REVIA Magazine Issue #11

THE POLISH MUSEUM OF AMERICA
PMA Library Centennial
By: Iwona Bożek
HEAD LIBRARIAN / SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
This year, the Polish Museum of
America Library officially celebrated
its Centennial. Exactly a century ago,
Rev. Jan Obyrtacz blessed the newly opened
Library of the PRCUA. One hundred years
later to the day, Rev. Andrzej Maslejak of
Holy Trinity Parish, blessed the Library
Reading Room and the newly renovated
Rare Books Room, adjacent to the Library
on the first floor.
The April 18th 2015 jubilee celebrations
commenced in the museum’s Sabina P.
Logisz Great Hall, where over 200 guests
were welcomed by Managing Director,
Małgorzata Kot (immediate past Head
Librarian since 1995); the Master of
Ceremony, Jacek Niemczyk, led the formal
program with great zest and enthusiasm.
The first speaker, Michele Jaminski, PMA
Vice-Chair and PRCUA Vice-President
congratulated the Library on its 100th
anniversary. Shortly after, the large crowd
was entertained by a musical performance
by the Grazyna Auguscik Group. The jazz
music harkened everyone back to the start of
the 20th century, which was appreciated by
the guests – some who themselves dressed
in styles resembling the early 1900s.
The dialogue portion of the evening
began with Paulina Kapuscinska, Consul
General of the Republic of Poland,
who, having toured the exhibition prior
to program, spoke heartfelt words
on the Library’s mission to preserve
the historic publications on display.
Paulina congratulated the Library for its
achievements, wishing it another 100
years. At her request, Halina Misterka,
Head Archivist, led the audience in a
slightly revised rendition of the traditional
Polish song, “Sto lat” – this time wishing
the Library “200 years”. PMA President,
Richard Owsiany, spoke on the Library’s
history, while Iwona Bozek, Head Librarian
and curator of the centennial exhibition,
discussed the selected books on display
(the oldest printed in 1508), and their
importance not only to Polonia, but also to
Polish literature and historiography.
The winners of the “Bookmark Contest”
for children and youth were announced,
and met with great applause. The selection
of the nine winners within the three age
groups was not an easy task for the contest
judges, as over 150 participants submitted
their artwork; all were displayed during
the celebration. In addition to cash prizes,
winners received books and complementary
PMA Library memberships. The winning
selections were immediately printed as
official bookmarks commemorating the
centennial.
A beautiful cake, especially baked for this
occasion and decorated with the Library
Centennial logo, was presented and cut by
Mrs. Kot. Wine and refreshments, prepared
by the Friends of the PMA Library, were
served as ragtime music played by Włodek
Zuterek filled the Great Hall. Guests had
the opportunity to examine the specially
prepared exhibition of old and rare prints,
commenting with the amazement on the
printed editions that served so many before
us – and hopefully, will be as useful to many
future generations of readers.
Today, the Library is an integral part of
the PMA, but its history began much earlier
than the Museum and Archives, which were
founded in 1935, opening to the public in
1937.
According to Mieczyslaw Haiman,
Librarian and first Curator, the idea to
create the Library was born at the end of
19th century. It was not until 1913, however,
when the decision was made to build the
Polish Roman Catholic Union of America’s
national headquarters in Chicago, when
plans to include the Library were added to
the project. PRCUA President Stanislaw
Adamkiewicz called upon the organizing
committee to create a library. Within a
year, the committee raised enough funds
to purchase the first collection of 4,000
books. From the beginning, the Library was
established to serve the Polish American
public.
Since its foundation, the Library’s
mission has been to disseminate Polish
culture and language, and that mission is
as valid and current today as it was at its
inception.
Over the past 100 years, the Library’s
collections have grown significantly,
currently consisting of more than 60,000
cataloged titles. Such a collection is
possible thanks to Polonia’s involvement,
as approximately 70% of books come from
donations. In 2012, the Library initiated the
Rare Book Conservation Project, focusing on
the oldest prints in the collection. Currently,
40 volumes, dating from the 16th to 18th
centuries, have been restored. The first
Library collection was bound in distinctive
black cloth covers, and is referred to as the
“Black Collection.” There are also collections
originating from well-known publishers in
Polonia, including Dyniewicz and Paryski,
as well as textbooks printed for Polish
Saturday schools, adding to the uniqueness
of the collections. The Music Collection of
books, songbooks, sheet music, and sound
recordings by Polish and Polish-American
composers and performers reflects the rich
musical traditions of Poles in the US. The
circulating collection is the largest of its
kind, consisting of books in Polish covering
fiction, biographies, language studies,
history, geography, art, theater, culture,
customs, and folklore, by classical and
contemporary authors. The collection also
features English language titles on Polish
subjects, or books written by Polish authors.
The Library also has a Children’s Corner,
with books selected especially for young
readers. v
26
revia reviamagazine.com #11, 2015