Polish American Historical Association in CaliforniaMajor projects and keystone members of the California Chapter of PAHA
by Gillian Olechno-Huszcza (From material supplied by Artur Zygmont and Frank Harasick)
As a national organization the Polish American Historical Association (PAHA) was founded in 1942, with the primary purpose of promoting research into Polish - American history. The California Chapter of PAHA was first organized on December 3, 1972, by Father Jacek Przygoda, Professor at Loyola University of Los Angeles, and President of the national PAHA. Father Przygoda became the Chapter's first president, and the founding members included Jerzy Lerski, Stefan Pasternacki, Anthony Turhollow, Arthur Waldo and Henryk Westwalewicz. By March 1973 there were forty four members.
The first major project organized by the Chapter was the Copernicus Quincentennial in 1973. During this event a bust of Copernicus, sculpted by Wilma Busiewicz of Lansing, Michigan, was unveiled at Loyola University of Los Angeles and a bronze plaque commemorating Copernicus' birth, was donated by the PAHA California chapter to the Griffith Observatory. It is permanently mounted at the base of the statue of Copernicus in front of the Observatory. Two books were published at this time - a comprehensive review of the anniversary celebration, with a cover designed by Leon Kawecki, and a biographical outline about Copernicus by Dr. Tadeusz Bilecki.
The California Chapter almost immediately began organizing a Polish American Bicentennial Committee to assist the local U.S. Bicentennial Committee in the nationwide celebration of American Independence. The first event was a Polish Heritage Weekend held at Loyola University in Los Angeles. Lectures by Professor Paul W. Knoll, Barbara Martinoff, Alicja Brechwa - White and Gillian Olechno - Huszcza covered topics ranging from the history of the University of Krakow, Poles in the United States, Poles in California, and Henryk Sienkiewicz in California. The Krakusy Folk Dance Ensemble performed a series of Polish folk dances. Exhibits were arranged throughout the University, consisting of stamps and coins, paintings, sculptures, tapestries, ceramics and photographs. Sixty-five local Polish American artists contributed. A Polish dinner was served in the Malone Student Center.
In 1976 the Chapter participated in the International Heritage Festival held in the Los Angeles City Hall Mall. A Polish Pavilion (a tent-like structure) contained art works, maps, photographs, floral displays by Stanley Kersten, and general information on Polish culture, history and geography. The greatest local Polish - American contribution to the Bicentennial came in 1978, with the publication of a book written, published and distributed by the PAHA - California Chapter. Titled Polish - Americans in California, 1827 1977 and Who's Who it was edited by Father Jacek Przygoda. The book covers a wide range of subjects dealing with Polish - Americans in California, past and present, and forms the first volume of a two - volume set, the second being this current volume. Copies can be found in the Vatican Library, in the Polish Pilgrim's Home in Rome, in a library in Switzerland and in many public and academic libraries throughout the United States and Poland.
Members of the PAHA - California Chapter played a very active part in the Polish Cultural Exhibit held at the California Museum of Science and Industry from December 7, 1979 to April 27, 1980 (for details see the chapter covering this event).
Two courses of study at Loyola Marymount University were sponsored in the late 1970's and early 1980's by the California PAHA and Father Jacek Przygoda. A class in Polish language was taught by Czeslaw Olechno - Huszcza in 1977. The students from this class formed the nucleus of a junior section for the California PAHA. A course in Polish History & Art taught by Gene H. Zygmont followed in 1983.
The Chapter then helped to finance the publication of two books. In 1979 St. Stanislaw, Bishop of Krakow by Bogdan Deresiewicz was followed in 1983 by The Beginning of Cyrillic Printing by Dr. Szczepan Zimmer. In 1981 the California Chapter presented an oil painting of His Holiness Pope John Paul II to Loyola Marymount University. The artist was Leon Kawecki, who later designed the medal of famous actress Helena Modjeska, which, produced in both silver and bronze, formed the basis of a fund-raising drive to finance the publication of this present volume.
The California Chapter of PAHA has included many notable authors, writers, educators, scientists and artists. Among them are Rev. Jacek Przygoda (Polish Americans in California, Texas Pioneers from Poland), Szczepan Zimmer Ph.D. (The Beginning of Cyrillic Printing, Henry David Thoreau i Jego Otoczenie, Stanislaw Wyspianski, Z Chalupy na Parnas), Al Antczak (Editor, The Tidings), Prof. Anthony Turhollow (Dean of the Graduate School at Loyola Marymount University), Wanda Wilk (Director of the Polish Music Center, USC), Gillian Olechno Huszcza ("Feliks Pawel Wierzbicki" in Polish-American Studies; editor of Polish Music Literature 1515-1990), John Garstka, Irena Szewiola, Artur Waldo, Artur Zygmont (editor, PACN News), Gene Zygmont (Executive Secretary, PAHA - California Chapter), Stanley Stankiewicz, Gene Stankiewicz, Anthony F. Kroll, Leon Kawecki, Edward Kaminski, General Stanislaw Karpinski. Several Chapter members served as national PAHA officers, including Presidents Rev. Jacek Przygoda and Dr. Anthony Turhollow; Vice President Frank Harasick (received the Distinguished Service Award); Advisory Council member Florence Swait.
Chapter presidents have included Rev. Jacek Przygoda, Dr. Anthony F. Turhollow, Rev. Anthony Saran, Mitchel Haifter, Frank Harasick, Wanda Moore Bears, Henrietta Simons, Edward M. (Larry) Kaminski and Florence Swait.
It is fitting that some words from a speech by Father Przygoda, given at a review of the first decade of the California Chapter in 1982 be quoted here, since they are still applicable today.
If the first PAHA decade, California Chapter (1972-1982) can be labeled as years of pioneering and identification of Polish - Americans as a group with a higher learning institution, in this case Loyola Marymount University of Los Angeles, then the second decade should be envisaged as years of affirmation. Clearly another societal step on the road of research along the path of past Polish - American achievements in California has begun. And many traces of such a past, unknown to the American public, can be dug out. Arts, sciences, history in general, and the Hollywood film industry in particular, are cases in point. Furthermore, the field of education in California on all three levels, elementary, secondary and college, saw many Poles and Polish Americans dedicating their lives to the noble cause of teaching. This is providing potential leaders of various dimensions for our state pluralistic culture in the offing.Its Polish past contributions and present efforts have to be made visible and felt in the emerging totality of our state image on the national American canvas. Henry Miller wrote: "The real leader has no need to lead " he is content to point the way." That could be the role of our PAHA Chapter in this numerically increasing Polish - American community; a witness heritage-wise to a heroic Poland's Millennium, as well as the United States glorious Bicentennial. Let us, therefore, know our past, and point to the future.
From: Polish Americans in California, vol. II. National Center for Urban Ethnic Affairs & Polish American Historical Association. California 1995.