To hear examples of Polish dance music, come to the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress and explore the archival collections. Despite the word “American” in its title, the American Folklife Center has ethnographical materials in over 500 languages (including Polish), documenting cultural expression around the world. The Center also holds collections featuring performances of Polish Americans. Learn how to make the most of your visit to the American Folklife Center. And, when you visit us, be sure to view the wycinanki (Polish paper cuts) on display in the reading room and held in the archive.
Link: Alan Lomax Collection of Michigan and Wisconsin Recordings
Citation: Alan Lomax collection of Michigan and Wisconsin recordings (AFC 1939/007), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress.
Description: Two hundred fifty 12-inch discs of instrumentals, songs, and stories recorded in Michigan and Wisconsin by Alan Lomax, August 10-November 1, 1938. The collection includes 1/2 linear inch of cards, correspondence, lists, and notes.
Listen online:
Link: Resettlement Administration Recordings Collection
Citation: Resettlement Administration recordings collection (AFC 1939/016), Archive of Folk Culture, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress.
Description: Among the 165 discs in the collection is one containing three examples of Polish dance music, including a wedding dance, performed by the Chicago Polish Group. Recorded at the National Folk Festival, Chicago, Illinois, by Sidney Robertson (Cowell), May 27, 1937.
Individual Call Number: LWO 4872 reel 216A
Link: 1977 Inaugural folk dance and concert collection
Citation: 1977 Inaugural folk dance and concert collection (AFC 1980/039), Archive of Folk Culture, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress.
Description: This collection contains eight 10-inch tapes of musical performances by numerous artists from folk and ethnic music and dance events celebrating the inauguration of President Jimmy Carter. Events sponsored by the Smithsonian Institution. The collection includes 1 3/4 linear inches of correspondence, logs, performance releases, programs, and schedules. Included are two tapes containing the Krakowiak Polish Dance Group, January 18, 1977.
Individual Call Number: AFS 20,260B-20,261; LWO 16,810 reel 2-6; RWA 110-111
Link: Explore Online—Ethnic Heritage and Language Schools in America Project
Citation: Ethnic Heritage and Language Schools in America Project collection (AFC 1993/001), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress.
Description: The Ethnic Heritage and Language Schools in America Project was conducted in 1982 by the American Folklife Center to survey selected religious and secular ethnic community-based schools conducted, at least in part, in a language other than English to document the continued ethnolinguistic and cultural diversity of the United States.
The collection consists of field notes, interviews, curriculum materials, sound recordings, photographs, and one videorecording resulting from a survey conducted by the American Folklife Center, Library of Congress in 1982 which documented 23 ethnic schools in the United States. Fieldwork was conducted at various locations including General Casimir Pulaski Polish School in Chicago, Illinois.
Link: Explore Online—Chicago Ethnic Arts
Citation: Chicago Ethnic Arts Project collection (AFC 1981/004), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress.
Description: The Chicago Ethnic Arts Project survey was conducted in 1977 by the American Folklife Center at the request of the Illinois Arts Council to assess and document the status of ethnic art traditions in more than twenty ethnic communities in Chicago, and it was jointly sponsored by both organizations. Polish Constitution Day is documented in this collection, as is the Polish National Alliance Building Dedication. Non-musical recordings in the collection contain opinions about Polish arts, crafts, and music, and information about the Polish Museum of America. Aso included is a recording of a Polish Saturday School graduation ceremony at St. Ladislaus Roman Catholic Church.
In case you are interested in hearing ländler—the predecessor to the waltz—be sure to request recordings from:
Link: Robert F. Draves and Helene Stratman-Thomas collection of Wisconsin recordings [sound recording]
Citation: Robert F. Draves and Helene Stratman-Thomas collection of Wisconsin recordings (AFC 1941/012), Archive of Folk Culture, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress.
Description: This collection contains four ländler, each of which is performed on an accordion.
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