Consulate General of Poland, New York City

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Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in New York
Konsulat Generalny Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej w Nowym Jorku
Polish Governmental and Diplomatic Plaque.svg
Polish consulate in New York.jpg
The Joseph Raphael De Lamar House, seat of the Polish Consulate General in New York City
Consulate General of Poland, New York City
Location Madison Avenue, New York City, United States
Address233 Madison Avenue (Jan Karski Corner), New York, NY 10016
Coordinates 40°44′59″N73°58′52″W / 40.7497°N 73.9812°W / 40.7497; -73.9812
InauguratedAugust 14, 1919;106 years ago (1919-08-14) [1]
Consul General Mateusz Sakowicz [2]
Website Official Website

The Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in New York City (Polish: Konsulat Generalny Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej w Nowym Jorku) is a diplomatic mission of the Republic of Poland in the United States. Established in 1919, [1] it serves one of the largest Polish communities outside of Poland. The consulate is located in the historic Joseph Raphael De Lamar House, a Beaux-Arts mansion at 233 Madison Avenue in New York City.

Contents

History

On August 14, 1919, the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in New York City was inaugurated, preceding the establishment of the Embassy of Poland, Washington, D.C.. [1] It was Poland's first diplomatic post established in the United States. The consulate supervised agents located in Boston, Philadelphia, and San Francisco. [3]

During World War II, the consulate supported the Polish government-in-exile and Polish citizens abroad. [3] It also hosted "Estezet," a Polish intelligence outpost operating under the Second Department of the Polish General Staff from 1941 to 1945. [4]

In July 1945, Consul General Sylwin Strakacz resigned in protest against the communist Provisional Government of National Unity. [1]

During the early Cold War, operations were suspended from 1954 to 1959 following U.S. government restrictions. [5] The consulate resumed operations in 1970, initially functioning from a different location.

In 1972, the Polish government purchased the historic Joseph Raphael De Lamar House for $900,000 to reestablish the Consulate General. [6] The consulate officially reopened at this location in 1973.

In the 1980s, the consulate became a center for political demonstrations during the Solidarity movement and Poland’s imposition of martial law. [7]

In 1989, the consulate was designated as a polling station for the historic free parliamentary and presidential elections held in Poland, allowing the Polish diaspora in the United States to participate. [8]

In November 2007, a life-size statue of Jan Karski was installed near the consulate entrance as a memorial. [9]

Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, the consulate underwent extensive renovations, preserving its Beaux-Arts features while modernizing facilities. [10] The consulate now hosts cultural events, exhibitions, and concerts open to the Polish-American community and the broader public.

Functions and Activities

The Consulate General provides services for Polish citizens and Polish-Americans across its eight-state jurisdiction. Main functions include:

Building and Premises

The consulate initially operated from 40 West 40th Street (1919), moved to 953 Third Avenue (1922–1930), then to 149–151 East 67th Street (1932–1945). Since 1973, it has occupied the historic Joseph Raphael De Lamar House. [12]

Consular District

The Consulate General serves Polish citizens and diaspora members across Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont. [13]

Consuls General of the Republic of Poland in New York

Second Polish Republic

Ewa Junczyk-Ziomecka Ewa junczyk ziomecka.jpg
Ewa Junczyk-Ziomecka
Urszula Gacek Urszula Gacek Kancelaria Senatu 2005.jpg
Urszula Gacek
Adrian Kubicki Adrian Kubicki.jpg
Adrian Kubicki

Polish People's Republic

Third Polish Republic

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Kupiecki, Robert (2019). Through the Eyes of a Strategist and Diplomat: The Polish-American Relations post-1918. Wydawnictwo Naukowe Scholar. p. 168. ISBN   9788365390806.
  2. ↑ "Consul General in New York - Poland in US - Gov.pl website". Poland in US. Retrieved 2025-04-29.
  3. 1 2 "Register of the Poland. Konsulat Generalny (New York, N.Y.) records". Hoover Institution Library and Archives. Retrieved 2025-04-29.
  4. ↑ Peszke, Michael Alfred (1989). "The "Estezet" Service in the United States, 1941–1945". The Polish Review. 34 (3): 271–284. JSTOR   25778334.
  5. ↑ Stosunki dyplomatyczne Polski (2008). Informator. Tom II. Ameryka Północna i Południowa 1918–2007. Ministerstwo Spraw Zagranicznych, Archiwum/Wydawnictwo Askon. p. 224. ISBN   9788374520263.
  6. ↑ Gross, Kenneth (1973-01-12). "Auctioning Off Five Decades Of Memories". Newsday. p. 9. Retrieved 2025-08-25– via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ Treaster, Joseph B. (1980-08-24). "Strikes Making Polish-Americans Proud but Anxious". The New York Times. Retrieved 2025-04-29.
  8. ↑ Iverem, Esther (1989-06-04). "Poles Flock to Consulate". Newsday. p. 13. Retrieved 2025-08-28– via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ Chan, Sewell (2009-04-16). "Street Corner Honors Witness to Holocaust". The New York Times. Retrieved 2025-04-29.
  10. ↑ "Postings: The Polish Consulate; Beaux-Arts Style Restoration". The New York Times. 1992-04-19. Retrieved 2025-04-29.
  11. ↑ "Consulate General in New York - Poland in US - Gov.pl website" . Retrieved 2025-04-29.
  12. ↑ "Consulate General in New York - Poland in US - Gov.pl website" . Retrieved 2025-04-29.
  13. ↑ "Consular Jurisdiction - Poland in US - Gov.pl website" . Retrieved 2025-04-29.
  14. ↑ "Konsulat Generalny RP w Nowym Jorku". Naukowy.pl.
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