The Jean Roberts and Theodore F. Twardzik Family Endowed Collection in Polish Studies was established in 1997. Theodore F. “Ted” (’51) and his wife, Jean, are members of the Badin Guild. They have three children, two who are Notre Dame graduates:  Theodore (’79) and Timothy (’81).

Ted Sr., and his brother Louis (’48) were from a small coal mining town in northwestern Pennsylvania. After graduating, Ted built a business based on the Eastern European culinary tradition their mother, Mary, always made. Mrs. T’s ® Pierogies went from being a small family business to being Shenandoah’s largest employer. The product is distributed throughout the United States and in several international markets. Ted is retired, but the business continues under the direction of his children.

This endowment allows the Libraries to build the Polish studies collection—an integral part of East European studies. The Polish and East European Studies faculty have been working on identifying relevant manuscript collections, expanding Polish history acquisitions, and purchasing literature books by contemporary Polish writers in Polish and in English.

The family has also established the Jean Roberts and Theodore F. Twardzik Family General Library Endowment.