Collections : [Central Connecticut State University]

Adam T. Raczkowski, a World War I veteran of the American army, was gassed by Germans in France in 1918. He received the Purple Heart 65 years later. Mr. Raczkowski was active in the Polish Falcons in Southington, CT and participated in their numerous sports events. Collection includes a unique photo from a Falcon's field Day in Meriden CT in 1915.

Collection consists of records of the American Council of Polish Culture (ACPC) compiled by Mr. Alfred Bochenek during his active participation in the organization. It covers the time span of 1971 to 1996. The name of the organization changed in 1988 from American Council of Polish Cultural Clubs (ACPCC) to American Council for Polish Culture (ACPC). Within this collection we refer to the organization as ACPCC and ACPC to reflect the change in the name. Extensive correspondence and membership information illustrate activities of the council from 1971 till 1996.

Alvin O'Konski was a Polish American Congressman from Wisconsin whose political career spanned several decades. O'Konski, a Republican, was known for his anti-communist activities, and was a member of the US Congressional Committee and participated in the Katyn Massacre hearing in Frankfurt, Germany. This collection contains material related to the Katyn massacre hearings and reports.

American Council for Polish Culture (ACPC) is one of the oldest Polish American cultural organizations. Beginning in 1948, and still existing today, the ACPC serves as a national umbrella organization for many local cultural clubs and organizations. The ACPC collection chronicles a wide range of the organization's activities. It illustrates the beginning, changes, and development of the organization supported with extensive correspondence, minutes, reports, and annual conventions materials.

Andrew J. Beck, also known as Andrzej Beck, was an engineering executive who worked in several American engineering companies, where he was responsible for the Eastern European trade during the Cold War years. Beck was born in Poland and was 13 years old when World War II began. He left the country with his mother, Maria Slominska, at the end of September 1939, escaping the Germans and Russians. He is the only son of Jozef Beck, the Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs before WWII. The collection consists of memoirs written by Andrzej Beck for his family, and a DVD of a TVN Polish television production about Jozef Beck. A CD includes interviews with Andrzej Beck and people who were close to his father, Mr. Jozef Beck, during WWII. Andrzej Beck passed away on July 20, 2011, in Fairfield, CT.

Collection illustrates establishment and years of activities of the Association of Polish Priests of Connecticut (APPC). The association was initially established under the Polish name Zjednoczenie Kaplanow Polskich in 1915. The main mission was to establish a religious association of clergy who shared common ethnic heritage. The association represented the interests of Polish clergy within the hierarchy of the Catholic Church, which was almost exclusively run by clergy of the Irish heritage. The APPC was instrumental in organizing the celebration of the Millennium of Polish Christianity in 1966, which was a hallmark of public manifestation of religious and cultural links between Polish Americans and the country of their forefathers. The association made numerous financial contributions to the Catholic Church in Poland and sponsored a major book publication - a biography of Monsignor Bojnowski. In February of 1991 the association became an affiliate member of a national organization - the Polish American Priests Association, which was established in San Antonio, Texas.

From 1971-1979, Betty Hudson was a Selectwoman for the Town of Madison, CT and a two-term Democratic State Senator representing Connecticut's 33rd District. She continued to work for the state in the field of Human Services under Governors Grasso and O'Neill until 1985. This collection includes materials from her endeavors since 1970, including correspondence, articles, and clippings regarding local, state, and national events, community projects, and legislation pertaining to gender and homosexual rights.

William (Bill) Bahlman is an activist and journalist, working since the 1970s to fight for access to medications for all people with HIV and AIDS, and to document this fight through photography and videography. He is currently an associate producer for a weekly news program of GLBTQ interest and serves on AIDS research advisory boards, while living with HIV since the 1980s. This collection includes copies of flyers Mr. Bahlman created for AIDS advocacy campaigns, AIDS-related newspaper articles, and selected testimony before Presidential and Congressional Commissions.

Collection consists of personal papers of Mr. Bronislaw Krzyzewski, a World War I veteran of the Polish Army under General Jozef Haller in France and later in Poland.

Carolyn Gabel-Brett and Leslie Gabel-Brett are avid activists for women's rights, gender equality, and homosexual rights, participating in several Connecticut groups since 1972. This collection includes materials from their endeavors from 1986 through 2021 including documents, periodicals, books, photographs, buttons and t-shirts from local and national events, community projects, and legislation pertaining to gender and homosexual rights.

Christine Pattee, a Connecticut native, worked for many years in the Connecticut Health Department. She was a gay rights activist and lobbyist. Ms. Pattee was a founder of the Northeast Women's Musical Retreat (NEWMR). The collection consists of personal papers, records of the NEWMR, books, photographs, T-shirts, and other visual materials.

John Bonelli, a UCONN graduate, is a political activist and community organizer. In 1989 he ran openly gay for the Hartford City Council as the candidate of the People for Change coalition. For years he worked as an activist and consultant in several organizations related to HIV/AIDS issues and as an intern and volunteer in political campaigns. For years Mr. Bonelli was a statewide co-chairperson of the Connecticut AIDS Action Council. This collection consists of administrative records of the council.

The Connecticut Coalition for Lesbian and Gay Civil Rights (CCLGCR) was an organization prominent during the 1980's and 1990's for standing up for GLBTQ civil rights. They avidly fundraised, made a presence in political discussions and rallies, and created a safe zone for homosexuals in the state. Later, the group changed its name to include bisexual and transgender individuals, becoming CCLGBTCR. This collection includes the group's organizational documents, fundraising efforts, and newspaper articles, along with other related items.

The Connecticut Gay and Lesbian Film Festival has been bringing movies of LGBT interest to the Hartford area every year since 1988. With humble beginnings showing only a few films on one spring weekend, the festival grew, screening 58 feature and short films over nine days in 2016. In 1999 the group behind the CT GLFF, OutFilm CT, began collaborating with students at Trinity College on the EROS Film Festival which takes place at Cinestudio every fall. The CT GLFF collection contains information about most of the 2,600 films considered for both festivals and several benefits from 1988-2016, films from over 70 different countries about such topics as same-sex marriage, AIDS, and transgender rights. In addition, the collection contains several hundred films on DVD and VHS, souvenir T-shirts, and promotional posters. It is expected that the collection will continue to grow as material from subsequent festivals is donated each year. In 2014 the name of the festival changed to the Connecticut LGBT Film Festival. In 2019 the name of the festival was changed to The Connecticut LGBTQ Film Festival.

The first Hartford, Connecticut Lesbian and Gay PRIDE Festival took place on the lawn of Hartford's Old State House June 26, 1982, from noon to three in the afternoon. Each of the eight organizers invited several friends, hoping that it would help boost the turn out. To their surprise, between 200 and 250 people showed up. By 2011, the festival had grown to accommodate well over 10,000 people. The day-long festival eventually adopted a format that began with a rally, then a march to the festival grounds. For many years, the rally began at the State Capitol, with the festival being held at Bushnell Park. The festivals were political, celebratory, and helped to foster communication between the different groups within the gay community. In addition to political speakers, another component of the early festivals included performances.

Czeslaw Gieniewski's papers include a family history going back to the January Uprising of 1863, through participation in the Pilsudski legions and regaining of Poland's independence on November 11, 1918, and the Bolshevik War 1919-1921. Mr. Gieniewski describes his and his family's deportation to Russia and enlistment to the Polish Army, which was formed in the USSR, after a political pact made between the Polish government and Jozef Stalin was signed in June of 1941. General Wladyslaw Anders was in command of the Polish Army on Russian territory. Mr. Gieniewski participated in the battles in Italy in 1944 and 1945, including the famous battle of Monte Cassino. He immigrated to the US and participated in veterans' affairs and was active in the Polish American community in New Jersey, where he still lives with his family.

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.

Mr. Edmund Liszka was very active in Hartford's Polonia after WWII. He owned a travel agency, hosted a radio program and later a TV program. He sponsored and organized many cultural events related to Poland and Polish history, including bringing artists from Poland. He documented various events with professional photographs and donated them to the archives. Mr. Liszka was recognized for his activism within Polonia with many awards and medals.

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.

Ewa Slusarek and her husband Jacek were involved in the Solidarity support movement in the United States after introduction of Martial Law in Poland on December 13, 1981. The Slusarek's established the Solidarity Support Committee of Rhode Island to aid the Solidarity Labor Union organization in Poland. Such support committees were established in several states and worldwide. There was a call for the establishment of an umbrella organization that would coordinate activities of these support organizations. In 1983 a group of representatives from these organizations met in Buffalo, NY and formed an organization called "Conference of Solidarity Support Committees" (CSSC). The collection includes documentation and activities related to the formation of these organizations, broad correspondence and related legal documents, press releases and clippings.

This collection reflects the nature and expanse of the GLBTQ Archives at the Elihu Burritt Library. Coming from a variety of donors, these buttons give an overview of the interests within the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender communities of the Greater Hartford area, especially during the late twentieth century.

This collection includes letters written in Polish to members of the Gromko family, along with genealogical documents, marriage and death certificates, and family photographs. The letters provide insight into life in Poland during and after World War II, offering a vivid portrayal of family experiences and everyday challenges.

The Hartford Gay and Lesbian Health Collective began as the "Hartford Gay Health Collective" in 1983 as a place for gay men to obtain screenings for STDs and Hepatitis. HIV testing was added in 1986 as a response to the HIV/AIDS crisis. In 1987, services were expanded to include women, and the name was changed to the Hartford Gay and Lesbian Health Collective. Over the years, HGLHC has expanded to assume responsibility for many gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender programs and services throughout the Hartford area, including the Connecticut Lesbian and Gay PRIDE festival.

The Hartford Women's Center (HWC) was organized in October of 1977 to serve women of the city of Hartford. The goal was to create a network of organizations with resources for women. Newsletters and calendars were ways to reach out to the community. The HWC helped to establish the first Hartford Feminist Library in 1979. The collection consists of newsletters, minutes, flyers, photographs and slides and extensive correspondence.

This collection contains documents and objects from the life and career of Henry J. Gwiazda and his family. Gwiazda was a former Mayor of New Britain, Judge of Probate, and considered a leader in New Britain's Polonia. Collection includes papers and documents on the Gwiazda and Cieszynski families, including Dr. Genevieve Cieszynski, as well as information on local New Britain politics. Also includes books from Henry J. Gwiazda's collection, awarded plaques, scrapbooks, a campaign poster, and a typewriter featuring letters from the Polish alphabet.

In the fall of 2002, Professor Katherine Hermes offered a course in the history department called, "The Historical Imagination" (History 301). The GLBTQ Archives, then known as the Gender Equity Archive, was a main source for the class. Interviewees for an oral history project were chosen from notable activists represented in the archives. The collection is comprised of these interviews.

Holy Name Athletic Club (HNAC) was established in 1925 by members of the Polish American community in Stamford, Connecticut. HNAC had strong ties with the local Polish American parish, The Holy Name of Jesus Church. The Club received support from the parish and supported many charitable events at the church. The club organized athletic and social events to promote and to preserve activities and customs of Polonia. Material in the collection illustrates activities and membership in the Club through several decades. It also includes photographs from various sporting and social events.

The collection consists of material related to activities of Mrs. Irene Dubicka-Morawska within organizations that supported Solidarity after the introduction to Martial Law in Poland on December 13, 1981. Mrs. Dubicka was also active within other Polish American organizations before 1981. The bulk of the material covers the years from 1981 till 1984. The support for Solidarity was widespread and many organizations were established not only in the US but also in Western Europe and other countries. It was a tremendous effort among Polish Americans and recent Polish immigrants to create a network of support for the Solidarity movement and for people imprisoned by the communist government of Poland. The collection consists of documentation of the establishment of such organizations, and includes correspondence, reports on political and economic situations in Poland, and the program of ongoing help for political prisoners.

This collection contains letters written to Józefa Jakubowska, who immigrated from Poland to the United States in the early 20th century. Written in Polish by her relatives in Poland between 1946 and 1948, the letters are accompanied by photographs of family members.

Collection consists of legal documents of Jan and Elzbieta Merta, who in 1950 immigrated to the U.S. from a displaced persons camp in Germany under the Displaced Persons Act.

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.

The Loughery Collection consists of materials assembled in writing The Other Side of Silence, Men's Lives and Gay Identities, A Twentieth Century History, New York, Holt, 1999. Collection highlights include: transcriptions of interviews with gay activists as well as "coming out stories"; posters; an extensive collection of playbills for gay themed plays or plays with a gay character performed between the 1950s and 1999; articles from periodicals and newspapers; Gay Comics; typescripts; photographs; extensive material relating to Mr. Loughery's other book: John Sloan: Painter and Rebel, New York, Holt, 1995.

John M. Budarz was one of the founders of the Polish Art League of Pittsburgh and held the presidency of the organization twice. Mr. Budarz was also active in the American Council of Polish Cultural Clubs, an umbrella organization for various cultural clubs on the national level. Material in this collection relates to activities of the Polish Arts League of Pittsburgh, information on numerous cultural events, correspondence, and includes publication of their newsletter, Palette.

The Monsignor John P. Wodarski collection is unique in terms of portraying and documenting activities of an ethnic Polish American parish and material related to the history of the Catholic Church and the history of Poland. Msgr. John P. Wodarski was a pastor at the Holy Cross Church in New Britain, Connecticut for several decades. Msgr. Wodarski was a very innovative priest who applied his ideas into educating the local community and always looked for ways to promote mutual understanding among other ethnic and religious groups. He was a great supporter of the Polish Studies Program at Central Connecticut State University where he served on the advisory board for many years. The collection includes documentation of the celebration of Poland's Millennium in 1966 and a visit by Cardinal Karol Wojtyla from communist Poland to the US in 1969. Cardinal Wojtyla later became Pope John Paul II.

Joseph Kleszczynski was born in Poland in 1928. He completed his primary education in Poland, and as a teenager joined the Polish Underground Army in 1943. With advancement of the Soviet Army in the beginning of 1945, he decided to flee Poland and eventually joined the Polish Army in Italy under General Wladyslaw Anders. With his army unit he left for Great Britain, where he attended college. In 1952, he immigrated to the United States, completed his education and worked for the U.S. Postal Service. He was active in many Polish American organizations and taught Polish language courses in the town of West Hartford, CT. In 2011, he was one of the honorees during the Immigrant Day at the state Capitol in Hartford. He passed away in 2014.

Collection consists of records compiled by Joseph L. Zazyczny related to American Council for Polish Culture (ACPC). Mr. Joseph Zazyczny was the ACPC president from 1987-1989. The bulk of the material covers the years 1984-1989. It includes also materials from annual state conventions, as well as extensive correspondence and documentation of the Washington project, which was a major undertaking of the council in 1980's that went well into 1990's. The main goal of the Washington project was to establish ACPC presence in Washington to promote Polish culture on the national and international level. The collection also includes information about affiliated members and their activities.

Material in the collection was compiled by Karen Majewski for her graduate studies project. It includes interviews with refugees from Poland from the Solidarity immigration wave in 1980's, as well as an extensive collection of newspaper clippings related to the subject.

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.

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.

Collection consists of two post cards/photographs, which were sent to Mr. Lewis E. Pierson to New York City from Poland in 1921, and a letter informing Mr. Pierson of his nomination to become an honorary member of the Kosciuszko Squadron for his financial support. Included in the collection is the original emblem of the squadron.

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 papers of Ludmil A. Chotkowski, a Polish American physician and vice-president of the Solidarity International Connecticut Chapter, a grass root organization supporting underground and dissident activities in Poland in the 1980s. He initiated a successful campaign to erect the Popieluszko Human Rights Monument in New Britain, Conn. He was involved in lobbying efforts and media campaigns on behalf of Polish opposition and participated in activities of other anti-communist and pro-democracy organizations based in the USA.

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.

The collection of Joseph G. V. Maciora, alumni of CCSU, consists of genealogical work done by Mr. Maciora about both sides of his family (Mik and Maciora). Most of the documents are written by Mr. Maciora either from memory or oral histories of his parents, Mary Agnes (Mik) Maciora and Joseph George Maciora. There are some correspondences, prayer cards, and church programs. It also includes some general information on Poland and Polish Americans in Meriden and New Britain, CT.

This collection consists of materials that belonged to Magnus Jan Krynski (MJK) of North Carolina. A successful translator, author, educator, and proponent of human rights, Krynski was active in Polish affairs and Polish American politics and culture. A native of Poland, he came to the United States in 1949 and obtained an extensive education which he applied to translate several volumes of Polish poetry into English. He also become chairman of Duke University's Department of Slavic Languages and Literature. There are a plethora of documents relating to his professional life, translating work, and political activity in this collection.

Michael Alfred Peszke was born Poland in 1932. After the outbreak of WW II his family evacuated to France and England. Michael A. Peszke received his medical degree from the Dublin University School of Medicine, and in 1956 came to the U.S. and worked in his field of psychiatry until his retirement in 1999. He combined clinical work with research, teaching, and administrative duties, and published widely in his field. After his retirement he turned to his interest in Poland and World War II. He published four books and numerous scholarly articles. Dr. Peszke is the founding member of the Polish Studies Program at Central Connecticut State University. His collection contains his scholarly articles, essays, books, and material which illustrate his interest in history and promotion of Poland, as well as his memoir written in 2006.

This collection documents the life and service of Mieczysław Stanisław Władysław "Mike" Gorzula (1919–2015), a Polish fighter pilot who flew with British and Polish squadrons in the Royal Air Force during World War II. His career spanned the latter part of the Battle of Britain through the war's end, including bomber escorts, night fighter operations, ground attacks, and the rare feat of shooting down a German Me 262 jet fighter. Materials include military records—flight logs, promotion documents, aircraft data, and operational reports—alongside family correspondence, photographs, biographical narratives, genealogical information, and printed works related to his aviation career. Together, they present a vivid portrait of a distinguished pilot and the broader role of Polish airmen in the Allied victory.

Mieczyslaw [Michael] Kierklo was born in Poland. He attended school and work there until the outbreak of WWII. In 1940 he was arrested by Russians and sent to Workuta, a labor camp. In 1942, after he was freed, he joined the newly established Polish Army in the USSR and left Russia with General Andres. He fought with them until the end of the war. In 1954 he immigrated to the US and established his life in Connecticut. He became very involved with various Polish and Polish American organizations. Soon his writing talent was used for various occasions. He wrote to a publication called "Weteran" about his war experience and wrote about Polonia activities and events to the Polish daily Nowy Dziennik. He also wrote short poems to celebrate the lives and activities of organizations and individuals.

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.

Msgr. Stanislaus Musiel was born in Poland and attended seminary in Louvain, Belgium. He was later appointed for pastoral work in the Hartford diocese in Connecticut. He was a pastor at St. Cyril and Methodius parish in Hartford from 1917 till his death in 1966. Material in the collection illustrates Msgr. Musiel's appointments in various parishes in Connecticut and decades of pastoral work in SS. Cyril and Methodius parish in Hartford. Collection consists of correspondence, publications, and photographs related to Msgr. Musiel. A substantial part of the collection's material relates to Msgr. Musiel's relatives from the Kazowski and Boniarczyk families.