Polish Biographical Dictionary
Encyclopedia
Polski słownik biograficzny (PSB; Polish Biographical Dictionary) is a Polish-language
biographical dictionary
, comprising an alphabetically arranged compilation of authoritative biographies of some 25,000 notable Poles
and of foreigners who have been active in Poland – famous as well as less well-known persons, from Popiel
, Piast Kołodziej and Mieszko I, at the dawn of Polish history, to persons who died in the year 2000. The Dictionary, published incrementally since 1935, is a work in progress. It is expected to be completed about 2030.
The PSB is, by its own assessment, "at present... one of the world's leading biographical publications." Outside Poland, it is available at the British Library
, the Library of Congress
, the Vatican Library
, the Hoover Institution on War, Revolution and Peace, the University of California at Berkeley, Stanford University
, the Getty Museum, and many other national and major research libraries.
The Dictionary's current 46 volumes (well into "S") range from 480 to 830 pages each, for a total of over 28,000 pages. Some 8,000 individuals have contributed to the Dictionary. Most of the Dictionary's information is available only in the paper form.
Though not a comprehensive source on all notable Poles, the Dictionary is substantial and well-respected. Brock et al. write that the "'Polish Biographical Dictionary' is one of the major achievements of the humanities in 20th-century Poland. The entries reflect the multicultural and multiethnic composition of the pre-partition Polish state [...]. Therefore the dictionary is not 'a biographical dictionary of Poles,' but rather 'a Polish biographical dictionary,' including entries on prominent foreigners who lived in the country as well as representatives of national minorities."
While prewar Polish governments
had little influence on Dictionary editorial policies, the postwar communist government of the People's Republic of Poland
interfered substantially regarding who should be included. Since Poland's 1989 break with the Soviet bloc, this bias has been partly corrected in several supplements.
Polski słownik biograficzny constitutes a unique mosaic
that depicts the full sweep of Polish history
through biographies
of many of the country's most notable sons and daughters.
since 1935, although publication was suspended during Poland's World War II
occupation by Nazi Germany
and during the Stalinist period
. The Dictionary is a joint publication of the Polish Academy of Sciences
(Polska Akademia Nauk) and the Polish Academy of Learning (Polska Akademia Umiejętności). It is edited at the Tadeusz Manteuffel
Historical Institute (Instytut Historii im. Tadeusza Manteuffla) and is sponsored by the Foundation for Polish Learning (Fundacja na Rzecz Nauki Polskiej) and the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage (Ministerstwo Kultury i Dziedzictwa Narodowego).
The Dictionary had been founded by Władysław Konopczyński. The first volume appeared in 1935, and four more (through "Dąbrowski, Ignacy") before World War II
. After the war, by 1949, when Konopczyński was forced by the communist government to resign his editorship, two more volumes had been published (through "Firlej, Henryk
"). The project was then frozen until 1958, when it was revived under Kazimierz Lepszy. In 1964, after the Dictionary had grown by an additional three volumes (through "Jarosiński, Paweł"), Lepszy yielded to Emanuel Rostworowski.
During Rostworowski's tenure as editor, the quality of the biographies increased, while government interference and censorship decreased. Twenty-two further volumes had been published (through "Różycki, Ignacy") when Rostworowski in 1989 passed the baton to Henryk Markiewicz. Under Markiewicz, nine further volumes were published (through Stanisław August Poniatowski), as well as a supplement of Uzupełnienia i sprostowania do tomów I-XL (Additions and Corrections to Volumes I-XL) rectifying communist-era bias and censorship. Since 2003, the Dictionary's editor has been Andrzej Romanowski. The PSB team estimates they will end their work around 2030, with expected 62 tomes.
In 2003, PSB has launched its official Internet homepage. In 2010, the project has been unanimously endorsed by the Polish parliament (Sejm
), and given its honorary patronage.
Polish language
Polish is a language of the Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages, used throughout Poland and by Polish minorities in other countries...
biographical dictionary
Biographical dictionary
Biographical dictionaries – a type of encyclopedic dictionary limited to biographical information – have been written in many languages. Many attempt to cover the major personalities of a country...
, comprising an alphabetically arranged compilation of authoritative biographies of some 25,000 notable Poles
Poles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
and of foreigners who have been active in Poland – famous as well as less well-known persons, from Popiel
Popiel
Prince Popiel was a legendary 9th century ruler of the West Slavic tribe of Goplans and Polans, the last member of the pre-Piast dynasty, the Popielids...
, Piast Kołodziej and Mieszko I, at the dawn of Polish history, to persons who died in the year 2000. The Dictionary, published incrementally since 1935, is a work in progress. It is expected to be completed about 2030.
The PSB is, by its own assessment, "at present... one of the world's leading biographical publications." Outside Poland, it is available at the British Library
British Library
The British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom, and is the world's largest library in terms of total number of items. The library is a major research library, holding over 150 million items from every country in the world, in virtually all known languages and in many formats,...
, the Library of Congress
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
, the Vatican Library
Vatican Library
The Vatican Library is the library of the Holy See, currently located in Vatican City. It is one of the oldest libraries in the world and contains one of the most significant collections of historical texts. Formally established in 1475, though in fact much older, it has 75,000 codices from...
, the Hoover Institution on War, Revolution and Peace, the University of California at Berkeley, Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
, the Getty Museum, and many other national and major research libraries.
Character
As of September 2011, 46 volumes have been produced, and work is in progress on volume 47, with entries onSz. The latest issue, booklet 193, or the second booklet of Tome 47, covers entries Szatzsznajder Leon - Szczepański Czesław. Entries up to Zz will appear in succeeding volumes.The Dictionary's current 46 volumes (well into "S") range from 480 to 830 pages each, for a total of over 28,000 pages. Some 8,000 individuals have contributed to the Dictionary. Most of the Dictionary's information is available only in the paper form.
Though not a comprehensive source on all notable Poles, the Dictionary is substantial and well-respected. Brock et al. write that the "'Polish Biographical Dictionary' is one of the major achievements of the humanities in 20th-century Poland. The entries reflect the multicultural and multiethnic composition of the pre-partition Polish state [...]. Therefore the dictionary is not 'a biographical dictionary of Poles,' but rather 'a Polish biographical dictionary,' including entries on prominent foreigners who lived in the country as well as representatives of national minorities."
While prewar Polish governments
Second Polish Republic
The Second Polish Republic, Second Commonwealth of Poland or interwar Poland refers to Poland between the two world wars; a period in Polish history in which Poland was restored as an independent state. Officially known as the Republic of Poland or the Commonwealth of Poland , the Polish state was...
had little influence on Dictionary editorial policies, the postwar communist government of the People's Republic of Poland
People's Republic of Poland
The People's Republic of Poland was the official name of Poland from 1952 to 1990. Although the Soviet Union took control of the country immediately after the liberation from Nazi Germany in 1944, the name of the state was not changed until eight years later...
interfered substantially regarding who should be included. Since Poland's 1989 break with the Soviet bloc, this bias has been partly corrected in several supplements.
Polski słownik biograficzny constitutes a unique mosaic
Mosaic
Mosaic is the art of creating images with an assemblage of small pieces of colored glass, stone, or other materials. It may be a technique of decorative art, an aspect of interior decoration, or of cultural and spiritual significance as in a cathedral...
that depicts the full sweep of Polish history
History of Poland
The History of Poland is rooted in the arrival of the Slavs, who gave rise to permanent settlement and historic development on Polish lands. During the Piast dynasty Christianity was adopted in 966 and medieval monarchy established...
through biographies
Biography
A biography is a detailed description or account of someone's life. More than a list of basic facts , biography also portrays the subject's experience of those events...
of many of the country's most notable sons and daughters.
History
This reference work has been published in KrakówKraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
since 1935, although publication was suspended during Poland's World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
occupation by Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
and during the Stalinist period
Stalinism
Stalinism refers to the ideology that Joseph Stalin conceived and implemented in the Soviet Union, and is generally considered a branch of Marxist–Leninist ideology but considered by some historians to be a significant deviation from this philosophy...
. The Dictionary is a joint publication of the Polish Academy of Sciences
Polish Academy of Sciences
The Polish Academy of Sciences, headquartered in Warsaw, is one of two Polish institutions having the nature of an academy of sciences.-History:...
(Polska Akademia Nauk) and the Polish Academy of Learning (Polska Akademia Umiejętności). It is edited at the Tadeusz Manteuffel
Tadeusz Manteuffel
Tadeusz Manteuffel or Tadeusz Manteuffel-Szoege was a Polish historian, specializing in the medieval history of Europe.- Biography :...
Historical Institute (Instytut Historii im. Tadeusza Manteuffla) and is sponsored by the Foundation for Polish Learning (Fundacja na Rzecz Nauki Polskiej) and the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage (Ministerstwo Kultury i Dziedzictwa Narodowego).
The Dictionary had been founded by Władysław Konopczyński. The first volume appeared in 1935, and four more (through "Dąbrowski, Ignacy") before World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. After the war, by 1949, when Konopczyński was forced by the communist government to resign his editorship, two more volumes had been published (through "Firlej, Henryk
Henryk Firlej
Henryk Firlej was a Polish szlachcic, bishop of Łuck , Archbishop of Gniezno and Primate of Poland from 1624; Deputy Chancellor of the Crown .-External links:*...
"). The project was then frozen until 1958, when it was revived under Kazimierz Lepszy. In 1964, after the Dictionary had grown by an additional three volumes (through "Jarosiński, Paweł"), Lepszy yielded to Emanuel Rostworowski.
During Rostworowski's tenure as editor, the quality of the biographies increased, while government interference and censorship decreased. Twenty-two further volumes had been published (through "Różycki, Ignacy") when Rostworowski in 1989 passed the baton to Henryk Markiewicz. Under Markiewicz, nine further volumes were published (through Stanisław August Poniatowski), as well as a supplement of Uzupełnienia i sprostowania do tomów I-XL (Additions and Corrections to Volumes I-XL) rectifying communist-era bias and censorship. Since 2003, the Dictionary's editor has been Andrzej Romanowski. The PSB team estimates they will end their work around 2030, with expected 62 tomes.
In 2003, PSB has launched its official Internet homepage. In 2010, the project has been unanimously endorsed by the Polish parliament (Sejm
Sejm
The Sejm is the lower house of the Polish parliament. The Sejm is made up of 460 deputies, or Poseł in Polish . It is elected by universal ballot and is presided over by a speaker called the Marshal of the Sejm ....
), and given its honorary patronage.
See also
- Polish people
- Polish nobility
- List of Poles
- List of Polish Americans
- Who's WhoWho's WhoWho's Who is the title of a number of reference publications, generally containing concise biographical information on a particular group of people...
directories
External links
- słownik biograficzny site.
- (Polish) Edward Potempski—a sample PSB entry