Collections : [Central Connecticut State University]

Jan Wojcik was a prolific writer, essayist, and a dedicated community activist and patriot. Wojcik was born in Russia in 1913, but after the Bolshevik war he returned to Poland in 1921. He lived and was educated in Poland. In 1939 he served on the front as an artillery officer. He was captured by the Germans and spent the rest of the war in a POW camp. After the war ended, he immigrated to Brazil in 1949 and later to the US in 1961. He lived in New Britain and worked in manufacturing and for the Polish cause. He wrote to several Polish and Polish American periodicals and participated in activities of many Polonia organizations. His collection consists of his writings, articles, and books.

Elizabeth Wasiutynski has worked with various Polish and Solidarity organizations, including the Coordinating Office of NSZZ Solidarność (Solidarity), headquartered in Brussels, Belgium and the Connecticut Division of the Polish American Congress (PAC). She served as Director of the Poland Project at Central Connecticut State University and is a native speaker of Polish and English who has been qualified as a seminar interpreter by the U.S. Department of State. E. Wasiutynski worked closely with Jerzy Milewski, who was the Director of the Coordinating Office Abroad of NSZZ Solidarność in Brussels. He helped to set up pro-Solidarity organizations, including Solidarity International in New York. This collection consists of records related to E. Wasiutynski's work, including documents from the Coordinating Office Abroad of NSZZ Solidarność, the Polish American Congress, and other Solidarity support organizations.

The Ludwik and Juliana Trzcinski Collection consists of materials reflecting their lives in New Britain, Connecticut. The Trzcinski's were first generation of Polish immigrants. They actively participated in the Sacred Heart parish and school. Family members belonged to various religious societies and veterans' organizations. Items in collection range in dates from the 1890's all the way to the 1980's. There are many family and professional photographs of family gatherings, weddings, first communions, and other church related events.

Le-Hi-Ho was established in 1969 in Pennsylvania to be a safe and supportive organization for the GLBTQ community. This collection includes the group's, and other organizations', documents, articles, essays, and advertisements dating from the early 1960's to the late 2000's.

Donna Stimpson has been an activist for GLBTQ rights, including domestic partnership benefits, same sex marriage, gender equality, and second parent adoption in Connecticut and nationally. She has been involved with several equality groups and continues to work in the state for civil rights. The collection includes some of her personal documents as well as newspaper and internet articles, publications, memorabilia, and general information spanning over a few decades.

Polish Survivors of the Holocaust, an oral history project was initiated by Professor Stanislaus A. Blejwas from Central Connecticut State College and co-sponsored by the Association of Polish Priests in Connecticut. The project was funded by the Connecticut Humanities Council. Parts of the interviews were broadcast in a miniseries with Connecticut Public Radio. All interviews were transcribed. Collection contains documentation of the project, related correspondence, and various publications on Polish-Jewish relations and teaching the Holocaust. Collection illustrates experience of non-Jewish survivors of the Nazi concentration camps in World War II, who immigrated to the U.S. and lived in Connecticut.

Solidarity International of Connecticut (SI of CT) was a non-profit organization established in 1982 after Martial Law was imposed in Poland on December 13, 1981. SI of CT is a part of Solidarity International, a nationwide organization dedicated to the struggle for human rights and the perpetuation of the ideals of the Solidarity movement in Poland during the 1980's and 1990's.

Msgr. Alphonse A. Skoniecki was born in Poland in 1884. He attended seminary in Louvain, Belgium and was ordained a priest in 1917 in the US. During WWI he supported recruitment efforts for the Polish Army in France. Skoniecki served in several parishes in Massachusetts and was named pastor of St. Mary's Parish in Turners Fall, MA in 1925, a parish he would lead for 23 years. He was instrumental in expanding the parish and was active in many religious and secular organizations that promoted and served the Polish cause. He wrote to many local newspapers. His work and contributions were recognized by Poland's government-in-exile and in 1954 he received the honorary title of colonel in the Polish Army and was decorated with the Haller's Swords medal and the Gold Cross of Merit from the Polish Roman Catholic Union of America. The collection consists of extensive correspondence, seminary notes, sermons, and writings of Msgr. Skoniecki.

The Karpinski and Sadoski family collection consists of family photographs taken at the beginning of the century. It illustrates the life of Polish immigrants in New Britain and surrounding towns.

Material in this collection relates to Sacred Heart church, the oldest Polish American parish in New Britain Connecticut, established in 1894. It was an ethnic parish lead by the very powerful Monsignor Lucyan Bojnowski who was was a very influential figure not only for parishioners' lives but the entire town. Paul Wysocki, served as pastor of the parish during the years 1977-2003. These years were very important to the ethnic parish. In the 1980's a new wave of political immigrants came to the city from Poland (a result of Solidarity immigration) and wanted to participate and to receive services they were used to in Poland. However, some actions created frictions between the old and the new Polonia. There were questions of church financial contributions, ownership of the church, and who should make or advice pastors on changes within the parish. This collection concentrates on the post Solidarity immigrants and controversies within the church from the 1980's till mid 1990's.

Lottie Pozniak (Kaminski) was born in Hartford, Connecticut to the first generation of Polish Americans. She was very active in many Polish American cultural organizations. During World War II she participated in selling war bonds and organized many events to benefit troops. After the war she became a participant and promoter of Polish history and culture. She received many awards and recognitions for her work. The collection richly illustrates with printed and visual material Mrs. Pozniak's activities and the Polish American community in Connecticut.

The Polonia Paderewski Choir is a secular choir of 45 singers that was established in 1952 in New Britain, Connecticut. Over the decades the choir performed during national and international competitions. The material in this collection consists of correspondence, minutes, membership, financial data, and photographs. It covers years 1952-1963, and 1969-2004.

The Polish National Home of Hartford (PNH) traces its roots to the Polish Catholic church of SS. Cyril and Methodius parish in Hartford, Connecticut. As Polish immigrants continued to arrive, a larger church was needed, and so a new church was built in 1917. That same year, a group of Polish immigrants came together and organized the Polish National Corporation (PNC), and bought the old SS. Cyril and Methodius building. They used it as a social hall, remodeled it, and renamed it to White Eagle Hall. After years of growth, White Eagle Hall was no longer sufficient for the needs of the community, and so it was decided by the PNC to purchase a parcel of land, in order to construct a new building to meet their growing needs. These efforts culminated in 1929 when funds were raised and construction began, and a year later in 1930, construction of the building was completed. In 1929, the name of the organization was changed from Polish National Corporation to Polish National Home of Hartford, Inc. The PNH promoted Polish culture and hosted numerous activities and events over its many decades in operation in support of this goal. It also served as a gathering place for Polish-Americans and numerous Polish-American organizations held their meetings at the PNH. The PNH engaged in various charitable acts during its many years in operation. Their scholarship program was very important and promoted, The Polish National Home Founders' Scholarship, which gave numerous scholarships to students of Polish descent. After decade of prosperity, the organization experienced financial difficulties, as well as declining membership, as a result the PNH was sold on December 30, 2022. Although the building was sold, the PNH as an organization still exists.

The collection illustrates the history of an immigrant organization for young women of Polish descent devoted to friendship, charitable work, and scholarship. It covers years from 1926 until 1988. It contains correspondence, minutes, and an extensive collection of clippings and photographs.

The Polish Cultural Club of Greater Hartford (PCCGH) was established in 1976 to promote and preserve Polish cultural heritage. The PCCGH is an affiliate member of the American Council for Polish Culture (ACPC). The club awards scholarships, participates in ethnic and multicultural events, and prepares displays and presentations about the history and literature of Poland. The collection illustrates a wide range of activities of the club from 1976 until 2002.

This collection spans 70 years of the Polish Arts Club of Chicago, a social club for Americans of Polish descent which focused on bringing attention to the art, literature, music, and culture of Polish Americans. The club is affiliated with the American Council for Polish Culture and contains documents from both organizations as well as clippings and publications related to Polish culture in the United States.

The Polish American Historical Association (PAHA) was established in 1942 to promote the study of immigration of Poles to the United States. For the first presidents of the organization, it was important to promote scholarly knowledge of Poles and Polish Americans, collect and preserve information on the topic, and elevate historical research. PAHA attracted many scholars, secular and clergy, in the fields of history and ethnic studies. The organization promoted their mission through the publication of the Polish American Studies journal. The collection consists of material documenting the history of the organization and its various activities. It includes correspondence material from annual meetings and conferences as well as membership and financial data.

The Polish American Citizens Club in New Britain, Connecticut was established in 1932. The club was open to people of Polish and Slavic descent and the club's mission was to provide financial support to members in times of sickness. The collection illustrates the club's activities from 1932 till 1973.

Polish American Arts Association (PAAA) of Washington D.C. was established in January 1966, as an affiliate member of the American Council for Polish Culture. PAAA creates public awareness of Polish history and culture through lectures, concerts, films and art exhibits. The collection contains material that illustrates activities of the organization for the years 2000-2009.