Skip to main content

National Katyn Memorial Committee Records

 Collection
Identifier: R0088-NKMC

  • Staff Only
  • Place requests at folder level.

Scope and Contents

The National Katyn Memorial Committee Records document the work of the Committee between 1990 and 2001. The collection materials relate to the Committee's early formation and organization as a nonprofit, its work planning a site for the National Katyn Memorial east of the Baltimore Inner Harbor, and the dedication of the memorial in 2000 and related publicity. Materials in the collection include meeting minutes, financial records, correspondence, reports, site design records, fundraising materials, newsletters, publicity and promotion of the memorial dedication, photographs, and videos.

Dates

  • 1990-2001

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Historical Note

The origins of the effort to establish the National Katyn Memorial began in 1947 with Major Clement A. Knefel, when he learned of a 1940 massacre of Polish army officers in the Katyn Forest. Knefel began collecting funds for a monument to honor victims; by 1989, he appealed to the Maryland Division of the Polish American Congress, which approved the idea to erect a monument and agreed to form the Katyn Memorial Committee of Baltimore.

Among the earliest members and officers were Clement Kenefel, Melvin Laszczynski, W. Milan-Kamski, Alfred Wisniewski, Lucjan Antosiak, Frank Lanocha, Jerzy Miegon, Barbara Miegon, Stanislaw Jamrosz, Alfreda Jamrosz, Stella E. Spies, and Stanely A. May. In 1994, the National Katyn Memorial Committee was incorporated and attained nonprofit status. Baltimore's mayor, Kurt Schmoke, proposed a site located east of the Baltimore Inner Harbor for the memorial. The Polish born sculptor, Andrzej Pitynski, was commissioned to design the monument, which was completed and dedicated in 2000. Upon completion of the project, the National Katyn Memorial Committee was disbanded and was succeeded by the National Katyn Memorial Foundation.

Extent

6.21 Linear Feet (10 containers)

Language of Materials

English

Arrangement

Collection is arranged in 11 series:

  • Organizational Records, 1994-2000
  • Executive Board, 1991-2000
  • General Meeting Minutes, 1990-2001
  • Monument and Site Design, 1994-1999
  • Financial Records, 1990-2000
  • Fundraising, 1991-2000
  • Correspondence, 1990-2000
  • Publicity and Promotion, 1990-2001
  • Dedication of Monument and Site, 1999-2000
  • Photographs and Video, 1991-2002
  • Katyn Research, 1940-2000

Custodial History

The collection was donated to the University of Baltimore by William F. Krol on April 23, 2003.

Title
Finding aid for the National Katyn Memorial Committee Records
Author
Finding aid prepared by archives staff. Revised by Aiden Faust (2011). Revised by Laura Bell (2022).
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Baltimore Studies Archives Repository

Contact:
H. Mebane Turner Learning Commons, Room 104
1415 Maryland Avenue
Baltimore Maryland 21201 USA
410-837-4253