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Part 05: Early political development (RealPlayer version)

Thomas Lewandowski, 1939 - (prod., narr.)

Oakland Community College

Hamtramck (Mich.) -- Politics and government -- 20th century.

Polish Americans -- Michigan -- Hamtramck.

Hamtramck (Mich.) Township Council -- History -- 20th century.

EX01a005

Extracts from oral histories of Hamtramck, MI in the Albert J. Zak Memorial Library (Hamtramck), Detroit Public Library (Burton Collection), Hamtramck Historical Collection, Library of Michigan, Macomb County Library, Oakland Community College Libraries.

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Mrs. Iris Page Butler, an African-American, known as "Hamtramck's Angel of Mercy," Health Department nurse from 1918 to 1965 and resident since 1903; Stephen A. Majewski, mayor (1926-28), attorney, school board trustee, justice of the peace (1922-26) and Peoples State Bank Board member; Joseph A. Lewandowski, mayor (1934-36) and municipal judge and Rev. William Brooks, Jr., Pastor of the Corinthian Baptist Church, civic and political leader, national Republican convention delegate, share about how political power in Hamtramck was appropriated from the original German-American settlers by the Poles and municipal politics became their pastime.