Collections : [Central Connecticut State University]

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.

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.

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.

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.

William J. Mann is a New York Times-bestselling author of books on Hollywood and the American film industry. This collection contains notes, interviews, and other research materials gathered by the author.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

Victor D'Lugin was an activist for gay rights and AIDS awareness and politics during the 1980's and 1990's. He was also a professor of philosophy at the University of Hartford for many years. As an AIDS patient, he was inspirational to many. He published many articles and gave several speeches on these topics. This collection includes his work in the gay and AIDS communities, along with audio/visual items of him at various events.

Richard Nelson, long time member of the Connecticut Stonewall Foundation, was an activist for LGBT rights. The collection includes materials pertaining to events put on by the Connecticut Stonewall Foundation and specific writing and speeches done by Richard Nelson.

The American Council for Polish Culture (ACPC) initiated the establishment of the American Center of Polish Culture (ACPC) in Washington, D.C. Since the acronyms of both organizations are the same we refer to the American Center of Polish Culture as the Center. In 1985, during the annual conference of the American Council of Polish Culture (ACPC) it was decided that a Polish Center has to be established in the US capitol and an initial fundraising campaign had started. In 1989 the American Center of Polish Culture was incorporated and in 1991 a building was purchased. The Center was established with a significant help and support of the American Council of Polish Culture and individual supporters from the entire country. However with time the donations diminished and the organization didn't have the means to run such an expensive Center. In January of 2010 the National Polish Center, that was the official name of the Center, was acquired by the Kosciuszko Foundation and become the KF's Washington DC Center. The collection consists of administrative and financial records covering years 1984-2010.

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 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 Reader's Feast was an independent bookstore that opened in 1983 in Hartford, Connecticut's West End. The two co-managers, Carolyn Gabel and Tollie Miller, were avid women's rights and gay rights activists and wanted to start a community bookstore where books representing all different cultures were sold and the environment was comfortable and safe for everyone. They ran the bookstore for twelve years, moving on to other ventures in 1995. This collection includes advertisements, newspaper articles, correspondence, and other materials directly related to Reader's Feast from 1983-1996.

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.

This collection consists of materials collected by Prof. Stanislaus A. Blejwas relating to the Polish American Congress Connecticut District (PAC CT) from 1981 to 1991. Stanislaus A. Blejwas was a professor of history and the director of the Polish Studies Program at Central Connecticut State University in New Britain, CT. Additionally to his professional activities he was very active in political and cultural Polish American organizations on local and national level, for which he received numerous awards and recognitions. Prof. Blejwas held several positions within the Polish American Congress, Connecticut District (PAC CT) and was a president of the organization from 1983 till 1986.

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.

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.

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.

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 Solidarity Information Office in Canada was opened in Toronto in 1981, and served as a satellite office of the Solidarity Coordinating Office Abroad in Brussels. Zygmunt Przetakiewicz was the director of the office from 1981 until 1983, and in 1983 Wojciech Gilewski was a director of the office until 1990, when it discontinued operation. The collection consists of extensive correspondence, reports, official publications, press releases and clippings. It covers the years from 1981 until 1990.

The Polish Club, Inc. was a social club organized by group of Poles active in the Bridgeport area to promote Polish culture. The club closely cooperated with the Polish Program at Sacred Heart University in Bridgeport. The Polish Club was officially incorporated in 1979 and was very active until the late 1990's, yet later its activities diminished. Collection consists of material documenting club activities from 1979 till 1996.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Stanislaw Edward Bask Mostwin was an achieved war hero and political activist in his lifetime. He was awarded several military decorations during WWII and after immigrating to the United States became actively involved in Polish and Polish American causes. He belonged to groups such as the Polish National Democratic Committee, Polish Heritage Society in Maryland, Polish American Congress, and North American Study Center for Polish Affairs (STUDIUM). The collection includes papers from these groups, especially STUDIUM, and other essays and writings on the state of Poland at the time and its history.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Richard Cardarelli was a celibate gay activist priest living and working in the Hartford Area for most of his career. He co-founded Dignity/Hartford and celebrated mass with the organization. His papers include subject files which he kept for research and reference, as well as several documents pertaining to Dignity/Hartford and other Dignity organizations around the country. Scrapbooks of photos from various events in which he was involved form a good portion of the collection.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Attorney Ryszard Mrotek was born in Lwow, which is in today's Ukraine. He spent the WWII in Warsaw, was arrested during the Warsaw Uprising and send to labor camp in Germany. After liberation he attended high school in Germany, worked as interpreter for the United Nations and moved to the US. He became immigration lawyer and settled in Connecticut. He was very active in local political organizations and served as president of the Polish American Congress, Division of Connecticut. He was also active in other organizations and regularly participated in a theatrical productions of a group called Wiatraki Wyobrazni. This collections consist of records of Polish American Congress as well as some personal records.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.