Nagrodzeni Gala 2018Piłsudski Institute Awards were presented on October 12, 2018 at the Consulate General of RP in New York. From the left Jolanta Fabicka, daughter of prof. Wacław Szybalski, Superintendent Alicja Winnicki, dr Hanna Urbankowska daughter of dr Bohdan Urbankowski, prof. Mariusz Wołos and dr Iwona Korga, president of the Institute.


The Józef Piłsudski Institute in America is once again awarding prizes to eminent representatives of science and art. Medals were be handed out at a gala that took place in October in the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland.

The awarding of the Institute Awards is one of the most prestigious Polish events in the United States. It promotes Polish culture, science and business in the United States by recognizing outstanding scientists, artists and social activists.

This year the medals of the Piłsudski Institute will be awarded to the following:

  • Alicja Winnicki, Superintendent of Community School District 14, former principal of PS 34 and teacher at American schools. Alicja Winnicki unites the Polish community and works together with local American politicians. Alicja Winnicki will receive the Marshal Józef Piłsudski Leadership and Achievement Award for outstanding achievements in the field of education and work within the Polish community.
  • Prof. Mariusz Wołos, Polish historian and essayist, professor of humanities, staff member of The Pedagogical University of Kraków (named after the Commission of National Education) and the Institute of History of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw. Professor Wołos will receive the Wacław Jędrzejewicz History Medal for outstanding achievements in the field of history, especially research regarding the interwar period in Poland.
  • Prof. Wacław Szybalski, outstanding and world-renowned scientist, pioneer of modern biotechnology, and scientific forerunner of several Nobel Prize winners. An intellectual and passionate Polish and Lviv patriot. Professor Szybalski will receive the Maria Skłodowska-Curie Medal for outstanding achievements in the field of biotechnology and genetics.
  • Dr. Bohdan Urbankowski, Polish poet, essayist, playwright and philosopher. He is the author of over 50 books, dramas, essays and collections of poetry. Outstanding expert on the work and life of Marshal Józef Piłsudski. Dr. Urbankowski will receive the Joseph Conrad Literature Medal for outstanding achievements in the field of literary and journalistic work.

In the past years, the Institute’s medals were awarded to: Barbara Mikulski, US Senator; Zbigniew Gluza, publisher; Dr. Hilary Koprowski, microbiologist; Richard M. Watt, writer; prof. Andrzej Nowak, historian; prof. Timothy Snyder, historian; prof. Krzysztof Szwagrzyk, historian; Henryk Górecki, composer; Rafał Olbiński, graphic artist; Andrzej Pityński, sculptor; Alina Czerniakowska, documentary film director; and Leszek Długosz, poet, actor, composer.

This year’s Institute Awards Gala will be special because of the 100th anniversary of Poland regaining its independence. It will be graced with a recital by tenor Piotr Buszewski, who will perform a selection of Polish Legion songs, among others. In addition to this, during the Gala, the results of our student summer photo competition will be announced.

The Gala takes place under the honorary patronage of the First Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Culture and National Heritage, Professor Piotr Gliński, PhD.

NowySwiat1920 03 04Pierwsze roczniki nowojorskiego dziennika polonijnego “Nowy Świat” są już dostępne online.The first volumes of the Polish language New York daily news  "Nowy Świat - The Polish Morning World" are now available online. The newspaper was founded in 1919 and from 1920 it appeared regularly every day, including Saturdays and Sundays. In 1922 it was joined by the future co-founder of the Piłsudski Institute in America, Maksymilian Węgrzynek. At that time, it was the only magazine in Polish in the New York metropolitan area and other states of the eastern part of the United States. "Nowy Świat" considered himself the heir of "Tygodnik Powszechny" published since 1886, and the first (1920) issue carry the number 23.

In the issues online one can read about the events in Poland and in Europe as well as the reactions of the US and other countries to these events, starting from January 1, 1920. In addition, there are news about New York and Polish American diaspora, as well as the Polish and Polish-American institutions in the USA. The ads from this period, as well as novels printed in episodes (such as "Atlantida" by Pierre Benoit) are also a fascinating read.

The publication of this newspaper  is possible thanks to the National Endowment for the Humanities grant received in 1977 by the Piłsudski Institute, which allowed this newspaper, threatened with the disintegration of paper to be microfilmed. In recent years, microfilms have been digitized by the Institute of National Remembrance; further processing and indexing took place at the Piłsudski Institute.

KON400
From National Defense Committe collection

Thanks to the support of the Polish Senate, the Pilsudski Institute digitized eight volumes of documents from the time period of 1912-1930. The collection includes documentation of the headquarters of the National Defense Committee in Chicago: legal and incorporation acts, the committee correspondence, minutes of meetings, notes and reports on activities, resolutions, reports of volunteers leaving America to join the Polish Legions during World War I.

The collection is available: http://archiwa.pilsudski.org/teczka.php?nonav=0&nrar=701&nrzesp=15&sygn=1
The archival materials document efforts of the Polish diaspora during World War I during the fight for Poland's independence.
We strongly encourage you to learn unknown facts about the history of the Polish community in the USA.

Temat konkursu:

Bohaterowie i miejsca upamiętniające walkę o niepodległość narodu polskiego w latach 1914-1922

Termin przesyłania zgłoszeń: 16 września 2018

W ramach obchodów 100-lecia odzyskania przez Polskę niepodległości zapraszamy do wzięcia udziału w konkursie dotyczącym bohaterów lub miejsc upamiętniających walkę o niepodległość narodu polskiego w latach 1914-1922. Konkurs skierowany jest do dzieci i młodzieży polonijnej w wieku od 8 do 18 lat.

Jeśli jesteś pasjonatem fotografowania, interesuje Cię historia i wybierasz się na wakacje do Polski - ten Konkurs jest dla Ciebie !

Do wygrania cenne nagrody

Oczekujemy na Wasze prace, które mogą przedstawiać pomniki, tablice pamiątkowe, mogiły ludzi zasłużonych lub poległych w walkach narodowowyzwoleńczych w latach 1914-1922 na ziemiach polskich oraz wszelkie miejsca lub obiekty związane z tematem konkursu.

Wśród wszystkich uczestników konkursu Jury, w skład którego wejdą przedstawiciele organizatora, sponsorów oraz polonijnych artystów fotografików, wylosuje po trzy nagrody w dwóch kategoriach wiekowych: 8-12 lat i 13-18 lat.

  • Regulamin Konkursu.
  • Karta Zgłoszenia. Można ją wypełnić na komputerze i przesłać e-mailem (najlepiej razem ze zdjęciem).
  • Oświadczenie uczestnika. Podpisane oświadczenie można zeskanować i wysłać na adres This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., lub wysłać pocztą na adres Instytutu. 
PARTNERZY
Ministerstwo Kultury
Biblioteka Narodowa
Naczelna Dyrekcja Archiwów Państwowych
Konsulat RP w NY
Fundacja na rzecz Dziedzictwa Narodowego
PSFCU
NYC Department of Cultural Affairs