My Polish Grandpa

The Cable Act (also called The Married Women’s Independent Nationality Act) was passed by Congress in 1922. Previously, if an American woman married a foreign-born man, she lost her U.S. citizenship. (If an American man married a foreign-born woman, his citizenship was not affected.) The passing of the Cable Act provided that, in part (relevant to my grandma), US-born women married to foreign men who were eligible for naturalization could go through the naturalization process on their own merits; the women’s naturalization would not need to depend on the respective husband’s naturalization process.  Polly (my grandmother) married in 1917. She really fell right in between the Expatriation Act of 1907 and the Cable Act of 1922. Vincent did not become naturalized until 1928. I am not sure why my grandmother waited until 1930 to apply for naturalization. Under the 1922 Cable Act, Pauline could have applied for naturalization even without her husband doi...

Expatriation Act of 1907  Section 3 provided for loss of citizenship by American women who married aliens. [1] The Act states that an American woman who marries an alien would lose her citizenship and take on her husband’s nationality. In actuality, whether or not she could do this was dependent on the laws of the country to which her husband belonged. If there was no similar law granting derivative citizenship to a married woman, she would then become stateless. [15] [16] As a result of her loss of citizenship, she forfeited her constitutional rights and could be subject to deportation and denial of reentry to the United States. Her opportunities for employment would be restricted — for example ineligible for any kind of government work and, in some states, for teaching in a public school. During WWI, any woman married to a German national was required to register as an “ enemy alien ,” and was subject to having property confiscated by the U.S. government through the Offic...

Vincent's brother, Antoni, wrote a postcard to Vincent, telling him he misses him and that he is hoping to get out of the army soon. He says, "it's easier to get in than to get out."

April 5, 1890--Vincent (Wincenty) Borowski born in Plock, Poland. 1892--Frances Guzowski born  Vincent’s first wife January 17, 1896--Pauline (Polly) Ankofski born in Detroit, Michigan, USA. Polly is the fourth surviving child of Mary Ann (Eliminowska) and Anthony Aknowski’s 15 children. Polly will become Vincent’s second wife. 1905-1907 Revolution in Russian-Poland June 18, 1906--Vincent Borowski leaves Bremen, Germany aboard the vessel, “Hannover.” Vincent’s mother fears he will be drafted into the Russian Army, so she sends Vincent to the US with a cousin. The passengers are inspected upon arrival, and Vincent's cousin is found to have scoliosis. As a result, is not permitted stay in America and must return to Germany on the ocean liner. July 3, 1906--Vincent Borowski arrives in Baltimore, Maryland, USA Vincent goes to Detroit, Michigan, where he will make his home for the rest of his life. 1907--Expatriation Act Circa 1908--Vincent Borow...

On July 7, 1906, my grandfather, Wjcenty (Vincent) Borowski, arrived in Baltimore, Maryland, having sailed from Germany on the ship, "Hannover." He would be bound for Detroit, Michigan. Vincent came to the United States when he was sixteen years old, accompanied by a cousin. His cousin was turned away at the point of entry due to his scoliosis.