Poles began to arrive in earnest in Utica in the 1880s. Their numbers grew throughout the next decades, capped only by the onset of World War I. This virtual talk by Patricia Bury Yocum looks at why the immigrants came, what they found, and where they worked. In putting down roots and raising families largely in West Utica, they created a distinct Polish presence and long legacy still extant.
This virtual program takes place on Saturday, January 16, 2021 starting at 11:30 am. This program is free and open to all. Advanced registration is required and can be completed at https://www.oneidacountyhistory.org/programs.html. Registrants will receive a link and instruction on how to join this online event after registration is complete.
Patricia Bury Yocum is a librarian emerita at the University of Michigan. A native of Utica, she attended Holy Trinity School and U.F.A., and earned degrees from Binghamton University and the University of Michigan. Her lifelong interest in history has deepened with studies of Polish immigration and Polish genealogy. She has published articles and spoken on these topics in Michigan, Massachusetts¸ Florida, and Utica. She is committed to uncovering the story of the Polish immigrants who established community in Utica at the turn of the twentieth century, and is eager to engage with others in the effort and welcomes their inquiries.
The Oneida County History Center is a private 501(c) (3) not-for-profit educational institution dedicated to preserving the history of Oneida County and Central New York. Admission to this program is free for the general public; donations are encouraged. Please contact the History Center at 315-735-3642 or visit the OCHC website (www.oneidacountyhistory.org) for additional information.
