France

• Archive of the “Kultura” Literary Institute in Maisons Laffitte
• Archive of Pallottine Fathers in Paris
• Polish Catholic Mission in France
• Historical and Literary Society – Polish Library in Paris

 
Archive of the “Kultura” Literary Institute in Maisons Laffitte
91, rue de Poissy
Le Mesnil-le-Roi
78600 Maisons-Laffitte


Creation and short history
In 1946 in Rome Jerzy Giedroyc founded a publishing house called the Literary Institute (Casa Editrice Lettere). The institution was created with the help of the members of the Polish II Corps, in the first place the Chief of Staff, Gen. Kazimierz Wiśniowski and thanks to a loan from the soldiers’ social fund. In June 1947 the first issue of the “Kultura” magazine was published. In the same year the Literary Institute transferred from Italy to Maisons Laffitte near Paris. In autumn that year was published the next issue of “Kultura”, since then published monthly. The editorial team apart from the founder of the Institute, J. Giedroyc, included Zofia and Zygmunt Hertz and Józef Czapski. In subsequent years the series “Biblioteka Kultury” was started, within this series were published Polish literary works as well as a periodical addressed mainly to historians and entitled “Zeszyty Historyczne”. For many years after the World War II the Institute functioned as an independent centre of Polish culture. In the years of communist censorship in Poland it offered the possibility of freedom of activity and speech to many outstanding Polish scientists, writers and artists. As a result of many years of the Institute’s activity many documents and materials important for Polish culture were gathered. In the year 2000 the founder of the Institute, Jerzy Giedroyc died. At present his brother, Henryk Giedroyc, takes care of the institution.

Description of the collection
The materials kept in the Institute’s Archive were created during its activity from 1946 till today. According to a preliminary analysis carried out in 2008 by an experienced archivist all the archive materials consist of around 163 linear meters, including:

• correspondence between J. Giedroyc and numerous collaborators, friends and acquaintances, representatives of politics, culture, science from Poland and in exile;
• editorial materials (mainly typescripts of articles set for print in “Kultura” and “Zeszyty Historyczne”);
• historical and workshop materials;
• entrusted materials, legacies and deposits;
• administrative materials and financial and accounting documentation.

The archive materials include also a few thousand photographs, recordings, audio and video tapes, a collection of newspapers and press cuttings. This part of the collection documents many political and historical events of modern Poland, including the actions of political opposition, the Solidarity movement and other manifestations of resistance against the communist authorities in Poland. The collection of photos includes photos collected by the Photography Department of the Propaganda and Culture Division of the Polish Army in the East and documents the history of the Polish II Corps soldiers in Italy.

Collaboration with the Head Office of State Archives
Collaboration with the Head Office of State Archives started in 2007 when for the first time an archivist was sent for a 2-week stay in order to conduct preliminary assessment of the collection’s condition. In consequence a report and an initial assessment of their physical state were prepared . The next 1-month-long visit took place in July 2008 and during this stay a more detailed analysis of the Archive’s content was carried out. As a result the size and physical state of individual groups of files in the Institute’s collection were assessed, another more detailed report was prepared and accompanied by photographic documentation which presented the layout of the archive materials in some rooms and state of some of the documents requiring immediate conservatory works. In November 2008 a letter of intent was signed between the “Kultura” Literary Institute, the General Director of State Archives and the National Library in Warsaw where the parties expressed their will to continue their collaboration in order to save the archive materials collected in Maisons Laffitte. Based on their declaration of May 2009 the above-mentioned institutions signed an agreement on continuing the collaboration. In March 2009 a 2-week stay was organised for an archivist and conservator who conducted a full review of archive materials in terms of their state and prepared a conservator’s opinion.

Plan for future works
As of 1 August 2009 the commencement of organisational and inventorying works in Maisons Laffitte has been planned. A schedule of works to the end of 2009 has been prepared, it provides for 1 or 2-month long stays of groups of four (2 librarians and 2 archivists). At the first stage of works the so-called editorial files and materials rejected by the editors will be analysed and catalogued. The results will be registered in the MAK database used by the National Library. Partial databases will be integrated into one central database managed by the National Library. Members of the archive team were trained in the standards of the MARC21 description and how to operate the database in July 2009 before the planned departure of the first group. Further stages of works were defined in the schedule to the above-mentioned agreement. The realisation of the project is planned for the years 2009-2013. In this time a comprehensive assessment of the archive materials gathered by the Literary Institute should be carried out. As a result of these works a database with descriptions of all the materials should be created and the Archive Inventory should be prepared for print. Organised collection will be placed in acid free boxes and stored in archive rooms prepared for that purpose. In the final stage of works another conservator’s review will be carried out and a detailed plan for further conservation of the collection will be drawn up.

Archive of Pallottine Fathers in Paris
25, rue Surcouf
75007 Paris


Creation and short history
Origins of the archive collected by Pallottine Fathers in Paris are connected to the creation of the Centre for Dialogue in the 70s and the publication associated with it, “Editions du Dialouge”. The initiator of both these undertakings was a member of the congregation, Father Józef Sadzik. The centre he created in 1973 focused on lectures and discussions. In a short period it became one of the most important centres of the Polish community’s intellectual and religious life in Paris. Poles from Poland and in exile, irrespective of their political orientation and opinions, participated in the meetings organised with the leading figures of culture, science and religious life. Papers were delivered by outstanding personalities of the Polish Church, among others, Cardinal Karol Wojtyła, Primate Józef Glemp, Cardinal Franciszek Macharski, Archbishop Ignacy Tokarczuk, Father Prof. Janusz Pasierb. Author’s evenings were organised for great writers (e.g. Czesław Miłosz, Zbigniew Herbert, Miron Białoszewski, Sławomir Mrożek, Włodzimierz Odojewski), directors (Andrzej Wajda, Krzysztof Zanussi) and actors (Andrzej Seweryn, Halina Mikołajska, Maja Komorowska, Wojciech Pszoniak, Zbigniew Zapasiewicz). Also well-know democratic opposition politicians from Poland gave lectures there, among others, Lech Wałęsa, Adam Michnik, Tadeusz Mazowiecki. Almost all the meetings were recorded on audio tapes, some were also documented on photographs or slides.

Description of the collection
The main part of the archive materials consists of the sound library of the Centre for Dialogue, stored in the monastic library of the Pallottine Fathers. In general the sound archive consists of 366 tapes and 53 reels on which about 400 recordings were registered. It covers the period from 1972 to 2006. The sound library is accompanied by a collection of around 1400 photos and around 100 slides. The above-mentioned collection is of great historical value for documenting the history of the opposition and the role of emigration circles in Poland’s modern history.

Collaboration with the Head Office of State Archives
First contacts with the Head Office of State Archives were established in 2006 when a short recognition trip to the centre of the Pallottine Fathers in Paris took place. Thanks to the agency of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage and their financial support, in July 2008 a second visit of an audiovisual collection specialist was organised. The archivist delegated by the Head Office of State Archives analysed entire collection and prepared a detailed report and working records of recordings kept in the Centre for Dialogue, as well as a general description of photos and slides. Also a technical analysis concerning the carriers, their physical state and possibility to create copies, was carried out. In June 2009 the collection of recordings was sent to Poland in order to be digitalised and undergo necessary protection treatments.

Plan for future works
After transporting the recordings a schedule for future works has been prepared, including creation of digital copies of the recordings and in the next stage their analysis. After the digitalisation works, which are supposed to take a few months, will be completed originals of the recordings together with the protective copy will be returned to the Pallottine Fathers in Paris.

Polish Catholic Mission in France
263 bis rue St. Honoré
75001 Paris
FRANCE
Phone + 33 1 55 35 32 32
Fax: +33 1 42 96 19 89
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Creation and short history
The idea to create a Polish catholic mission in France originated in the circle of the so-called Great Emigration after the November Uprising. The initiators of the project were Piotr Semenenko, Hieronim Kajsiewicz and Aleksander Jełowicki, who after theological studies and being ordained in Rome returned to Paris in order to take care of the Polish immigrants. In result of their actions and support from Adam Mickiewicz on 17 February 1836 the Polish Catholic Mission was founded with offices at Notre Dame de Champs in Paris. Its goal was to offer pastoral care to immigrants, support them in terms of education as well as financial help for the poorest. In 1844 the Mission transferred to a building by the Church of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary at 263, Saint-Honore St. were it resides till today. The archbishop of Paris, Denys Affre, let the Mission use the church, which before belonged to the French parish of St. Magdalena, free of charge. This way the so-called Polish church started its activity and the first rector of the church and the Polish Mission was Father Aleksander Jełowicki followed by eleven persons. At present, since 1985 the rector is Father Stanisław Jeż.

In its history the Mission and its rectors participated in important events in the history of France and Paris. In 1874 the Polish Catholic Mission started the tradition of organising pilgrimages to Lourdes for the Poles, this tradition survived till today. During the World War I priests from the Mission provided pastoral services to the Polish soldiers and collaborated with the Polish National Committee that was created in Paris on 4 June 1917. After Poland regained independence in 1918 instead of political emigrants to France started coming persons looking for employment. New mission centres were created and the number of immigrants rose quickly. In 1922 the Rector of the Polish Catholic Mission in Paris became the Rector of the Polish Catholic Mission in France and Cardinal August Hlond, Primate of Poland, entrusted him with the management of pastoral services for the Polish immigrants in entire France. By 1939 the number of missions in France rose to one hundred posts, their geographical structure was reorganised and divided in six deaneries.

During the World War II the Mission’s activity has been weakened as a result of deportations to concentration camps of some of the priests. The Mission’s rector, Franciszek Cegiełka, was taken to the camp in Dachau, as well as other nineteen priests taken to different camps, four were taken to POW camps, three were executed in France, several got involved in the resistance movement, five became chaplains of the Polish Army in France.

Revival of the Mission’s activity and development of local structures took place after the War. Cardinal August Hlond who in 1940 was interned in France and later deported to Germany, after the end of the War returned to Paris and in 1945 started the Polish Seminary. On 17 September 1973 the Association “Concorde” – Friends of the Polish Catholic Mission was created, its goal was to support the activities of by the Mission. During the Martial Law the Polish Catholic Mission participated in the organisation of humanitarian aid for Poland. In 1992 in Vaudricourt a founding session of the Polish Pastoral Council for Western Europe took place. In the meeting participated the representatives of Polish Catholic Missions and Polish catholic organisations from Denmark, the Benelux, France, Spain, Sweden and Great Britain. From 1988 a closer collaboration between the French and Polish episcopates was established. As a result on 29 June 1993 the Statute of the Polish Catholic Mission in France was signed, it stipulated closer collaboration of both sides in supporting Polish immigrants in France. In consequence of the Polish-French collaboration the John Paul II Foundation was also created with offices in the Institute of St. Casimir from Vaudricourt which supports the Polish community in France.

Description of the collection
The Archive of the Polish Catholic Mission is located in its offices in La Ferte sous Jouarre. In total it consists of 70 linear metres of files and over 3100 archival units. It is composed of documentation that was created in the course of the Mission’s activity, as well as files of many Polish social, educational and veterans’ societies and organisations operating outside Poland. Among the materials there is documentation of such organisations as: Polish Association of War Invalids in France, St. Stanisław Kostka Charity Society, Association of Polish War Refugees in France, Association of Reservists and Former Polish Military in France, National Treasure in France, Association of Polish Veterans, Polish Scouting Association in France, Committee to Aid Poles in France, Association of Polish Architects in France and many others.
The archive has on deposit very interesting correspondence addressed to Primate Cardinal Józef Glemp with protests against the announcement of the Martial Law in Poland.

Collaboration with the Head Office of State Archives
The Mission started the collaboration with the Head Office of State Archives in 2008. Two archivists from Poland were sent for three months to perform archival works there. Their activity started with general analysis of the conditions for storing the files and their content. Despite the fact that the archive room was located in a basement its state was assessed as satisfactory and guaranteeing proper temperature and humidity of air for storing the archive materials.

Archival works started with dividing materials into groups and separating the files of the Mission itself from the materials of other organisations. Helpful in these works was the index of files used for many years in the Mission. The files of the Polish Catholic Mission were in big part catalogued in previous years by a local archivist responsible for the collection. Due to this fact the persons delegated by the Head Office of State Archives focused on other materials creating records for the existing groups of files and separating new archival units from scattered materials. Results of works were entered into the SEZAM database (records of archival units) and the IZA database (electronic inventory of given units) as they were created. In total 35 archival units were separated and their records as well as working inventories for some of them prepared. Also the index of files used in the Mission since the 50s of the 20th century was updated by adding new classification entries.

Plan for future works
Further works in the first place should aim at completing the inventorying works in the Mission’s archive. As one of the crucial tasks was considered completion of organisation of the files of the Mission itself (organisation of files without records), awarding final catalogue numbers to units and preparation of a full inventory in the IZA database. There is also a need to prepare a consolidated index of files for the Polish Catholic Mission office. Still to be organised remains the deposit composed of the protest letters sent to the Primate of Poland and expressing protest against the announcement of the Martial Law in Poland. If the Mission decides to make their archive available to the researchers a reading room should be organised.
From September 2009 further organisational and inventorying works will be conducted by another archivist delegated by the Head Office of State Archives.

Historical and Literary Society – Polish Library in Paris
6, Quai d’Orléans
75004 Paris
FRANCE
Phone + 33 1 55 42 83 83
Fax: +33 1 46 33 36 31
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Creation and short history
The Historical and Literary Society and Polish Library in Paris are among the oldest Polish organisations operating outside Poland. Their histories were inextricably linked from the start. In 1832, when Polish immigrants in Paris learnt about the liquidation of the Society of Friends of Science in Warsaw, they started the Literary Society headed by Prince Adam Jerzy Czartoryski. In 1854 the name was changed to the Historical and Literary Society. The book collection started by the Society gave birth to the Polish Library in Paris, created in 1838. Apart from books it started collecting medals, old coins, drawings, prints, notes and portraits. At first the library collection was located in the offices of the Historical Division of the Literary Society at rue Matignon. In the next few years the library changed its location several times. In December 1853 a tenement house at 6, Quai d`Orleans was bought and the collection has been located there until today.

The position of the library and its collection improved in the second half of the 19th century. Pursuant to a decree of Napoleon III of 10 June 1866 the Historical and Literary Society together with the Library were considered public institutions. At the same time the legal status of the library’s building was taken care of and it was taken over by the Historical and Literary Society from Władysław Zamojski.

The beginning of the 70s of the 19th century brought temporary suspension of the Library’s activity on account of the change of political situation in France. Despite of that in that period the book collection has been organised, it consisted of 37,981 volumes and 6701 leaflets and brochures. Projects undertaken in the 70s to transfer the Library’s collection to Poland met with protests from majority of Polish immigrants. Finally, in 1891 the Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences in Krakow took over the care for the Library from the Historical and Literary Society. From mid 90s to 1926 Władysław Mickiewicz (Adam Mickiewicz’s son) was responsible for the Library, in 1903 he donated entire collection inherited after his father to the Library. These materials helped to create the Adam Mickiewicz Museum at the Library. In 1928 Franciszek Pułaski took over the Library’s management, reorganised it and one year later the opening ceremony in a newly restored building took place. In consequence of the reorganisation over 60 thousand books were donated to the Library of the Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences, the Jagiellonian Library in Krakow and the National Library in Warsaw. Also around 32 thousand drawings, including ones by Rembrandt and Albrecht Dürer, were transferred to the library of the Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences and the National Library. These actions initiated the attempts to transform the Library into a centre of Polish culture. It was supported by the creation of Centre d`Etudes Polonaises in 1935, as well as intense publishing activity and organisation of lectures of outstanding Polish writers, scientists and historians. At the beginning of the World War II the Library’s collection was used by the Polish Government in exile. In the Library’s building the Polish University Abroad with Prof. Oskar Halecki as its vice-chancellor started its activity. In 1940 part of the Library’s collection was moved and hidden in the Montresor Castle and various French institutions. The remaining materials were taken away by the Germans in October 1940 after they seized the Library. Attempts to regain them from Germany were made in 1945. Traced collection was first taken to Poland and then a part of it returned to Paris. According to recent estimates around 40% of the plundered book collection returned to France, 30% is kept on deposit at the Museum of Literature in Warsaw and 30% is considered missing.

After the War Franciszek Pułaski reactivated the activity of the Historical and Literary Society and asked the Polish community in America for financial help. In 1951 the Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences was merged with the Polish Academy of Sciences. This fact and change of political situation in Poland led to breaking off contacts with the Polish Library in Paris. As a result of a suit filed by the Historical and Literary Society against the Academy of Arts and Sciences, in 1959 a French court passed a sentence on breaking off all the contacts between the Polish Library in Paris and the Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences. The Library’s collection has been divided into two parts. Collection gathered before 1944 remained the property of the Library and collection acquired after 1944 became the property of the Historical and Literary Society, with time this division stopped being respected in a strict way.

At present the Polish Library is managed by the Historical and Literary Society which pursuant to the decision of a French Tribunal of 1982 received its building and collection on lease to 2030.

Description of the collection
The oldest of the manuscripts preserved at the Library are the royal documents. This collection includes a letter from Queen Bona to Cardinal Alexander Farnese from 1547, letters and documents of Anna Jagiellon, Stefan Batory, Sigismund III Vasa, Władysław IV Vasa, John II Casimir Vasa, Michael Korybut Wiśniowiecki, John III Sobieski, Augustus II the Strong, Augustus III, Stanisław Leszczyński and his daughter Maria, the Queen of France and her husband, King Louis XV.

Other archival materials that the manuscript division is composed of can be divided into three thematic groups:

1. Legacies of persons and family archivesIn total this division consists of 148 archival units
   
   These are materials from participants of national uprisings, artists, representatives of culture and science. Worth noticing are the family archives of Czartoryscy, Gałęzowscy and Gierszyńscy and Cyprian Kamil Norwid.
   Among other legacies of well-known persons who rendered great service to Poland there are for example: the legacy of the historian Marceli Handelsman from 1943-1945; the legacy of general Karol Kniaziewicz, commander of the Danube Legion and participant of the Napoleon Wars (files from 1794-1842, personal documents, property deeds, materials concerning his activities, correspondence, journal); the legacy of Stanisław Kot, a historian and political activist; materials concerning the life and activity of the historian Władysław Pobóg-Malinowski; the legacy of Julian Ursyn Niemcewicz from 1758-1840; the legacy of Karol Sienkiewicz from 1820-1893 (financial and property documents, biographical materials, correspondence, fragments of scientific works, fragments of legacies of other family members).
    
2. Archives of Polish and foreign institutions and organisations
   
   This section consists of the documents of 58 institutions and organisations both Polish and for example French. The oldest materials come from the Archive of Prince Ksawery Saski (files from the years 1739-1792) and the Archive of the Russian Embassy in Warsaw which were scattered during the Kosciuszko Uprising. Significant part of the files constitute the archival materials left after the operation of 19th century Polish institutions and organisations, such as Polish Library in Paris, Hotel Lambert, Polish Emigration Committee in Paris, Institute of Polish Ladies, Polish Gymnastic Society “Sokół”, Polish School at Batignolles, Society of St. Vincent a Paulo, Veterans’ Society of St. Casimir, Union of Polish Emigration and others. Worth noticing in this group is the Archive of Polish Sejm of 1831, saved from the Russians.
   
   Among the emigration organisations created after the November Uprising worth noticing are the files from the archive of Hotel Lambert from the years 1840-1852 including for example lists of Poles living in Paris. Lists of immigrants and materials concerning the activity of Gen. Józef Dwernicki were preserved in the files of the Polish Emigration Committee in Paris which was created in March 1848 and attempted, among other things, to create a Polish legion. Many materials regarding the history of Polish emigration in England in the years 1831-1887 can be found in the archival unit: Archive of the Polish Emigration in England.
   
   Regarding the history of the January Uprising and emigration after 1863 there are files from the Fiscal Chamber of the January Uprising that operated in the years 1863-1864 and files of the Union of Polish Emigration, an organisation created in 1866 and gathering immigrants-supporters of the “red” party during the January Uprising.From the interwar period and the years of the World War II there are for example: files of the Polish Embassy in Paris (1919-1953), Archive of the Polish Consulate in Toulouse (materials from the years 1939-1941 including: personal files of employees, consular reports, correspondence, materials on Polish education and other Polish institutions and organisations), Archive of the Military Industry Office of the Department of the Treasury (1939-1940), Archive of the Polish Red Cross and Relief Society for Poles in France (1941-1945), Archive of the University Camp for Polish Internees in Fribourg (files from the years 1940-1944 including: student files, student record books), Archive of the Association of Polish Students Abroad (1941-1948).
    
3. Loose documents
   
   This section consists in total of 13 collections created by librarians of the Polish Library during organisation of the collection and loose documents that have not been organised as yet. These include: historical materials from the period from the 14th to 17th century (e.g.: diaries of Ksawery Sapieha, Teofilia nee Jabłonowska Sapieżyna, excerpts from Rome archives and Russian sources, autographs of kings), literary materials from 18th and 19th century, various materials (separated by Czesław Chowaniec), historical materials from 1796-1832 (on Duchy of Warsaw, Legions, Napoleonic Army, Vienna Congress, Kingdom of Poland, official letters, letters and diaries from the Uprising of 1831), Parisian Files (excerpts from the materials from 1208-1803 from English and Italian archives and libraries), miscellaneous materials from the period from 16th to 19th century (e.g. documents on Polish kings, emperor Napoleon I, Frederic Chopin), miscellaneous documents from 18th to 19th century (documents on Stanisław Kostka Potocki, Antoni Radziwiłł, Julian Ursyn Niemcewicz, Jan Karol Chodkiewicz), miscellaneous documents from mid 19th century (e.g. studies and excerpts from press on events in Galicia, Brussels and Paris in 1848), miscellaneous materials from 19th century (materials on the Russian annexed territory – fragments from press, speeches, leaflets), miscellaneous materials from 19th century – texts (studies on politics of France, Prussia and Russia toward European countries), miscellaneous materials from 19th and 20th century, documents of immigrants from the period from 18th to 19th century, documents of immigrants from 1831, emigration journals from the years 1832-1865, fragments of legacies of various persons, genealogical and heraldic materials, fragments of archives of institutions and organisations, various papers, loose documents – small fragments (constituting less than one unit).

The archive materials are supplemented with photographs, collection of maps, plans and atlases, as well as a geographical collection.

The Library owns also one of the biggest Polish book collections outside of Poland. The Library gathers mainly works on Polish history, literature, philosophy and art in 19th and 20th century, as well as Polish periodicals, brochures, leaflets issued by subsequent waves of immigrants. Worth noticing is the section of old prints, including Krakow prints from publishing houses of Haller, Wietor and Łazarz; Vilnius prints, Poznan prints, Pinczów prints. As unique can be considered the Statue of Jan Łaski of 1506, Chronicle of Maciej of Miechów of 1521, works by Marcin Kromer published in Basel, Cologne, Krakow in the 16th century, 16th-century armorials of Bartosz Paprocki, three first editions of the work by Mikołaj Kopernik De revolutionibus orbium coelestium (Nuremberg 1543, Basel 1566, Amsterdam 1617).

In addition the Library has many others valuable museum objects, including collections of paintings, sculpture, medals, artistic objects and Chinese porcelain.


Collaboration with the Head Office of State Archives
First joint project started in 2007. It was a programme implemented thanks to the financial resources from the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage within the priority “PRESERVATION OF POLISH ARCHIVAL HERITAGE ABROAD – Preservation and protection of the unit of the Fiscal Chamber of the January Uprising in the Polish Library in Paris”. From the Polish Library in Paris documents that needed urgent conservatory works were transported to Poland. Protective works were carried out in the Central Laboratory for Conservation of Archive Materials at the Main Archive of Old Files in Warsaw and then more than 14 thousand rare historical documents were digitalised. Also an anniversary exhibition has been prepared (145-th anniversary of the outbreak of the January Uprising) presenting materials unknown in Poland.

In 2008 the collaboration was continued, again thanks to the financial aid from operation funds of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage. Three specialists from Poland were sent to Paris. An employee of the Central Laboratory for Conservation of Archive Materials assessed the conditions in which the archive collection was kept and prepared a report with information about saving the most endangered materials. At the same time two experienced archivists started organisational works in the Library’s archive collection. 19th century archive materials and cartographic collection were analysed. Archival works started with correction and supplementation of the “Catalogue of manuscripts of the Polish Library in Paris” prepared in 1939 by Czesław Chowaniec and Irena Gałęzowska. In consequence of further works in the manuscript section detailed files of the Russian Embassy in Warsaw from the years 1763-1794 were organised, as well as the files of interregnum left by Primate Władysław Łubieński from the years 1763-1764 and other small materials from the Old Polish period.

The delegated cartography specialist started his work by familiarising himself with this part of the Library’s collection, consisting in total of around 4,000 loose maps, plans of cities and battles from the period from 16th to 20th century and around 300 atlases. After initial analysis the following works have been carried out:

• a MS Excel form for map description was created in consultation with persons responsible for the collection in the Library,
• data about maps created before the 18th century was entered in the form and existing descriptions were verified and missing elements supplemented,
• electronic records of the maps (503 descriptions) created by the end of the 18th century were created.

Plan for future works
In relation to the manuscript collection:

1. Finish drying the 1st volume of the inventory of manuscripts published by Czesław Chowaniec and covering 19th century manuscripts.
2. Continue the analysis of the non-inventoried part of the Library’s manuscript collection.
3. Identify content of microfilms (several dozen reels) and prepare their digital copies.
4. The Library would also be interested in obtaining help in digitalisation of the archive materials and implementation of an electronic management system that would support the process of making the manuscripts available.

In relation to cartographic collection:

1. Finish works on the collection of maps created by the end of 18th century, i.e. finish electronic inventory, reorganise the maps, give them new catalogue numbers and edit the 1st volume of the map catalogue.
2. Catalogue maps from 19th and 20th century and catalogue atlases.

There is also a need to conduct necessary conservatory works on some maps (various types of mould and mechanical damage), as well as purchase acid free paper in order to prepare dust jackets for the maps.

From September 2009 organisational works in the oldest part of the collection will be continued by an archivist delegated

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