Chicago Rewia #115

chicagorewia.com #28 (115) • 10 - 16 LIPIEC 2015 | 11
The Polish
Museum of
America:
A BrieF HiSTorY
GIVING BAcK
oNe BoX AT A TIMe
By: Teresa Sromek
Archivist & Librarian
One of the oldest and largest
ethnic museums in America,
The Polish Museum of America
(PMA), is dedicated to preserving
the Polish American past
for future generations. The Museum
showcases a unique permanent
collection, as well as
temporary exhibits, and sponsors
workshops, programs, and
films to preserve Polish folk
arts, customs, and traditions
for all generations. Its archives
preserve historic materials,
documents, maps, and photographs
from Polish and Polish-
American individuals and organizations.
The museum’s Library
holds over 100,000 books for
research and lending, and collections
of Polonica, rare prints,
and periodicals.
Open since 1937, the Museum
celebrates almost 80 years
of service to the community. The
Mission of the PMA, as an integral
part of the dynamic mosaic
of Polish and Polish American
life in Chicago, is to promulgate
the rich cultural history
of the Polish people by collecting,
preserving, interpreting,
and displaying materials related
to this heritage; and to integrate
these resources into appropriate
programs, activities, and exhibitions
that enrich the intellectual
and artistic lives of all members
of society.
The Polish Museum of America
was founded in 1935, and officially
opened to the public on
January 12, 1937. The museum
was created by the Polish Roman
Catholic Union of Ameri-
Continues on page 13
By: ania Jablonowski
From top saleswoman in
Poland’s leading companies,
to overnight e-
commerce entrepreneur,
Monika Wiela is a prime
example of how taking a
chance can lead to greatness.
After starting a successful
online shoe boutique,
Monika wanted to give
back. She developed a concept
to use the empty boxes
from e-commerce shipments
(of which there are
12 million a day!) and encouraged
consumers to fill
them up with donations
for Goodwill. We caught up
with her in Los Angeles to
hear how she is changing
the world, one Give Back
Box at a time.
REVIA Magazine: You
spent the majority of your
life in Poland. What were
your early years like?
Monika Wiela: I was born
in Stefanów Ruszkowski,
Poland and grew up on
small farm. We had cows
and grew potatoes, and our
whole family had to help
out. I would go to school
and then come straight
home to work on the farm.
It was hard work every day.
Our family was poor- we
M O N I K A W I E L A
had no TV or other luxuries.
I was really outgoing and
imaginative as a child. Since
we didn’t have a TV, I
loved reading books. Kids
need some form of entertainment,
and books took me
to magical places. The stories
I read made me very
adventurous. I’d wander
around in the fields and forest,
get lost, make friends
along the way. It was safe
there, and I was very social.
When I would write my
own stories, it made me so
happy. I think this also shaped
me into a good student.
My parents never told me
to go to school, and they never
asked me about my homework.
They didn’t even
know where my school was.
But I was a straight A student,
and I’m thankful no
one was forceful with me. I
enjoyed learning.
When I started high
school, I was enrolled in the
math program. Back then,
it was kind of like a technical
school and you had a
major. For me, this ended
up being the worst thing
ever. I was good at writing
and competed quite a bit. I
scored very high on exams
to get into the best high
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