The Polish Library in Washington DC has completed the Class of 1926 project. Our goal was to digitalize all volumes of Polish Declarations of Admiration and Friendship for the United States, which are archived in the Manuscript Division of the US Library of Congress, and make them available online. The Project was funded through grants, private donations, and the work of volunteers. Emblem of a Good Will: Polish Declarations of Admiration and Friendship for the United States were compiled in Poland in 1926 and presented to President Calvin Coolidge at the White House to honor the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

The collection comprises 111 bound volumes of cards of well-wishes signed by more than five and half million Polish citizens. The entire collection which includes the greetings and signatures of government officials, noted businessmen, academics, military officials, and students from secondary schools can be viewed on the Library of Congress website https://www.loc.gov/collections/polish-declarations/about-this-collection/

The 111 volumes totaling 28 000 pages with five millions signatures of elementary school students are an invaluable source of information for members of the entire Polish-American community who want to find their Polish ancestors and learn about their roots. The collection is also a significant resource for historical research, and now is not limited only to those who could sift through the extensive physical material at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. These signatures are also sometimes the only surviving mementos from those who lost their lives during World War II.

More about the Project https://www.loc.gov/item/prn-17-095/

If you have any question concerning our project Class of 1926 please contact us by mailbox@polishlibrary.org  If you would like to support us please make donation.