Title: Kopernik 500th Anniversary Committee of Wisconsin Records
Inclusive Dates: 1971-1978

Creator:

• Kopernik 500th Anniversary Committee of Wisconsin

Call Number: Milwaukee Mss 20

Quantity: 1.8 c.f. (3 archives boxes and 1 flat box)

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:

Records of a committee formed by Cudahy optometrist Dr. Edward J. Tomasik to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the birth of astronomer and scientist Mikolaj Kopernik (Nicolaus Copernicus) in 1473. The Milwaukee-based organization sponsored several activities during 1973; among them were a banquet, an exhibit of Copernicus artifacts at the Milwaukee Public Museum, and publication of a monograph. Included in the collection are correspondence and financial and other records of the committee; papers regarding arrangements for the banquet and exhibit, such as correspondence, minutes of meetings, programs, speeches, and photographs; and printed reference material and clippings.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-mil00020

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Mikolaj Kopernik (Latinized as Nicolaus Copernicus), Polish astronomer, priest, doctor, economist, diplomat, and soldier, was born in 1473 in Torun, Poland, and lived until 1543. His discovery of the heliocentric structure of the solar system not only made him famous, but also ushered in a new era in science. Poles in Europe and the United States organized during the early 1970s to celebrate the 500th anniversary of Copernicus' birth.

The Wisconsin Kopernik committee was organized early in 1972 by Cudahy optometrist Dr. Edward J. Tomasik, who also presided at the official organizational meeting of the committee, held April 23, 1972. Tomasik became general chairman and the major force directing the work of the group, which was concentrated in the Milwaukee area.

Among the events and activities planned to commemorate the birth of Copernicus and to publicize his work, was an information booth held at Milwaukee's Polish Village, July 1972; a banquet held at the Pfister Hotel February 25, 1973; a lecture on Copernicus delivered April 2, 1973 by Professor Karol Estreicher of the University of Krakow, and an exhibit of Copernicus artifacts and scientific instruments lent by the Polish government and displayed at the Milwaukee Public Museum, June 21-27, 1973. The Committee also arranged for publication and distribution of a monographic pamphlet, Mikolaj Kopernik, written by Edmund Zawacki, as well as sales of posters, buttons, pins, and other memorabilia. The banquet and exhibit were the major events sponsored by the Committee, which disbanded following the anniversary year.

The collection consists of a variety of records which illustrate the committee's work and the events it promoted. Included are correspondence, and financial and other records of the committee itself, mostly dealing with arrangements, fund-raising, and sales of memorabilia. Records of the Copernicus banquet and exhibit are most extensive, and include correspondence, papers, and notes of Dr. Tomasik regarding arrangements, minutes of committee, programs, invitations, and speeches from both events, and newsclippings and photographs. The newsclippings contain photographs of the Krakow Polish Dancers. The photographs of banquet attendees are not well identified, but do portray many members of the Milwaukee Polish community. Other committee activities are represented by fragmentary files: these include a Copernicus concert, an essay contest, vesper service, and Tomasik's attempts to organize Milwaukee attorneys and engineers of Polish background into anniversary committees. Also present in the collection are oversized posters, photographs of a Copernicus exhibit, and mounted pages of newsclippings.

Related records and reference material largely consist of newsclippings, printed articles, leaflets, newsletters, pamphlets, and booklets, all concerning Copernicus and anniversary celebrations elsewhere; and such memorabilia as commemorative stamps, and a musical score. A small collection of Copernicus buttons and pins is included within these holdings.

The papers were created and collected by Dr. Tomasik, and many items appear to be his handwritten, rather cryptic notes to himself and to others, which accounts for the fragmentary condition of many of the files. The majority of the papers date from 1972 and 1973; only a few pre-date 1973, and only a few financial and tax records are dated later than 1974.

Acquisition Information

Presented by Edward J. Tomasik, Cudahy, Wisconsin, 1980. Accession Number: M81-46

Processing Information

Processed by Menzi Behrnd-Klodt and William Orr, February 1980.

	Series: Records of the Committee
Box   1 Folder   1	Address Lists
Box   1 Folder   2	Advertising Records
	Banquet Records
Box   1 Folder   3	Arrangements and Ticket Sales
Box   1 Folder   4	Clippings
Box   1 Folder   5	Correspondence, 1972-1973
Box   1 Folder   6	Minutes of Banquet Committee, 1972-1973
Box   1 Folder   7	Photo Orders
Box   1 Folder   8	Program, Introductions, and Speeches, February 25, 1973
Box   1 Folder   9	Concert and Invitation to Polish Ambassador, August 4, 1973
	Correspondence of the Committee
Box   1 Folder   10	General, 1971-1973
Box   1 Folder   11	Correspondence and Related Material re: Kopernik Monograph, 1973
Box   1 Folder   12-13	With Libraries, 1973
Box   1 Folder   14	With Pastors of Churches, 1972
Box   1 Folder   15	Essay Contest, 1972-1973
	Exhibit at Milwaukee Public Museum, June 21-27, 1973
Box   1 Folder   16	Catalog, Posters, Brochures, and Invitations
Box   1 Folder   17	Clippings and News Releases
Box   1 Folder   18	Correspondence, 1972-1974
Box   2 Folder   1	Estreicher Lecture, April 1973
Box   2 Folder   2	Lists of Attendees
Box   2 Folder   3	Media Appearances re: Exhibit
Box   2 Folder   4	Notes re: Arrangements, 1972-1973
Box   2 Folder   5	Financial Records, 1972-1975
Box   2 Folder   6	Fund Raising Efforts, 1972-1973
Box   2 Folder   7	Kopernik Vesper Service, 1973
Box   2 Folder   8	Milwaukee Attorneys of Polish Heritage and Kopernik Committee, 1972
Box   2 Folder   9	Milwaukee Engineers of Polish Background and Kopernik Committee, 1972-1973
Box   2 Folder   10	Minutes and Reports of Executive Board and Committee, 1972-1974
Box   2 Folder   11	Miscellany
Box   2 Folder   12	News Releases and Proclamations, 1972-1973
Box   2 Folder   13	Photographs
Box   2 Folder   14	Polish Village Exhibit
Box   2 Folder   15	Tax Records, 1972-1978
Box   2 Folder   16	Tomasik Speech at Blessed Sacrament Parish Hall, 1973
Box   2 Folder   17-18	Volunteers, 1972-1973
Box   4	Oversized Posters, Exhibit Photographs, and Mounted Scrapbook Pages
	Series: Related Records and Reference Material	⇧
Box   2 Folder   19	Clippings re: Copernicus
Box   2 Folder   20	Commemorative Stamps and Fist Day of Issue Covers
Box   2 Folder   21	Dispute Over Nationality of Copernicus, 1973
Box   2 Folder   22	Musical Score
	Printed Material re: Copernicus
Box   2 Folder   23	Articles and Leaflets
Box   2 Folder   24	Newsletters
Box   3 Folder   1-2	Pamphlets and Booklets