This Letter to the Editor was originally published by the «Polish American Journal» in April 2023 (Vol. 112, No. 4). Republished here with permission.
Dear Editor:
I am responding to the interview with Mr. John Radzilowski in the January issue of your newspaper. I do not know him, never had any conversation with him, but somehow he had it right.
He said “it is Mr. Morgan and his friends (I have no friends in Michigan) who are the cause of this situation. I confess this is true. I am a “stupid [fool]” for allowing this “situation.”
It is true that I wanted my collection to you the younger generation the glory of Poland and Catholic history. But “we will not display them until the matter is concluded.” The coins and artifacts should not be thrown on to tables for the benefit of thieves. When I gave my collection, I asked that it be anonymous. I gave bullion to be sold to ensure security.
Then the new chancellor, who came well after my donation, fired all the employees of the Galeria [editor’s note: the building housing Orchard Lake’s permanent art collections], including the director. He advertised for a new director, hired him, and then fired him because of no reason. The Galeria was closed. I asked, “what happened to my collection?” and there was no response. The Chancellor showed me a plaque honoring me for the donation to “remodel the Chancellor’s residence.” I did no such thing.
So, I hired a law firm asking not that my collection be retuned, and not for any monetary compensation, but simply asking what happened to my collection. There was no response, other than to pay for “services.” So, I quit paying. [I felt I was being treated as] an old fool who would soon die, and [the course of action was to] just wait him out.
The first time I was in Jasna Gora, Poland, was in 1960. There, a friendly Pauline monk showed me their libraries, and a book with the signatures of visitors. There were several prominent Nazis’ (names) there. Then he showed the treasury of gifts (received) over hundreds of years to be shown to the people.
After the War, the Communists were in control, but neither Nazis nor Communists looted the treasury. I have another example of this.
In 1960, the Royal Palace was just a hole in the ground. Now, rebuilt by the “Communists,” there is a display of gold and other coins in locked displays with guards around them.
So, I ask, “who looted my collection?” If there is anything remaining, I ask that it be sent to the Kosciuszko Foundation or the Pilsudski Institute in New York. They have art to be viewed by young people. I have been a member of the Kosciuszko Foundation for over 50 years.
But mostly, I want to inform my old, stupid [fools] who saved their whole lives for monies that is rapidly declining due to inflation. Be wary of whom they give money. If it is a collection, have an iron-clad document (written by a non-Michi- gan law firm) who can monitor the trust.
I have learned from my experience, I have not given any donation to Michigan, except Hillsdale College, which refused to accept money from any large government, which is the base of all corruptions.
The world needs donations (because of) earthquakes, floods, Putin’s war of expansion, etc., but check out who gets the donation.
I recently sent several thousand dollars to a distant relative in Poland. He sent the money to a hospital in Kiev (we are both Ukrainians). In Africa, Eastern Europe, (and) the Middle East, governments are corrupt, but the churches there are not.
Dr. George L. Morgan
Professor Emeritus of Chemistry
San Jacinto, California
