Polish Nobility Association Foundation

An Introduction to The Polish Nobility Association Foundation

In ancient times, the nobility was the ruling class of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth with the exclusive right to enjoy full citizenship. Nobility was hereditary in the male line, and the knight's shield was an outward sign of this. The power to ennoble resided originally with the King, but after the end of the XVIth century the approval of the Diet was required. In the year of Our Lord, 1795, Poland was removed from the map of Europe. From then, until the end of WWI, the nation ceased to exist; however, the old nobility remained, as did the dream of a free Poland-Lithuania. A major goal was to reestablish revive the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and to define new boundaries within historical Commonwealth lands.

The Polish Nobility Association was born out of the ashes of the Polish uprisings of the 1830's, as a loosely associated group of noblemen and ex-officers. Their original goal was the establishment of the Polish monarchy. Poland regained its independence, in 1918. From that time onward the Polish Nobility Associations activities became primarily devoted to genealogical and heraldic research. The preservation of Polish cultural heritage then began with a small group of Polish and Lithuanians under the chairmanship of Prince Zygmund Jastrzebiec-Polubinski, Poland/USA.

(Above Left): Villa Anneslie, Anneslie, Maryland; USA.
International Headquarters of the PNAF [National Register of Historic Places]; (Above Right): 1893 Fox Hunt at the Villa Anneslie Estate

On January 27, 1927, the PNA was formalized into a noble society, for the continuation of the "Stewardship" of the chivalric customs of the Commonwealth of the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania; and for the perpetuation of genealogical and heraldic traditions of the Polish Commonwealth. Orders of Merit were also created in the 20th Century along the lines of Poland's ancient Dragonet Societies. The ROP was created to work with Societies, Fraternal and Political groups in other Eastern European Counties who identified themselves as follows: Royal Order of Piast, Order of Saint John the Baptist, Imperial Order of Saint Vladimir, Imperial and Royal Order of Saint Stanislas, Order of Saint Michael Archangel and Saints Cyril and Methodius. The first annual convention, establishment of By-Laws and election of Officers took place in New York in 1928 under an umbrella organization incorporated in 1927 as the Slav Catholic Club (Association). The elected officers were:

• Paul S. Riedelski, president
• S. Moravek, Vice President representing Slovaks
• Rev. Joseph Paul Chodkiewicz, Sec. General, representing Poles
• H. Victor Cherep representing Southern Slavs
• (The Slav Catholic Club was later merged with the Polish Nobility Association)

The term Constitution as applied to the Polish Nobility Association Foundation (PNAF) refers to the Charter and By-Laws of the PNAF and not the Constitution of the former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth or any current or past governments.

The Royal Order of Piast (ROP founded 1927)

The Royal Order of Jagiellio (ROJ)

The Orders were established to recognize the merits of individuals in areas that bring to light information regarding the Kingdom of Poland- Grand Duchy of Lithuania’s ancient dynastie, Historical, Political and Cultural connections. Individuals who have achieved in the areas of Education, Business, Culture, Politics and Philanthropy.

In the 1960's, the Polish Nobility Association re-located to the United States of America where such an organization could exist outside the ruling governments in Eastern Europe during this time. Prince Zygmunt immigrated to the United States followed by his wife Irena and resided at Villa Anneslie until their deaths. The Polubinski, Giedroyce, Galitzin families as well as other descendants of the dynasties founded by Gedymin and Rurik are prolific (some princely branches have become extinct over the centuries) and can be found in many countries pursuing various professions. The PNAF is based at Villa Anneslie a National Register of Historic Places property. Many of these descendants know of their ancestry while others have lost knowledge of their heritage. The current chairman Dr. Roger Chylinski-Polubinski resides at Villa Anneslie one of his homes. The president Dr. Felix von Leski-Holewinski recently retired (2013). Dr. Chylinski-Polubinski accompanied by numerous members of the PNAF from various countries attended the Papal Mass at the Polish Church in Kalenberg, Austria celebrating the 300th Anniversary of the defeat of the Turks at Vienna by the combined forces of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and participating armies from other countries. Dr. Chylinski-Polubinski and Dame Barbara Bromont-Slawinska, PNAF Poet Laureate (Poland) personally received the Papal Blessing for the PNAF Historical and Cultural efforts and for the PNAF members and supporters in private audience with Pope John Paul II on behalf of the PNAF on October 4, 1983, at Castelo Gandolfo (the Holy Father's summer residence).

Click here to view the Papal letter from 1983.

(Above Left): His Holiness, John Paul II meet with representatives of the PNAF, Dame Barbara Bromont-Slawinska, Dr. R. Chylinski-Polubinski 1983 Castelo Gandolfo; (Above Right): Private conversation between the Holy Father and Dr. Roger Chylinski-Polubinski

The aims of the PNA are to provide Heraldic information to Polish-Lithuanian families, residing throughout the world. These Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth descendants may be descended from noble ancestery and wish to research this link. For these people, the PNA can provide the following services:

• Ancestor "Name Search" assistance
• Issuance of "Surname Nobility Diplomas" and registry based on public documents.
• Provide "Heraldic Assistance" in identifying authentic Polish arms
  

The current legal status of the Polish Nobility Association Foundation, in the United States, is that of a private non-profit foundation incorporated in 1986 having IRS Exempt Recognition since 1973 as a 501 (c) 3. The PNA operated as an unincorporated Association prior to 1986. Membership is international, and through the PNAF members can be updated on International Monarchist League activities. The Association has, for many years, published a semi-annual journal (The White Eagle) which relates mainly to historic, nobility, heraldry and other topics from Eastern Europe and related to Monarchy. Membership is available as PNA (proven nobility) and PNAF for others. All PNA are part of the PNAF and is open to any individual interested in, or identifying with, "Geographical Areas historically associated with the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth" Annual membership dues are progressive and beyond the basic dues are voluntary.