The American-Polish Information Service was organized in September 1939 as the Press Committee of the Polish Book Club of Milwaukee. Among the founders were Szymon St. Deptula, Rev. Dr. Francis Wegier, Rev. Joseph Betlinski, Martin Kedziora, Wallace Maciejewski, and Yolanda Majkowska. In January 1941, the Committee enlarged its membership to about thirty members, changed its name, and expanded its range of activities. The work of the Information Service was directed toward the dissemination of information concerning Poland, Polish culture and history, and the Polish people in Europe and in the United States. The group also honored the memory of Father Waclaw Kruszka. The purposes of the American-Polish Information Service were to refute deliberate untruths regarding Poland and its people, and in particular, to combat Nazism in Europe and pro-Nazi sentiments in the United States. The organization maintained close ties with other groups and individuals in the Polish community in Milwaukee, and actively worked with the Pulaski Council, the Polish Book Club, the Polish Fine Arts Club, and the Polish Teachers' Club, among others. APIS distributed informational literature to local organizations, public libraries, and individuals; helped sponsor community and civic events, aided in the war effort, and maintained scrapbooks to illustrate the activities of the Polish American community.
