October is Polish American Heritage Month. It’s a great time to discover history, try authentic Polish food, connect with Polish American organizations, explore your Polish heritage, and learn about notable Polish heroes. There’s no need to be Polish to learn more about the many contributions made by Poles.
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Polish organizations
Various organizations celebrate Polish Americans. Founded in 1944, The Polish American Congress is a national organization with chapters in many states. It represents more than 10 million Polish Americans. There is a strong chapter in Arizona where I live, but you can check out the national site for one near you. https://pac1944.org/
The Kosciuszko Foundation began in 1925 with a commitment to fostering closer ties between Poland and the United States through educational, scientific, and cultural exchanges. It coordinates exchange programs, awards scholarships and helps advance Polish studies. https://thekf.org/
For a comprehensive list of Polish organizations operating in the United States, visit this website for the Republic of Poland. You can find links to the Polish embassies operating in several major US cities. Embassy websites are great resources for current events, programs and news. https://www.gov.pl/web/usa-en/bilateral-relations
Discover History
The Polish Museum of America began in 1935 and is located in Chicago. Even if you can’t visit in person (I still haven’t), the museum offers online collections and virtual exhibitions. https://www.polishmuseumofamerica.org/
The Kresy-Siberia Virtual Museum is presented by the Kresy-Siberia Foundation, headquartered in Poland and active throughout the world. Kresy-Siberia was started on 17 September 2001 by Stefan Wisniowski, the Australia-based, Polish-Canadian son of a Siberian deportee. Many important institutions have also agreed to partner with the Kresy-Siberia Foundation and to share their collections. https://kresy-siberia.org/
Stay informed with Polish publications
The Polish American Journal was first published in 1911. The Journal is subscription-based, and also offers a digital edition. I subscribe and recommend it personally. https://www.polamjournal.com/
The Am-Pol Eagle is based in Buffalo, New York, but also includes news and items of interest for Polonia. The publication is subscription-based, and also offers a digital edition. I subscribe and recommend it personally. https://ampoleagle.com/
Attend a Polish Festival to experience Culture and authentic food
Most Polish festivals occur Spring through early fall when the weather is best outside. The best way to locate one near you is to enter Polish Festivals into your search engine of choice to locate one near you. If it has already occurred in your area, mark your calendar for next year.
Read nonfiction or good historical novels based in Poland
Several newer books have come out that I’ve either read or are on my want-to-read list. Consider the following:
Agent Zo: The Untold Story of Fearless WW2 Resistance Fighter Elzbieta Zawacka by Clare Mulley. (2024) Mulley is also the author of The Spy Who Loved: The Secrets and Lives of Christine Granville. (2012).
Spies In My Blood: A Polish Family’s Secret Fight Against Nazis & Communists by Alex Storozynski. (2024). He is also the author of The Peasant Prince: Thaddeus Kosciuszko and the Age of Revolution. (2009).
Polish Customs, Traditions, and Folklore by Sophie Hodorowicz Knab. (Latest revision: 2024.) Knab is the author of several other nonfiction books including
The Prosecutor: One Man’s Battle to Bring Nazis to Justice (2025), by Jack Fairweather. He is also the author of a definitive account of Witold Pilecki, The Volunteer: The True Story of the Resistance Hero who Infiltrated Auschwitz (2019).
From Warsaw with Love: Polish Spies, the CIA, and the Forging of an Unlikely Alliance by John Pomfret (2021).
The Girl Bandits of the Warsaw Ghetto: The True Story of Five Courageous Young Women Who Sparked an Uprising, by Elizabeth Hyman. Not yet published – due out October 14, 2025.
The Teacher of Warsaw: A WWII Novel, by Mario Escobar (2021). This account of Janusz Korczak, director of an orphanage in the Warsaw Ghetto, is well-researched historical fiction.
Watch a movie.
Watch any movie by Andrzej Wajda (1926-2016). See this post for five “don’t miss” Holocaust movies. Read here.
Na zdrowie! Cheers!
