mums391 Polish Women's Club of Three River Records, 1924-1994 Finding Aid Finding aid prepared by mu. Encoding funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Special Collections and University Archives, W.E.B. Du Bois Library, University of Massachusetts Amherst

Amherst, MA

2003

Finding aid encoded using Perl scripts and edited in XMetal 2.0. Encoded by Eric S. Cartier. 2003-07-21 Finding aid written in English. 2005-09-23 mu181 converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by v1to02-5c.xsl (sy2003-10-15). Special Collections and University Archives, W.E.B. Du Bois Library, University of Massachusetts Amherst Polish Women's Club of Three River Records, 1924-1994 Finding Aid Manuscript Number 391 Encoding funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Collection Overview Polish Women's Club of Three Rivers (Palmer, Mass.) Polish Women's Club of Three Rivers Records 1924-1994 MS 391 3 boxes Special Collections and University Archives, W.E.B. Du Bois Library, University of Massachusetts Amherst Polish-American women's club located near Palmer, Massachusetts, that aims to encourage Polish women to become United States citizens and provide them with classes in the English language; to take an active part in local, state and federal politics; to support local Polish-owned businesses; to preserve and integrate Polish culture with those of other ethnicities present in the United States; to encourage higher education in the Polish-American community. Includes meeting minutes (primarily in Polish), histories, anniversary programs, town and state citations, and government publications, documenting the activities, membership, and national recognition of the club over a period of seventy years. English and Polish Historical Note

The Polish American Women Citizens Political Club of Three Rivers and Thorndike was founded in 1924 with the assistance of Stanley Zerdocki, Walter Dymon, Michael Boyko, and Joseph Les. Under the leadership of the first president, Anna Rusek, the original fifty-nine members established the organization's aims: to encourage Polish women to become United States citizens and provide them with classes in the English language; to take an active part in local, state and federal politics; and to support local Polish-owned businesses. In 1958 the club changed its name to the Polish Women's Club of Three Rivers, and updated the constitution to reflect their current goals of preserving and integrating Polish culture with those of other ethnicities present in the United States, and encouraging higher education in the Polish-American community.

Throughout its history, the Club developed a strong Polish-American political presence, as well as lasting ties to other Polish-American communities in Massachusetts and nation-wide. State and national connections were fostered by affiliation with groups including the United Polish-American Citizens of Massachusetts (since 1926), the Polish American Congress, John Paul II Polish-American Foundation, the Kosciuszko Foundation in New York, and the United Polish-American Organization Council in the Township of Palmer. Beginning in 1933, the Club was active in the Massachusetts Federation of Polish Women's Club, Inc., with Three Rivers members serving as executive committee members and also as presidents. Federation activities advanced the Club's cultural goals; for instance, since 1961 the Federation has sponsored annual essay contests for eighth grade students on topics of Polish history and culture. The Three Rivers Club also gave scholarships to local Polish-American high school students. The Club regularly contributed both money and volunteer efforts to their parish, Saints Peter and Paul Church, as well as to many other civic organizations; members were active with local war efforts during World War II.

The Club has observed their many anniversaries with masses and dinners, and the production of a golden jubilee program book for their 50th anniversary. The 55th, 60th, 65th, and 70th anniversaries were celebrated concurrently with the 48th, 53rd, 58th, and 63rd Annual Conventions of the Massachusetts Federation of Polish Women's Clubs. For their contributions to the Polish-American community, the Polish Women's Club of Three Rivers has received numerous citations from the Town of Palmer, the Senate, and the House of Representatives. The national citations, and club histories, are recorded in the Extensions of Remarks in the Congressional Records for the years 1974, 1984, 1989, and 1994.

Scope and Contents of the Collection

Meeting minutes (primarily in Polish), histories, anniversary programs, town and state citations, and government publications, documenting the activities, membership, and national recognition of the Polish Women's Club of Three Rivers over a period of seventy years.

The collection is open for research.

Preferred Citation

Cite as: Polish Women's Club of Three Rivers Records (MS 391). Special Collections and University Archives, W.E.B. Du Bois Library, University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Acquired from Helen B. Grzywna and Sophie Wojtowicz-Valtelhas, 1995

Processed by SCUA staff.

Search Terms Polish American Women Citizens Political Club of Three Rivers and Thorndike (Palmer, Mass.)--Archives. Polish Women's Club of Three Rivers (Palmer, Mass.)--Archives. Massachusetts Federation of Polish Women's Clubs. Polish American friendly societies--Massachusetts--Palmer (Town)--History--Sources. Polish Americans--Massachusetts--Palmer (Town)--History--20th century--Sources. Polish Americans--Political activity--History--20th century--Sources. Polish Americans--Ethnic identity--History--20th century--Sources. Poles--Cultural assimilation--Massachusetts--History--20th century--Sources. Americanization--History--20th century--Sources. Palmer (Mass. : Town)--Social conditions--20th century--Sources. Palmer (Mass. : Town)--Ethnic relations--20th century. Programs. Polish American Women Citizens Political Club of Three Rivers and Thorndike (Palmer, Mass.) 1 1 History of the Polish Women's Club of Three Rivers by Sophie Wojtowicz-Valtelhas, 60th Anniversary 1984 1 1 History of the Polish Women's Club of Three Rivers by Sophie Wojtowicz-Valtelhas, 65th Anniversary 1989 1 1 History of the Polish Women's Club of Three Rivers by Sophie Wojtowicz-Valtelhas, 70th Anniversary 1994 1 2 Polish Women's Club of Three Rivers Minutes of Meetings, February 24, 1924 to December 28, 1941 (Polish) 1924-1941 1 3 Polish Women's Club of Three Rivers Minutes of Meetings, March 28, 1942 to April 28, 1958 (Polish) 1942-1958 1 4 Polish Women's Club of Three Rivers Minutes of Meetings, May 26, 1958 to May 28, 1963 (Polish) 1958-1963 1 5 Polish Women's Club of Three Rivers Minutes of Meetings, September 24, 1963 to November 16, 1977 1963-1977 2 6 Polish Women's Club of Three Rivers 50th Anniversary Golden Jubilee Program Book 1974 2 6 Program of the 55th Anniversary of the Polish Women's Club of Three Rivers and the 48th Annual Convention of the Massachusetts Federation of Polish Women's Clubs Inc., October 27 & 28, 1979 1979 2 6 Program of the 60th Anniversary of the Polish Women's Club of Three Rivers and the 53rd Annual Convention of the Massachusetts Federation of Polish Women's Clubs Inc., October 27 & 28, 1984 1984 2 6 Program of the 65th Anniversary of the Polish Women's Club of Three Rivers and the 58th Annual Convention of the Massachusetts Federation of Polish Women's Clubs Inc., October 28 & 29, 1989 1989 2 6 Program of the 70th Anniversary of the Polish Women's Club of Three Rivers and the 63rd Annual Convention of the Massachusetts Federation of Polish Women's Clubs Inc., October 22 & 23, 1994 1994 2 7 Congressional Record 1974, Volume 120, No. 62, page E2805, Wednesday, May 6, 1974 1974 2 7 Congressional Record 1984, Volume 130, No. 136, page E4577, Wednesday - November 14, 1984 1984 2 7 Congressional Record 1989, Volume 135, No. 146, page E3547, Wednesday - October 25, 1989 1989 2 7 Congressional Record 1994, Volume 140, No. 137, page E1955, Tuesday - September 27, 1994 1994

Box 3 is oversized.

3 Town of Palmer Citation, 50th Anniversary, October 28, 1974 1974 3 Town of Palmer Citation, 60th Anniversary, October 23, 1984 1984 3 Town of Palmer Citation, 70th Anniversary, October 22, 1994 1994 3 State Senate Official Citations, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 50th Anniversary: March 20, 1974, Senator Frederick Scholsetein Jr. 1974 3 State Senate Official Citations, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 60th Anniversary: October 27, 1984, Senator Robert D. Wetmore 1984 3 State Senate Official Citations, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 65th Anniversary: October 26, 1989, Senator Robert D. Wetmore 1989 3 State Senate Official Citations, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 70th Anniversary: October 20, 1994, Senator Robert D. Wetmore 1994 3 Secretary's Citation, State Senate Official Citations, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 50th Anniversary: April 24, 1974, Secretary John F. X. Davoren 1974 3 House of Representatives, Official Citations, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 50th Anniversary: April 25, 1974, Rep. Alexander Lolas 1974 3 House of Representatives, Official Citations, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 55th Anniversary: October 27, 1979, Rep. John B. Perry 1979 3 House of Representatives, Official Citations, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 60th Anniversary: October 27, 1984, Rep. William B. Moriarity 1984 3 House of Representatives, Official Citations, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 65th Anniversary: October 28, 1989, Rep. Patrick F. Landers III 1989 3 House of Representatives, Official Citations, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 70th Anniversary: October 22, 1994, Rep. Patrick F. Landers III 1994 3 House of Representatives, Official Citations, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 70th Anniversary: October 22, 1994, Rep. Evelyn G. Chesky 1994