11th President of the Polish National Alliance

Born and educated in Poland, Zychlinski came to America in 1876 where he lived for a time in New York. He joined the PNA in 1881. In 1883 he moved to Chicago where he was active in the south side Polonia community centered about St. Adalbert parish.

 

In 1887 he was a founder of the Falcons' Alliance and for the next ten years served as the first president of the fledgling youth movement.Active for many years in the PNA he was elected to its Board of Directors and chosen to be the Vice President of the Alliance when President Marian Steczynski resigned in 1912 to direct the newly created Alliance School. When Vice President Filip Ksycki (1867-1954), who succeeded Steczynski, himself resigned the Presidency only weeks after his appointment because of business conflicts, Zychlinski became the new President and was subsequently elected for five terms in his own right.

 

A dynamic speaker and excellent organizer, Casimir Zychlinski led the PNA during the momentous years of the First World War and the recovery of Poland's independence after 123 years of foreign partition. Under his leadership, the Polish National Alliance grew from 80,000 to 250,000 members.