THE HISTORY OF PUL

Origin of People’s Universities

The establishment of Polish People's University, similar to many Folk or People’s Universities in Europe, was based on an initiative by Dutch pastor and philosopher N.F.S. Grundtvig (1783–1872), in the 19th century. One of these organizations, The Maatschappij tot Nut van 't Algemeen (Society for Public Welfare) was founded in 1844 by Martinus Nieuwenhuyzen in Rodding, Denmark, to develop individuals and society primarily through extracurricular education.

Throughout the 19th century, People’s Universities spread across Scandinavia and the rest of Europe, rooted in the idea of providing extracurricular education not only in humanities, history, and language but also in general culture, life skills, and social development. In Poland, this tradition dates back to 1905, when the first People’s Universities—initially called “workers’ universities”—emerged, particularly in Austrian-ruled Galicia, where the use of the Polish language was permitted. A model institution was the Adam Mickiewicz Folk University in Kraków, which exemplified the close collaboration between writers, scientists, and artists with the working-class community. These universities played a crucial role in uniting the nation, bridging class divides, and fostering cooperation and mutual understanding among different ethnic groups. At a time when Poland had disappeared from the map of Europe, they helped preserve national identity and contributed to its eventual reemergence as an independent state after World War I. As of 1995, 80 such institutions remained in operation across Poland.

History of Polish People’s Universities in America is inevitably linked to the first two “waves” of  Polish American immigration; the largest from 1870 to 1914 and after World War II. Most Polish Americans are descendants of the first major wave of immigrants, which consisted of millions of Poles who immigrated from the parts of Poland partitioned by Prussia, Russia, and Austria. This migration is often called in Polish “za chlebem” (for the bread) because most of the migrants were impoverished peasants who came from the Austro-Hungarian province of Galicja. Up to a third of Polish immigrants returned to Poland after a few years, but the majority stayed. The Anti-migrant legislation of 1921 significantly reduced Polish immigration until 1945, but it rose again after World War II. In their new homeland, the majority of Polish immigrants preserved their culture, faith, and language, they built churches, developed political organizations, clubs, associations and pursued cultural and civic activities. Then, after the imposition of martial law in 1981, around 1.3 million Polish people immigrated to the United States. This occurred during the period of Communist rule in Poland and included thousands of highly educated people, scientists, researchers, medical professionals, and engineers. 

In the US, the first Polish People's University (Polski Uniwersytet Ludowy) was established in Chicago in 1908 and one of its oldest branches was PUL in Detroit established in 1912. In the next 50 years, seventeen branches of PUL were formed including New York, Cleveland and  Toledo, OH, Flint, MI, Milwaukee, WI, Niagara Falls, NY, Jersey City and Harrison, NJ, Gary IN, and St. Louis, MN. Unfortunately, most of these branches ceased their activity while Philadelphia’s PUL is still continuing its active engagement in the Polish community today.

1918-28: Early Years

The Polish People’s University traces its origins to movements aimed at enlightening Polish immigrant workers in the Philadelphia area—offering them intellectual and cultural enrichment beyond what they had access to due to limited formal education, while also helping them adapt to life in America. Stefan Sieradzki, a young metalworker was introduced to the workers movement during the 1905 revolution by Tomasz Arciszewski, later the prime minister of the Polish government-in-exile in London. He immigrated to the US after the defeat of the 1905 Russian Revolution and was one of the co-founders of Philadelphia's PUL. This initiative was closely related to the activity of the Polish Socialists Union branch No. 5 in Philadelphia. At the meeting of the branch in August 1918, it was decided to create an educational and lecture institution in Philadelphia. The first secretary of the new organization was Alfred Starzewski. Soon after, in January 1919, the first lecture in the PUL was delivered, by Jan Kozakiewicz - editor of the Polish Worker published in New York. The lecture took place in the Hall of the Lithuanian House on Allegheny Avenue in Port Richmond.  After several months of operation, PUL reached over 200 members.

1928-1949: Activities Suspended

The onset of the Great Depression, sparked by the 1929 financial crisis, brought PUL’s lecture series to a halt. These economic hardships were compounded by the organization's lack of a permanent headquarters, which further hindered its ability to operate. Before the organization could recover, the world was plunged into another crisis: World War II. The war became the central focus for Polish Americans, a period of immense tragedy for their homeland, which culminated in its post-war control by the Soviet Union following the Yalta Conference.

1949-1950s: Rebirth and a New Home

The end of World War II brought a new wave of Polish immigration to America, breathing new life into the community and its institutions. On the initiative of co-founder Stefan Sieradzki, a plan to reactivate the Polish People's University was announced at the opłatek (community gathering) in December 1949.

The revitalized organization quickly established a new leadership. The first management board was constituted on February 2, 1950, with Stefan Rojewski serving as Secretary and a board composed of Stanislaw Gardiasz, Waclaw Gawrysiak, Stefan Sieradzki, and Edward Zając. PUL initially found a home at the Polish Home on Fairmont Avenue, but a decade later, it formed a beneficial and lasting alliance with the Associated Polish Home on Academy Road, which has served as its permanent base of operations to this day.

With a stable home, the board redefined PUL's programmatic goals for the post-war era, focusing on:

• Polish history and Poland’s role in the international arena

• Polish literature, art, and science

• Contemporary Poland (the Polish People’s Republic, or PRL)

• The Polish American community (Polonia) and its role in countries of immigration

This renewed mission sparked a period of intense activity, with PUL reaching a peak of 12 to 18 lectures per season between 1950 and 1954, primarily focused on Polish history, its economy, and its role in post-war Europe. Soon, the programming expanded to feature highly-attended poetry and theatre evenings and celebrations of Polish Independence, establishing PUL as a center of community life.

1950s-1970s: Hosting Poland's Leading Voices

With a permanent home and a clear mission, PUL entered a golden age, becoming a premier forum for Polish intellectual and cultural life in Philadelphia. It attracted an extraordinary roster of politicians, scientists, artists, and historians, many of whom were prominent figures in the Polish government-in-exile and the global academic community.

A key architect of this era was Włodzimierz Denkowski. A veteran of the 1944 Warsaw Uprising, where he fought in the Polish underground army (AK, pseudonym “Kostek”), Mr. Denkowski brought the same spirit of dedication to PUL. He joined the board in 1952 and served for 26 years as an extraordinarily talented organizer, admired for his creative ideas and endless energy. His efforts were instrumental in bringing a remarkable roster of eminent politicians, experts in science, literature, and the arts to PUL. In 1972, he further solidified the organization's legacy by initiating a life membership in the Polish American Historical Association (PAHA).

During this flourishing period, the leadership of PUL was held by a succession of dedicated secretaries (later called Presidents):

• Stefan Rojewski (1950-1951)

• Dr. Bronisław Wojtuń (1951-1953 and 1954-1957)

• Józef Modrzejewski (1953-1954)

• Włodzimierz Denkowski (1957-1975 and 1976-1977)

• Stanisław Filipowicz (1975-1976)

• Andrzej Jodłowski (1977-1981)

In addition, prominent members of the board of directors who continuously provided major contributions included: Jadwiga Bogucka, Helena Rzepczyńska, Józef Koćmierowski, Prof. Dr. K. Cieśla, W. Gawrysiak, A. Machowski, Bonifacy Obst, Teresa Cymbalska, Matylda Żurowska-Hudak, Zofia Sirant, Teresa Król, and Stella Krasowska-Wiser.

Between 1949 and 1978, out of 246 lectures delivered, 29 were on Polish history, 59 on literature and art, 35 on various aspects of science, 39 on contemporary developments in Poland, and 19 on topics related to Polonia. PUL celebrated its 35th Anniversary in 1954, its 50th in 1968, and its 60th in 1978 with jubilee banquets and by issuing commemorative brochures, "Pamiętniki" (diary), with recollections and commentaries on PUL's history and its role in the Philadelphia Polish community by past and current leaders.

Distinguished Speakers

PUL had the honor of hosting many eminent figures for landmark lectures. In 1951, the organization hosted General Tadeusz Bór-Komorowski, the former commander of the Home Army (Armia Krajowa) during the 1944 Warsaw Uprising. After the war, General Bór-Komorowski moved to London, where he played an active role in Polish émigré circles and served as Prime Minister of the Polish government-in-exile from 1947 to 1949. He delivered a powerful lecture on the uprising and post-war Poland, after which he was awarded an honorary membership in PUL.

Other notable guest lecturers included:

• Prof. Hilary Koprowski, the world-renowned virologist from the Wistar Institute who developed the first effective live polio vaccine. His lectures explored both the future of biological research and the complexities of chronic nervous system diseases.

• Prof. Karol Estreicher, a historian of art who led the effort to restitute Polish cultural treasures looted during WWII. He was a recipient of numerous honors including the Order of Polonia Restituta. In 1944, he published “Poland's Cultural Losses: An Index of Polish Cultural Losses During the German Occupation, 1939–1944”, which provided the basis for detailed restitution efforts in Poland at the end of the war.

• Prof. Jan Karski, a resistance-fighter, jurist, and diplomat who served as a courier for the Polish underground. From 1940-1943, he carried grim reports to the Polish government-in-exile and the Western Allies, detailing the destruction of the Warsaw Ghetto and the systematic murder of Jews, Poles, and others in German extermination camps. He was the recipient of the highest Polish military award the War Order of Virtuti Militari. His lectures focused on the role of Eastern Europe in politics, economy, and its relations with the Soviet Union.

• Prof. Oskar Halecki, an eminent historian, co-founded the Polish Institute of Arts and Sciences in America (PIASA), the Polish American Historical Association (PAHA), and the Polish University Abroad in London, where he served as rector. In 1981, the Halecki Prize was established in his name by PAHA to recognize an important book or monograph on the Polish experience in the United States. He lectured on European history and President Woodrow Wilson’s role in Poland’s rebirth.

• Prof. Ludwik Krzyżanowski, a professor of Polish studies at Columbia University and the longtime editor of The Polish Review. A former cultural attaché for Poland and a co-founder of PIASA, he was a noted expert on Joseph Conrad Korzeniowski . He lectured on the life and writings of a renowned poet Kazimierz Wierzynski.

The Core Lecturers

While distinguished speakers brought prestige, a core group of recurring speakers formed the intellectual backbone of PUL, delivering dozens of lectures over several decades. They provided continuity and in-depth analysis on topics vital to the community.

Among the most steadfast lecturers were:

• Stefan Korbonski, Esq., a leader of the Polish underground during WWII, delivered 17 lectures over 21 years. A Polish statesman and author of books such as Fighting Warsaw and Warsaw in Chains, his regular talks provided the community with crucial updates on the political and economic situation in communist Poland.

• Prof. Mieczysław Giergielewicz, a literary historian and theorist from the University of Pennsylvania, delivered 16 lectures between 1961 and 1981. He covered a vast range of Polish literature, poetry, and theater, including the works of prominent writers like Henryk Sienkiewicz and Nobel Prize winner Czesław Miłosz.

• Dr. Feliks Gross, a sociologist from Brooklyn College and president of PIASA. Over his long career, he held positions at the League of Nations, the London School of Economics, and lectured at New York University, the Universities of Florence, Paris, Rome, and the College of Europe. He was a recipient of numerous honors including the Order of Polonia Restituta. At PUL, he lectured frequently on social issues, politics, and race in both Europe and the United States.

• Władysław Zachariasiewicz, a distinguished Polonia activist, jurist, and WWII veteran who was deported to a Siberian gulag. After immigrating to the US, he became a prominent leader in the Polish-American community as co-founder of both the Polish American Arts Association (PAAA), and the John Paul II Polish Home in Rome. He was also a member of the Polonia Consultative Council under the Speaker of the Polish Senate. His lectures focused on Polish history, and US immigration laws.

• Bolesław Wierzbianski, a distinguished journalist, Polish activist, publisher, and recipient of the Knight of the Order of the White Eagle. After moving to the USA permanently in 1956, he served as a commentator for Radio Free Europe and Voice of America and ran the Foreign News Service press agency, which edited and distributed materials about Soviet policy in Central and Eastern Europe. He is best known as the co-founder and first editor-in-chief of Nowy Dziennik (The New Daily), which he ran for over 30 years until his death. Under his leadership, the paper became the largest independent Polish-language newspaper in the United States and a key source of information for the Polish émigré community. He lectured at PUL on current events and Polish-American relations.

• Henryk Rozmarynowski, an accomplished actor from Poland, delivered numerous lectures on the history of theater and Polish literature.

1980-1986: A New Wave of Immigration

The 1980s marked a tumultuous period in Poland, defined by mounting economic struggles and the rise of Solidarity. Sparked by strikes in the Gdańsk shipyard over food shortages, the movement rapidly grew into a powerful force advocating for workers' rights and became the first state-recognized independent trade union in the Warsaw Pact. Solidarity directly challenged Soviet influence causing the Polish government to impose martial law in December 1981. During the subsequent political repression, which lasted until 1983, the movement was banned and its leaders arrested, prompting a massive exodus. Among the 1.3 million Poles who immigrated to the United States were 50,000 expelled Solidarity members, and thousands of highly educated scientists, professionals, and engineers who reignited interest in PUL’s activities.

During this period of renewed engagement, PUL continued to host 6-7 lectures per season, with attendance averaging 50-75 people. The leadership was held by two presidents who had both been dedicated members of the board for over 30 years:

• Józef Koćmierowski (1981-1984) was a veteran of the Polish underground army (AK, pseudonym “Konrad”) who fought in the 1944 Warsaw Uprising. After being imprisoned in a POW camp in Germany, he immigrated to the US following World War II and became a dedicated leader within PUL.

• Jadwiga Kulpińska-Bogucka (1984-1986), a passionate supporter of Polish culture for decades, served on the board of PUL in numerous capacities, including as chair of the Program, Publicity, and Book Exhibit committees. A singer in the Paderewski Choral Society and a national council member of the Kościuszko Foundation, she was also instrumental in the founding of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa in Doylestown, PA. Notably, she led a successful fundraising effort for the Polish Pilgrim Home in Rome, an achievement recognized with an award plaque from the Vatican office of St. John Paul II.

The board of directors during this era included Teresa Cymbalska, Zdzisława Tymbalska, Teresa Król, Aleksandra Medvec, Bonifacy Obst, Melania Obst, and Stella Krasowska-Wiser, with Włodzimierz Denkowski holding the title of honorary president.

More coming soon…