Our Mission:
The Kashubian Cultural Institute and Polish Museum aims to support and promote public interest, awareness, knowledge and education of the European indigenous population called the Kashubians (Kaszuby) located in north-central Poland. As the only Kashubian Museum in America, KCIPM has uniquely marked Winona as the Kashubian Capital of America. The Museum distinguishes the differences between Polish and Kashubian history, as they differ, and highlights the importance of a multicultural education in a culturally pluralistic society. An emphasis is put on the era of Kashubian and Silesian immigration to Winona, Minnesota from 1840-1890 as organizations like the American Emigrant Company and Polish Pauper Labor Bureaus utilize contract labor systems to assimilate and exploit disenfranchised immigrant populations. Through the preservation of local Kashubian and Polish immigrant stories, visitors from the Winona area and abroad will engage with underrepresented histories of working people and uncover the unique culture and language of Kashubia. To this end, the Kashubian Cultural Institute and Polish Museum will further develop and curate the permanent collection of original works of art, and work within the community to honor the laborers that built Winona and celebrate Polish and Kashubian traditions.
The Kashubian Cultural Institute & Polish Museum’s building was built in 1894 by the Laird-Norton Lumber Company for use as an office building next to their lumber campus just across from Second Street. After Laird-Norton relocated their office elsewhere in 1918, the Winona Printing Company purchased the building that same year. Several additions to the building were constructed over the years, namely in 1934 and 1944. Once the Winona Printing Company relocated their business over to 1117 East Mark Street, the building was vacant for only a few months before Father Paul J. Breza purchased the building in 1979. He intended the building to serve as a museum-storage area. It took just over a year of hard work by Father Breza and the local community for the building to become a showcase for the history of Winona’s vibrant Kashubian Polish community. Meanwhile, the Institute obtained recognition as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 1979. Its mission is to preserve the artifacts and stories that were quickly being lost. Over the past 40+ years, the Institute collected and preserved more than 8,000 items, with the collection growing to this day.
Staff:
Museum Director: Jeffery Turkowski
Assistant Director: Lindsay Stussy
Collections: Mary Drury & Carol Dennis
Board of Directors
The Kashubian Cultural Institute & Polish Museum incorporated under the laws of the State of Minnesota on October 19, 1979. The services of our incorporating lawyer, David Davenport, were provided as a gift by Michael Pehler. In addition to the Rev. Paul Breza, the original Board of Directors consisted of Alice Breza, Angie Peterson, Jo Caldwell, Marianne (Rice) Morrison, and Sheila and Dennis Daly. The current Board of Directors consist of President, Steve Zolandek; Treasurer, Jon Masyga; and Meg Byrne.
As a Public Benefit Corporation, the Kashubian Cultural Institute & Polish Museum is not owned by anyone, but we all have a stake in the organization’s future success and its ability to provide needed programs. The Board of Directors is our governing body. Individuals who sit on the board are responsible for overseeing the organization’s activities. The Board meets monthly to discuss and vote on the affairs of the organization and keeps minutes. It meets and proceeds under Roberts Rules of Order.