MSS-02-009

The Killian-Desroches were a family of Polish descent who came to Taunton for work in the textile industry in the mid 1900’s. Among the materials in this collection are naturalization papers for Joseph Killian and Katherine Mary Killian (Katarzyna Killijan), presumably the first members of their family to acquire American citizenship. Also mentioned in the collection are Stanley and Helen Killian. The “Verney News and Vues” mentions Stanley taking a loomfixers course in Taunton in 1948, therefore he and Helen were likely relatives of Joseph and Katherine. Stanley and Helen Killian had two daughters, Carol Ann and Gail Mary, and Carol Ann later married to become Carol Ann Killian Desroches. Carol’s daughter, Lisa Gail Desroches (Herbert), attended Wheaton College with the help of the Miss America Scholarship program, and went on to win Miss Massachusetts in 1992.