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Polonia: United States of America

Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free This verse inscribed on the Statue of Liberty was written by poet Emma Lazarus. [Learn More] Resources: -History, -4th of July

HISTORY OF POLES IN AMERICA: PART II ..... America is a nation of immigrants. Initially, they came from Europe. Today, they come from all over the Earth and all walks of life. Many Polish immigrants and nationals have played important roles in the building and shaping of America's government and the way of life for many Americans. Polish Influence Tadeusz Kosciuszko Painting by Boselaw J. Czedekowski Thadeusz Kosciuszko (1746-1817) He was commissioned as Colonel of Engineers by Congress, and was assigned to General Horatio Gates in the Army of the North. His skills would prove to be a major factor in the American victory at Saratoga a year later. This victory would turn the tide of the war convincing many European powers to support the Americans against Britain. -Learn More- Stanislaw Ulam (1909-1984): Born in Lemberg, Poland, Stanislaw became a U.S. citizen in 1943. He is known as the "Father of the American "H" bomb". -Learn More- Hilary Koprowski: Born in Warsaw, Poland, Hilary established his talents not only as a scientist, but a gifted pianist. He chose the direction of science which lead to his contribution to the discovering of the first Polio vaccine. -Learn More- Wawrzyniec Goslicki: In the 16th Century, he authored the words that Thomas Jefferson borrowed when he wrote, "We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal...". Tadeusz Sendzimir(1894-1989): Born in Lwow, Poland, Tadeusz came to the U.S. in 1943 where he participated in armament production as an employee of ARMCO, in Middletown, Ohio. His work here led to his invention of rolling mill techniques used in industrial production. -Learn More- Mieczyslaw Bekker (1905-1989): A graduate from Warsaw Technical University in 1929 he would in 1956 settle in the U.S. working at several universities and at the General Motors Santa Barbara laboratories where he contributed significantly to the designed of the NASA "moon rover". -Learn More- Albert Michelson (1852-1931): Born in Strelno, Prussia and brought to the U.S., he would attend the U.S. Naval Academy, become a prominent scientist and win the first Nobel Prize for sciences given to an American of Polish descent. -Learn More- We need your help in identifying those Polish ancestors that have made a unique contribution to the United States. Help us find their names, resources to them, or even provide an article about them. Together, we can help call attention to who they are! Resources Our resources: Poles in US Census The US Census Bureau provides a wealth of online data which we are presenting here: Map, Polish Distribution in the United States as of 1990 census. US Census Chart lists census data from 1780 until 2000. Includes total US population, foreign born, and Polish born groups. Translate Common Words Don't know Polish, but would like to learn a few common words. Our Polish/English translation page provides conversions for time, days, weeks, months and occupation. 1845 North American Map This French map captures the expansion of territory in the US sixty-seven years after it's birth. Several states were yet to be added to the union. Mexico had control a large portion of South West that is now a part of the US today. Other Resources: White House An excellent resource covering the history of the White House, Presidents, First Ladies, and more. Presidential Libraries This site is maintain by NARA and contains links to all of the Presidential Libraries of US Presidents. Vice-Presidents of USA: View the background information on each vice-president at "Virtualology, A Virtual Education Project" covering Art, History, Science, Natural History, and War. History Channel.com This site provides a good summary describing this time period, Immigration to 1965. It identifies the various ethnic groups, the reason they came, and why the US was viewed as a land of opportunity for them. KUBYNSKI Mortally Wounded in Buffalo, New York Erie County News The Dallas Morning News Dallas, Dallas County, Texas October 2, 1905 (Note: President McKinley was assassinated in 1901. Click here to view larger size of this article.) Courtesy of "The Olden Times" Where you can read about history when it was written. Preserving Polonia in America Featured section of the Balch Institute for Ethnic Studies. You will find Polish American information pertaining the church, organizations, the Polish Language Press and an article on defining the Polish American identity. The Olden Times If you would like to read history as it was written, you can browse this site which specializes in copies of turn of the century news accounts. Below is an example of what you find there. Ancestors This is a companion site to the PBS family history and genealogy television series. It is a part of the Brigham Young University (kbyu) online materials. You will find information on; Beginning Your Research, the Television series, and Helpful Resources. The presentation is well done. It is partly supported by Ancestry Quest and the George S. and Delores Dore Eccles Foundation and U.S. Bank. Capturing the Past This is another portion of the kbyu (reference left column) on, How To Prepare and Conduct an Oral History Interview. Learn how to plan, prepare, conduct and preserve those important oral sources of family information. U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service Complete information on immigration, including the history of immigrants coming to America. Return to History of Poles in America: Part I