Learn More About Us!
The Polish Museum of America is the “crown jewel” of the Polish
American community. Established 75 years ago it has preserved and exhibited
the history and culture of the Polish American community and our
ancestral homeland – Poland. Its all-inclusive exhibits are
both educational and entertaining. Its Library
and extensive Archives have rendered invaluable
services to historians, researchers, students and genealogists.
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The Polish Museum of America, one of the oldest and largest ethnic
museums in the United States, offers visitors a range of exhibits,
resources and activities related to Polish history, culture and
heritage, as well as Polish American history. Tour guides are
available to assist visitors and provide additional information.
There is handicapped access and a wheelchair is available upon
request.
In the Museum, you will find on permanent display:
- Polish folk art in wood, textiles, leather and needlework
- Authentic regional Polish folk dress
- Paintings and sculptures by 18th, 19th and 20th century Polish and Polish American artists
- Polish coins, medals, books and photographs
- Exhibits from the Polish Pavilion at the 1939 New York World's Fair
- Examples of szopkas (nativity scenes) and Polish Christmas and Easter traditions
- Wycinanki – traditional Polish paper-cutting art
- Polish military uniforms and winged Hussar armor
- Exhibits on famous Poles: Pope John Paul II, General Casimir Pulaski, General Tadeusz Kosciuszko and Shakespearean actress Helena Modrzejewska (Modjeska)
- Paderewski Room exhibit dedicated to Ignacy Jan Paderewski, pianist, composer and statesman, including his piano and personal belongings
- Stations of the Cross from Panna Maria, Texas, the first permanent Polish settlement in the United States (1854)
Special temporary exhibits, which change periodically, are also on
view. These exhibits focus on a specific artistic or
historical topic.
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The Archives of the Polish Museum of America preserve historic
material from various Polish American organizations, churches and
individuals. These include Polish newspapers, magazines, jubilee
brochures, program books, flyers, private papers of well-known Poles
and Polish Americans, maps, photos and much more.
The Archives are not accessible to the public. Due to the fact that
vast parts of the collections are not cataloged, the archival
holdings can be accessed only by calling or writing in advance. Patrons can request
research to be done; research fee is $20 per hour. When
an order is processed, the archival material is available for use in
the Museum’s library or can be reviewed with the Archivist by
appointment. Geneological material is not available.
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The Polish Museum of America Library has over 100,000 books in both Polish
and English languages on subjects of interest to Polish Americans, including
such topics as Polish art, music, biographies, genealogy, immigration and history.
The public is welcome to use these resources for on-premises research, but the lending
library is open only to members for an annual fee or at certain levels of
membership to the Museum. Both English and
Polish-speaking personnel are available to assist library patrons.
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The Gift Shop is a treasure trove of Polish culture that you can take home with you. Among the items we carry are:
- Books
- Boxes & Woodcraft
- Crystal and Ceramic Ware
- Dolls & Toys
- Jewelry
- Museum Souvenirs
- Music
- Pins, Magnets, Flags
- Polish Greeting Cards
- ...and Much More!
At this time you can order by phone or by mail (a printable order form is available in the Gift Shop section of this website). Unfortunately we do not yet have a secure site for online transactions, but be sure to revisit the Museum home page often during the coming year to keep abreast of our plans.
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- Wallace M. Ozog, Chairman
- Anna Sokolowski, Vice-Chairman
- Maria Ciesla, President
(Maria Ciesla, President of The Polish
Museum of America, began her volunteer activities in the late
1970s as a Sunday docent. She served on the Museum Board for
several two-year terms, and was elected President in 2004. She is active in Chicago’s Polonia, civic organizations, and in ovarian cancer awareness advocacy, and has served as President for several of these groups.)
- Joan Kosinski, Vice-President
- Richard Owsiany, Vice-President
- Geraldine Balut Coleman, Secretary
- Sabina P. Logisz, Secretary Emeritus
- Mitchelle Kmiec, Treasurer
- Joan Smuda, General Counsel
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- Jennifer Crissey
- Virginia Cudecki
- Alicia Dudka
- Kenneth P. Gill
- Edmund Gronkiewicz
- Lucille Gutkowski
- Camille Kopielski
- Thaddeus J. Makarewicz
- Paul Odrobina
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- Representative—Consulate General of Poland
- Mary Jane Robles
- Henriette Rocks
- Kevin Ryba
- Teresa Sinkowski
- Betty Uzarowicz
- Kenneth Widelka
- Joseph Zurawski
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- Jan M. Lorys, Director
Jan M. Lorys attended Catholic primary school and high school in Chicago. He graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago Circle in 1971 with a B.A. in Political Science. He worked for the Federal Government for nineteen years before taking a disability retirement, after which he earned an M.A. in History, also from UIC. From September 1992 till June 1996, Mr. Lorys was a bilingual (Polish) teacher with the Chicago Public School System, teaching History and Social Studies. He is the co-producer and writer of a short film on Casimir Pulaski. Jan. Lorys has been the Director of the Polish Museum since June 28, 1996.
Mr. Lorys played an important role as a Steering Committee member in the creation of the Chicago Cultural Alliance, a Chicagoland partnership of 20 ethnic museums and cultural institutions. He has also initiated contacts with cultural and government institutions in Poland that have resulted in several beneficial exchanges and collaborations.
- Małgorzata Kot, Head Librarian
Małgorzata Kot completed her education in Poland, and received a Master’s Degree in Polish Philology from the Jan Kochanowski Pedagogical University (Swietokrzyska Academy) in Kielce, Poland. In 1995, she joined the staff at the Museum as the Head Librarian. Mrs. Kot’s chief responsibilities include oversight and maintenance of the permanent book and media collection; cataloging acquisitions; processing donations; keeping inventories; and updating records. She is the editor of and a contributor to the Guide to the History and Collections of The Polish Museum of America published in 2003. She has several other publications to her credit and frequently writes articles for the Polish press. Mrs. Kot often represents the Museum on ethnic and local television and radio broadcasts.
- Krystyna Grell, Librarian
Krystyna Grell earned a Master’s Degree from the Department of Philology, with a major in Library Science and Scientific Information, at Wroclaw University, Poland. She has experience working in Polish libraries and at the Department of Culture and Art of the Governor’s State Office in Legnica, Poland. Ms. Grell received the award for Meritorious Service to Polish Culture from the Minister of Culture and Arts of the Republic of Poland. After her arrival in the United States, Ms. Grell initially volunteered at the Museum and several Chicago Public libraries. As of 2004, she is a staff Librarian at The Polish Museum of America Library. She is also a co-organizer of many activities and cultural events that take place at the Museum.
- Agnieszka Migiel, Library Assistant
Agnieszka Migiel joined the Museum as an Assistant Librarian in 2003. A Chicago native, she is currently a fourth year student at Loyola University, pursuing a B.B.A. in International Business. She completed her primary and secondary education in the Polish language at Holy Trinity Polish School in Chicago.
Ms. Migiel’s responsibilities at the Museum include: maintaining the Library’s book collection; translating material for PMA publications; undertaking translations for Museum patrons (letters, documents, articles, etc.); research; providing statistical analysis for the Library; book-keeping. Ms. Migiel also assists with preparations for special events at the Museum and occasionally serves a tour guide.
- Halina Misterka, Archivist
Halina Misterka completed her education in Poland where she was a schoolteacher for 10 years. Since coming to the United States, she has worked with children in Polish Saturday schools. Polish folk dance and song have long been her passion and she is Artistic Director and Choreographer of the Polish Song and Dance Ensemble Lajkonik. Since 2000 Mrs. Misterka has been the Archivist at the Museum, organizing and overseeing the vast and varied collection of documents and valuable papers.
- Richard Kujawa, Operations Manager
Richard Kujawa joined the Museum staff in 1998. In many ways, this was a homecoming since Mr. Kujawa’s ancestors were deeply engaged with the PRCUA, almost from the founding of the institution. After a long first career in industry and business, he has embarked on this second career in the non-profit sector. His duties include scheduling and conducting tours, scheduling programs and special events, overseeing the programs calendar, routine Museum maintenance, supervising installations and repairs, and managing the Museum’s Website. In addition he gives a specially developed lecture on Polish immigration to Chicago. Mr. Kujawa has a B.S. degree, 1971, in chemical engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana.
His strong technical background has been a surprisingly
significant asset to the Museum.
- Fred Tuytens, Museum Operations
- Anna Wolan, Museum Operations
Anna Wolan studied political studies at Rzeszów University in Poland. She came to the United States in 2004 and became a volunteer at the Polish Museum of America Library. Since December 2004 she has been employed as a guide at the Museum. In 2005 she joined the staff of Polish Roman Catholic Union of America.
- Paulina Jakubiec, Museum Operations
- Leonard Kurdek, Museum Operations
Leonard Kurdek commenced his activities at the Museum as a volunteer in July, 2000, and was honored as the Volunteer of the Year in 2003 for his outstanding contributions. Now on staff, he has prepared an inventory of the Museum’s Polonica book catalogs eventually to be posted online. Leonard’s other duties are the review and organization of the Museum’s music collection, which comprises sheet music, records, scores, player piano rolls, promotional material, etc. He has a B.A. in History from Loyola University, Chicago.
- Monika Nowak, Graphic Art Collection Curator
Monika Nowak received her Master’s Degree in Art History from the Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland. In 2007, she completed her certificate of Museum Studies at Northwestern University.
Previously, Ms. Nowak was a curator of exhibitions and a catalogue editor at the International Print Triennial Society in Krakow. She has collaborated with Professor Gerald Cerny from the U.S. in selecting prints by Polish artists for the permanent collection at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.
Ms. Nowak has resided in Chicago since 1999. She often writes articles for the press. In the past, she was the curator of Polish
art exhibitions and worked for an art gallery. Her
responsibilities at the Museum are varied: she is a tour guide;
she is in charge of the collection of art works on paper; and
she frequently serves as an exhibition curator. She was a curator of,
among others, The Polish Museum of America Graphic Art
Collection exhibition at two museums in Poland and
Pressing Matter: A Glimpse at the Polish Print Continuum
show in Chicago in 2009 (the catalogues for both were
published). Currently Ms.
Nowak is preparing a large exhibition of posters from the
permanent collection of the Polish Museum, which will be
presented at The National Museum in Szczecin (Poland) in 2012.
- Lisa Terlecki, Graphic Designer/Museum Assistant
- Greg Wiley, Weekend Security
- Mike Nelson, Intern, 2010
Mike is from Maine but has enjoyed living in
Chicago for almost three years. In the next academic year he
will be a senior history major at North Park University in the Albany
Park neighborhood. He hopes to study in the United Kingdom
during the winter semester and plans on teaching English in Poland
after graduation. He thinks that he will return to school
eventually for higher degrees. Besides history, he enjoys
studying languages, literature, philosophy and political science.
- Jack Vishneski, Intern, 2010
Jack is
a Chicago native since birth. He just completed his sophomore year at
Beloit College, and plans to graduate with a BA in History and
Ethnomusicology. He's working on his Polish so that in the next two
years he can study abroad in Poland. He spends most of his free time
biking, reading, playing basketball or frisbee, making music in some
capacity, or being a foody.
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Volunteers are a vital part of our organization and we appreciate all of them. Only our regularly scheduled volunteers are listed here, but there are over one hundred helpers who come in at various times throughout the year. Thank you and God Bless You!
Please visit the Museum if you want to do volunteer work.
Discuss your interests with any staff member. Unpaid internships
are welcome. Please email to the address in the header above and
include a brief resume.
- Sean Ciolek
Sean Ciolek grew up in Chicago and attended Chicago public grade school and high school. He graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago with a Bachelor of Arts in Architectural Studies in 1997 and a Master of Architecture in 1999. While in graduate school, he held a position as a Teaching Assistant for an undergraduate design class in which he worked closely with students to help them to understand how to make design decisions in a logical manner. He is a licensed architect and has managed a variety of architectural projects including senior living, multi-family residential, restaurant, hotel, education, retail, entertainment and museum projects.
- David Majkowski
David came to us during a period of unemployment in November 2009. Upon discovering that he was an Information Technology professional, we agreed mutually that he could help us with website design—an area of specialty in which he had no prior experience, but to which he could nonetheless apply some professional practices. He now considers himself our Volunteer Assistant Webmaster.
- Pawel Opalinski
- Małgorzata Palka
Malgorzata Palka lives in Chicago since 2007. She is interested in fine art and is a devoted volunteer at the Polish Museum of America. She currently helps with inventorying the collection of posters and books, and also participates in many museum activities. She is a current member of the International Women Associates, where she co-organizes many interesting events relating to international affairs and is also a major figure in the operation of the fundraising for the Swift School.
- Mary Jane Robles (Gift Shop Manager)
Mary Jane Robles, a volunteer since 1997, is the Museum Gift Shop Manager and handles sales, supervises the inventory, orders merchandise, and organizes the annual Christmas Gift Show, as well as the Amber and Crystal Sale. She also serves as secretary to the Resident Vice-President of the PRCUA, generously donating her time for shop duties. Ms. Robles also assists during Museum events, often volunteering for the much-appreciated task of clean up afterwards.
- Mark P. Sorbi
Mark P. Sorbi was honored as the Volunteer of the Year in 2007 for his outstanding efforts. One of his projects was the restoration of the bust of Father Barzynski, founder of the PRCUA, which is now on display in the elevator lobby. Mr. Sorbi possess extensive knowledge on the history of the collection and the objects in the collection. He installs objects for exhibition throughout the Museum galleries. As an employee of PRCUA in the Secretary-Treasurer’s Office, Mr. Sorbi is conveniently on hand to assist with displays or queries regarding the collection. He also participates in other community organizations: Polish Military History Society of America (President), Silent Film Society of Chicago (Treasurer/ Membership Chairman) and the Copernicus Foundation (Member/Volunteer).
- H. Bertola
- H. Bieniewska
- M. Boruch
- M. Ciesla
- J. Crissey
- K. Derus
- S. Gasior
- C. Jankowski
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- M. Kmiec
- H. Kulesza
- F. Krupinski
- R. Lindberg
- J. Mullins
- K. Nowakowski
- E. Witek
- B. Yon
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- Julita Siegel, Photo Collection Registrar
Julita Siegel came to Chicago after graduating from the University of Adam Mickiewicz in Poznan, Poland, with a Masters Degree in Art History. Her work at the Museum consists of cataloging and digitizing documentary photographs in the permanent collection. These responsibilities combine Mrs. Siegel’s love of photography and art with an interest and respect for the past, as well as for Polish culture and heritage. She also serves as graphic designer for many of the Museum’s invitations, cards, bookmarks, and mailers. She oversees requests for reproduction of material from the collections and photographs objects in the collections.
As a photographer, her work appears in many publications, among them American Photo Magazine, Photographer’s Forum, Best of College Photography, and the 2007 book, Polish Chicago: Our History, Our Recipes, a project she coordinated with the publisher.
Mrs. Siegel excels in graphic design and her biggest achievement in this field to date is receipt of the Grand Prix in the Ex Libris (book plate) international competition organized by the Semper Polonia Foundation in Warsaw, Poland. Mrs. Sigel continues her education in photography and graphic design. She freelances as a professional photographer, often as a team with her husband Bart.
- Kathryn G. Rosypal, Editor-In-Chief, PMA Newsletter
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