Research Work and Courses on Poland and Polish Culture at the Wisconsin State University − Stevens Point, USA

Abstract

The author is a retired Professor of the Wisconsin State University − Stevens Point in the USA. The paper describes the research and cultural activities pursued at the Wisconsin State University − Stevens Point, connected with propagating knowledge about Poland and Polish culture. The Wisconsin State University − Stevens Point is one of the thirteen universities in that state, with an enrollment of about 9.000 students. It is situated in the small town of Stevens Point. Established in 1894 as a school training teachers during the next century it has developed into a dynamic university center.

Stevens Point is a town with old traditions of Polish emigrantion, the emigrants being formerly mainly peasants and now belonging to the middle class as far as the third and fourth generations are concerned. One of the oldest Polish newspapers, the „Gwiazda Polarna”, established in 1908 and still being published, is an example of those traditions.

The author describes the research and cultural activities, lectures, courses, exhibitions and other forms of work conducted in this environment of Polish emigrats. He devotes most space to a presentation of studies on Polish culture and generally on Poland, usually combined with a discussion of other Slav countries, especially Russia. He also presents various courses, in particular new programs of lectures on Poland, separated from the ones devoted to Central and East Europe since the peaceful revolution of "Solidarity" in 1981.

In the paper the reader will also find information about the co-operation and exchange between the Wisconsin State University − Stevens Point and the Jagiellonian University.