The opening in Buffalo: The World Knew: Jan Karski's Mission for Humanity

A diverse group gathered at the Central Branch of the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library on October 16 to celebrate the opening of The World Knew: Jan Karski's Mission for Humanity, which will be on display until November 16. 

After a reception featuring Polish finger food and delicacies, Canisius College instructor Mary Lou Wyrobek introduced featured speaker Wanda Urbanska, president of the Jan Karski Educational Foundation. Ms. Urbanska gave an overview Karski's mission for humanity, which until recently had been largely forgotten to history. She discussed the foundation's goal of making Karski's a "household name" in America and having his 1944 classic memoir, Story of a Secret State, become "required reading in our schools." She challenged the audience to become "couriers for Karski, to spread his legacy."

On behalf of the foundation, Ms. Urbanska presented copies of the 2013 Georgetown University Press edition of Story of a Secret State to key community stakeholders, including Craig R. Bucki, president of the Kosciuszko Foundation, Western New York Branch; Pieter Weinrieb and Sharon Malek Jacobs, co-presidents of the Holocaust Resource Center of Western New York; and Anne Conable, Director of Special Projects, Development and Communications, Buffalo & Erie County Public Library, among others.

"We are so pleased to host this important exhibit in Buffalo with our local partners," said Ms. Conable. " We hope that when the exhibit moves onto its next city, a lot more people will know and have been inspired by the surprisingly unfamiliar story of Jan Karski, his courage and perseverance."

"I loved the cooperation between the Polish and Jewish communities in honoring the contributions this man made," commented Sophie Hodorowicz Knab, whose Polish parents were forced laborers for the Third Reich during World War II. An ethnic Pole, Ms. Hodorowicz Knab was born after the War in a displaced persons camp in Germany before migrating to Buffalo.  

Main exhibit sponsors are the Permanent Chair of Polish Culture at Canisius College and the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Additional sponsors include the Polish Legacy Project; the Kosciuszko Foundation, Western New York Division; the Jewish Community Center; the Holocaust Resource Center of Buffalo; and Daemen College.

On October 18, Ms. Urbanska gave an hour-long public presentation at the library about the genesis and context of Story of a Secret State, which captivated the audience. Prior to the presentation Xavier Milkowski, 89, of Buffalo, presented Ms. Urbanska with a rare 1944 edition of the book. Additionally, during question-and-answer period, Susan Walsh, a student of Karski at Georgetown in the 1980s, mentioned that Dr. Karski was "an awesome professor -- smart and dashing." She recalled his distinct way of introducing himself, letting everyone know he was proud of his origins: " 'I am Jan Karski: K-A-R-S-K-I. Polish -- not Russian -- ending with an 'i'.' "

In addition to the library presentations, on Oct. 16, Ms. Urbanska gave two presentations at Canisius College, speaking to Dr. Larry Jones's class, The Holocaust in Historical Perspective, and Ms. Wyrobek's Introduction to Religious Studies class. Students in both classes were fascinated by the Karski narrative as well as Polish history during World War II. At the end of the first class, Ms. Urbanska presented student Janelle Franasiak with a copy of Karski's book in honor of her 20th birthday. "My mother reads her books on Kindle," the young woman enthused. "But I only want to read old-fashioned books on paper. What a wonderful birthday gift!"