At the turn of the 20th century, the January Uprising of 1863 was one of the focal points of Polish collective memory, shared by the Polish communities abroad. Their press marked the subsequent anniversaries of the Uprising with due solemnity, highlighting its importance for the history of the nation and seeking to engage its readers in a common show of respect. Editors of the Polish-language newspapers in the USA followed the same line, using the commemoration as a means to consolidate the unity of the Polish-American community.