel   2
Frame   1063-1078
Schneider, Clara Oberlatz (Mrs. Ben V.)
Reel   3
Frame   01-21
Wiemer, Martin
Reel   3
Frame   22-40
Marsolek, Adelbert Dominic
Reel   3
Frame   41-64
Pietrek, Raymond
Reel   3
Frame   65-81
Susa, Clara Bautch (Mrs. Jacob)
Reel   3
Frame   82-109
Sonsalla, Rudolph
Reel   3
Frame   110-187
Sobota, Frederick
Reel   3
Frame   188-228
Kulig, John F.
Historical Background on Trempealeau County and Independence, Wisconsin
Reel   3
Frame   229-263
“Annual reports of Aid Granted by Trempealeau County Pension Department,” 1942-1946
Reel   3
Frame   264-391
“Histories of School Districts in Trempealeau County,” 1948
Reel   3
Frame   392-501
Notes and Interviews with Government Officials, undated
Reel   3
Frame   502-569
News Items, undated
PH 4912
Photographs, circa 1947
Scope and Content Note: Photographs, likely from the UW “Study of a Polish Community,” with detailed captions likely written by researcher Harriet Powlouski, consisting of views of farms, farmers businesses, schools and churches in Arcadia, Burnside, Elk Creek, Independence, and Lincoln, Wisconsin. Crops and livestock include strawberries, cattle, chickens, and pheasants. Families and individuals are identified. Historic photographs from the families are also included.
Folder   1
“Study of a Polish Community”
Micro 948/La Crosse Micro 12
Reel   3
Frame   570-592
Selective Service Notes, undated
Reel   3
Frame   593-646
School Notes, undated
Reel   3
Frame   647-683
High School Graduates, 1947
Reel   3
Frame   684-790
Miscellaneous Notes, undated
Reel   3
Frame   791-990
Songs
Series: Study Report
Reel   3
Frame   991-1062
Preparatory Notes
Reel   3
Frame   1063-1127
Introduction
Reel   3
Frame   1128-1206
Report Chapters
Reel   3
Frame   1207-1284
Miscellaneous
Audio 1068A
Series: Audio Recordings
Note: Formerly Disc 166A.
1068A/1-3
Polish folk songs
1068A/4-6
Folk songs and narrative
1068A/7-9
Conversations on Polish food; Singing of Christmas carols in Polish and English; Other singing in Polish
1068A/10-12
Singing in Polish; “Home on the Range” in English; Narrative in Polish
1068A/13-15
Primarily group singing
1068A/16-18
Singing, including several duets and one version of “On Wisconsin” with lyrics in English about a farmers' federation
1068A/19-21
Singing by a solo male voice; and a man telling about his personal History in English
1068A/22-24
A man discussing in English his life on a farm
1068A/25-28
A man discussing his farm work; a woman discussing her father's coming to the U.S. and her life; Women singing
1068A/29-31
A hand organ; A man and woman singing
1068A/32-33
A man and woman singing
1068A/34-36
A man and woman singing; Brief talking
1068A/37-39
A man singing; A man and woman singing
1068A/40-42
A man singing; Instrumental music by a violin and ukelele(?); Solo violin; A woman singing
1068A/43-45
Solo violin; An organ; Singing
1068A/46-48
A man being interviewed about threshing; Singing by individuals and a chorus
1068A/49-51
A man being interviewed about threshing; A man discussing his family history
1068A/52-54
A man singing; A chorus and organ
1068A/55-57
A chorus and organ (includes “Silent Night”)
1068A/58-59
A chorus and organ; A child recites a poem and a story; Children singing
M95-175
Part 2 (M95-175): Additions, 1935-1993
Physical Description: 0.2 cubic feet (1 archives box)  
Scope and Content Note: Additions, 1935-1993, including correspondence, speeches, and articles written by Zawacki on peace, the Cold War, his "open cities" ideas, and Polish-American history and culture as well as his typewritten obituary.
Box   1
Folder   1
Edmund I. Zawacki obituary, 1993 January 17
Box   1
Folder   2
Maps: Soviet Russia (1942) and "Poland throughout the ages"; eight maps drawn from "The Eastern Boundaries of Poland"
Box   1
Folder   3
Northwestern University on the Air, 1944-1945
Note: Transcripts of two programs that Zawacki took part in: "The Place of Poland in the United Nations," May 28, 1944, and "A Federation for Central Europe," January 28, 1945.
Box   1
Folder   4
Articles by Zawacki on Polish authors
Box   1
Folder   5
Kosciuszko: Thomas Jefferson
Note: Includes newsletters of the Kosciuszko Foundation (incomplete), 1970-1972, 1992.
Box   1
Folder   6
Kopernik/Copernicus
Note: Papers, articles, and correspondence on the 500th anniversary of the famous astronomer's birth, 1973.
Box   1
Folder   7
Papers by Zawacki on Poland's 1000th anniversary (1966)
Box   1
Folder   8
Papers by Zawacki on famous Poles, circa 1967
Box   1
Folder   9
Correspondence about "Open Cities" plan of Zawacki's, 1963-1964
Box   1
Folder   10
Papers by Zawacki on Polish history and people
Box   1
Folder   11
Articles, correspondence, and papers by Zawacki on the Cold War
Box   1
Folder   12
"Open Cities," 1960-1973
Box   1
Folder   13
Papers by Zawacki about peace, 1966-1977
Box   1
Folder   14
Insight and Outlook: a student journal of conservative opinion
Note: Includes articles written by Zawacki.
Box   1
Folder   15
WHA Radio, listeners' comments on "Open Cities," 1952
Box   1
Folder   16
Miscellaneous