Polish National Alliance
Encyclopedia
The Polish National Alliance (pol.
Związek Narodowy Polski) (PNA) is the largest and one of the oldest Polish
fraternal organizations in the United States
, founded on 15 February 1880 in Philadelphia under the influence of Polish patriot Agaton Giller
. Its first president was Juliusz Andrzejkowicz.
The PNA founded a number of publishing and educational institutions. From 1912 to 1991 it owned Alliance College
in Cambridge Springs, Pennsylvania
. The organization founded the Polish Library in Chicago
and Immigrants House in New York
. In 1910 it built the monument of Tadeusz Kościuszko
in Washington, D.C.
In the years 1912–1914 the PNA financially supported the Commission of the Temporary Confederated Independence Movements. During World War I
it collaborated with the Polish National League and the Polish National Committee
in Paris
. During World War II
it backed the Polish Government in exile
. In 1944 it was a co-founder of the Polish American Congress
(pol. Kongres Polonii Amerykańskiej). In 1968 it requested that the US Congress recognize Polish-German borders along the Oder-Neisse line
. In 1971 it lobbied for a new Congressional inquiry into the Katyn Forest Massacre.
Since the end of the 19th century the PNA has been the largest Polish fraternal organization in the USA with assets of 0.5 billion dollars as a result of insurance activity (the only requirement of membership is to buy an insurance policy - life, health etc), and returns from banks and media they own, such as Dziennik Związkowy (Polish Daily News), and WPNA
AM in Oak Park, Illinois
.
The main authority of the organization is its Convention named Sejm Związkowy, held every 4 years, but the government is the Zarząd with the president of the PNA, and the Board of Directors (pol. Rada Dyrektorów).
The supreme comptroller of the organization is Censor of the PNA (pol. cenzor ZNP), who is responsible only before the Sejm. PNA edits its own paper "Zgoda" which is delivered free to all members.
The national headquarters of the Polish National Alliance is in the Forest Glen
area of Chicago and is visible from the Edens Expressway
. The headquarters was relocated here in the 1970s from Chicago
's Polish Triangle in West Town
.
Polish language
Polish is a language of the Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages, used throughout Poland and by Polish minorities in other countries...
Związek Narodowy Polski) (PNA) is the largest and one of the oldest Polish
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
fraternal organizations in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, founded on 15 February 1880 in Philadelphia under the influence of Polish patriot Agaton Giller
Agaton Giller
Agaton Giller was a Polish historian, journalist and politician. He and his brother Stefan Giller played notable roles in the Polish independence movement and in the January 1863 Uprising.-Life:During the January 1863 Uprising, Agaton Giller was a member of the National Government...
. Its first president was Juliusz Andrzejkowicz.
The PNA founded a number of publishing and educational institutions. From 1912 to 1991 it owned Alliance College
Alliance College
Alliance College was an independent, liberal arts college located in Cambridge Springs, Pennsylvania, offering a special program in Polish and Slavic languages . From 1948 until its closing in 1987, the college was an accredited four-year co-educational liberal arts institution...
in Cambridge Springs, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. The organization founded the Polish Library in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and Immigrants House in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. In 1910 it built the monument of Tadeusz Kościuszko
Tadeusz Kosciuszko
Andrzej Tadeusz Bonawentura Kościuszko was a Polish–Lithuanian and American general and military leader during the Kościuszko Uprising. He is a national hero of Poland, Lithuania, the United States and Belarus...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
In the years 1912–1914 the PNA financially supported the Commission of the Temporary Confederated Independence Movements. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
it collaborated with the Polish National League and the Polish National Committee
Polish National Committee (1917-1919)
Polish National Committee was formed in Lausanne on 15 August 1917 by Polish National Democracy politician Roman Dmowski. Its goal was to support Entente by creating the Polish Army fighting alongside of it in exchange of receiving support for independent Poland...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
it backed the Polish Government in exile
Polish government in Exile
The Polish government-in-exile, formally known as the Government of the Republic of Poland in Exile , was the government in exile of Poland formed in the aftermath of the Invasion of Poland of September 1939, and the subsequent occupation of Poland by Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, which...
. In 1944 it was a co-founder of the Polish American Congress
Polish American Congress
The Polish American Congress is a U.S. umbrella organization of Polish-Americans and Polish-American organizations.Its membership is composed of fraternal, educational, veterans, religious, cultural, social, business, and political organizations, as well as individuals.As of January 2009, it lists...
(pol. Kongres Polonii Amerykańskiej). In 1968 it requested that the US Congress recognize Polish-German borders along the Oder-Neisse line
Oder-Neisse line
The Oder–Neisse line is the border between Germany and Poland which was drawn in the aftermath of World War II. The line is formed primarily by the Oder and Lusatian Neisse rivers, and meets the Baltic Sea west of the seaport cities of Szczecin and Świnoujście...
. In 1971 it lobbied for a new Congressional inquiry into the Katyn Forest Massacre.
Since the end of the 19th century the PNA has been the largest Polish fraternal organization in the USA with assets of 0.5 billion dollars as a result of insurance activity (the only requirement of membership is to buy an insurance policy - life, health etc), and returns from banks and media they own, such as Dziennik Związkowy (Polish Daily News), and WPNA
WPNA
WPNA is a radio station licensed to Oak Park, Illinois, USA, the station serves the Chicago area. The station is currently owned by Alliance Communications...
AM in Oak Park, Illinois
Oak Park, Illinois
Oak Park, Illinois is a suburb bordering the west side of the city of Chicago in Cook County, Illinois, United States. It is the twenty-fifth largest municipality in Illinois. Oak Park has easy access to downtown Chicago due to public transportation such as the Chicago 'L' Blue and Green lines,...
.
The main authority of the organization is its Convention named Sejm Związkowy, held every 4 years, but the government is the Zarząd with the president of the PNA, and the Board of Directors (pol. Rada Dyrektorów).
The supreme comptroller of the organization is Censor of the PNA (pol. cenzor ZNP), who is responsible only before the Sejm. PNA edits its own paper "Zgoda" which is delivered free to all members.
The national headquarters of the Polish National Alliance is in the Forest Glen
Forest Glen
The name Forest Glen may refer to:United States*Forest Glen, Chicago, Illinois, a neighborhood*Forest Glen, Maryland, a census-designated place near Silver Spring**Forest Glen Annex, a U.S...
area of Chicago and is visible from the Edens Expressway
Edens Expressway
The Edens Expressway is the main major expressway north from the city of Chicago. For most of its length, the Edens carries Interstate 94; it also carries U.S. Route 41 from Wilmette to its northern terminus. Only the short portion from the Spur Ramp to the expressway's end in Highland Park does...
. The headquarters was relocated here in the 1970s from Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
's Polish Triangle in West Town
West Town, Chicago
West Town, located in Chicago, Illinois, northwest of the Loop, is one of 77 officially designated Chicago community areas. Its name may refer to Western Avenue, which was the city's western boundary at the time of West Town's settlement, but more likely was a convenient abstraction by the creators...
.
Major events
- 1880 Founding of the PNA in Philadelphia on February 15. The new organization held its first Convention in September in Chicago; its aims included the betterment of the immigrants and freedom for Poland.
- 1881 Zgoda, the official publication of the Alliance, was established through the efforts of Frank Gryglaszewski, later Censor of the PNA.
- 1886 Creation of the PNA fraternal insurance program, the first of this kind in the Polish-American community. The program was formally chartered by the state of IllinoisIllinoisIllinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
in 1896. In the year 2000, members held over $800 million of insurance coverage through the Alliance. - 1891 The first PNA library was set up to the educational enlightenment of Polish Americans.
- 1900 Formal recognition of women's rights in PNA life was win; Valeria Lipczynska was the first major women's leader in the fraternal.
- 1908 The PNA established its own daily newspaper, Dziennik Związkowy, in Chicago.
- 1910 The PNA sponsored the first Polish National Congress in Washington, D.C., to support the causes of Poland's independence. Monuments to Kosciuszko and Pulaski were dedicated in the nation's capital, also thanks to the PNA.
- 1912 Alliance College opened. The school was active for 75 years. PNA membership topped 100,000.
- 1924 PNA membership topped 200,000.
- 1932 The PNA Polish scouting movement, Harcerstwo, was created. At its height, it included 52,000 youngsters in its ranks.
- 1944 The PNA under President Charles Rozmarek took the lead in organizing the Polish American CongressPolish American CongressThe Polish American Congress is a U.S. umbrella organization of Polish-Americans and Polish-American organizations.Its membership is composed of fraternal, educational, veterans, religious, cultural, social, business, and political organizations, as well as individuals.As of January 2009, it lists...
(PAC, pol. Kongres Polonii Amerykańskiej), Polonia's political action federation, in World War II. Its relief agency shipped $150 million in goods to Polish refugees around the world. Organization was actively engaged after the War in helping resettle Polish displaced persons in the US. PNA membership topped 200,000. - 1960 PNA assets exceeded $100 million.
- 1977 The PNA dedicated its third national home office at 6100 North Cicero Avenue in Chicago.
- 1980 President Jimmy CarterJimmy CarterJames Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
visited Chicago to speak at the PNA's 100th annversary banquet. In 1983, President Ronald ReaganRonald ReaganRonald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
visited the PNA home office; in 1992 President George H.W. Bush appeared there too. - 1986 PNA assets exceeded $200 million. Next year the radio station WPNAWPNAWPNA is a radio station licensed to Oak Park, Illinois, USA, the station serves the Chicago area. The station is currently owned by Alliance Communications...
gone on the air. - 1989 President Edward MoskalEdward MoskalEdward Moskal was a longtime and outspoken president of the Polish National Alliance and the Polish American Congress .- Early life, awards, honors, and death :...
traveled to Poland as the head of thee PAC delegation to express Polonia's strong support for the newly installed Solidarity-led government. - 1996 PNA assets exceeded $300 million. Three years later PNA established its own bank to further advance its fraternal mission.
- 2003 PNA assets exceeded $400 million. Merges with Cleveland's Union of Poles
- 2006 PNA assets exceeded $500 million.
- 2007 PNA 45th National Convention was held in Jersey City, NJ.
- 2008 PNA newspaper Dziennik Zwiazkowy celebrated its 100 years.