Polish Collection
Polish Society, ca 1910, Beaton Institue Collections 79-1098-4078
A community whose engagements revolve primarily around their church, the Polish people of Whitney Pier consistently explore new ways in which to proclaim their faith through their cultural practices. Polish immigrants began to arrive in Cape Breton in the 1890s, followed by a second group in the 1920s, joined by other newcomers over the years. The community’s church was established in 1913. The members of St. Mary’s Polish Parish have contributed to this living archive, highlighting the continuing history of their parish and affiliated organizations. Most of these contributions were gathered by Patricia and Justin Nalepa in the summer of 2012, with the supervision of Dr. Tom Urbaniak and under the direction of Dr. Marcia Ostashewski.