For Immediate Release

Contact: Kara O’Keeffe
kara.okeeffe@wisconsinhistory.org

August 28, 2020

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Franciscan Publishers Building Listed in the State Register of Historic Places

Pulaski, WI. - The Wisconsin Historical Society placed the Franciscan Publishers Building (Pulaski, Brown County) on the State Register of Historic Places on August 14, 2020.

The Catholic Franciscan Order came to Pulaski in 1887 and was established along with the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic parish to encourage the growth of the settlement, which was largely comprised of Polish immigrants. The Franciscans established a printery in 1907 after they observed that Wisconsin’s Polish community lacked religious materials printed in their native language. That year, the Franciscans began writing, publishing, printing, and distributing the Polish-language magazine Miesiecznik Franciszkanski (translated as The Franciscan Monthly), which was the printery’s most popular publication throughout the 20^th century, reaching up to 32,000 worldwide subscribers at its peak. The widespread printing and publication of Polish-language religious materials from the Franciscan Printery fostered the preservation and transmission of Polish heritage, language, traditions and customs in Wisconsin.  The printery building was purpose-built to house the printing operations in 1941 after it had outgrown its earlier space.  By 1960, the Franciscan Printery was recognized as the largest of its kind in the United States and continued to provide Polish-language publications. In 1962, an addition to the building was constructed to expand the capacity of the organization.

With the presence of the Franciscan Order to minister in the Polish language, the Polish immigrant community in Pulaski was supported and nurtured, and subsequently, the printery nurtured Polish culture across the state. The building is unique in the community and is the best known building representing this history.

The State Register is Wisconsin's official list of state properties determined to be significant to Wisconsin's heritage. The State Historic Preservation Office at the Wisconsin Historical Society administers both the State Register and National Register in Wisconsin. 

To learn more about the State and National Register programs in Wisconsin, visit www.wisconsinhistory.org. 

About the Wisconsin Historical Society
The Wisconsin Historical Society, founded in 1846, ranks as one of the largest, most active and most diversified state historical societies in the nation. As both a state agency and a private membership organization, its mission is to help people connect to the past by collecting, preserving and sharing stories. The Wisconsin Historical Society serves millions of people every year through a wide range of sites, programs and services. For more information, visit wisconsinhistory.org.

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