The legacy of Primate Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński in the Archdiocesan Archive in Gniezno. The content and the stage of its description and cataloguing

Michał Sołomieniuk

Abstract

The Archdiocesan Archive in Gniezno has a number of archival materials connected with Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński, the Primate of Poland. Some of them, produced during primate’s management of the Archdiocese of Gniezno as an ordinary bishop, were included many years ago into the archival fonds called the Archive of the Metropolitan Curia. In addition, many years ago, the albums with photos showing the Primate’s work in many parts of Poland were included into the records. However, the description and cataloguing of the proper legacy of the Primate of the Millenium began in 2014. In the beginning, the documentation was divided into three series: notes  ‘Pro memoria’ (original manuscripts and typed copies), ‘The Primate of Poland’s Sermons’ (typescripts with different kinds of public speeches) and Varia (three units have been included into this series so far). Inventory work on the sermons was halted due to the gaps which we hope to fill with the copies coming from the fonds of the Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński Institute. When we receive the copies, we will include them into the series ‘The Primate of Poland’s Sermons’, then we will begin describing and cataloguing 6,5 linear metres of wishes as well as visitors’ books and material relating to the funeral. The loose photos will be included in the collection of the albums. Some archival materials, 1,5 linear metres of documents, which were produced as a result of Primate’s powers in spirutualibus and a few folders entitled ‘The correspondence  to which His Eminence responded with pictures’ will be included in the fonds ‘The Primate of Poland Archive’ as soon as the work on the archival materials related to Primate Hlond is completed. The inventory work resulted in the contacts with Dr Hab. Paweł Skibiński from Warsaw and the Primate Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński Institute. The exchange of information and experiences gives hope that  Wyszynsciany (material related to Cardinal Wyszyński) will be better known. The beatification of the Primate of the Millenium is approaching, and the work of these three teams is homage paid to the Man whose work and personality should be better known and esteemed.