The Joseph J. and Frances D. Zavislak Family Collection in Polish Studies was established in 1989 by Joseph S. Zavislak, in honor of his parents. Joe is the executive vice present of IKON Office Solutions Incorporated/Ricoh. At Notre Dame, he is a member of the Hesburgh Libraries Advisory Council, the Badin Guild, and the Order of St. Thomas More. Joe has two sons: Jay and Brian (’97, ’00 JD).

The Libraries have been able to add a significant number of works to the Polish history books and media collections, including contemporary Polish films, due to funding from the Zavislak Endowment. There have also been acquisitions of materials including manuscripts (such as literature books by contemporary Polish writers in Polish and in English), history, social and political thought, internal and external political relations, intellectual history, theology, philosophy, art, culture, and a host of other areas. The collection has also expanded its holdings of newspapers like the Gazeta Wyborcza, which, as the daily with the biggest circulation in Poland, is critical to the study of all aspects of this rapidly changing country and its geographic region.

Joe has also established the John L. and James R. Zavislak Endowment for the Kresge Law Library.