Part of an interview with Wanda Kass recorded on May 6, 1988.
Source
Legion of Young Polish Women Records
Date
May 6, 1988
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Transcription
"The idea of joining the Legion was introduced to me by a past president, Mrs. Sabina Jakoboski. Having joined the Legion, I have come into contact with a group of women who really astounded me: glamorous, intelligent, productive. A challenge to me, could I really meet their goals.
Maria Chudzinski, 1987-1988 president of the Legion, asks Regina Jakubowski why she thinks the Legion is so important to its members and the greater Polish community.
Source
Legion of Young Polish Women Records
Date
October 12, 1988
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Transcription
"Mrs. Jakubowski, I would like to ask you what do you think about the Legion, why our organization is so important to us and everybody in Polonia."
"Because I think that we women of Polish descent have a deep feeling for the country from which our parents descended. And we have been doing everything in our power to help those who have suffered through the - through the World War II. We have endured, we have prospered, because the ladies have all pitched in. There's a spirit of cooperation in everything that we do. Personal grievances are forgotten, everyone just pitches in and helps. And I think the same thing is true with our workings with other organizations. And it's just a spirit of cooperation and a deep love for the country from which we have come."
Part of an interview with Lucie Bucki recorded on October 12, 1988.
Source
Legion of Young Polish Women Records
Date
October 12, 1988
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Transcription
"I am very proud to be a member of the Legion, because I can see how vital this organization is. It is amazing that our membership is only around 100 women. But I am very profoundly touched thinking about how many lives we touch yearly. When I read the correspondence from people that are writing to us, thanking us for the donations that we had made to them as an organization, I find it very difficult sometimes to to hold back my tears. And I know that one person, it's difficult for one person to touch so many lives. But it's wonderful to belong to a group of women that do devote so much time and give so much interest to so many others in the world."
Part of an interview with Helena Raczynski conducted on May 6, 1988.
Source
Legion of Young Polish Women Records
Date
May 6, 1988
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Transcription
"It has been my pleasure to serve in Legion and I will continue doing so for the rest of my days because I feel it's an extremely worthy organization and we do a world of good not only in the States, but in Poland, Argentina, and other corners of the world."
Grasyna Cioromska discusses joining the Legion in 1954, shortly after immigrating to the United States.
Source
Legion of Young Polish Women Records
Date
May 6, 1988
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Transcription
"My name is Grasyna Cioromska, I joined the Legion in 1954 as one of the first not American-born members. I came to the United States in 1950 and to Chicago in 1953. Right away, my heart got - got to Legion of Young Polish Women because I heard about their tremendous work and tremendous achievements through the years."
Interview with Colette Siemaszko, recorded on October 12, 1988.
Source
Legion of Young Polish Women Records
Date
October 12, 1988
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Transcription
"Don't let the accent fool you. Through my mother, I am of Polish descent. But really, I came in through the back door. Because my husband, Konstantisz Siemaszko, has been the choreographer here since 1960 and I sort of grew up with the Legion, my children grew up with the Legion. Coming to rehearsals and the, some of the social programs that you have here. So, I knew about your work, which you wouldn't expect someone like me to know. And I was really very very proud to be asked to become a member and to be on the board. And, like Lucie, we're sort of late immigrants here to this country and it's really something to find this Polish pride and an organization of women who can really help other people. And it's marvelous to work with them."
Medical Supplies to Poland - Maria Krakowski Interview
Description
Maria Krakowski, former President and chair of the Medical Supplies to Poland committee, discusses why the donations are important and shows the supplies included in a typical package.
Source
Legion of Young Polish Women Records
Date
May 6, 1988
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Transcription
"There is such a need for these syringes in Poland. On my last visit, I had gone to the, to the Oszorik Dzovia and I had talked to some of the doctors and they told me what their needs were and I tried to get that in their, in the packages. The syringes that we are sending to Poland are the 3 CCs, the disposable ones, and I also am sending the 10 CCs, but the glass ones, which can be used several times. And they can be used for drawing out blood or for anything that they need. For injections and so forth. When I was in Poland they had asked for cotton balls, they asked for gauze, they asked for band aids, which we are sending. This is what a package looks like. And there about usually from five- to eight-hundred of the syringes and about 900 needles that we sent and then I try to fill it in with the other things like cotton balls and so forth. We started, just now, with the other things. But I think those are wonderful things and I think we are making a lot of people happy."
In this clip, recorded in 1988, charter member Lily Ann Byczkowski discusses the charity concert held by the Legion on October 8, 1939.
Source
Legion of Young Polish Women Records
Date
May 6, 1988
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Transcription
"Our biggest event that year was a gala concert held at the Chicago Opera House featuring George Chapinski, Baritone, Thaddaeus Koszuk, Pianist, and Michael Wilkomirski, Violinist. Alexandra Aster was the accompanist. This concert was attended by all of Polonia and it was a tremendous success. And after that, it was no trouble getting anybody to attend our affairs because we were, at that time we were established."
Lily Ann Byczkowski, Charter Member of the Legion of Young Polish Women, discusses the founding of the organization on September 2, 1939.
Source
Legion of Young Polish Women Records
Date
May 6, 1988
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Transcription
"On September 2nd of 1939, on the day after the Nazis invaded Poland, Helen Lenard Pieklo called on 16 young ladies to attend an emergency meeting at her home to make plans to bring immediate financial and moral support to the victims of the war in Poland. The Legion of Young Polish Women was organized. Our goals were to be humanitarian and cultural."
Stephanie Jagielski, President of the Legion of Young Polish Women from 1980-1982, discusses the Legion's support for the Solidarity Movement.
Source
Legion of Young Polish Women Records
Date
May 8, 1988
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Transcription
"I became President in 19, fall of 1980. Shortly thereafter Solidarity Movement started in Poland. Then Legion made a full circle to go back to giving aid to Poland. We started with a $1,000 contribution for their food parcel program. A few months later, they started a medicine bank and we donated 5,000. In August of '81 the Polish Relief Telethon took place and I had the extreme of presenting a $20,000 check towards the aid to Poland."