Lithuanian St. Kazimieras Society and its departments in the Suvalkai County in 1926–1936

The article discusses the activities of each division of Lithuanian St. Kazimieras Society in the Suvalkai County for the education of the Lithuanian youth. The regulations of the Society were approved by the Minister of Internal Affairs on October 5, 1925. The society was able to operate throughout the Republic of Poland. On November 22, 1925 a constituent assembly of the society took place in Vilnius. The Board was elected and Priest dr. Antanas Viskantas became its chairman. In 1926 a new wording of the regulations was developed. The supplemented laws were re-registered by the Ministry of Internal Affairs on February 10, in 1927. The Branches of the Society could start with at least 10 wishing persons and with the consent of the Board of the Society. In 1926 there were only 10 established divisions, and in 1932 the Society already had 386 units. On July 17, 1932 Priest Vincentas Taškūnas was elected the Chairman of the Board. He led this Society until its final closure on December 31, 1937. In June 1935 the Society organized an exhibition of folk art in Vilnius and Suvalkai. In 1926, 5 Lithuanian St. Kazimieras Society divisions were established in the Suvalkai County. In total there were 29 units of the Society established in that county. One of them collapsed due to disagreements, and 28 of them operated until they stopped working. There were 6 more divisions in the Suvalkai County, but they failed to be established as they did not receive the county governor‘s permission. Since 1933 there existed additional sections that were set up as young farmers and sports sections. In some divisions there existed the sections of actors and singers. Almost all the departments in that county had libraries. In 1932 in Seinai, and in 1933 in Vaitakiemis, Reading Rooms of the St. Kazimieras Society were established. In 1927-1933 Vaitakiemis had a school which was maintained by the St. Kazimieras Society. It was the only school in that community. On June 20, 1936 the activities of the 12 sections were suspended by the order of the Suvalkai County Governor. On November 11, 1936 the Balstogė Governor ordered the closure and liquidation of all the departments of the St. Kazimieras Society in Gardinas and Suvalkai counties