The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 76, July 1972 - April, 1973 Page: 108
539 p. : ill. (some col.), maps, ports. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Southwestern Historical Quarterly
Texas owe Father Jacek Przygoda a debt of gratitude for undertaking
and underwriting such a project. In researching the material during
1967, the author traveled over much of the state, visiting the commu-
nities where groups of Polish Americans still make their homes. To
find sources which have been preserved, to get "old timers" to remem-
ber and to relate historical events, was a real chore. There seems to
be a tendency on the part of Poles to forget the hardships of the
past and to let the present take care of itself. Thus, church records,
census reports, deed and tax records, and city directories were Father
Przygoda's primary sources.
In Texas Pioneers from Poland the author undertook the task of
presenting a preliminary study of the religious, economic, and organic
history of the Poles in Texas. The first chapter gives a sketchy back-
ground of the partition of Poland which caused emigration over a
period of years. The book is best in the four chapters relating to San
Antonio and Panna Maria. Perhaps more data was available on these
areas because the author discovered extensive information on the work
and leadership of Father Leopold Moczygemba, O.F.M., Father Thomas
Moczygemba and Father Edward Dworaczyk. On the other hand we
are given only a sentence on Father Charles Weisnerowski of Brenham
and Marlin and a paragraph on the forty years' service of Father I. J.
Szymonski in Bremond. The final two chapters contain little narra-
tive, but indicate the need on the part of the author to list names and
economic facts to support his story.
The style of the book is clearly that of a person for whom English
is not a native language. Sentences are short, paragraphs are not
always flowing, and transition between them is not always adequate.
A forty-eight page appendix gives statistics on family data, education,
labor, organizations, and parish priests. The bibliography is quite
informative for those who might wish to study this ethnic group. An
index and footnotes are likewise very helpful. The book contains a
number of photographs of churches, leaders, and markers, but the
placement of eight pages of photographs in the middle of the text
does not lend much interest.
Texas Pioneers from Poland is a beginning. Father Przygoda
promises a second volume on religious customs and traditions. Mean-
while, the task of fleshing out the many sketchy areas of Texas Polish
history needs to be considered and undertaken.SISTER JAN MARIA WOZNIAK
zo8
Providence High School
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 76, July 1972 - April, 1973, periodical, 1973; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101202/m1/126/: accessed May 1, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.