140 th Anniversary

COMMEMORATION 140th Anniversary
OF THE
POLISH SOCIETY OF CALIFORNIA
~/:'~:r
~~~ ~~.
~~~ ~--bC
(~/-..c //tlw fi) 'OSidea{;
December 30, 2003
-->
::!
:'Jt
~
\51
S
B
,tI
t.!
:: .5~ ~
..g ;;P- I':C,
~
,_'
_
j
~
L- \!3
V "'
r-:==
\jl
.,;
t:"
\ ,...l.
.g ,:::
,..Q ~~ -" --0
"'--' ~~
()
:or ;l -.p 4­
tr4 r )
'-=. • ;;);-
0'
<)
~ ~ u. ~
ar-J h. /Z"~
;~
.)
,D
I~
In
~
-g
. . . . . :.
Q..
~
.~
-.t
~J
~
~d
~
$:­
t;)
~
;::
f)
__
,
~
'"
~
1 ,
\'' <;5!
~
t.,§
~
--J-.
"'d ~
~
~
,~
+-l
~
1,,"Ou ri AJl1t. · ri! 0 11 ::: .
~
"
Co
--~~
.,,
t;)
..~
\+­
o
A5 Illenlbers of this great orgall/ za lion we seldom in ollr busy daily lives give much
when looking back makes sellse, j ust to see f rol/f where
rt 'C' !''' collie ami to tllke slack of what we've achieved, boOI as indl7' id1lllls and members of an
orgnlli;w llOlllllll lil/8 people wilh Sim ilar gO(ll s nlld n,;pirn lio ns,
1II0IIgil i 10 lile pas t, Yet Ihere are limes
~
.....
COIl gm llllniiOIl S on your 140th an nIVcrsary. It is fitting and proper that we slop 10
refle ct 0 11 Of" Ilccom plishments once in a while and pay homage to the memory of Ihe founders
II/IJ l'iD neers uf the Polish National A II iall ce.
.,)
\Q
\Q
t;)
~
l
1tV~ fire 1111 orgmn zil ticm of /II ore Ih" n nllmbers. We are people with ideals and hopes for n
ilt' t/c r an d 1II0re scm re life for ourselv es and brighler tomorrow for our cl lildren (ln d
gm llClchild rell , hit'rl/s bllst'<i "pOll loue of our country and a desire to talee part ill its ciVIC ilfe (IS
g .9
~
Yf;o (!)6fJicers anD r:s/Uembers of; c:£oDtje 7 anD ;guests:
'I
~,
~
our
I Vlrlllrc'U' , PI ' IIIIl'e become li nd wllntc.', r we do 111 the f ll 11,1 re Will continlle to impact on
Ollr IIcigh/wl's and benefi t all uu r f il iure younger gene m liorts.
W III lIlr /l1i!y,
I til<1ltk Ihe Offi cers and members oj Lodge 7 fo r their past and present contributlOrtS and
,,,ish YOII (1 /1 good !relllll, Il nd personal success,
1!Va m lfs t
~wr5 '-'n (l1 reg" r ,f,; to y 0 1l IIlI rI
;~~~
you ,.' .
~yyy,~
A£nl
Edward J
l'residenl rlA'lIrl 6100 ~1 " O:CO'(r
J CuL'//((O
g>~;sA J l/afto-aai AIi«uu-£o i!/du yLJ y'X A
ej,{c'E1O" J'llifw(j (}o{iCIC 7.So'() (77s) 2 6'(}:0500 9'(,,,,,. (77S) 2&(): 1<1'':;(}
AM BASSADOR OF THE REPUB LI C OF POLAND
OFFICE OFTHE SECRETARY
Waszyngton DC, I I grlldn ia 2003 r.
December 31, 2003
Dea r Members and Friends of Lodge - 7 ­
Pani Krystyna Chciuk
Prezes Towarzystwa Polak6w w Kalifornii,
Grllpa 7 Zwiqzku Narodo we go Polskiego
3040 - 22"" Street,
San Francisco, CA 94 110
POLISH NATIONAL ALLIANCE
As yo u celebrate you r 140 ' h A nniversary as a society, it my
pleasure and privilege to extend to you my greetings and
congra tulations.
Szanowil a Pani,
Anniversaries are a t ime for remembering and honoring t h e
many persons w ho have preceded us and build a tradition
of hard wo rk a n d honesty. This anniversary is also a time
to h onor a nd tha n k t h e officers for arranging this celebra­
ti on a nd ac knowl edg ing the members and supporters of this
event.
Bardzo dzi~kllj~ Z<1 Pani list z clnia 20 li stopada 2003 r Prosz~ przyj'lc
seJciecznc gratulacje Z okazji 140. roczllicy za lozellia picrwszej polskicj
organizacji IV P611locllej Kalifornii - Towarzystwa Polak6w w Kalifornii (Polish
Society of California). Wieloletnia aktywnosc Towarzystwa Polak6w
w Kalifornii, Grupy 7 Zwiqzku Narodowcgo Polskie go, jest dowodem \Vielkiej
sily i umie.i~tnosci wspolnego dzialania narodu polskic go na emigracj i
Volumes could be wr itten on the contributions of the P olish
Society Lodge 7, to th e growth, stability of this lodge as well
as the comm unity of San Fr ancisco - and history will r ecord
these ac hi eve m ents.
Z zalem zmu szo llY jestem poillformowac, ze nie b"ct" m6g1 osobiscie
IV
uftlczystosciach
llswietniaji\cych
j ubile llsz.
Wladze
uczestniczyc
Rzec zy pospolitej Polskiej reprezentowac b,dzie pani Krystyna Tokarska­
Biernacik, Konsi.ll Generalny \-\ Lcs Angeles. B:;:d;;: j~dntik ZtiSzczycC:1y~ mcg<tc
znaleic si~ w Komiteci e Honorowym obchod6w 140-lecia Towarzystwa.
th
Please accept m y sin cere co ngr a tulations on the 140 Anni­
versary, as part of history of a grea t fraternal organization.
Prosz~ przyj'lc ten drobllY prezent , jako wyraz moich naj\epszych zyc7.eti .
B est W ish es to you All!
Z gl"bok im szactlnk iem,
Sincerely
.;'
,
1l~
POLISI-I NAT IONAL ALLIANCE or the U.S. or NA
6100 N. Cicero Ave nu e
"-
I
"
I
...../ 1 1. ....
.
!
~
'Prtemyslaw G rud~;nskl
Chicago, IL 60646-4386
(773) 286-0500
\
ARCYBISKUP SZCZEPAN W ESOLY
00186 Rorna
2212.2003
Via ddl c Borteghc: Oscurc. 15 (Tel. 06.679.53.47)
(Fax 06.679.01.69)
Sza nowna Pani Prezes,
MESSAGE FRO M THE PRESIDENT
Dzit;kuje serdecznie za zaproszenie na urocz ystosci zwiqza ne
z 140 ro czniq istnienia To warzyst wa Polak6w w Kalifornii. Niestety
z powodu juz wc zesniej podjt;tych lOb ow iqzaii, bt:dt; w tym czasi e w
Bialymstoku tez na rocznicowyrn spotkanill .
Pragnt; na rec e Szanownej Pani Prezes, przekazac serdeczne
gra tul acje. Praw ie p61tora wiek u ist nienia org an izacji jest w nasz yc h
w arunk ach nielada osiqgnit;ciem Jest to w naszyc h dziej ach ok res
wie lki ch przernian. Jes t to przede wszystkim okres wi elkiej erni gracji,
i st al ych wysilk6w odzysk ania niepodleglosci. Jest to ok res radosci za
odzyska nie niepod legl osc i w 1918 rokll i ok res ponownej jej utraty w
1939 rokll. Jest [0 r6wniez ok re s ideowcgo zniewolenia nasz ej
Ojc zyzny i upadku stys temll komunistycznego w 1989 roku. Mirno
tych przemian zw iqzek trwal i wlqcza l sie bezinteresownq i ofiarnq
sluzb'l w dzieje naszeJ Ojczyzny .
Zachodzqce przemiany sprowadzaly ciqgly przyplyw nowych
fnI emigracji , kt6re w lijczal y si t; w zycie poIonij ne.
ZycZt; Stowarzyszeniu, b y kontynllowalo realizacjt;
swo i ch zalozcii, ubogacajilc swo i ch czlonk6w zwi'l.za niem z
pol skimi wartosciami kullllrOwymi, przepojonymi wn rt osciam i
ch rzesciaj iisk imi. Msza Sw . otwieraJqc jubileuszowe uroczystosci
niech bed zi e podzit;kowaniem za lata t[l.vani a i dz ialani a
Stowa rz ys zenia i prz y niesi e B oze blogoslawieiistwo na dalsze l ata
owocneJ dl.ialalnoSci.
Od d any w Panu
/
L
l'vlrs. Krystyna CH CI UK
Polish Society of Californi a
3040-22nd Street
SAN FR A NCISCO , CA 94110
~ ~'" \~tA-,\
OF THE POLISH SOCIETY OF CALIFORNIA
Today we gather together on this special occasion to celebrate the 140th annivers;
the Polish Society of California , first established in 1863. As we all know, the F
Society of California joined the Polish National Alliance and became one of its eo
member lodges. We wish to honor the accomplishments of those early founders a
also celebrate their surviving spirit which resides in our Society today as membE
the Polish National Alliance, Lodge 7. Our forefathers bequeathed to us a rich lege
appreciation for our cultural heritage and Polish identity and we are determined to
on this legacy by continuing the support of Polish political, cultural, ed ucationa
fraternal causes in both our American homeland and in tOday's Poland .
PNA's mission over the past 140 years has essentially remained the same.
essential va lues and aims of our organization , the Polish Society of Califomia Loc
PNA, has been to en cou rage educational growth through scholarships; to offer fina
assistance to members through loans and other means of support; to help perpe
Polish cultural institutions, both time-honored and new, through grants; and to pn
humanitarian aid to thos e in need as a result of natural disasters and/or s
upheava ls by donating millions of dollars in financial assistance , goods and service~
While today we underscore and reflect upon the achievements of the earliest men
of this most ve nerable of Polish organizations in California, we should not forgel
this work continues today. Only through active membership and participation cal
Polish Society of California Lodge 7 PNA continue its work to support and su
irnportant Polish causes, providing a bright beacon illuminating Poland 's histt
achievements both here and abroa d.
7(rystyna Cnciuf(
President of the Polish Society of California
Lod ge 7 Polish National Alliance
Honorary Com mittee
Pro
9
r a m
Mrs. Teresa Abick , Vice-President of Polish National Alliance of the US of NA,
Sunday, January 25, 2004
Church of the Nativity of Our Lord
240 Fell Street , San Francisco
Honora ble Barbara Boxer, US Senate,
Mr. John Burton, President pro Tempore of the Senate of the State of California,
Mrs. & Mr. Krystyna Chciuk, President of Polish Society of California Lodge 7 PNA,
Honorable Diane Feinstein, US Senate,
Father Jerzy Frydrych, S.Ch. , Pastor of Nativity of Our Lord Parish, San Francisco,
11 :00 A.M. HOl y Mass
Mr. Maciej Glodek , President of th e St. Stanislaus Benevolent Inc., San Francisco,
In memory of our beloved departed members of the Polish Society of California Lodge 7 Polish National Alliance Polish Club of San Francisco, 3040 -
22nd Street Mr. & Mrs. Waldemar Glodek, Commissioner, District 16, Polish National Alliance,
Mr. & Mrs. Przemyslaw Grudzinski, Polish Ambassador to the United States of America,
Mr. & Mrs. Zdzislaw "Ziggi" Jarkiewicz, Post Commander Polish Home Army Veteran 's Ass'n,
Mrs. & Mr. Teresa Jazowska - Zurek, President of the Polish Literary and Dram atic Circle, San Francisco,
Rec e pti on 12:30 P.M .
Dr & Mrs Stefan Kaminski, President of the Friends of John Paul II Foundation of Monterey California,
S il e n t A u ction
Mrs. Regina Kobzi, Past Director and Commissioner, Polish National Alliance,
Musical Entertainment by Janina & Jacek Saryusz Romiszewski
Mr. & Mrs. Michal listkiewicz , President of the Polish National Soccer Federation, Warsaw, Poland,
Lun ch S e rv ice
Me. & Mrs . Jim Meskan, President of the Polish American Club of Greater Sacramento,
Mr. & Mrs. Rick Kobzi, Director "K" Region, Polish National Alliance,
Mr. & Mrs. Eugeniusz Kuroczko, Commander Polish Veterans of World War II, Post 49,
Mr. & Mrs . Leszek Malaszewski, President East Bay Polish American Association.
Me. & Mrs. Edward Moskal, President of Ihe Polish American Congress and the Polish National Alliance,
Master of Ceremonies - Jakub Glodek American and Polish Anthems Me. & Mrs. Casimir Musielak, National Treasurer, Polish National Alliance,
Me. & Mrs. Walter Paprocki, Past President of Polish American Club of Greater Sacramento,
Mrs. Elizabeth Rudzinski, Lady Commissioner, District 16, Polish National Alliance,
Welcome - Krystyna Chciuk President of the Polish Society of California Lodge 7 PNA Invocation - Father Jerzy Frydrych, S,Ch. Me. Frank Spula, National Secretary, Polish National Alliance,
Mrs. Irena Stachura, Former SecretalY of Council 4 Polish National Alliance,
Prof. Andrzej Stelmachowsk i, President of the Wspolnota Polska, Warsaw, Poland,
Ms. Mary Kay Stuvland, President of the Lowiczanie Polish Folk Ensemble of San Francisco,
S pe a k e rs
Mr. Waclaw Szud elski, President of the Polish American Congress, Northern California Division,
Me. Victor Stachura, Past President of the Polish Society of California Lodge 7 PNA
Krystyna Tokarska - Biernacik, Consul General of Poland Teresa Abick - National Vice-President of the Polish National Alliance Artistic program by Lowiczanie Polish Folk Dance Ensemble and " Male Lowiczanie" Mrs. Krystyna Tokarska-Biernacik, Consut General, Consulate General of Poland, Los Angeles, CA,
Mrs. Caria Tomczykowska, President of the Polish Arts and Culture Foundation, San Francisco,
Ks. Abp Szczepan Wesoly, Deputy of the Primate of Poland for Polonia, Roma, Italy,
Ks. Msgn. Stetan Wylezek, Administralor of the John Paul II Foundation, Roma, Italy,
Mr, Zdzislaw Zakrzewski, President of the HELP Foundation,
Singing popular and well known Polish songs with Accompaniment by Janina & Jacek Saryusz-Romiszewski Mrs. Zolia Zakrzewska, President of the Board of Directors, POLAM Federal Credit Union,
Me. Tony Zukovsky, President of Council 4 Polish National Alliance, Northern California,
Dancin g
Polish Society of California Best Wishes to
the Polish Society of California Lodge 7 Polish National Alliance
on the 140th Anniversary of its existence
from the Polish Literary and Dramatic Circle, Inc
Prezes
Teresa Ja zowska - Zurek
Vice-Prezes
Helana Glodek
Sekretarz
Kasia Bana s
Skarbnik
George Janiszewski
Czlonkowie: Waldemar Glodek Frank Jasinski Ryszard KolaczkoVlski Grazyna Kosin ski Sebasti an Zurek 3040 22nd Street. San F rancisco, Ca
Gala Committee
Ga la Chairpersons
Krystyna Chcluk Waldemar Glodek Elizabelh Padlo Jozef Sikora Auction Chairpersons
Zofia Shicker Helena Glodek Zofia Chciuk Anniversary B ook Design
Teresa Jazowska - Zurek & Sebastian Zurek
www.karneo l. com
Entertainment Ch airper son
Mary Kay Stuvland
Ticket Ch airp ersons
George Janiszewski Laura JaniszeWSki Te resa Jazowska-Zu rek Maciej Glodek The history of the Polish people's se ttlement in San Francisco and California is closel y related to the November
Uprising of 1830-3 1 in Poland . As a result of thi s Uprising man y Poles emigrated to the United States and to this
area. One of the first settlers was Major Stanislaw Pongowski, a former aide-de-camp to General W incenty
Kransinsk i. Major Pongowski left Poland after Ihe November Uprising; he spent some time tra veling around the
world and then came to California in 1843. Li tlle is known about his stay in California except that it was brief, for a
short time late r he moved to Chile, where he became a prominent cilizen.
An other early California pioneer was Wojci ech Pulaski (some times spelled Pollasky). Pulaski came to California in
1846 and subsequently Marcus Pula ski founded the town of Pollasky on th e River San Joaquin in Fresno Coun ty.
He is also credited wi th establishing the first ra ilroad between Fresno and Friant. The Southern Pacific Railro ad
line joining Fresno, Clovis and is still known as the Pollasky Road.
One of the most well known Polish pioneers id Dr. Felik s Pawel Wierzbicki who arrived in Ca lifornia with Colonel
J. D. Stevenson's regiment from New York in 1847. Dr. W ierzbicki wa s the author of the first English book printed
west o f the Rockies; Californi a as it is and as it May be, or A Guide to the Golden Region . The first edition of thi s
book appeared in San Francisco on September 30 , 1849. It was printed in the shop o f Was hington Bartlett, a
future mayor of San Francisco. The book was bound in a paperback and sewn together with ordin ary thread. It
was sixty pages long at first printing but in 1849 two more chapters were added making the second edition
seven ty-siX pages. Dr. Wierzbic ki is al so known for his articles on the history of medicine, which have bee n
published In The California State Journal of Medicine. The firs t of these articles appeared under the till e of Essay
on the History of Medicine, (vol 1, 1856, p. 147).
Dr Wierzbicki died on December 26, 1860 , at the age o f forty-five. He wa s buried in the Laurel Hill Cemetery.
About ten years ago, through the efforts of the Polish American Citizen's Club, San Francisco, his grave was
moved to the cemetery at the Presidio of San Francisco.
The greal est number of Poles co ming into Californ ia was recorded during the Gold Rush period. Ateksande r
Zakrzewski, an officer of the Polis h Army of 183 1, is one of the men who settled in California during that period.
Zak rz ewski drew up the first plan of the City of San Francisco in 1849. The map is entitled; Official Map of San
Francisco, completed from the field notes of the offiCial re-survey made by Wm M. Eddy, C. E. surveyor of the
town of San Francisco; Draw n by Alexander Zakrzewski, ex-Polish Officer, 1849 . Th e map is now in the keeping
of Oregon City, Clackamas County, Oregon.
Another man who came to San Francisco at the time is Rudolf Piotrowski fo unded the Polish Comm ittee in 1863,
the first Polish organization in the area .
In 1853, Kazimierz Bielawski, a former captain of the Austrian Arm y, settled in San Francisco. Captain Bielawski
was one of the principat organIZers, leaders and Ihe first president of the Potish Society of Ca lifornia . He worked
for the United States Land Office for 45 years and was generally recognized as the most informed person in hiS
field. In commem oration of his services a mountain near Los Gatos in Santa Clara County was given his name,
Mt Bielawski Bielawski died in San Francisco on March 3, 1905 and wa s buried in Cypress Lawn Memorial
Park, Colma (lot 69, div. 3, sec. C). A monument wa s placed on hiS grave in 1937 through the effort s of the Polish
Society of California. Helena Modrzejewska (Modjeska ) mentions Bielawski in her memoirs; "He was thoroughly
honest" It would have been easy for him to have accumulaled a large fortune, but he was unusually scrupul ous
and never exploited for hiS own ga in the pOSS ibilities which his government position gave him ." (Memoirs and
Impressions of Helena Modjeska, New York, 1910, pp 305-308).
Other Poles, equally promin ent, whO sett led in San Francisco were : Wincenty Lutnicki, Dr. Jan Strenzel,
Franciszek Wojciechowski, Al eksander Bednawski , julian W. Andrzejowski, Captain Theophilus Lessen , General
Wlodzimi erz Krzyzanowski (a hero of the American Civil War for whom a monument was erec ted in Arling ton
National Cemetery, in Washingto n, D.C. ), Dr. Pawlicki, an insurrectionist of 1863, Dr. Teclaw, Krystyna
Narb utowna and many others.
Another Polish name which deserves mention is Stanislaw (Sta nislaus). "Besides the river, there are mountains, a
peak (Atpine County), a town (Tuolomne Cou nty), and a county which bear th e name of Stanis lau s. The y were so
named after Stanislaus, or Estanislao, an In dia n of the Walla-Walla tribe, who led uprisings agains t Mexican
aUlhonties in the first half of this century" (Miecislaus Hai man, Polish pioneers of California, Chicago, III., Polish R.
C. Union of America, 1940, p. 37) . Father F Bolek in his work, Setllements established by Poles in the United
States, convin ces us by documentation that the name is definitely of Polish origin. (Polski Przeglad Kartograficzny
- Polish Cartographic Review - no 32, 1930, p. 2)
'" III
The rnosl aclive workers in Ihe Polish Organizalions a~e r World War I were Stanislaw A. Blonski, Pawel Brzuza.
Felix Goltlicher, Henryk Piatkiewicz, Lucyan Markiewicz . F. Potasz, Florian and Josefa Niklasiewicz. Later
Michael Maslach, Katarz yna Pich, Albina Isaeff and Victor Wielgosz arrived.
A~er Poland obtained its independence the Polish community in San Francisco collected funds which they sent to
the "Old Country." This was a wa y of helping the country of Iheir origin.
The year 1926 was a turning point in the life of the Polish organization s in San Francisco. The Polish community
established its own "Home" at 3040 Twenty-second Street With the home as its focal pOint the Polish commu­
nity was very active. Under the direction of Mrs . Josefa Niklasiewicz, a Literary-Drama Society was organized
which presented theatrical productions on its own stage and arranged for folk dances and the celebrations of the
national holidays. Pageants were organized and Ihere was cooperation with olher nalional groups. The Polish
community took an active role in the construction and the opening ceremonies of San Francisco-Oakland Bay
Bridge. It was under the active guidance of Dr. Ralph Modjeski that most of the plans for thai outstanding struc­
ture were drawn, for he was appointed Chairman of the Board of Consulting Engineers for the projection of Ihe
bridge. Articles with Polish themes were frequently seen in the papers.
Recepti ons were given for prominent Polish artists who came to California . No Polish artist of nole failed to viSit
San Francisco. Among these artisls were: Helena Modrzejewska , Henryk Wieniawski, Henryk Sienkiewicz,
Ignacy J. Paderewski, as well as Josef SIenczynski, a distinguished violinisl-composer, only 10 mention a lew.
Teresa Abick - KrClJO\Y'f W iceprezes ZwiazktJ Narodowego Polskiego odwiedzajac
San Francisco zlozyla hold Or. Fehxo'....i Wierzb icklemu na San f rancisco Nationa l Cemenlary.
C.11(.1
The first social organization in San Francisco was the Polish Committee whose initial undertaking was the
collection of fund s to support the struggle for Polish independence on the continent. They were able to collect
what in those days was a sUbstantial sum. $8.000. The most active members of this Committee in 1863 were:
Rudolf Korwin Piotrowski. C. Meyer. Julian W. Andrzejewski, Dr J. L Czapkay (a Hungarian closel y identified
with the Polish cause) and Kazimierz Bielawski. Bielawski acted as chairman of the Committee and
Andrzejewski its secretary In May, 1864, C. Meyer was nominated as Political Agent in California by the
Polish Insurrectionist National Government. This action aroused the enthusiasm of the Polish community and
gave them the incentive to continue working for the Polish cause The Committee laler changed ils name to
The Polish Society of California. In 1880 the Society joined the Polish National Alliance of the Uni ted States
and received the designation of ~ four This was subsequently changed to its presen t desig nalion of
Group seven. In 1894 the Society was reorganized and a fraterna l Insurance plan for mem bers was intro­
duced which is still in effect toda y.
The members of the colony were fairly close knit groups, especially the political exiles. We get some insight
inlo the lives of these pioneers through the works of Henryk Sienkiewicz and Helena Modrzejewska. An
example IS Sienkiewicz's "Putrament of Mariposa" who, Isolated in the wilderness , nou ri shed a yearning for
Close cooperalion has existed between the Polish Republic's Consul-General in San Francisco and the local
Polish community ever since the opening of the Consulate . The Consul -G eneral was a frequent guest in the
Polish Club. In recognition of the services rendered for the Polish cause, four dedicated civic workers and
members of the Polish National Alliance were decorated with the Silver Cross of Merit. This award wa s given to
Katarzyna Pich, Jozefa Niklasiewicz , Stanislaw Blonski and Felix Gottticher under a decree issued by the Polish
President on December 17, 1938.
With the establishment of the American-Polish Citizen 's Club Inc. in 1934, Polish participation in the field of
politics increased . Under the direction of well known and popular Stanley Walczak the organization members
made conlracls with American Governmenl officials. sent pelitions to Congressm en and influenced public opinion
through large scale celebralions of Polish national events, such as 3rd May Constitulion Day, October 11 th
Pulaski Day and others. These celebra ti ons took place In Golden Gate Park with the participation of local governj
ment officials, State representatives and San Francisco's orchestra . ,i1-.t (i-Q1.l't-f1 ~
fc;tr k
Is <t""'"
The Polish community took an aclive part in nalional defense during the Second W orld W ar. Poles joined Ihe
armed forces in the United States while Poland became the first nation to resi st German aggression which
threa tened to dominate the entire world. Poland resisted heroicatly, despite the ha rdest su fferings and fought in
the first ranks of the Allied Nations, ever faithful to her old motto: FOR YOUR FREEDOM AND OURS .
IV
hiS homeland by reading his uncle's Bible so as "nol lo forget his language ."
In her memoirs Helena Modrzejewska recalls thai when she came 10 San Francisco in 1876 to settle on a
farm with Henryk Sienkiewicz, Sypniewski and Paprocki. she was met by a group of local Poles. At the head
of the group was Captain Rudolf Korwin Piotrowski and with him Captain K. Bielawski, Dr. Pawlicki , General
Wlodzimierz Krzyzan OWSki, Horain, Bednawski and Captain Theophilus Lessen . This group helped her get on
the American stage in Ca lifornia and Introduce the Polish name to the American public.
The period pnor to World War I broughl con solidation and further organizational growlh of Ihe Polish commu­
nity in San Francisco. An "Eagle's Aerie" as well as a "Polish Sociely" in Oakland carne into being . A coura­
geous, dedicated Polish priest. Father Jan Kanly Rosm us raised severallhousand dollars for a parish church.
Following his premature death Ihe money was used for the purchase of a Polish Home in San Francisco
STUDIO POLAND
p% nijna g odzino radio wa
nada wan a \\' kaz.da niedziele od 9: 30 do 10:30 am ze stacii K US F lIa Cali 90.JFM in,!!: rneL www. l ivc365. co m/stntions/ lms f The post-war years changed the structure of the local Polish community. There wa s a mass influ x of immigrants
from among the Polish exiles in England, Germany and Austria. A number of Polish intelligentsia settled In San
Francisco. as well as in the Bay Area. Polish professors have become members of the faculty of the University of
California in Berkeley, among them are: the world famou s Siavist Professor Waclaw Lednicki , formerly professor
at Ihe Jagiellonian University in Cracow and of the University of Brussels; Professor Jerzy Lenczowski , professor
of Political SCience, Chairman of the Committee on Middle Eastern Studies; Professor Jadwlga Maurer and
Professor Czeslaw Milosz of the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures; Professor Jerzy Neyman,
Director of Statistical Research, who wa s recently nominated to the United States National Academy of Sciences;
Professor Antoni K. Oppenheim, professor of Aeronautical Sciences ; and Professor Alfred Tarski, the internation­
ally known mathematician . Lecturer in Slavic languages and literatures Michael K. Pawlikowski has recently
retlCed from the University of California .
The director of the Western-European Department of the world famous Hoover Library at Sianford University
in Palo Alto, a well as a lecturer at Ihat University, is Witold Sworakowski. In the Palo Allo-Mountain View
area, the famous bibliographer, Jan Kowalik, writes and publishes his works, specializing in German polem­
ICS. Art in the area is represented by notables such as Stefan Norblin, San Francisco; Jan Rosen, San
Francisco; Mrs . Henryk Weynerowska (known as "Kali"), San Francisco; Wladyslaw Zamoyski, Palo Allo
and Zygmunt Wolf, San Jose and Monterey.
Newcomers formed their own organization, the Ignacy Paderewski Club, Inc. The organization inlroduced the
first Polish periodical , Polak w Kalifornii (The Polish Californian), a monthly publication . When the idea of
initiating a Polish periodical arose. the Polish Society of California furnished financial assistance in the form of
a loan for Ihe purchase of the necessary equipment. The editorial staff consisted of T A. Zagorewicz, Henryk
Kniolek, Jan and Gabriela Lubomirski, Jozef Sanocki and Wladyslaw Zamoyski. In 1954 Ihe editorial staff
was changed and in 1956 publication was suspended . Another Polish language publication appeared in San
Francisco at this time, Kronika Zachodnia (Western Chron icle) whose editorial staff consisted of T A.
Zagorewicz, J. I. Kasparek, Henryk Kniolek, Jan and Gabriela Lubomirski and Jozef Sonocki. This periodical
was published for a year. During the course of their existence these publishers issued several English and
Polish language brochures as well as a series of anti-Communist pamphlets.
During the same period, the National Fund Commitlee was active in raising money for the Polish Govern­
ment-in-Exile in London. This Committee, under the direction of Jan Lednicki and Michael, had the support of
the entire Polish community. In appreciation of their services on behalf of the nation, the Polish Government­
in-Exile, in 1953, honored several workers. The Gold Cross of Merit was awarded to Michael Maslach of San
Francisco by Polish Army Major Antoni Witkowski; Silver Cross of Merit was given to J. Noga. E. Stefanski
and T A. Zagorewicz.
In 1953 Wiktoria Witkowska organized a Polish Group at Ihe Inlernationallnstitute in Oakland. Among the
leaders of this group were Marion and Barbara Wiazowski , Jan and Jadwiga Wagner, Kazimierz and Maryla
Niec and Stanislaw and Irena Baranski.
In 1957 the students of the University of California under the leadership of Victor F. Stachura, organized the
Polish University Club on the Berkley campus. Some of the founding members are Walter Kondy, Adam Lis,
Irene A. Stachura , Wanda Tomczykowska and Alina Wierzbianska . In the constitution of the club the charter
members stated that their main goals would be the encouragement of interesl in Polish cullure heritage and
the fostering of understanding and friendship among Polish and American students . The past presidents of
the Club were Victor F Stachura, Alina Wierzbianska. Jan K. Lubomirski and Irene A. Stachura. At the
present Andrew Korsak is president of the club.
In the same year the Polish Calholic University Association "Veritas," San Francisco Chapter, was organized
at the suggestion and encouragement of Rev. Dr. Jan Myrda , professor at St. Mary's College in Moraga,
California. The principal founders and leaders of thi s organiza ti on were, among others, Roman Filipkiewlcz,
Stefan Makohin, Adam Skoczowski, Prof. Witold Sworakow ski , Wladyslaw Izdebski, Jan and Jadwiga
Wagner, Waldemar Kulesza, Kazim ierz Porebski (present chairman). Dr. Kazimierz Nlec, Tadeusz Buller.
Wojciech Winkler and S. Dyszynski.
There are eleven Polish priests in San Francisco area who conduct church services in the Polish language.
One of the most prominent priesls since World War II is Father Francis Wajda , chaplain at Mary's Help
Hospital, who is always present al the trad itional Polish Easter Blessings and other impor1ant national holi­
days.
Many newcomers to San Francisco after World W ar II have taken leadership positions in Ihe Polish National
Alliance movement. Among them we find Leon Blaszak, liretess and devoted leader of the P.N A . Boleslaw
Wojtycki, long-term member and P.NA leader from Massachusetls. T A. Zagorewicz, Wilhelm A. Wotny.
Victor and Irene Stachura, Kazimierz and Aleksandra Nowicki and John Smelski. Under the leadership of
Leon Blaszak a new P.NA group was formed in 1959 by Polish Americans in Sacramento. Another PNA
group was organized through the personal efforts of Wilhelm Wolny and Walter Rylka in 1962 in Santa Clara,
California. The P.NA groups organize Polish language schools, theatrical and social circle s, Polish dance
groups and participate in community activities.
Two young Americans of Polish descent holding responsible leadership positions in the PNA and other commu­
nity organizations are Ted James Kukula, allorney at law, president of the Polish American Congress, San Fran­
cisco Chapter and Leo A. Isaeff, insurance broker, president of the United Nationalities in San Francisco
The United Polish societies of San Francisco, comprising several Polish organizations in San Francisco, having
Iheir headquar1ers in the Polish Home at 3040-22nd Street . San Francisco. are very ably admini stered by the
preSident, Kazimierz Nowicki and officers Frank Biernat, Teofil Kot, Joseph F. Noga and Roman Nowakowski.
The Polish United Societies sponsor a Polish Colony Bulletin under the editorship of Frank Jasinski and Leo
Isaeff.
V
In summary, the Polish Society of California, Group 7 of the Polish National Alliance, was formed in July 1863 as
Ihe Polish Committee. From its inception . the purpose of this organization was to give assistance to its homeland
which was so desperately fighting for its Independence. The successors of the founders of the Group 7, Rudolf
Korwin Piotrowski and Kazimierz BielaWSki, continue to carry out the founderi ideology. Whenever Poland
needed help in the difficult struggle prior to its liberation, during the initial stages of its independence and the
difficult period of the German occupalion at the time of World War II, as well as after the so-called liberation in
1945. Poles joined together in the ranks of the Polish Society of California in order to carry help to the Old Coun­
try, the land of their fathers.
Polish Club of San Francisco
Founded in 1926
Salutes and Congratulates The Polish Society of California Lodge 7 P.N.A. for 140 years Of Polish Culture Promotion , Integration of Polish Community And Contin uous Support of Polish Cause POLIS H CLUB, INC. 3040 - 22nd Street San Francisco, CA 94110-3227 Tel. & Fax: (415) 821-2574 E-mail: polishclub@polishclub,org ww w . polis h club . org
POLISH NATIONAL ALLIANCE
Largest Ethnic Froternal Benefit Socie ty
//1 The United Stotes
~M1ll/J(aMdauM0 ~ f%3ed ayj{yjU!~
o 5l+7?AYV~
/Y~8fou ~~
~
f !; {/'
~(l/ryj
EXECUTIVE COMMITrEE:
.:.
EOIVA RJ)J. M OsrJlL, PRfSIIJEN7
.:.
TEilES..! N AIJ/CK. Vtr£ PIlESJDE,'T
.:. p,j UL
.:.
D OROSt!'!A. VICE P RESIOF.Nr
F R.. INA' J. ~P UL·', S OCR£.T.'IRY
.:. CAS/.lfll? J. M USI£/" 'K, TR£~"URI:R
):
SUPERVISORY COUNCIL: .:. HIL4 RY S. CZAPLICKI,
C ENSOR
)
.:. z. JOHN D RDON. VI CE·CENSOR "e a~quarters:
6100 N. Cicero Ave.• Chicago . Illinois 60646·4385
Telephone: 773·286·0500 or 1·800·621·3723
From le~: Mrs. Helena Kurek. Professor
George Lerski, and Dominik W idak ,
president of the Polish Club .
Zespol folklorys!yczny "Lowiczanie" sponso rowany przez Polish Sociely of California
Lodge 7 PNA w czasle programu dozynkowego w 1999 roku.
Polon ijni liderzy z Grupy 7 PNA sloja od lewej: Maciej W. Glodek - Prezes Tow Stanislawa Biskupa Patrona Polski, Inc, Tony Zukowski - Prezes Gminy 4 PNA; Frank Ja sinski - Wice-Prezes Domu Polsklego i Zwiazku Weteranow II Wojny Swiatowej: Elzbieta Padlo - Sekretarz Protokolowy Grupy 7 PNA, Zofia Shicker - Sekretarz Domu Polskiego; George Janiszewski - Skarbnik Gminy 4 PNA I Wlceprezes Domu Polski ego; Teresa Jazowska-Zurek - Prezes Polskiego Kol a Llteracko -Dramatycznego, Inc.; SebasiJan Zurek - Sekretarz Tow Sw. Stanislawa Biskupa Patrona Polski , Inc. i zalozyciel elekron icznego informatora polonijnego vNNI.c apoloma.com; Helena Glodek - W iceprezes Polskiego Kola Literacko-Dramatycznego i wietoletnia kierowniczka imprez organizowanych w Oomu Polskim; Waldemar Glodek - Komisarz Okregu XVI PNA i Prezes Domu Polskiego; siedzi Ha rcmistrz Krystyna Chciuk - wielole!ni Prezes Grupy 7 PNA , byla Prezeska Oomu Polskiego.
Rokrocznie w Do mu Polskim Lodge 7 PNA organlZuJe spotkame
polonijnych dzieci z Sw. Mikolajem
Na zdjeciu od lewej : Waldemar Glodek, Prezes Edward J. Moskal , Helena Glodek, Krystyna Chciuk i George Janiszewski. Members of the Polish Society of California
Lodge 7 Polish National Alliance .
as of the 140th Anniversary Date:
ADULT DIVISION
Jazowska-Zurek, Teresa Belski. Andrzej
Kamienski .. Andrzej Shicker. Zofia
Bruski . Barbara
Kamienski, Anna
Sikora. Joseph
Chciuk-Trout. Basia
Karwowski. Bronislawa
Sikora. Jurek
Karwowski , Stanislaw
Skuta. Regina
Chciuk . Krystyna
Prezes Edward J. Moskal w rozmawie z Dr. Kazimierzem Pomykalskim
uczestnikiem Bitwy a Monte Cassino.
•
Stolik Grupy 7 Zwiazku Narodowego Polski ego na Palonijnym Festiwalu IV Golden Gate Park IV San Francisco rakrocznie organizowanym przez Kangres Polonii Amerykanskie) Oddzial na Pin . Kalifarnie . Zdjecie z 2002r Stoja ad lewej: Waldemar Glodek. Sebaslian Zurek. Teresa Jazowska-Zurek . Irena Stachu ra. Helena Glodek .
Philips, Victoria
Belski. Krystyna
Chciuk. Sophie
Kicinski. Maria
Spisz, Parrish
Chciuk. Wladyslaw
Klimowski . Yvonne
Stachura. Irene
Dettmer. Robert
Kowalska . Danuta
Stachura. Renata
Filipowski , Piotr
Koslowski . Kazimierz
Strychaz. Renata
Gadek. Jaroslaw
Kryston. Katherine
Stuvland. Mary K.
Glodek. Helena
Krystoforski. Sebastian
Szarek. Andrzej
Glodek. Jakub
Marohn . Linda Szarek. Susan
Glodek. Maciej
Mazur. Barbara Trout. Lucas
Glodek. Waldemar
Mazur. Krystyna Trout. Roger
Grohoski. Marion
Mazur. Michael Walan-Gutarra. Liseli
Helten , Catherine
Moncarz. Piotr Wierzbianska. Elizabeth
Helten. Dennis
Mongrid . Marek
Wierzbianska. Teresa
Helten . Marcy
Mrzyglocki. Diane
Wilusz-Flores. Janet
Janiszewski, George
Mrzyglocki , Marceli
Wolowski. Heddie
Jasinski . Dorothy
Mrzyglocki, Peter
Wycisk. Michael
Jasinski. Francis
Niemiec, Joanna
Wycisk . Paul Andrew
Niemiec. Pawel Zadworski . Monica
Obydzinski. Veronica Zagata . Andrzej
Padlo. Elizabeth Zukovsky. Anthony
Padlo. John Zurek. Sebastian
Padlo. Stanislaw Philips. John Philips. Susan JUVENILE DIVISION
Carey. Elizabeth
Sikora, Sabina
Szarek, Katarzyna
Dutkovsky, Christopher
Sikorski, Jan
Trout, Lora
Glodek, Juliana
Sikorski, Malgorzata
Whitney, Steven
Janiczek, Mare k
Smelski, Erica
Wojdyla, Pola
Jasinski, Anne
Smelski, Mattew
Wojdyla, Sylvia
Kamienski, Robert
Smelski, Nicole
Wolny, Alicja
Poray-Heywowski, Artemis
Smelski, Stephanie
Wolny, Christop her
Zarzad Gminy 4 PNA. Zdjecie z 2000 roku. W srodku ze znakiem PNA Jan Smelski - wielce
zasluzony dzialacz polonijny, wielokrotny Delegat na Sejmy Zwiazku Na rod owgo Polskiego.
Sikora, Ashley
ADDITIONAL
Polish Society of California Lodge 7 PNA has 32 paid up and paying msurance policies which ownerS are not members of
our SOCiety
www.lowiczanie,org or www.polishfolk.org E-ma,l:low iczan ie@lowiczanie.org (415) 285-4336 or (51 0) 540-0835 Director: Krystyna Chciuk Artistic Director: Mary Kay Sluvland Choreographer: Piotr Lacki Choral Dire ctor: Agnieszka Hajdukiewicz Music Director: Susan Worland Costumes:Jolanta Budynek
Available for choral, dance and music concerts, workshops, school shows, weddings and o/her performances
Congratulations to the Polish National Alliance
140 Rocznica Zwiazku Polakow w Kalifornii
Grupa 7 Zwiazku Narodowego Polskiego
l owi czanie
Since 1975
Polish Folk Dance Ensemble
Grupa 7 co roku sponsoruj e i organizuje wielkanocna zabawe dla polonijnych dzieci
w Damu Polskim.
Zyczenia wszelkiej pomys/nosci
St. Stanislaus
Benevolent Society, In c.
SEAKOR
P OL IS H DELICATESSEN
Home-made Sausages
Towarzysfwo Swiefego Sfanislawa Biskupa
Pafro na Polski
Deli Products
Grupa 7 Zwiazku Narodoweg o Pols ki ego w San Francisco
przesylaja:
Jadwiga T Bukowinska , Concord , CA
Established in 1889
Inco rp ora ted in 2002
Daniel & Stephanie Cap odanno, Millbrae, CA
Congratulates and W ishes All th e Best
Frank Czyzewski , San Francisco Unified School District, CA
To All Members of
Marianne Dahlberg. Sa n Fra ncisco , CA
Catering for All Occasions
5957 Geary Blvd. San Francisco, Ca 94121 (4 15) 387-8660
dla
Towarzystwa Polakow w Kalifornii
The Glodek Family, San Francisco , CA
the Polish Society of Ca lifornia
Lodge 7 Polish Nationa l Alliance
178 3 S Winchester Blvd .
Campbell, CA 95008
(408) 378-0991
on
A L. Gutkowski. Pinole , CA
George & Laura Janiszewski , Belmont, CA
Stefan i Emily Kaminski. Monterey, CA
their 140th Ann iversary
Ryszard & Diane Kolaczkowski z Mountain View, CA
Stanislaw & Grazyna Kosinski, San Francisco, CA
Edward Martinek & Maria Serwonska , San Francisco, CA
The Mazur Family, Atherton , CA
Congra tulation; and Best Wishes
Piotr D. Moncarz & Anita H. Kolaczkowska, Palo Alto, CA
Maureen Morris, San Fran cisco, CA
to All Members Walter J. Morri s (W ladyslaw Mroczek), Sa n Francisco, CA
of th e Polish Society of California Marceli & Irene Mrzyg locki, Sou lh San Francisco , CA
Jan & Elzbieta Owsianka, San Francisco, CA
Lodge 7 Polish National Alliance Conrad & Jeanette Smolarski, Ori nda, CA
on
Sebastian Zurek & Teresa Jazowska-Zurek, Oakland , CA
their 140th Ann iversary
Polish Arts and Culture Founda tion
Polish Lan guage School of San Francisco, Szkola Jezyka Polskiego im . Jana Pawla I!
from
Polish Scouting Organization
Helena & Waldemar Glodek and Family
The Friends of John Paull! Foundation of Northern California
Polish Society of California Lodge 7 Polish National Alliance Formed 1863
~
1\ lh~Q1Jll1tQ~ ~d 4P/~
\I t\\ltam;u;.~
J4tl~ ' ~ ' ~
~
~~
'
L ~ ~1tlQl,lL(QLf(joc.
~
~~~
---::,.
::" " ~RADULACJE
-..,.
Z 140LAT
DZIALALNOSCI
I ZYCZYMY
NASTEPNYCH
OWOCNYCH
LAT
DZIALANIA
Funeral Directors
FD100
F IVE GENERATIONS OF FAMILY OWNED A ND OPERATED SERVICE
SINCE 1892
415 3 33-0161
4840 MISSION STREET
SAN FRANCISCO, CA 941 1 2
Polish Society of California of San Franci sco WWW.VMPANDCO.COM
OVER ONE AC RE OF FREE P ARK ING
Congra tulations and Best Wishes To all Our Supporters and Donors UDZIELAMY INFORMA C JI W JEZYKU POLSKTM
KRZYS ZTOF BARBRICH
~
I.
REAL ESTATE LOANS
From the Board of Directors And All the Membe rs of the Oldest Polish Organization In Northern Cali forni a Purchase, Refinance,
Equity and Construction Loans
Slawomir Siemi nski
(510) 676-3526 mloans@comcastnet T HANK YOUI 3040 22nd Street San Francisco, CA 9411 0 - 3227 Tei. @ Fax. (4 15) 821 -257 4 Email: pna7@polishclub.org Richard S. Ko lomejec Attorney At Law Specializing in Immigration Law
~
Polish Veterans
of World War II , Inc
in the United States of America
Serdeczne gratulacje z okazji obchodu
140 lat istnienia , jak rowniez uznanie za
dotychczasowe osiagniecia, i najlep sze
zyczen ia dalszej owocnej pracy skladaja ,
Kolezanki , Koledzy i zarzad
Kola No. 49
San Francisco
Halina Butler, sekretarz
485 PacificAvenue
San Francisco, CA 94133
Tel: (415)4337205
Fax (415)433-7207
inz. Eugeniusz Kuroczko, prezes
,
POLAM
Kalifornijski Informotor
FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
OJ' .3c·r\· ::::;:
- N[WS ct rclc<U::! In Califcrno
- Cctcn:JafoH v c nl$
- FREt w~~kl y,,-H c ..... ~ t'r
- Polco~ biz ods.. cn;onizatiom
~.:o'~':~.
We Or'E> r
-
Onl ir...,. M~ t5eIl1.o?n1
.r.''Y>~'rf
~t. ,'ir~J),.sJ.~
<"~.:c,'~;:--i::"
'£_:~o......
•• ./ _
· 4~
. .....eb 8. (; re:;>hlc OeSl<;n
- Web Ho 5li l'".q
[ Polak& firma 1atnlejBoa. od 1995 oferuje I
{ Gr a phic Des i gn ]
[ TNykonY TNanie st ron
[ M ult ime dia { vl e b
-r..VTN W
]
au d io /v i de o~
]
[ Animacje F las h iLiveMotio n ]
[ Hosting s tr on VilVI'" ]
[ E-commerce ]
mI··
~el: 610.665.14.12
tax: 801.681.4794
tlm-_
Info .. > www.. karneol.com
email ··>web@karneol.com
l'vlost cordial congratulati.ons
to the
Pol-ish Society of Califor nia
(a .k.a . Lodge #7 Polish National Alliance)
on its 140th Birthday
of di.stinguished service
to the Polish cOll11nunity
of Northen California
fTOln
Managenlent, Elnploye es and Mernbers
of Pol am Feu
I RL·.:.hv" ...H..I ('it y I Phllne: ((l.'i O) J 6 ? ~().JO
1Sa n I'ran t:I :.L:"(1 I Pll0nL! : ( .II.';; I ?~2 77("·0
(. .HH:u rd Il r;Illc h (' o ll c ,1nJ \ rhon c: (9:~) 6 {1i) ~~O(l
"S:.H:r;u nc.: nt o rh";lnc h ( "ill"u-. Ilcigh t~; rh o ,,,,-.:-: ( <) I ()) 7 -::' 7 07 ."1 0
1\.-t:..li n ()l1ic c
S ;ln I·r;~n t.: ht:~' 111"-: 111...:- 11
~~ ,.......... It,,lol, .. r••,...:<)'\".·, I ~ .. u,_"I :
1"" 1.,,,, , J
!I.., ... ..
F".l.u .. (.;u ...·"n.
r-,.·h ut Th~u,' ) \ M . .. r' M.
,. " ,1.. ),' '.I .\. M
(, J..... ,
. I ",,.C
-:-;:oI , u"a~ v .-\ .~. 1