Polish Museum of America: Ignacy Jan Paderewski (1860-1941)

Chopin is not the only famous musician from Polish history. The Polish Museum of American has an entire room dedicated to Ignacy Jan Paderewski. He was a musician, statesman and humanitarian. The feather pen was used when he signed the Versailles Treaty of 1919 as Prime minister of Poland. Many furnishings from his suite in New York City as well as one of his pianos are included. Born in Easter Poland (in an area that is now part of Ukraine,) Paderewski was a talented pianist in Poland and the United States. He performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City and all over the country. He gave his first performance in Grand Rapids in 1902. Paderewski used his influence to support the re-establishment of a free Poland that had been divided by Russia, Prussia and Austria. President Woodrow Wilson used his ideas to write Point 13 of Wilson’s Proclamation ensuring Poland would be an independent country after World War 1. During World War II he again worked to raise funds and influence options to help Poland.