Polish Community in Milwaukee

Abstract

Since 1846, when the first Pole settled in Milwaukee, a continuous growth of Polish population in this city has been recorded. In 1946, the number of Poles in Milwaukee reached the figure of 150.000 people. The first Polish parish was established in 1866 and three years later the first Polish school was built. In 1872 the Polish had their own church under the dedication of St Stanislaw.

The Polish community’s activities are carried out under the supervision of Polish American Congress in which about 40 different organizations are associated. Prom among these, Polish women’s association „Polanki”, established in 1953, is most active. The Poles in Milwaukee take an active part in the political, scientific and cultural life of their city. The local university has a department of Polish (from 1932); several professors of Polish origin lecture there.

The Poles are in close contact with the old country. In the university library, there is a rich collection) of Polish books and books about Poland, and in the archives, there is a collection of documents and records of the Polish community in Milwaukee.