Jamestown True Heroes by Arthur L. Waldo (American Institute
of Polish Culture, Miami, FL, 1977), which I purchased through an
Amazon.com used book seller for a mere $12.50.

" As we approach the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the Polish artisans at Jamestown colony in 1608, it's interesting to read through books published by American Polonia in the past to honor the Polish pioneers.

Waldo's "First Poles in America" pamphlet was published in 1957 while "Jamestown Pioneers from Poland" was published by the Polish American Congress in 1958.

In "Jamestown True Heroes," Waldo expands on the information he first presented in "First Poles..." The book is over 250 pages and contains a wealth of photos and illustrations. Much of the information that's presented is based upon the lost Memorialum Commercatoris manuscript, supposedly written by Zbigniew Stefanski, alleged to be one of the Jamestown Poles. According to Waldo, an individual offered to sell the privately published manuscript to the Polish Museum of Chicago, where he was able to view it. We're told the deal ultimately fell through and the mysterious manuscript was withdrawn, never to be seen again.

It would seem from the previous comments of Karen Majewski to this forum that professional Polish American historians doubt the veracity of the missing manuscript.

Waldo begins the book with descriptions of Polish-English trade which leads into why Captain John Smith chose to bring Poles to Jamestown.

The names and backgrounds of the Jamestown Poles, their experiences as glassmakers, homebuilders, and well-diggers are documented in the manuscript along with an account of the Poles saving Smith from an Indian attack! The reader is told that the Jamestown colony had
absolutely no chance of survival if not for these five(?) talented and virtuous Poles. Waldo makes the correlation that, since the Poles saved Jamestown, and without Jamestown, there would have been no Plymouth, the Poles are responsible for the existence of America!
I haven't witnessed such a degree of unabashed ethnic pride since watching Michael Constantine play Papa Gus in "My Big, Fat, Greek Wedding."

Waldo details his efforts to coordinate the celebration of the 350th anniversary of the arrival of the Jamestown Poles in 1957-58, which included publication of his "First Poles..." pamphlet, attempts to have a commemorative stamp issued by the U.S. post office, and the  creation and installation of a Polish tablet or plaque in Jamestown. The names ascribed to the Polish colonists by the questionable Stefanski manuscript are on this plaque. A Polish exhibit was also installed at the Jamestown visitor's center. Waldo was the historianfor the Polish Falcons of America at the time.

There seems to be some disagreement as to whether the Germans that were brought to Jamestown or the Poles were the glassmakers mentioned in accounts of the colony.

German Americans argue that it was the "Dutchmen" that established glassmaking in the colony (German Craftsmen and the Founding of Jamestown, 1607 to 1610, Robert A. Selig, German Life Magazine, June/July, 2007). Both Waldo and the Selig agree that there was a
falling out between Smith and the Germans although Waldo's/Stefanski' s criticism of the "Dutchmen" is quite lengthy and disparaging.

Despite the questionable credibility of his primary source, Waldo's Jamestown True Heroes is entertaining and valuable, especially given its coverage of the 1958 celebrations.

I understand that the Polish American Congress is preparing commemorative publications for the 400th anniversary of the Jamestown Poles. I'm very curious how much, if any, of the information from the purported Stefanski manuscript material will be used."


More information on Jamestown Poles:
http://www.angelfir e.com/mi4/ polcrt/AmPoles. html
http://www.kismeta. com/diGrasse/ Jamestown% 20Primary% 20Sources. htm
http://www.polishcu ltureacpc. org/prez. html
http://www.polamcon .org/jamestown/ index.htm