Summary Information
Polish National Alliance of the United States of North America. Lodge 2159: Records
1921-1997
- Polish National Alliance of the United States of North America. Lodge 2159 (Milwaukee, Wis.)
Milwaukee Mss 43
1.0 cubic foot (3 archives boxes)
UW-Milwaukee Libraries, Archives / Milwaukee Area Research Ctr. (Map)
Records, some in Polish, of the Milwaukee Society, Lodge 2159 of Council 8 of the Polish National Alliance (Zwiazek Narodowy Polski), a national mutual benefit and fraternal society for Polish Americans. Included are three cash books, a volume of membership registrations, a book recording members' insurance fees, an attendance book, programs for the lodge's annual Pulaski Day banquets, collected research materials and writings about the history of the Society, newsletters, a Silver Jubilee booklet, and fragmentary correpondence and financial records. Also present is a 70th anniversary program of the Polish Legion of American Veterans Post No. 11 and a brochure in Polish promoting commerce in Milwaukee. The all-male membership of the lodge is composed primarily of Milwaukee professionals, politicians, and businessmen.
English, Polish
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-mil00043 ↑ Bookmark this ↑
Biography/History
The Milwaukee Society, Lodge 2159 of the Polish National Alliance (Zwiazek Narodowy Polski) was formally organized in 1921, following a series of preliminary meetings the previous year. Among the founding members were Eugene Tomkiewicz, Walter Przybylski, Dr. Eugene Pawinski, John Grunwald, Dr. William Rossa, Frank Kempinski, Michael Kurzawa, and Max Kadow. Unlike other PNA lodges, the Milwaukee Society was not organized by location; rather its all-male membership was drawn from Milwaukee's community of professionals, politicians, and businessmen. Lodge 2159 was allied with Council 8 of the PNA. A ladies' auxiliary was founded in 1926. Like other PNA lodges, Lodge 2159 has been involved in war relief work, civic affairs, and youth and scholarship programs, as well as providing sick benefits for members.
Scope and Content Note
The records in the collection were among those located in the Alliance Home of PNA Council 8 following its sale late in 1980. In part, this is the reason for the fragmentary nature of many of the files. Lists of members of Lodge 2159 are found in a volume recording attendance at monthly meetings (February 1953-March 1970), and a volume of membership registrations (1944-circa 1955), which also notes age, birthplace, date of joining, occupation, date of death or resignation from the Lodge, the amount of insurance owned, and beneficiary. A policy book also lists members' names with the amounts of insurance policies and premiums. Three cash books record Lodge receipts and disbursements. Other records in the collection consist of a file of scattered correspondence and form letters including the Milwaukee Society's statement on the Atlantic Charter and United Nations, 1944; year-end financial reports, 1950-1958; annual audit reports, 1958-1961; and two monthly summary reports to the PNA national treasurer, including members' names, phone numbers, and date of joining. The Lodge held an annual Pulaski Day banquet to honor outstanding members of the community, and there is a file of banquet programs in the collection. The earliest portion of the collection was donated by Ted Sobanski, who was chosen financial secretary of the Milwaukee Society in 1963, and elected president of Council 8 in 1980.
Additions processed in 1998 contain materials about the history of the Milwaukee Society including an analysis of the membership compiled by Timothy L. Sharko in 1979; notes for a 1933 meeting which discuss plans for the World's Fair in Chicago; several issues of the Lodge's Bulletin and News publications; additional Pulaski Day programs; and a booklet commemorating the Lodge's Silver Jubilee anniversary in 1946. There is also a program for the 70th anniversary celebration (1993) of the Polish Legion of American Veterans, Woodrow Wilson Post #11 (Milwaukee), a 1993 brochure, in Polish, produced by local government promoting business with Poland and stressing Milwaukee's Polish character, and a 1997 membership roster.
Administrative/Restriction Information
Presented by Ted Sobanski, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1981 and by Don Pienkos, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1993. Accession Number: M81-178, M98-011
Processed by Menzi Behrnd-Klodt, 1981, and Donna Sereda, 1998.
Contents List
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Milwaukee Mss 43
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Original Collection
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Box
1
Folder
1
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Correspondence and form letters, 1944, 1970-1981
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Box
1
Folder
2
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Financial reports, 1950-1958
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Box
1
Folder
2
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Audit reports, 1958-1961
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Box
1
Folder
3
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Monthly report to PNA National Treasurer, 1976 January, , 1977 January
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Box
1
Folder
4
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Pulaski Day banquet programs, 1963-1980
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Box
1
Folder
5
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Miscellany
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Box
1
Volume
1
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Attendance book, 1953 February-1970 March
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Box
2
Volume
2
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Membership registration, 1940-circa 1955
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Box
2
Volume
3
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Policy book, 1921-1924
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Box
2
Volume
4-6
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Cash books, 1936-1960
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Additions
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Box
3
Folder
1
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History of the Society
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Box
3
Folder
2
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Meeting notes, 1933
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Box
3
Folder
3
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Miscellaneous pamphlets and clippings
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Box
3
Folder
4
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Milwaukee Society Bulletin, 1927, 1932
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Box
3
Folder
5
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Milwaukee Society News, 1932
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Box
3
Folder
6
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Pulaski Day programs, 1936-1993 (incomplete)
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Box
3
Folder
7
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Silver Jubilee booklet, 1946
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Box
3
Folder
8
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Membership roster, 1997
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