Collections : [Central Connecticut State University]

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.