The Heritage and Ancestral Roots of Polish Immigrants to Texas in the Second Wave
Keywords:
Polonia, Texas, emigration, cultural heritage, identity
Abstract
The article explores the second wave of Polish immigration to Southeast Texas during the 19th century, focusing on the cultural heritage of the Polish diaspora, particularly from Greater Poland and Galicia. It examines the foundational figures of the Polish ethnic community in Texas, including Meyer Levy, Father Feliks Orzechowski, and Josef Bartula. Utilizing content analysis of 4,358 pages across 124 volumes from the Polish Genealogical Society Texas (PGST), published between 1984 and 2021, the study reveals the significant contributions of these individuals – Jewish merchants, Catholic clergymen, and community leaders – to the history of Polish settlement in Texas. The article also underscores the impact of Polish immigrants on the state’s agricultural development and their role in enriching the ethnically diverse fabric of Texas. Additionally, it highlights the crucial roles played by women and children in the early success of these immigrant communities.
References
REFERENCES
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Baker, L. T. (1996). The First Polish Americans. Silesian Settlements in Texas. College Station: Texas A&M University Press.
Baker, L T. (1982). The Polish Texans. San Antonio: The University of Texas Institute of Texan Cultures.
Blanke, R. (1983). The Polish Role in the Origin of the Kulturkampf in Prussia. Canadian Slavonic Papers / Revue Canadienne Des Slavistes, 25 (2), pp. 253–262.
Blanke, R. (1981). Prussian Poland in the German Empire 1871-1900. New York: Columbia University Press.
Bujak, M., Liszka, M. (2023). Parish and Family in the Cultural Heritage of the Polish Emigrants in the Second Wave (1867). Perspektywy Kultury, vol. 42, no. 3, 2023, pp. 383-94, doi: 10.35765/pk.2023.4203.24.
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Calvert, A. R. (1973). The Freedmen and Agricultural Prosperity. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, vol. 76, no. 4.
Czas.“Chłop polski w Ameryce”. January 15, 1874, no. 11.
Derengowski, P. (2015) Polacy w Wojnie Secesyjnej 1861-1865. Oświęcim: Wydawnictwo Napoleon V.
Dworaczyk, E. J. (1936). The First Polish Colonies of America in Texas. San Antonio: The Naylor Company.
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Gazeta Polska w Chicago. January 25, 1877, year 4, no. 15.
Gazeta Polska w Chicago. June 28, 1888, year 16, no. 26.
Gazeta Polska w Chicago. July 5, 1888, year 16, no. 27.
Glazier A. I., Filby W. P (eds.). (1998). Germans to America. Lists of Passengers Arriving at U.S. Ports 1850-1897. Wilmington: Scholarly Resources.
Groniowski, K. (1992). Świadomość chłopskiej emigracji w Stanach Zjednoczonych do roku 1918. Acta Universitatis Lodziensis. Folia historica 45, pp. 157-165.
Haiman, M. (1936). The Poles in the Early History of Texas, Annals of the Polish Roman Catholic Union Archive and Museum. Chicago: Polish Roman Catholic Union of America.
Houck, G. F. (1903). A History of Catholicity in Northern Ohio and the Diocese of Cleveland from 1749 to December 31, 1900, vol. 1, Cleveland, OH: Press of J.B. Savage.
Hudson, E., & Maresh, H. R. (1934). Czech Pioneers of the Southwest. Dallas, Texas: Southwest Press.
Jordan, T. G. (1966). German Seed in Texas Soil: Immigrant Farmers in Nineteenth-Century Texas. University of Texas Press.
Kinsey, W. L. (1979). The Immigrant in Texas Agriculture during Reconstruction. Agricultural History, vol. 53, no. 1, pp. 125–141.
Koehl, R. L. (1953). Colonialism inside Germany: 1886-1918. The Journal of Modern History, vol. 25, no. 3.
Kruszka, W (1994). A History of the Poles in America to 1908. Part II: Poles in Illinois. Trans. Krystyna Jankowski, Washington DC: The Catholic University Press.
Kruszka, W (1998). A History of the Poles in America to 1908. Part III: Poles in the Eastern and Southern states. Trans. Krystyna Jankowski, Washington DC: The Catholic University Press.
Malak, L. C., Nguyen, D. (eds.). (2020). Celebrating 150 years of grace and love 1869-2019. Unpublished materials.
Musialik-Chmiel, A. (2010). Amerykańscy Ślązacy. Dziedzictwo, pamięć, tożsamość. Katowice: Księgarnia św. Jacka.
Moczygemba Watson, M. A. (1999). Silesian Profiles Polish Immigration to Texas in the 1850s. Panna Maria: Panna Maria Historical Society.
Nesterowicz, S. (1909). Notatki z podróży po północnej i środkowej Ameryce. Toledo, OH: A. A. Paryski.
Polish Genealogical Society of Texas, vol. (1984-2021).
Praszałowicz, D. (2003). Overseas Migration from Partitioned Poland: Poznania and Eastern Galicia as Case Studies. Polish American Studies. vol. 60, no. 2 (Autumn, 2003), pp. 59-81.
Przygoda, J. (1971). Texas Pioneers from Poland: A Study in the Ethnic History. Bandera-Texas: Polish American Center.
Robinson, L. (2023). The Polish Heritage Library and Archives in Panna Maria, Texas: A Center of Research and Instruction for Texas and American Polonia Research and all other Researchers Interested in Polish History and Culture. Polish American Studies, 80 (1): 67–70, doi: 10.5406/23300833.80.1.07.
Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/waverly-tx (Accessed: 12.12.2023)
Warren, J. W. et al. (eds.). (2021). Śląscy Teksańczycy III. Emigracja ze Śląska do Teksasu w latach 1854-1893. Opole: Wydawnictwo i Drukarnia Świętego Krzyża.
Babiński, G. (2009). Polonia w USA na tle przemian amerykańskiej etniczności. Kraków: Oficyna Wydawnicza AFM.
Baker, L. T. (1996). The First Polish Americans. Silesian Settlements in Texas. College Station: Texas A&M University Press.
Baker, L T. (1982). The Polish Texans. San Antonio: The University of Texas Institute of Texan Cultures.
Blanke, R. (1983). The Polish Role in the Origin of the Kulturkampf in Prussia. Canadian Slavonic Papers / Revue Canadienne Des Slavistes, 25 (2), pp. 253–262.
Blanke, R. (1981). Prussian Poland in the German Empire 1871-1900. New York: Columbia University Press.
Bujak, M., Liszka, M. (2023). Parish and Family in the Cultural Heritage of the Polish Emigrants in the Second Wave (1867). Perspektywy Kultury, vol. 42, no. 3, 2023, pp. 383-94, doi: 10.35765/pk.2023.4203.24.
Bukowiczyk, J. J. (2017). A History of the Polish Americans. Milton Park: Taylor & Francis Group.
Calvert, A. R. (1973). The Freedmen and Agricultural Prosperity. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, vol. 76, no. 4.
Czas.“Chłop polski w Ameryce”. January 15, 1874, no. 11.
Derengowski, P. (2015) Polacy w Wojnie Secesyjnej 1861-1865. Oświęcim: Wydawnictwo Napoleon V.
Dworaczyk, E. J. (1936). The First Polish Colonies of America in Texas. San Antonio: The Naylor Company.
Encyclopedia of Southern Jewish Communities – Navasota, Texas, https://www.isjl.org/texas-navasota-encyclopedia.html (Accessed: 15.12.2023).
Felczak Hill, V. (1991). Polish Emigrants to Texas. Second Wave. Unpublished materials for Polish Genealogical Society of Texas on Polish emigration to Texas in the second half of the 19th century.
Gazeta Polska w Chicago. January 25, 1877, year 4, no. 15.
Gazeta Polska w Chicago. June 28, 1888, year 16, no. 26.
Gazeta Polska w Chicago. July 5, 1888, year 16, no. 27.
Glazier A. I., Filby W. P (eds.). (1998). Germans to America. Lists of Passengers Arriving at U.S. Ports 1850-1897. Wilmington: Scholarly Resources.
Groniowski, K. (1992). Świadomość chłopskiej emigracji w Stanach Zjednoczonych do roku 1918. Acta Universitatis Lodziensis. Folia historica 45, pp. 157-165.
Haiman, M. (1936). The Poles in the Early History of Texas, Annals of the Polish Roman Catholic Union Archive and Museum. Chicago: Polish Roman Catholic Union of America.
Houck, G. F. (1903). A History of Catholicity in Northern Ohio and the Diocese of Cleveland from 1749 to December 31, 1900, vol. 1, Cleveland, OH: Press of J.B. Savage.
Hudson, E., & Maresh, H. R. (1934). Czech Pioneers of the Southwest. Dallas, Texas: Southwest Press.
Jordan, T. G. (1966). German Seed in Texas Soil: Immigrant Farmers in Nineteenth-Century Texas. University of Texas Press.
Kinsey, W. L. (1979). The Immigrant in Texas Agriculture during Reconstruction. Agricultural History, vol. 53, no. 1, pp. 125–141.
Koehl, R. L. (1953). Colonialism inside Germany: 1886-1918. The Journal of Modern History, vol. 25, no. 3.
Kruszka, W (1994). A History of the Poles in America to 1908. Part II: Poles in Illinois. Trans. Krystyna Jankowski, Washington DC: The Catholic University Press.
Kruszka, W (1998). A History of the Poles in America to 1908. Part III: Poles in the Eastern and Southern states. Trans. Krystyna Jankowski, Washington DC: The Catholic University Press.
Malak, L. C., Nguyen, D. (eds.). (2020). Celebrating 150 years of grace and love 1869-2019. Unpublished materials.
Musialik-Chmiel, A. (2010). Amerykańscy Ślązacy. Dziedzictwo, pamięć, tożsamość. Katowice: Księgarnia św. Jacka.
Moczygemba Watson, M. A. (1999). Silesian Profiles Polish Immigration to Texas in the 1850s. Panna Maria: Panna Maria Historical Society.
Nesterowicz, S. (1909). Notatki z podróży po północnej i środkowej Ameryce. Toledo, OH: A. A. Paryski.
Polish Genealogical Society of Texas, vol. (1984-2021).
Praszałowicz, D. (2003). Overseas Migration from Partitioned Poland: Poznania and Eastern Galicia as Case Studies. Polish American Studies. vol. 60, no. 2 (Autumn, 2003), pp. 59-81.
Przygoda, J. (1971). Texas Pioneers from Poland: A Study in the Ethnic History. Bandera-Texas: Polish American Center.
Robinson, L. (2023). The Polish Heritage Library and Archives in Panna Maria, Texas: A Center of Research and Instruction for Texas and American Polonia Research and all other Researchers Interested in Polish History and Culture. Polish American Studies, 80 (1): 67–70, doi: 10.5406/23300833.80.1.07.
Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/waverly-tx (Accessed: 12.12.2023)
Warren, J. W. et al. (eds.). (2021). Śląscy Teksańczycy III. Emigracja ze Śląska do Teksasu w latach 1854-1893. Opole: Wydawnictwo i Drukarnia Świętego Krzyża.
Published
2024-09-29
How to Cite
[1]
Bujak, M. and Liszka, M. 2024. The Heritage and Ancestral Roots of Polish Immigrants to Texas in the Second Wave. Perspectives on Culture. 46, 3 (Sep. 2024), 233-254. DOI:https://doi.org/10.35765/pk.2024.4603.17.
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