[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 137 (Monday, September 17, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1884]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     HONORING THE 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE POLISH MUSEUM OF AMERICA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RAHM EMANUEL

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 17, 2007

  Mr. EMANUEL. Madam Speaker, on behalf of more than 110,000 of my 
constituents who are of Polish descent, I proudly rise to recognize the 
70th anniversary of the Polish Museum of America.
  The Polish community has existed in Chicago for more than two 
centuries, and few immigrant groups have come to Chicago in such 
consistent numbers over that period of time. Beginning in 1830 when 
three Polish people voted in the first Chicago mayoral election, the 
Polish community has left an indelible mark on Chicago's political, 
cultural, and economic development.
  The Polish Museum of America is the oldest ethnic museum in the 
United States. Founded in 1935, the Museum has preserved the artistic, 
cultural, historic and literary heritage of Poles in America and 
throughout the world. More than 10,000 people visit the Museum every 
year.
  The 1939 New York World's Fair included various international 
exhibits, one of which was Poland's pavilion. When Nazi Germany invaded 
Poland, it became clear that the exhibit at the World's Fair could not 
return to Poland. To preserve a portion of the exhibit, the directors 
of the Polish Museum of America purchased three-fourths of the exhibit 
from the Polish government. Today, the Museum displays the memorabilia 
from the 1939 New York World's Fair Polish Pavilion.
  Today the Museum also houses the personal possessions of Ignacy Jan 
Paderewski. A pianist, composer and the third Prime Minister of Poland, 
Paderewski and his sister, Antonina, were avid supporters of the 
Museum. Students and researchers of Polish and Polish American history 
use the rick collections from the Polish Museum's Library and Archives 
that include collections on Kosciuszko and Pope John Paul II. The 
Museum also houses large collections of Polish folklore and an art 
gallery featuring several paintings by Jacek Malczewski and Olga 
Boznanska.
  To commemorate the anniversary, the Polish Museum of America began a 
photo project to digitize more than 15,000 photographs of the Polish 
community in Chicago and the United States. They are also offering a 
traveling exhibit of Poles in Chicago, and are conducting inventories 
of publishing efforts in America during Germany's occupation of Poland 
in World War II.
  Madam Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to congratulate the Polish 
Museum of America on 70 years of enriching the culture of Chicago, and 
for continuing to be a hub of activity for Poles throughout Chicago and 
the country. I wish them continued success in the future.

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