, I ARMS MUSEUM ETHNIC CONTRIBUTIONS COMMITTEE A REPORT ON THE DYM, NEWSLETTER OF THE POLISH ARTS CLUB OF YOUNGSTOHN, OHIO. DATES: OCTOBER, 1940 through APRIL 24, 1948. VOL~rns: Vol. 1, #1 through vol. 8, #4. GE NERAL BACKGROUND: In studying the Polish-American Community it is i mportant to r emember that the community is often refered to as "Po Ionia" or "Ame ric an Polonia." The newsle tters reviewed in this report are in the private collection of Florence Turowski. Other copies may be extent. I .' Although Poles settled in America as early as the J amestown colony, and are most noted for their actions at Jamestmvn to obtain the vote and the rights of "English men", the great numbers who form the backbone of late 20th Century Po Ionia came to America at the turn of the last century. Dispite early scenarios concerning the im migrants which portrayed them as "ignorant, pliable, frieghtened souls in a state of shock", recent research has revealed that most immigrants to the United States were individuals of modest means, educated and literate, with a definite desire to move ahead in society. The very poor and the very rich were without motivation for the difficult work of building a new life in America. Those who came, came with a definite knowledge of "why they were leaving Europe and where they were headed." (This research is based upon census and arrival information. See Helen Zaniecki Lopata, and Victor Greene for further information.) Prior to World 1~ar I the Polish -American Press generally refered to Poles in America as "We Poles". Following the War and the opportunity of returning to a free Poland, those who remained had clarified their identity. Throughout the 1920's, the term "Polish-Americans"came to replace concepts that saw Poles in America as forming a Poland in exile. A survey in 1925 conducted in Buffalo re vealed that Polonia's recognition of Washington and Lincoln was 100%, while the recognition of the President of Poland was only limited to 52% of the community. Babe Ruth came in at about 81%. The 1920s were a time of prosperity for Po1ish Americans. In Youngstown several churches were built and local newspapers com mented on the amount of money to be found in local savings accounts. (In Chicago, 10,000 Polish-Americans owned businesses out of a population of 318,338. Business worth in Chicago was estimated in 1928 at $29 million; Church and schools at $25 million; and housing worth $389 million, with 33,767 homeowning families. See Lubera, Poles in Chicago, p.15. Similar figures eventually should be available on the Polish-American community of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley.) In the 1930s Polonia's religious institutional growth peaked. The highest number of religious schools and students was achieved in the 1930s. Polish high schools were founded. And the Congregation of .the Resurrection, Polonia's leading religious or der, enjoyed its greatest number of entrants. Centering more directly upon the Polish Arts Club of Youngsto\~n we see its origins in a movement among professionals and educated Polish-Americans to chart a new course for America's Polonia. Previous to the 1920s and 30s most organiza tional ,.lOrk ,-las accomplished through fraternals or religious structures. For r easons that are still open for research a new series of organizations grew in the comm uni t y chara c t er i zed by:(l) em pha sis on professi onal people ; (2) a com ple te divor ce from ch urch i nflue nc e; a nd (3) a bre ak in a ffiliation with the fra t er nals. (S ee Ka ntO\" icz, Pol- Arne r Politics in Ch i cago, p.ll1.) I s s ue s of the DJ~ ne\~sletters lightly tra ce the early ste ps t ak en by these orga ni za tions to identify their. goals and to es t ablish contact with groups throughout the United St a t esfostering the s ame cultural obj ectives. Yo ungstown's local Ar ts Cl ub wa s am ong the first s uch or ganiza t ions to be e s t ablish ed. In- t e r es tingly enough the years of the DVM, 1940 to 1948, present a bridge to t he Pos t h'orld Ha r II ,,,orld for Polish- Ame r i ca ns in Youngs t O\VJ1. After 1945, l a r ge numbers dispe r sed into middle- cla s s sub urban ne i ghborhoods. Although concentrations a r e stil l evident within the city a nd subur b s of t he Maho ning Valley sel dom do es one e t hnic group r ema i n a ma jor ity c l early vis ible in a neighborhood. A young his toria n has written tha t: "The monuments of love are principally liter ary: \"ha t bills of s a le and t ax r ecor ds a re to economic history, poem s and l etters a re to the history of personal relations and attitude s t o\.Ja rd them." The DVM new s l e tte r s a re a n exciting ,element in the story of the people of the Hahoning Valley. Hhile they are important me rely a s a k ey to a cultural comm unity's tra nsiti on into the ma instream of the professions in Am erica, they a lso give a n inf orma l pic ture of the letters, poem s, stories, a nd eve n a bit of go s s ip t hat off e r s a n insi ght into the "personal r e l a t ions" a nd concerns of pe ople excited about b e ing a part of the hist ory of t h e }!ahoning Va lley. A general index of t opi cs a nd individuals prominently noted in the Dl~ newslette rs is being pre pa r ed· for Decembe r. Submi tted by Joseph S. Rudjak, Jr. FELIX S. MIKA A TTORNEY AT LAW SUITE 203 LEGAL ARTS CENTRE YOUN G STOWN . OHIO 44503 Deacon Joseph Rudiak 411 Lora AVenue Youngsto~TI, Ohio 44504 Dear Jf)s eph: PH ON E 746·5097 October 25, 1982 I tried to get ~y sister to me et with you but she is too nervous and put a dam per on it. Howeve r she has a Pmaietnik of S+. Stanislauw 25th Anniversay. , There is a cOILplete hi s tory of the forma tion of thi s parish. Then it tells of a second chur ch, St. Casimir, which \"\·a s formed in 190 7. St. Stans was in 1902. You can see my rather's na:n e on t he orizinal collection committee. It is in Polish. If you and your"parents can't read in Polish I can mee t with you and translate it. Thoe first cmn:ni ttees include t he original settlers in this valley. The Polis~ people met ~n the baiement of St. Lolumba's chu rch ha d tnelr ma sses t nere and formed the pl ans for the ne~ St. Stanislaus Church. You will note on the first cOffi~itte were T. Zarzecki and F. Hoffman. The last one is Tom Romanick's father and Huffma n were both from the Erier Hill district. Most of the poles at that time we re from Galicia and lived on East Federal Street in Kurz's Alley or Galijda Flats. They then moved onto the south side. Some, includi ng my dad, moved on the East Side. Those who came from the German occupation area mov ed into the Brier H!ll Dis ' rict. I am enclosing the family history which I gave at t he Polish Arts meetin~. I hone it wi ll help. Am willing t o meet again for furh~er talks if you need me. 1 I -§;8t. wishes, ') " Fel~~/S. }hita .'1 . . /~( r-'-_/et/~~J; L/V,-- t L u " THEY' CAl-~ FROM POLAND .. ' ,. . .:~ . JOHN and AN ijA MIKA , . '. . ': .. ' ,. (.. 'l' t"" "." " ' , . ,,~/: '.:~~- :,,~':-~ ,\~:-;: :~~i:~ ,r. . : - . ; .. ,::.~~.::; .. :~~; -'1~ JOHN MlKA, wa s born D!30e~bar 27~' 1810,' ·in Ro.olo.~~oo, pol '! c1~~' '!:~-:'.',>~~~ ~ • • ,~ " , • • • , ' • . ' - • o n • - 0 • ". :~) (then ' Austri a-Hungary), oon of JOD ph M;tc~ ~fl P-1n17,.G ~ . • Hi.· t ·. t " r ~?:'\:": a ts a nt-1~ jt" i n h1s villa ge . ' }~ls tl tl~' me ants tba~ he). ,e ~;.~! < ~<.;:J,:~k " ~'. . -~ )I.~l:t·~·.J· ". .. ,' •. . ''''l~: .~~'t"': __ : .:.:.~ .. ,~~~ t. . 1t.:: ',. , '. " ot the vill gil . for adrntnistrat1fl>n purpo 0 0 · and· hQ chi ef e ··i r.\: .. ~'-:;. ':r,~:::! J.~1 John 14i k a was one of seven oh1ldren and when qe n nred the a ·0 ot~~19'··{·.<:i':;~~ . '. . ,.:~-\ :.; .. '/~:·.',.f/~.1'~~ he was oblige d tp nter the Ilrmsd el110Qs ot ' he AWJtrl a .. Hungarl · " :·,.·.~C··~-.• '.-kr: .. ' . . , .,;;-~.~~:,:-;;~: :/~.:; A:l!my. ' As many other Poles ot that, ago, t o. avoid sQnloe in. this -. :<:/: ,', ·i , '. ~ ~::1 .II~ ;.~;;Zi~ "fore1ng army" ho was smuggled lout or Pol and nd a.mm l grated to .' .:';.c:<-: ;!~.>\ . 1 • I • J : :". '" - • .. , : .. -.t .-.<(.,l j morioa • . Ha u r 1v d In th~ United Stat es of Amarioa . on l,i 7 25" 1'8~9.~<»:~ . . r ' .. , . '. .' • ,:-~/,,",:,~,~>:~/,~:: J ohn Mika first settle d 1n Buffalo, New York • . Ho \1orke4 ~~ '.·r~?~~{~s.:~~:: Dugar r aotorr for one year. fuen thts f a otor y b urzw, 4' ~own: bo ~C) ~~<' ::'''}~:, • • . ~._ t i ~ • ~ .! t o YO lmgoto ro, Ohio ~ ' Ao best 0 n be deterrotned.~. ~:'.:;·lll~rI veci ill.: '. / ., ' '. -~,:';'- . ' : . . ' . .. ': ~t YOun.~9town bout 1891. H~ orked a t R publio -Sto 1 Corpo . tl~ ~ .... >. :. " I',~- . .. :,. , . . .. ~ .. Bro\m-5~'l1 , orks for 45 years, retIrln~f 1n ·19·37:"1thQu.t~-one cent"" or pens ion. He dled 'August 9, 1940, a t age 70 • . In. oheoking _ 014 . - . \ . ~ . ' Yo ungstotm City Dlre otories ,the oldest volunte,. avllllable t the La,,_- .' ,';: .' . :. ; ; .. :~'! Libr ary in the ~[)urt House 1s the 1896 vol ume, It :llstrs b it11 and hJ,. • . .:., 0" ~, . :". ". :~ j 1re, Anna, as l aborer, r~s1denoe, . roar 414 E. F~deral Stre~t~.· a~~."'!t· ., .. ~ .; .~ . oolvod his United. States CItizenship 1n 1903. Th~ .o ertlt,10 te ohOl(I ': : \-?: . " _ ., a f, 1nors C1t13ens hip Paper~. Thi s means ho UB S a minor , t ~he tb . ot .-:~.<':;. : ~. i r r~ . . ..... - . ;..,6 h1s . en tranoe into this oountry. The Court Hou 0 r ooorda or oltiB n~ ' . ': '", :~~ eh tp s hows hts d ate of entry as Hay 2·5, 1889~. . ~.' Aftor ar tng in youngoto .... m he wrote t o ~a Ty, ~~ , .Q 8 . C - " . t, o I f + f r om tne.- s ama village . 1n Po l and. ~ At : tha:t\~t1 e sho \fas 1n· -,0 ~ . Ne Yor k , li.vlng · t71 th h~.r, sisterj' E:l.-f.?'~·.'r~·o.gct~n£y~~~~y bo.th.· rl~. I'~' ~ ._ .' :. te,..ttle a-."-- Anna T·;b;r·\la~'·born 1n 'Rao1 ~l'Q~i·'f.ol n~,. 4a ughtar 9t.~111_ :' . . . . ' .. '1 .. ' . ~ I "I' t' ...." " '.: Tybor and Maryann Staohura, one of 13 ohildren. Her f ather l at r . " to this oountry and died at a go 84 1n Amoterda~, New Yor k, l;' • "f ~ " :. . , - " - John Mlka '_Anna Tybor were marri e d . tn Youngstown, Ohio ~~.tb. ~ .. .\ old St. ColUInQB 's ohuroh. Thet had 12 ohildren. The earlleet bo~',:. ' ~. _ • ~ ~:.. ' . ,. l : ( ~ .. -. - we ro baptized 1n St. JO Be pb's Ch uroh • . J ohn Mlka was ono or tho ort. ·· ;' : _ '. t;. gina l members ot St. Stanislaus Ch uroh, and his d a ughter ~ullal . .:; • ",I ... - - --- --:------,----~ .. · ," • ,I" I .. "'~' ~ ~ f ~:. S:::h r::::U:: lld to be bapt1zed 1n the na~ St. Stan101 Cb , :":>;'~f,/ John Mlka WfJ S one of the organi &ars ot Tow , Kr. J an III 3~..,~.'!;~J?;~':.i ~:~,;~ Sobieakiego, Group No . 361 ot" Poliah Nationo.l Alli~neo, hlah •. ~~~:'. \,:~,::.;".">: ::~ • ;; ... ; .. ~:-J . ' >. '~"i' J.t., . .t. . , . ~.~' . ~ , t,,:H: organized Maroh 2), 1891. This g oup~s lat~r e.malgamlltt od·· 1t~ ~:.:'t: .. ;':,< " .~,:;.~,:;.:;, . ~ . . r":-\?~ l~ . • ~, ~,,:';; :~~.);~ :~lJ The Fr ee Polis h Kr kusy Sooiety, Group ' 827 P.N oA ... · He was ~oo 0 ' . Qt .~ ;,>:t." .. '. . ~;,;~.! '; ... , :':\~: :;~i ~~ the origin 1 m m ora or St. St 1 u.s Kos tl! So~1, aty, Gr • . No. j ;: ftf,;'::'c.-:)::t-.; "or,~·r ~~'~~~~~~;l~ Polish Roman Cllthol1o Union; Mrs. Anna Hi a "s laD n org nic.t~~~i~~~tl~J: St. Stun! l aUD Churoh, , and ~as member ot Al t & RO Dary Sooioty, ~L. ·~(:'!.!~·rr,.<;"·fl~'f. Sorrowful Mother Soo i ety, and Group 821 ot Polish a ttoil 1 Allt . ~:;r!i~~~~~~!·?~f. Mr! .• MI ke died on Feb 8, 1941, atte r 49 yoars in this oountry. '!~A,~~~~t~~~·&~~i~ ~ . '. ·~i·~h(. ~~':f~;P ~~ ;f·~·':}t ili~ J ohn and Ann Mikn lived their entlre marri e4. ,life on ~~~ ~:-'~~T;:)~;'!t~~f~~~f~ E at olde ot Yo oto\1n. Thoy had 12 chlldr n. Thoy r~ b 1 t .(.;:~. '~'~<;I>;;' {~1t.~ • f 0110". I ~ <",t1£l)(~~~,~~ , .Married Helen'Osiki ewi cz ' j.'-~.(: .. "~,'.,:?:. 1. Stanl oy Mikntllteti ma D ker tI l t h R publio Steel. WOl'l 1: 1. <'- ',' ',' .'. ,"f '. V0t r an, Inj od in laoti o . H d fivo ohil n. ,":· :- " .... : .. ~ At time of h i s d eath h lei tho POllt tton ot ABGt.. 1; ' . . 1 . Superintendent ot Elootrioal Division. His con .. :.~ ;.....: J ... ~ John is now plant mana ger or Oe l onose Oorp at ' ., '.:. .', Rome, Goorgla. One or his c1 ht zoe , _, ; .. , ... ~~~'<~ , _ '.;,.,;~~<~ married Dr. Ben Yo zw l ak, wh o Is Dean a t Youn3sto , ",' State Unlversity. ~ . -.;.':. ./ 2. '11 ... A oonfirmed baohelor. He t:!orkod. tor many years . (11; .' . ;:,\<~. '::'~~. ::~~ .;,~ Rapub11Q . Stosl a.a ao 01 otrloiatl. retiring thl. . , ., l-" . 3 " !::'ht!81;~!~!~o~;n~~lng up goU gain to 11. ·2::~,l