Oral History Archives of Chicago Polonia (Project) records

  • Creator Names Oral History Archives of Chicago Polonia.
  • Title Oral History Archives of Chicago Polonia (Project) records [manuscript], 1976-1977.
  • Physical description
    • 14 linear ft. (35 boxes) (Transcripts, etc.).
    • 443 sound cassettes. (Originals).
    • 12 sound cassettes. (Topical composites).
    • 12 sound tapes. (Reproduction-master topical composites).
  • Access and usage restrictions
    • Please consult transcripts that are available for most interviews. Listening copies are not available for most original sound recordings. For listening purposes, it is necessary to use a copy, not the original (and to have a listening copy made if one is not available).
    • For interviewees who requested anonymity, only an edited version of transcripts and documentation is available to researchers. The related sound recordings labeled "Anonymous" are closed to researchers.
  • Collection summary
    • Sound recordings (350 hours) of interviews, typed transcripts, topical composite tapes containing excerpts from the interviews (12 cassettes), biographical notes, signed releases, topical index cards, and other documentation relating to the lives of 140 Chicagoans of Polish descent, who immigrated to America between 1880 and 1930 or who were born in America during this period. Interviewees usually discussed their family, how and why they came to Chicago, and how they found a job and a spouse.
    • For the convenience of researchers, boxes 1-11 contain the primary file of documentation organized alphabetically by name of interviewee with "Anonymous" in Box 11. The primary file includes together for each interviewee: (1) biography sheet, (2) copies of index cards, (3) signed release (photocopy), and (4) the typed transcript of the interview if one was created. Later boxes in the collection contain duplicate documentation and the original documentation (Closed to researchers) for interviewees who requested anonymity.
    • The project also created 3 publications, copies of which are filed with the collection: a Master Index to the interviews, a Teacher's Guide for using Oral History Materials on the Immigrant Experience, and Passage, which describes the collection and possible uses of it. Extra copies may be given to teachers or other users of the collection.
    • The collection also includes open-reel tapes that serve as the reproduction-masters for making additional copies of the topical composite cassettes.
  • Finding Aids Note Descriptive inventory available online.
  • Acquisition information Gift of the Oral History Archives of Chicago Polonia Project, which was created with funds from the federal Ethnic Heritage Studies Program (U.S. Office of Education). Mary Cygan was project director.
  • Location of Other Archival Materials Note Related materials at Chicago History Museum, Research Center, include the Wedding portraits of Polish Americans (1978.0008 PSM), which contains 5 wedding photographs associated with Ben Czekaj (CZE0118).
  • Names
    • Oral History Archives of Chicago Polonia.
    • Cygan, Mary E, project director.
  • Subjects
    • Polish Americans Illinois Chicago 20th century Interviews.
    • Polish people Illinois Chicago 20th century Interviews.
    • Catholics Illinois Chicago 20th century Interviews.
    • Families Illinois Chicago 20th century.
    • Immigrants Illinois Chicago.
  • Geographic coverage
    • Chicago (Ill.) Social conditions 20th century.
    • Chicago (Ill.) Social life and customs 20th century.
    • Poland Emigration and immigration.
    • United States Emigration and immigration.
  • Genre
    • Audiocassettes. aat
    • Audiotapes. aat
    • Interviews. aat
    • Oral histories. aat
    • Transcripts. aat
  • Geographic name United States Illinois Cook County Chicago.
  • Finding aid URL Finding aid available online http://chsmedia.org/media/fa/fa/M-O/OHACP-inv.htm