The Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in New York City (''Polish: Konsulat Generalny Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej w Nowym Jorku'') is a diplomatic mission of the

Republic of Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It extends from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Sudetes and Carpathian Mountains in the south, bordered by Lithuania and Russia to the northeast, Belarus and Ukrai ...

in the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

. Established in 1919, it serves one of the largest Polish communities outside of Poland. The consulate is located in the historic Joseph Raphael De Lamar House, a Beaux-Arts mansion at 233

Madison Avenue Madison Avenue is a north-south avenue in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, New York, that carries northbound one-way traffic. It runs from Madison Square (at 23rd Street) to meet the southbound Harlem River Drive at 142nd Stree ...

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

History

On August 14, 1919, the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in New York City was inaugurated, preceding the establishment of the Embassy of Poland, Washington, D.C.. It was Poland's first diplomatic post established in the United States. The consulate supervised agents located in Boston, Philadelphia, and San Francisco. During World War II, the consulate supported the

Polish government-in-exile The Polish government-in-exile, officially known as the Government of the Republic of Poland in exile (), was the government in exile of Poland formed in the aftermath of the Invasion of Poland of September 1939, and the subsequent Occupation ...

and Polish citizens abroad. It also hosted "Estezet," a Polish intelligence outpost operating under the Second Department of the Polish General Staff from 1941 to 1945. In July 1945, Consul General Sylwin Strakacz resigned in protest against the communist

Provisional Government of National Unity The Provisional Government of National Unity (, TRJN) was a puppet government formed by the decree of the State National Council (, KRN) on 28 June 1945 as a result of reshuffling the Soviet-backed Provisional Government of the Republic of Pola ...

. During the early Cold War, operations were suspended from 1954 to 1959 following U.S. government restrictions. The consulate resumed operations in 1970, initially functioning from a different location. In 1972, the Polish government purchased the historic Joseph Raphael De Lamar House for $900,000 to reestablish the Consulate General. The consulate officially reopened at this location in 1973. In the 1980s, the consulate became a center for political demonstrations during the

Solidarity movement Solidarity or solidarism is an awareness of shared interests, objectives, standards, and sympathies creating a psychological sense of unity of groups or classes. True solidarity means moving beyond individual identities and single issue politics ...

and Poland’s imposition of martial law. In 1989, the consulate was designated as a polling station for the historic free parliamentary and

presidential elections A presidential election is the election of any head of state whose official title is President. Elections by country Albania The president of Albania is elected by the Assembly of Albania who are elected by the Albanian public. Chile The ...

held in Poland, allowing the Polish diaspora in the United States to participate. In November 2007, a life-size statue of

Jan Karski Jan Karski (born Jan Kozielewski, 24 June 1914 – 13 July 2000) was a Polish soldier, Polish resistance movement in World War II, resistance-fighter, and diplomat during World War II. He is known for having acted as a courier in 1940–1943 to ...

was installed near the consulate entrance as a memorial. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, the consulate underwent extensive renovations, preserving its Beaux-Arts features while modernizing facilities. The consulate now hosts cultural events, exhibitions, and concerts open to the Polish-American community and the broader public.

Functions and Activities

The Consulate General provides services for Polish citizens and Polish-Americans across its eight-state jurisdiction. Main functions include: * Processing visa applications and passports * Providing consular protection and legal assistance * Organizing voting in Polish elections abroad * Supporting Polish language education, cultural institutions, and Polish heritage * Promoting trade, business cooperation, and academic exchange * Coordinating cultural diplomacy * Assisting with repatriations, citizenship confirmations, and registry matters

Building and Premises

The consulate initially operated from 40 West 40th Street (1919), moved to 953 Third Avenue (1922–1930), then to 149–151 East 67th Street (1932–1945). Since 1973, it has occupied the historic Joseph Raphael De Lamar House.

Consular District

The Consulate General serves Polish citizens and diaspora members across

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, and

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Consuls General of the Republic of Poland in New York

Second Polish Republic

*1919 – Konstanty Buszczyński *1919–1920 – Jerzy Barthel de Weydenthal, Consul *1920 – Zdzisław Kurnikowski, Consul *1920–1925 – Stefan Ludwik Grotowski *1925–1928 – Sylwester Gruszka *1928 – Tadeusz Marynowski, Consul *1928–1929 – Eugeniusz Rozwadowski *1929–1935 – Mieczysław Marchlewski *1935 – Jerzy Matusiński *1935–1940 – Sylwester Gruszka *1941–1945 – Sylwin Strakacz

Polish People's Republic

*1945–1947 – Eugeniusz Rozwadowski, acting head of the Consulate *1947–1953 – Jan Galewicz *1954–1959 – closure of the Consulate; activities suspended *1970 – re-establishment of the Consulate *1970–1974 – Kazimierz Ciaś *1975–1978 – Zbigniew Dembowski *1979 – Maksymilian Służewski, Consul *1979–1981 – Kazimierz Ciaś *1981–1985 – Waldemar Lipka-Chudzik *1985–1989 – Andrzej Olszówka

Third Polish Republic

*1990–1996 – Jerzy Surdykowski *1997–2001 – Dariusz Jadowski *2001–2005 – Agnieszka Magdziak-Miszewska *2005–2010 – Krzysztof Kasprzyk *2010–2014 –

Ewa Junczyk-Ziomecka Ewa Junczyk-Ziomecka (; born 19 May 1949) is a Polish lawyer, journalist, and former politician who served as secretary of state in the Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland under Lech Kaczyński between 2008 and 2010. In 2010 ...

*2014–2016 – Urszula Gacek *2017–2019 – Maciej Golubiewski *2020–2024 –

Adrian Kubicki Adrian Kubicki (born 1987) is a Polish diplomat, sociologist, and expert in public relations and communication.New York State Senator Kenneth Zebrowski Jr. (May 14, 2024)Kubicki,"New York State Assembly.Mateusz Sakowicz

References

External links

Official Website
{{Authority control 1919 establishments in New York City

Poland–United States relations Polish-American culture in New York City

Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It extends from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Sudetes and Carpathian Mountains in the south, bordered by Lithuania and Russia to the northeast, Belarus and Ukrai ...

Madison Avenue Murray Hill, Manhattan