Katelyn Koenig

Professor Fowler
Honors 1000
22 October 2015

12 October 1915

Dear Babcia,
I just arrived in Detroit, Michigan, early today, along with mother, father, and Jakub. It
was quite a journey traveling from Poland to the United States by steamship (Smith 84). We
entered the United through Ellis Island, which is small island in New York Bay. It is called the
Gateway to America (Smith 82). What an amazing sight it was to see the Statue of Liberty
welcoming us to this new land. I made sure to pack the family Bible that you gave us, Babcia,
which is one of our most treasured possessions (Smith 92). From New York, we traveled by train
to Detroit to join one of fathers friends who had made his way to the United States a few months
earlier (Remigia 4). On the train, I met another girl who was traveling with her family to the
Detroit area in hope of a better life. She is scared like me of her new circumstances, but we are
both excited as well and hoping for a good life. From what I have seen so far, Detroit is not much
like Warsaw. I already so terribly miss Poland (and you). I believe that this country is full of new
opportunities. I hope with all of my heart that we will not be as oppressed here as we were in
Poland and that we will not have as much economic misfortunate. I read in a newspaper on the
way here that there are many job opportunities in Detroits rapidly expanding manufacturing
industries (Remigia 4). I plan to get one of these jobs so that I can help support mother, father,
and Jakub. In all of my 16 years, I have never felt so lost yet so optimistic. I hope you can come
visit us soon.
Sincerely,
Jozefa Bartkowski

30 October 1915
Dear Babcia,
We were able to find a small house in Hamtramck, a suburb of Detroit. Father was
successful in getting a job at the Dodge Brothers factory just north of where we live (Hyde 111).
The Dodge Brothers auto factory is nothing like I have ever seen before! Just the other day there
was a record-breaking trip where a Dodge Brothers motor car was faster than an express train
(Dodge Brothers Auto Beats Express Train D6). Can you believe that? I wish you were here to
see it!
Mother and I found work in a cigar factory (Remigia 6). There are many other Polish
immigrants in the Hamtramck area, and quite a few work alongside us (Remigia 6). It is
definitely not a glamourous job like I had dreamed of, but the money will help the family. Jakub
at age seven is still too young to work. He is attending Holbrook Elementary School close to our
house. We are all trying so hard to adjust to our new life here.
Sincerely,
Jozefa
P.S. I have included a couple of pictures that I took. The first one is a picture of our
neighborhood. Our house is the second one from the right. I enjoy sitting on the front porch and
reading books. The second picture is where father works at the Main Dodge Brothers Plant. Can
you recognize Dad in the picture? He is the one with overalls on in front of the car.

14 December 1915
Dear Babcia,
I miss you so much! I am so sorry that I have not written to you as often as I would like.
Life here in Hamtramck has been very busy. Between helping out at home, working in the cigar
factory, trying to become more fluent in English, and other activities. I have had little time to
myself. Mother, father, Jakub, and I have become quite involved at St. Ladislaus Catholic Church
near our home. We continue to be deeply religious, which I believe has helped us adjust to our
new life here in the United States (Remigia 8). Christmas is approaching, Babcia, and I am
missing family back in Poland more than ever. It is nice, however, to be able to form a bond with
others from Poland who attend church services at St. Ladislaus.
Another interesting thing that I did was join a choral group (Savaglio 37). One of my
favorite parts about the choir is that we use both Polish and English during performances
(Savaglio). This is nice because it represents both of my heritages Polish and my newly found
American heritage.
I made my first trip to the Detroit Public Library the other day (Remigia 9). There is quite
a large supply of Polish books there, which is wonderful (Remigia 9)! I picked out a novel by
Henryk Sienkiewicz (Remigia 9). I just now have to find time to read it.
Sincerely,
Jozefa
P.S. I have enclosed a picture that I took of the Detroit Public Library. It really is a beautiful
building and so big!

30 December 1915
Dear Babcia,
I am really scared. I keep reading in the newspapers about all of the awful things going on in
Poland. One of the newspapers said that more than 1,000,000 people living in Poland are
destitute and entirely dependent on soup kitchens (Millions of Polish War Victims Live on Soup
Kitchens 16). The paper also said how temperatures in Warsaw are below zero and many people
are without adequate clothing (Millions of Polish War Victims Live on Soup Kitchens 16). I
full-heartedly hope that you and everyone else are safe. Father, mother and I, along with many
other Polish people around Detroit, are trying to help in every way that we can. For example,
mother just became a representative of our parish (Detroit Poles to Aid War Victims 2). Her
job is to take charge of the work of organizing the relief in and around Detroit (Detroit Poles to
Aid War Victims 2). She is cooperating with a Committee of the Society for Polish Aid, which
is already collecting funds (Detroit Poles to Aid War Victims 2). I am trying to help mother
with these efforts in any way that I can.
I am anxiously waiting to hear back from you. I hope all is well with you. I am keeping
Poland and you in my prayers.
Sincerely,
Jozefa

25 January 1916
Dear Babcia,
Overall, I am happy that we moved to the United States of America, other than missing
you and family in Poland terribly. Father, mother, and I all have jobs, and we are doing okay
financially. We have a nice house and have made new friends. Jakub likes school and has become
very fluent in English as have mother, father, and I. We enjoy keeping our culture and faith alive
by going to a predominately Polish church. I have been fortunate to join a choral group that
represents both my Polish and newfound American heritages. Although there have been struggles
adapting to life in America, we have found a little niche here in Hamtramck. I am still very
concerned about what is going on in Poland. I hope that the situation improves soon, and we will
continue to do all that we can to help.
Sincerely,
Jozefa

Works Cited
Detroit Poles to Aid War Victims. Detroit Free Press 24 Mar 1915. ProQuest Historical
Newspapers. Web. 15 Oct. 2015.
Dodge Brothers Auto Beats Express Train. Detroit Free Press 22 Aug 1915. ProQuest
Historical Newspapers. Web. 15 Oct. 2015.
Hyde, Charles. The Dodge Brothers: The Men, the Motor Cars, and the Legacy. Detroit: Wayne
State University Press, 2005. Online.
Millions of Polish War Victims Live on Soup Kitchens. Detroit Free Press 24 Dec 1915.
ProQuest Historical Newspapers. Web. 15 Oct. 2015.
NAHC. Old Factories: Dodge's Main Assembly Plant. N.d. NAHC, Detroit. AutoTrader
Classics. Web. 20 Oct. 2015.
Paris, W. Francklyn. Perfect Rhythm. 1913. Cass Gilbert Society, Detroit.
Cassgilbertsociety.org. Web. 20 Oct. 2015.
Remigia, Mary. The Polish Immigrant in Detroit to 1914. Polish-American Studies 2.1-2
(1945): 4-11. ProQuest. Web. 15 Oct. 2015.
Savaglio, Paula. Polka Bands and Choral Groups: The Musical Self-Representation of PolishAmericans in Detroit. Ethnomusicology 40.1 (1996): 35-47. JSTOR. Web. 15 Oct. 2015.
Smith, Judith. "Celebrating Immigration History at Ellis Island." American Quarterly 44.1
(1992): 82. ProQuest. Web. 15 Oct. 2015.