Skip to main content

Polish National Alliance Records

 Collection
Identifier: M.20

Dates

  • Majority of material found within 1938 - 1969

Biographical / Historical

The Polish National Alliance was founded in 1880 as a secular society, splitting from the Polish Roman Catholic Union of America (PRCUA.) Salem had multiple chapters, Group 555, known as “Three Nickels” was founded in part by Jan Romaszkiewicz and Joseph Kohn. The society’s clubhouse, purchased in 1931, referred to as “Sons of Poland” was located at 114 Derby Street in the Captain John Waters House. It is unclear when the society formed but their group number implies it was formed between 1900 and 1910. By 1904, a group called Sons of Poland was meeting at 162 Derby Street.

The PNA was an active political and cultural voice in the community and focused on providing insurance to its members, promoting education, and encouraging the liberation of occupied Poland. After World War II the group transitioned to being purely social and in 1966 their clubhouse was sold to the House of the Seven Gables to be used as a settlement house before being sold as condos in 2017.

Extent

1 Cubic Feet

Language of Materials

Polish

Author
Jen Ratliff
Date
2018
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script

Repository Details

Part of the Salem State University Archives and Special Collections Repository

Contact:
University Archivist
Library
352 Lafayette St.
Salem MA 01970 United States
978-542-6781