PHSP History

At the Kopernik Monument (from left): Alex Bagdzinski, Henry Olkowski, Joe Wnukowski, Mrs. Wnukowski, Loreta Basinska, Marti Zazyczny, Joe Zazyczny, Mrs. Wajda and Mr. Wajda.

Poster by Ralph Olbinski for the 1984 Polish Poster Show (Frank Fox Collection) at the Port of History Museum

Poiish Heritage Society members at Laurel Hill cemetery, at Henryk Dmochowski's memorial to his wife.

Poiish Heritage Society members at 3rd and Pine Streets, site of the Kosciuszko House restoration (before 1976).

The 2005 ACPC Convention at the riverside Hyatt Regency Hotel in Philadelphia, Debbie Majka speaks, to the left are S. Paul Bosse and Marcia Lewandowski.

Madame Curie Award Program 1967, (from left): John Wojciechowicz, Sister Florence CSFN, Casmira Marciniszyn (award recipient), Joseph Wnukowski, Joseph Zazyczny

At the Pulaski Parade 2003 (front row, wearing sashes, from left): Frank Przybylski, Eleanor Lerke, Marie Hejnosz, Irene Musman, Peter Obst

The Kosciuszko Statue, a gift of the Polish People, was placed in front of the (now) Logan Hotel through the efforts of City Councilman Joseph Zazyczny and the Polish Heritage Society.

A historical marker, honoring Walter Golaski, was placed at 34th Street and Lancaster Ave. to honor the work of this Drexel graduate, biomedical engineer.

(l. to r.) Peter Obst, Marie Hejnosz, Edward Turzanski

Marti and Joe Zazyczny after he received his RP Officers Cross of the Order of Merit

(l. to r.) RP Consul Ursula Gacek presents an RP Citizenship Certificate to Debbie Majka

The new tablet on the battlefield in Savannah, GA

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Polish Heritage Society of Philadelphia History
Our first 50 years

The seed which eventually blossomed into the Polish Heritage Society of Philadelphia was planted during the Polish American Historical Association Convention (PAHA), which was held at the Robert Morris Hotel in December of 1964. The organizer and host of the convention was the Rt. Rev. Msgr. Peter Klekotka. The initial meeting to discuss the formation of a new Polish cultural society in the Delaware Valley (as the Greater Philadelphia area is known to its residents) was held at the home of John and Martha Stronski in Port Richmond. Discussion continued among the founding members: Joseph Wnukowski, John Wojciechowicz, Wanda Kulpinska, Walter J. Wadas and Joe Zazyczny.
In August 1965 at the home of Mietek and Frances Chwalinski it was unanimously agreed that the name of the new organization would be the "Polish Heritage Society of Philadelphia" (PHSP). It was there that historian Edward Pinkowski joined the group. Joseph L. Zazyczny became the Society's first president and served from 1965 to 1970.
Since its founding, the Polish Heritage Society of Philadelphia has sought to give prominence to our shared cultural heritage and endow Polish traditions with new life in this community. Through its stimulating programs, the society enhances members' understanding and enjoyment of Polish history and the culture and values of our forefathers. The Society provides leadership and a forum for social and cultural expression within the Polish American community of the Greater Delaware Valley. Society members take an active role in awakening recognition for the many achievements of Poles and Americans of Polish descent.
Due to the graciousness of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, the Society was granted the privilege of using Holy Family College (now University) facilities for its meetings. The opportunity of gathering together in academic surroundings proved an ideal climate in which the society grew and flourished. Our debt is great, indeed, to those good nuns but especially to Sister Florence Tumasz, Ph.D. who proved to be completely in tune with the Society's aims in her contributions to Polish culture. Sister Florence had honored the Society by accepting the Society's honorary membership. On Sept. 30, 1990, the Society placed a bronze plaque in the Campus Center of Holy Family University. The dedication ceremony was followed by a reception.
In the early 1970s during the late Joseph S. Wnukowski's Presidency, the Society began sponsoring the Chopin Piano Concerts, which the Philadelphia community anticipates annually in February or March. Pianists who have appeared at the Society's Annual Chopin Concerts include Marian Filar, Maciej Szymanski, Andrzej Wasowski, Camille Budarz, Nina Sapiejewska, Leszek Bartkiewicz and Jerzy Stryjniak, to name but a few. The Society also credits Mr. Wnukowski with the inauguration of the Adam Styka Memorial Art Competition and Exhibition. The Society continues to sponsor the Styka Competition in August/September at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa, Doylestown, PA, in cooperation with the Pauline Fathers of the Shrine and the American Council for Polish Culture (ACPC).
In 1976, in celebration of the Nation's Bicentennial, the Society's members, Joseph Wnukowski, Joseph Zazyczny and Stanley Kreft, formed the Polish American Bicentennial Committee of Philadelphia, which sponsored "A Night with Polish Composers" at Philadelphia's prestigious Academy of Music. The Bicentennial Orchestra, under the direction of Andrzej Jurkiewicz, Pianist, Pawel Checinski, presented the works of Ludomir Rozycki, Artur Malawski, Mieczyslaw Karlowicz and Karol Szymanowski. Moreover, during the Bicentennial celebrations, the people of Poland presented to the people of the United States a monument to Tadeusz Kosciuszko, which is situated at the entrance to the Four Seasons Hotel, on Benjamin Franklin Parkway, facing the Torun Triangle, and the Kopernik Monument. The Polish Heritage Society of Philadelphia was instrumental in the commissioning and placing of the Kopernik Monument adjacent to the Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul and organized the dedication of the Kopernik monument with the Mayor of Torun, Philadelphia's sister city, in attendance. At the same time, the Society also hosted the cadets of the "Dar Pomorza" sailing ship during its historic docking at Penn's Landing both in 1976 and again in 1979.
In the early 1980s Joseph L. Zazyczny led the Society's efforts to have an impact on the citizens of the Greater Delaware Valley. Tadeusz Kosciuszko's residence at Third and Pine Streets is now a historic site, thanks to the efforts of Society members: philanthropist, Edward Piszek and historian, Edward Pinkowski. It is administered by Independence National Park, in cooperation with the National Park Service, the Polish Heritage Society's "Friends of Kosciuszko" for many years volunteered as visitor guides at the Kosciuszko House, providing information in both Polish and English.
The Society presented a Polish Poster Exhibit from the Frank Fox collection at the Port of History Museum on Penn's Landing (1984), sponsored a Polish Film Festival and lecture series in cooperation with the Free Library of Philadelphia and was an active participant in the Witold Plonski, "Not for Poles Only" project. The Society frequently hosted groups from Poland such as Mazowsze, and Rorantysci.
Important to the Society is the nurturing of our Polish American youth and following this belief the Society has sponsored poetry recitals in the Polish language given by the students of Nazareth Academy High School, who study Polish as part of their high school curriculum. The Society has also given financial support to the Adam Mickiewicz Polish School at the Associated Polish Home in Philadelphia, as well as support to the ACPC Youth Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C.
In 1984, the Society elected its first female President, Debbie Majka, who later served as president of the American Council for Polish Culture and is now the Honorary Consul for the Republic of Poland in the Southeastern PA area. The highlights of Mrs. Majka's first four years were the inauguration of the Society's Annual Polonaise Charity Ball at the Academy of Music. The guiding force behind the Polonaise Ball was its Chairperson, Mrs. Martha Zazyczny. From the proceeds of the First Polonaise Ball, the Society contributed $6,000 to Nazareth Hospital and from the Second, $4,000 to Deborah Hospital. Deborah Hospital was engaged in helping needy children from Poland, by performing much needed heart surgery, free-of-charge. The Polonaise Ball, which currently benefits the Polish Heritage Society's Scholarship Fund, replaced the traditional Biesiada celebration.
The Polish Heritage Society also reactivated its Scholarship Award program and annually makes scholarship awards to students of Polish descent, or students enrolled in Polish Studies programs at U.S. Universities. The original funds for the Scholarship Fund came from the generosity of Lottie Wojeck and Wanda Kulpinska Dezwol. The Society also contributed $10,000 toward the realization of the American Center of Polish Culture, Washington, DC, in addition to many individual donations made by members and raffles.
During Mr. Szyszko's Presidency, the Society hosted ACPC's Annual Convention at the Hershey Hotel (1989), in downtown Philadelphia. The Society members also began participating in Philadelphia's Annual Pulaski Day Parade, sponsored by the Polish American Congress, Eastern PA District.
Members of the Society participate in their Annual Mass and Brunch on the first Sunday of May (Trzeci Maj) at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa, Doylestown, PA. Following Mass, scholarships are awarded and new Officers and Directors are installed.
Despite the fact that the Society's active membership is not large, its contributions, the sponsoring of cultural, historical and educational events in Philadelphia is unprecedented and augurs well for the entire Polish American Community in the Delaware Valley.
The Polish Heritage Society of Philadelphia has been an active and loyal affiliate of the American Council for Polish Culture and has supplied four Presidents to ACPC: the late John Wojciechowicz, the late Joseph S. Wnukowski, Joseph L. Zazyczny and Deborah M. Majka.
Persons who served as presidents of the Polish Heritage Society of Philadelphia:
Joe Zazyczny
Joseph Wnukowski
Joseph Kalinowski
Frank Ganiszewski
John Wojciechowicz
Stanley Kreft
Debbie Majka
Edward Szyszko
Donna Danielewska
Irene Musman
Marie Hejnosz
Teresa N. Wojcik
(The above text was originally written for ACPC Convention Program in 2005)

Our last 25 years (1998-2023)

The Polish Heritage Society of Philadelphia had a very productive twenty-five years, participating in some nationwide ACPC initiatives and promoting several events of its own. During the 2022 National Conference for the Social Studies in Philadelphia, PHSP members Debbie Majka and Peter J. Obst assisted at the ACPC booth. There was also a visit from Teresa G. Wojcik who, as an educator, was attending the conference.
Closely allied to the Associated Polish Home in Philadelphia, the PHSP has participated in its Polish Home Days, where various organizations had the opportunity to represent themselves via exhibit booths. The Society's dedication to the mission of promoting Polish customs, culture and history was recently confirmed when it was honored with the Skalny Award in 2022 from the Polish American Historical Association.
One project, under PHSP leadership, was the Traveling Poster Exhibit which debuted at the 1996 ACPC Convention. Over the years the 16 posters traveled to many locations and in 1997 spent the month of June in the Philadelphia area at the Barnes & Noble Bookstore in Fairless Hills, PA. Though interest in this traveling exhibit has now waned, over time, it was a very effective project to exhibit the work of Polish artists in the United States.
In 1999 the Society participated in the dedication of a Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) marker at Moland House in Hartsville, PA. Along with George Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette, Casimir Pulaski was featured on the marker. This led the society to nominate and sponsor the placement of markers for: bridge engineer Ralph Modjeski (2007), helicopter innovator Frank Piasecki (2010), and biomedical engineer Walter Golaski (2014). For 2023 the PHMC approved a marker for Philadelphia frozen food entrepreneur and Polonia supporter Edward Piszek (a.k.a. the "Fishcake King") which will be installed in the near future near his former home.
The PHSP is always promoting literature about Polish history and culture. During recent years it sponsored various lectures and presentations of books. Among them were: "God's Eye" (about the Katyn Massacre) by Frank Fox, "Journey" (a memoir) by Donna Danielewski, "Altar of Sod" (a historical romance) by Regina McIntyre, and "From Paderewski to Penderecki" (about Polish musicians in Philadelphia) by Paul Krzywicki. A recent society meeting in 2023 featured Peter I. Bogucki, an archeologist from Princeton University and his book "The Barbarians" which addressed archeological discoveries in Europe, including Poland.
In addition to literature, the PHSP promotes Polish music. The Annual Chopin Concert, chaired by Debbie Majka, has been one of the stellar events on our calendar. Thanks to Paul Krzywicki and his musical connections at the Curtis Institute we have had the pick of the best young performers, some of whom have placed highly at the annual Chopin competition in Warsaw.
Along with other sponsors, the Society made a substantial contribution to Basia Myszynski's project to create a biographical film about Ralph Modjeski. Later, after the work was completed, there was a premiere of the film at Drexel University (an engineering school) in Philadelphia. The film Bridging Urban America - the story of Ralph Modjeski, Bridge Engineer was shown to a large audience on July 10, 2016. Later, it was featured on the Public Broadcasting Network (PBS) in various cities.
In 2011 Debbie Majka, a past president of PHSP and ACPC, and a constant activist for Polish culture, was named to the important post of Honorary Consul of the Republic of Poland for SE Pennsylvania. This led to the Society's participation in a number of events that included flag raisings and the recognition of historical events that underscored the ties between Poland and the United States. Members traveled to the state capitol in Harrisburg, PA, to celebrate Polish Independence Day (2018) and the Hundredth Anniversary of Polish and American Diplomatic Relations (2019).
Every year PHSP members march in the October Pulaski Day Parade held in Philadelphia and organized by the Polish American Congress. Chosen as Grand Marshal at the event were members Debbie Majka (2012) and Teresa G. Wojcik Ph.D. (2017).
For many years the Society had been the organizer and coordinator of the ACPC's Adam Styka Art Exhibit & Sale held at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa in Doylestown, PA during the Polish Festival and Country Fair held Labor Day weekend and the following weekend. This event gave artists of Polish extraction an opportunity to display their works to a wide and varied audience. Monetary prizes were awarded in several categories. Though ably led by Marie Hejnosz, because of continuing construction and remodeling of buildings on the site, the event did not always have access to a suitable place where the paintings could be displayed. After many successful showings, the exhibit was placed on hiatus after the 2018 season. Perhaps, in the future, circumstances will change and allow it to return.
In 2005 the PHSP hosted the ACPC Convention at the Hilton Hotel on Philadelphia's Penn's Landing along the Delaware River. The convention included a side trip to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa in Doylestown, PA, where a cenotaph was dedicated in the cemetery to honor the artist Jan Henryk de Rosen. The convention included a Polish poster exhibit and featured speaker Edward Turzanski, an expert on foreign relations. It should also be noted that the PHSP hosted ACPC Board meetings in 1999, 2007, 2010, 2017 and 2023.
In 1984 the Society began holding Poloniase Balls to raise funds for a Scholarship Program. This tradition continues, even though the continuity was impacted by the Covid pandemic and other factors. Several times the event was held as a Christmas Gala together with the Philadelphia Chapter of the Kosciuszko Foundation. The Polonaise Ball in 2015, held at the Associated Polish Home in Philadelphia, was a celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the PHSP. On that occasion guests were encouraged to sign a large whiteboard, which then became a memento of the evening. Though this was the most memorable social event for PHSP in this Quarter Century, there were several other significant balls. In 2013, past PHSP and ACPC president Joseph Zazyczny was honored with the Officers Cross of the Order of Merit, conferred by Consul Mateusz Stasiek from New York. At other Balls tokens of recognition and appreciation were presented to: Henry Majka, Edward Turzanski, Edward Pinkowski, Fr. Edward Volz, Jean Joka and Fr. Bernard Witkowski.
Each year, PHSP awards at least five scholarships to worthy students using funds collected at its events. In 2023 the amount given to each student was raised to $1,500. The checks, and gifts, are presented to the awardees at an annual luncheon following mass, usually scheduled for the first Sunday in May at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa in Doylestown, PA. Over the years the awards committee was led by: Stephen Medvec Ph.D., Wanda Mohr Ph.D., Dolores Szymanski Ed.D., and the current chair Teresa G. Wojcik Ph.D. During this last quarter century, the following individuals served in the position of President of the Polish Heritage Society of Philadelphia:
Irene Musman (1998-2000)
Marie Hejnosz (2000-2004)
Debbie Majka (2004-2008)
Teresa N. Wojcik (2008-2012)
Marie Hejnosz (2012-2016)
Jean Joka (2016-2020)
Marie Hejnosz (2020-2022)
Peter Obst (2022-2026)
With several new projects and initiatives in the works, the PHSP is looking forward to more exciting years ahead.
Submitted to the ACPC 75th Anniversary Book Committee by: Peter J. Obst - President, Polish Heritage Society of Philadelphia