Polishness as a Superior Value in the Social Activism of Erazm Józef Jerzmanowski

Arkadiusz S Więch

doi:10.35765/pk.2019.2502.05

Abstract

The “Polish Nobel,” “Polish baron,” and “the one that illuminated America,” are just some of the nicknames given to Erazm Jerzmanowski (1844-1909), participant of the January Uprising, a Polish migrant, inventor, businessman and philanthropist. Jerzmanowski obtained a high position in the world of American business of the 1880s and 1890s. He was the only Pole on the list of the top American millionaires of the time. He realized positivist ideals of grassroots work and devoted himself to a wide array of social and philanthropic activities addressed both to the American Polonia and the Poles under occupation. His crowning achievement was the establishment of the awards which were compared to the Alfred Nobel Foundation (the laureates included Henryk Sienkiewicz and Ignacy Jan Paderewski). The overriding value in his activities was his work for the economic, cultural and scientific improvement of the Polish society which was intended to lead to the restoration of Poland’s independence.

Highlights

„Polski Nobel”, „polski baron”, „ten, który oświetlił Amerykę”, to tylko niektóre z przydomków nadawanych Erazmowi Jerzmanowskiemu (1844-1909) – uczestnikowi powstania styczniowego, polskiemu emigrantowi, wynalazcy, biznesmenowi i filantropowi
The “Polish Nobel,” “Polish baron,” and “the one that illuminated America,” are just some of the nicknames given to Erazm Jerzmanowski (1844-1909), participant of the January Uprising, a Polish migrant, inventor, businessman and philanthropist
He was the only Pole on the list of the top American millionaires of the time. He realized positivist ideals of grassroots work and devoted himself to a wide array of social and philanthropic activities addressed both to the American Polonia and the Poles under occupation. His crowning achievement was the establishment of the awards which were compared to the Alfred Nobel Foundation

Summary

Introduction

„Polski Nobel”, „polski baron”, „ten, który oświetlił Amerykę”, to tylko niektóre z przydomków nadawanych Erazmowi Jerzmanowskiemu (1844-1909) – uczestnikowi powstania styczniowego, polskiemu emigrantowi, wynalazcy, biznesmenowi i filantropowi.

Results

Conclusion