In an interview conducted on July 24, 2014, Aurelia Pucinski, Justice, Illinois Appellate Court, 1st District, discusses the critical leadership the Legion of Young Polish Women provides for the Polish community in Chicago and throughout the United States.
Creator
Aurelia Pucinski and Laura Pearce
Source
Legion of Young Polish Women Records
Publisher
Women and Leadership Archives
Date
July 24, 2014
Rights
Copyright is held by the Women and Leadership Archives
In an interview conducted on July 24, 2014 Aurelia Pucinski, Justice, Illinois Appellate Court, 1st District, discusses the Legion of Young Polish Women with relation to the Polish Proverb "The Strength of a Nation is in the Ideals of her Women."
Maria Ciesla, a member of the Legion since the 1960s and President from 1988-1989, discusses the expansion of the Legion's donation efforts after WWII.
Creator
Maria Ciesla and Laura Pearce
Source
Legion of Young Polish Women Records
Publisher
Women and Leadership Archives
Date
July 24, 2014
Rights
Copyright is held by the Women and Leadership Archives
In an interview conducted on July 24, 2014 Kathy Lesny, a debutante presented at the 2006 White and Red Ball, speaks about her debutante experience.
Creator
Kathy Lesny and Laura Pearce
Source
Legion of Young Polish Women Records
Publisher
Women and Leadership Archives
Date
July 24, 2014
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Transcription
"Overall, it was just a magical experience, like something you would never think of. And it's great to have something like that. It's kind of like, take all of your like high school dances like prom and the excitement you get for all of that and just lump it all into the one. Not only are you getting to be there with these new friends that you created, but you're also being part of a long tradition. And, you know, it's always like watching the movies on TV, you see the debutante balls on there and you think 'I want to be that, I want to be a princess,' and that's pretty much what that night is. You turn and feel like a princess."
Alexandra Ciesla Cornwell Interview - Being a Debutante
Description
Alexandra Ciesla Cornwell, a debutante presented at the 1998 White & Red Ball, talks about what it being a debutante means in her family.
Creator
Alexandra Ciesla Cornwell & Laura Pearce
Source
Legion of Young Polish Women Records
Publisher
Women and Leadership Archives
Date
July 30, 2014
Rights
Copyright is held by the Women and Leadership Archives
Sound Item Type Metadata
Transcription
"Well I think, again, it goes back to the tradition and it was just, you know, my mom always had the big portrait of her debut up in the house, and - and kept all of her dresses and gowns from the different balls that she went to when she was, um, our age at that time and into her twenties and thirties. And so, for us it was just a really special time in our lives. It was, you know, sort of for us the sweet sixteen, you know, sort of the thing you did. And the whole family was invited, and we got to invite friends and - and so it was just this very big part of the tradition in our family. And now we have, my sister is older, um, and she has two girls, 13 and 11, and so they're kind of the next in line to do this and it's just something we always look forward to as a family. So, it's not, it wasn't just my mom and it wasn't just me doing this. You know, obviously my dad was involved as the presenter, and my brother's were escorts, and I remember going to the ball when my sister debuted and I was five and running around with other younger sisters of the debutantes at that time. So it was just, you know, there's just something about the tradition that's just really important to the family and-and really exciting for us.
In this interview, Emily Rafalik, a debutante at the 2014 White and Red Ball, discusses what it meant to her to be a debutante and to be a member of the Legion of Young Polish Women.
Creator
Emily Rafalik and Laura Pearce
Source
Legion of Young Polish Women Records
Publisher
Women and Leadership Archives
Date
July 24, 2014
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Transcription
Something a lot of people know about me is that I'm only half Polish and I'm also half Argentinian. So growing up, it was always difficult for me to feel 100% Polish knowing that I didn't look Polish, you know, at first Polish school was difficult for me to learn the language and so some people doubted me or discouraged me. But then, being presented, being a part of the Legion, being a part of this group of women who encouraged Polish tradition, encouraged being Polish and being proud of it. You know, at the moment where I'm bowing, it's emotional because, you know, it doesn't matter how well you speak Polish, how fluent it is, or how you look. It matters about how you care about the country, ultimately. So being presented was, was an honor in terms of the Legion, but also for my country. It's a little thing you can do, raise some money, but it does make a big difference in the end.
In an interview conducted on July 24, 2014 Conrad Miczko, the son of long-time Legion member Eugenia Miczko, discusses the events surrounding the founding of the Legion of Young Polish Women in 1939.
Creator
Conrad Miczko and Laura Pearce
Source
Legion of Young Polish Women Records
Publisher
Women and Leadership Archives
Date
July 24, 2014
Rights
Copyright is held by the Women and Leadership Archives
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Transcription
"A few of the women were getting together, and they said we'd like to form a club, a junior league club, and the women were very friendly with each other. Many of them were at szkuka which means Polish Saturday school for culture and education and language. At any rate, Mother was with some of these friends and they said oh we - we, let's make a club, let's make a junior league club. During that time, all of a sudden on September 1st Hitler bombed Poland and all these women, of whom I spoke a moment ago, these women called each other up and they said quick we must definitely form the club after today to send packages, money, relief, help to the people in Poland. And eventually they had the first meeting, but my mother she missed that meeting. But she came, whatever X number of months later. She was quite involved with the club. They sent ambulances, they assisted the Red Cross, they sent money, they formed a school for the blind, they did things in Poland, in France, in England, in Italy to help the Polish citizens no matter what their really religion or ethnic orientation, background was, they were out their to help them.
Born in Poland, Barbara Poniatowska-Ciepiela and her mother were forced to live in an army family camps in North Africa while her father fought for the freedom of his country. While in the army camp, Barbara received an aid package from the Legion of Young Polish Women containing a coat and dress. In this interview, conducted on July 24, 2014, Barbara talks about what it meant to her and the others in the camp to receive aid from American organizations like the Legion.
Creator
Barbara Poniatowska-Ciepiela and Laura Pearce
Source
Legion of Young Polish Women Records
Publisher
Women and Leadership Archives
Date
July 24, 2014
Rights
Copyright is held by the Women and Leadership Archives
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."