The Polish American Historical Association (PAHA) is a non-profit, tax-exempt, interdisciplinary organization devoted to the study of Polish American history and culture. Founded in 1942 and now an affiliate of the American Historical Association, PAHA promotes research and dissemination of scholarly materials focused on Polish American history and culture, and its European origins.
During its 72nd Annual Meeting in New York (January 2-4, 2015), winners of the PAHA awards for 2014 were announced at an awards banquet held at the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland. Consul General, Hon. Urszula Gacek, welcomed the guests and recounted the history of PAHA and its role in the documentation and promotion of Polish American history and culture. Established in 1942, PAHA is the premier international scholarly association dedicated to the study of Polish emigration and immigration to the Americas. The annual PAHA Awards recognize researchers, artists, historians, and community activists who made a major contribution to Polish American culture, and two of the 2014 winners are major supporters of Polish music in Los Angeles.
The Amicus Poloniae Award that “recognizes significant contributions enhancing knowledge of Polish and Polish‐American heritage by individuals not belonging to the Polish‐American community” was given to Ms. TERRY TEGNAZIAN, the co‐founder of the Aquila Polonica Publishing dedicated to issuing books about Poland in World War II. A graduate of Brown University and Yale Law School, Terry Tegnazian became interested in the Polish experience of World War II while reading memoirs of key Polish Underground leaders. She was moved by the stories of the Poles’ incredible courage during World War II—an aspect of the war she had not previously been aware of. In addition to being a hands‐on publisher involved in all aspects of each Aquila Polonica title, Terry has written about Poland in World War II for the Wall Street Journal Europe and the Warsaw Business Journal, she’s been interviewed on national television, and has presented numerous lectures in a wide range of venues: colleges, museums, libraries, etc.
Dr. MAJA TROCHIMCZYK, of Moonrise Press, Los Angeles, received the Distinguished Service Award “given occasionally to a member of PAHA who has rendered valuable and sustained service to the organization.” Dr. Trochimczyk is PAHA’s Newsletter Editor and Online Communications Director. She created and expanded the organization’s internal and external online and print communications including the newsletters, marketing materials, blog (PAHAnews.blogspot.com), and social media. A member of the PAHA Board since in 2009, Dr. Trochimczyk previously received the PAHA’s Swastek Prize in 2007 for the best article published in the Polish American Studies, “The Impact of Mazowsze and Śląsk on Polish Folk Dancing in California” (Vol. 63, No. 1, Spring 2006). A music historian and a poet, Dr. Trochimczyk published six books on music and five of poetry, including, most recently, Frédéric Chopin: A Research and Information Guide (co‐edited with William Śmiałek, Routledge, June 2015)
[Sources: PAHA press release, polishamericanstudies.org]