History written in letters
“Hartman’s Letter” became the stuff of legend due to both the circumstances surrounding it and its timeless message, although for many years it was known only within the community of mathematicians. Since the students had taken the trouble to copy it down, it must have made quite an impression on them!
The central figure of this story is professor Stanisław Hartman. He was born in 1914. He completed his studies in mathematics at the University of Warsaw in 1937, and later studied physics in Lviv.
After the Second World War, he worked briefly at the Silesian University of Technology. He then settled in Wrocław, where he became a senior assistant at both the University and the Wrocław University of Technology (which formed a single institution until 1951). He completed his doctorate in 1947 under professor Edward Marczewski.
In 1968 he was dismissed from the University of Wrocław for supporting protesting students. He refused to emigrate.
On 1 November 1968 he wrote a letter to his second-year mathematics students at the University of Wrocław. It was a farewell letter.
According to professor Zbigniew Jurek, the letter was read aloud on 25 November 1968.
At the request of professor Marczewski, the letter was read to the students by the year representative, and one of those listening was Zbigniew Jurek, who carefully noted it down, word for word.
Professor Zbigniew Jurek handed over his handwritten notes – the farewell letter from professor Hartman – to the Rector of the University of Wrocław, professor Robert Olkiewicz, on 5 November 2025.
During this moving, memory-filled meeting, the Rector read the original letter in order to compare its content with the handwritten transcript made by the then second-year mathematics student Zbigniew Jurek. They are almost identical.
Here is an excerpt:
“My educational efforts were not recognised. In reality, I never educated you in any way other than by teaching you mathematics. I have always believed that whoever teaches, educates by that very act. I believe in the powerful influence of mathematics on the mind, for mathematics develops thought that is clear, critical, controlled, and it teaches one to value truth – a truth that stands on its own and is not guaranteed by any authority.”
As professor Jurek recalled during the meeting, no one knew that the original of the letter had survived until August 2021, when it was passed from the USA into the hands of the then Rector, Professor Przemysław Wiszewski, and then transferred to the University Archives.
“Hartman’s Letter”, handwritten by professor Jurek in 1968, forms a primary source that enriches this remarkable history. “We are very grateful that the Professor has chosen to entrust us with his valuable personal keepsake” − said Magdalena Wątorska, Deputy Director of the University Archives.
“With regard to materials in the Archives relating to the events of March 1968, they are in fact rather modest” − admits Remigiusz Kazimierczak, Director of the University Archives.
The most precious materials are firsthand accounts, such as the diary of mathematics student Błażej Koska, which the author donated to the University in 2021, or the better-known chronicle of March 1968.
The meeting between Rector professor Robert Olkiewicz and professor Zbigniew Jurek was also attended by the Dean of the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, professor Dariusz Buraczewski, and the University’s Press Spokesperson, Katarzyna Górowicz-Maćkiewicz.
On this remarkable occasion, we kindly ask that those connected with our University consider donating such documents, personal accounts, memories, and diaries relating to their studies or work (not only from 1968). These are invaluable sources that complement official records and in a sense bring history to life.
We warmly encourage everyone to contact the University Archives in this matter: https://archiw.uwr.edu.pl/
Professor Hartman was reinstated to his post at the University of Wrocław only in 1981, where he worked until his retirement.
Complied by Katarzyna Górowicz-Maćkiewicz.
Date of publication: 6.11.2025
Added by: M.K.
