Mary O. Kryszak

Mary Olszewski Kryszak (1876–1945) was a schoolteacher, bookkeeper, librarian and editor from Milwaukee, Wisconsin who served seven terms as a Democratic member of the Wisconsin State Assembly.^[1][2]

Background

Born in Milwaukee in 1876 as Mary Olszewski, she graduated from St. Mary's High School and the Spencerian Business College, and later studied at the University of Wisconsin Extension in Milwaukee. She worked as a schoolteacher, music teacher, bookkeeper, librarian, and newspaper writer, as well as as a housewife and mother of three children. From 1921 to 1939 she was managing editor of the weekly newspaper Glos Polek ([Polish] Women's Voice) of the Fraternal Polish Women's Alliance of America.

First term and national attention

In 1928, she unseated Republican Assemblyman Louis Polewczynski to represent the Eighth Milwaukee County district (the 8th and 14th wards of the City of Milwaukee), taking 3,889 votes to 2,659 for Socialist Nick Wroblewski and 2,239 for the incumbent Polewczynski. She already had three grown children (Leo, Rose and Wanda) "through school and with jobs of their own" when first elected to the Assembly in 1928.^[3] Although she had worked as a teacher, bookkeeper, assistant manager and newspaper editor before seeking office, stories in the national press stated that "Mrs. Kryszak 'takes in' hemstitching work at home when not engaged in lawmaking."^[4][5] She was assigned to the standing committees on education and on public welfare.^[6]

References

1. ^ Cannon, A. Peter, ed. Members of the Wisconsin Legislature: 1848 – 1999. State of Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau Informational Bulletin 99-1, September 1999; p. 72
2. ^ Mary Kryszak, Wisconsin Historical Society
3. ^ "Woman Editor 'Deletes' Men" Milwaukee Sentinel November 8, 1928; p. 3, col. 2
4. ^ "In Legislature" Meriden [CT] Daily Journal November 26, 1928; p. 13, col. 4
5. ^ "In Legislature" Southeast Missourian December 7, 1928; p. 14, col. 4
6. ^ Anderson, William J.; Anderson, William A., eds. The Wisconsin blue book, 1929 Madison: Democrat Printing Company, State Printer, 1929; pp. 513, 518, 561

Persondata
Name	Kryszak, Mary O.
Alternative names
Short description	American politician
Date of birth	1876
Place of birth
Date of death	1945
Place of death