The Polish National Alliance (PNA or the Alliance) is a non-profit, ethnically-based fraternal insurance benefit society. The PNA was founded on February 15, 1880, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by a group of Polish emigres whose aim was to unite members of the Polish immigrant community behind the twin causes of Poland's independence and their own advancement in American society. Membership is based on the purchase of life insurance and other benefits including a variety of sports, youth and culture programs, and a college scholarship program. In 1881, the PNA established its own newspaper, Zgoda. Beginning in the early 1890s, the PNA created a variety of programs aimed at enlightening the Polish population about their heritage and citizen rights and obligations as Americans. In 1900, the PNA granted full membership rights to women interested in belonging to the Alliance. In 1912, the PNA founded its own educational institution, Alliance College, in Cambridge Springs, Pennsylvania. From the World War I era to the present, the PNA have given generously to help meet the material and medical needs of Poland's people. The PNA has helped with the resettling of refugees from World War II. In 1944, the PNA played a key role in forming the Polish American Congress, a nationwide ethnic federation, to advance the cause of Poland's freedom. The PNA, whose motto is, "In Unity There Is Strength, In Consensus Power" promotes citizenship participation as part of living in the United States and Polish heritage.
This collection consists of the records of the Polish National Alliance, Group 1013, Ambridge, PA. Included are three volumes of assessment reports, 1908-1924, and two volumes of minute books, 1938-1948.
No restrictions.
Gift of the Polish National Alliance Group 1013, Ambridge, Pa., January 26, 1979.
Polish National Alliance of the United States of North America Group 1013 Records, 1908-1948, AIS.1979.04, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System
Polish National Alliance of the United States of North America Group 1013 Records, 1908-1948, AIS.1979.04, Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh
Polish National Alliance Group 1013, Ambridge, Pa., Records, 1908-1948, AIS 79:4, Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh
This collection was processed by ASC Staff in 1979.
Revision and rearrangement for the encoded version of the finding aid provided by Dan Horvath on June 14, 2004. Information about the collection title and the controlled access terms was extracted from the MARC record in the University of Pittsburgh catalog Voyager ID number: 4360505
Permission for publication is given on behalf of the University of Pittsburgh as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
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