Abstract

Eduard Adam Skendzel (1921-1999) was a linguist and historian from Grand Rapids, Michigan. His research focused on the history of the Polish community and the Roman Catholic church. This collection focuses on the Polish community in Grand Rapids and southwest Michigan, including churches associated with the Polish community. Included are Skendzel's own writings, his research notes, other reference titles, 84 oral histories and some original documents. Some of the material is in Polish.

Abstract The Emily Latzek Jennings photographs contains 145 photographs of family and friends. Mrs. Jennings attended St. Adalberts Catholic Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. A large number of Holy Communion photographs illustrate the family’s religious practice. Family members are known to have lived in Bay City, Michigan and the Chicago area, which may correspond with the photographer identifications for those cities, as well as for Grand Rapids. Most of the photographs are...

Abstract The Frydrych (Frederick) and Mroz family photograph collection contains twenty-eight photographs, mainly formal portraits, taken in the early to middle part of the 20th century and left at the Grand Rapids Public Library by an anonymous donor. The people represented are members of the Polish Catholic community from the west side of Grand Rapids, Michigan. It is unclear if all of the individuals represented are part of a larger family. However, the Frydrych (Frederick) family and the Mroz...

Abstract

Jaroslaw de Zielinski was a Polish music teacher and conductor living in Grand Rapids, Michigan from 1871-1879. While living in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Zielinski helped pioneer music education and entertaintment during the early development stages of the city. While living in Grand Rapids, he befriended one of his pupils, Ms. Edith V. Rann, and corresponded with her extensively from 1871-1890 in regards to his philosophy of music, teaching music and personal matters.

Abstract Felix W. Latzek was born on 14 February 1895 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He was a Union Bank and Trust Co. manager and a part-time funeral director at the Latzek Funeral Home, founded by his father, Frank Latzek. Felix married Genevieve Vanderhoff (1901-1979) in June of 1922 and they had one daughter, Vivian Latzek Kommer. Vivian’s daughter, Peggy Kommer Novosad donated the material for this collection. The collection includes photographs of the Latzek family, their religious community and...

Abstract The Lipczynski family immigrated to Grand Rapids, Michigan from Poland in the 19th century. They were the first Polish family to settle east of the Grand River. John Lipczynski was part owner of a pottery works and Valeria Lipczynski was a correspondent for Polish newspapers and was active in helping other immigrants find homes and jobs. In 2011, Valeria was inducted into the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame. This is a small collection including family photographs, an ad for the...

Abstract

The Polish Heritage Society promotes Polish heritage in the Grand Rapids, Michigan area. The organization was founded in 1963 as the Polish Arts Society, with the name changing to Polish Heritage Society in 1970. This collection includes scrapbooks dating from 1963 to 1985 which document the activities of the group through newspaper clippings, photographs, event fliers and other ephemera.

Abstract

Zane (Zanon) Burniewicz (1901-1977) was a Lithuanian immigrant and local photographer in Grand Rapids, MI. This collection, which represents a small portion of his work, includes portraits and wedding photographs of local people of mostly Polish and Lithuanian descent. Patrons interested in local photographers or those researching their family history are likely to find this collection particularly useful.