Polish Americans in California Vol. II - IntroductionAutobiographies of Californians of Polish descent (p. 214)
by Henrietta Gorzenska Simons, Editor
The 1992 U.S. Census documents that 750,000 Southern Californian residents have Polish surnames. These Polish Americans provide a vital strand in the artistic, social, moral and political fiber of Californian life in the 20th Century. The purpose of this book is to record the presence of these Americans of Polish descent as citizens who have generated a dynamic influence on the United States of America.
A concerted effort was made by the Polish American Historical Association to obtain autobiographies of Californians of Polish descent. Through letters to members of forty Polish organizations, as well as appeals over the airwaves, announcements in Polish churches and by personal contact made over a five-year period, families were encouraged to participate so that a genealogical record could be made. Application forms were made available and respondents were requested to adapt the form to suit their histories. All information printed in the WHO'S WHO section of POLISH AMERICANS IN CALIFORNIA, VOLUME II was submitted by the individual responding to the invitation. In some instances, information was rearranged slightly to conform to the overall pattern, but no facts were altered. Every effort was made to preserve and present the essence of each person's autobiography, but the final entry was only as complete as the information presented on the application form.
Those listed in POLISH AMERICANS IN CALIFORNIA, VOLUME II comprise essentially three groups: the largest category being descendants of past immigrants who have become completely assimilated in mainstream American life without consciously acknowledging the roots from which they blossomed; a second group of Polish Americans acknowledge their Polish heritage, Poland and Polish history; the third group, which most closely associates themselves with Poland, are recent and past immigrants who bring with them the memories and sacrifices of their struggle against the Nazis and the Communists.
As you read this sampling of the lives of Californians of Polish descent, you will see only a fraction of the picture. Modest housewives, too shy to tell their lives; working women often juggling office and home responsibilities; prominent leaders, too busy to take the time; and all the others in between who didn't hear the invitation or chose not to respond, are not recorded in this book, yet they remain a vital part of the dynamics and destiny of this great State. Let the lives of those recorded here be an inspiration to future generations and a source of an innately rich heritage from which to build a society reflecting the strengths of the Polish spirit.
The task of recording, rewriting, clarifying, documenting, typing and proofreading was accomplished by the dedication and hard work of many people to whom l am deeply grateful. To my daughter Rebecca Benard and my friends Gillian Olechno - Huszcza and Jeanine Swift, l give my heartfelt thanks for their hours of unselfish work to make this book possible.
From: "Polish Americans in California," Vol. II. National Center for Urban Ethnic Affairs & Polish American Historical Association. California 1995.