Archival workshops for College students at the National Archives in Wrocław – a page from the academic chronicle.
Dear Reader, if, while reading this account, you will feel as if you have moved back in time – don’t adjust your “receiver”. That’s the magic of archives. The account from archival workshops is stylised to the narrative convention of the Polish Film Chronicle from the seventies. The tone is engaged, with a bit of pathos and with a touch of irony! In mind we can hear the jingle of Polish Film Chronicle, composed by pianist and composer Władysław Szpilman (1911-2000) as well as a voice-over from Jerzy A. Rosołowski. The topics of practical part of workshops – a scientific search based on two archival units: “Forum robotnicze – literatura – upowszechnienie książek pisarzy wrocławskich. (Informacja wycinki pracowe) 1977” (Workers forum – literature – dissemination of the books by writers from Wrocław. (information, press clippings) 1977) (Ref. AP Wrocław WRZZ 310) and “Akcje czytelnice, popularyzacja pisarzy wrocławskich, sprawozdania z działalności bibliotek związkowych, plebiscyt na najciekawszą książkę roku 1975-80. “Reading Promotions Campaigns: popularisations of Wrocław writers, reports on the activities of union libraries, pool for the most interesting book of the year 1975-80” (Ref. AP Wrocław WRZZ 307 – became inspiration for the chosen convention.
In the interest of the comprehensive development of the younger generations, the National Archives in Wrocław in cooperation with the College for Interdisciplinary Individual Studies from the University of Wrocław (MSI), organised a series of archival workshops within the framework of “Beyond Language” classes.
On the 8th and 29th May of this year, eager students of MSI College had an unusual opportunity to embrace the everyday work of an archivist and a researcher. They learnt about the modus operandi of document accessibility, explored the mysteries of national written heritage and carried out research queries on their own.
The opening visit took place in an atmosphere of creative exchange of knowledge, experience and plain curiosity. The young generation of researchers visited the restoration workshop, digitalisation workshop and reading room – core places on the map of every archive, where history comes to life in documents and gets into the hands of young researchers.
The second day of archival workshops was devoted to practice – reliable, methodical and academic.
The young researchers of the College of Interdisciplinary Individual Studies undertook an assignment requiring focus and precision, conducting a scholarly query in archival units. They searched for initiatives promoting a culture of reading in Wrocław and popularising local authors in the years 1975-1980. Students analysed archival materials relating to the 1976 poll for the most interesting book of the year, organised by the renowned National Ossolinski Institute.
With commitment worthy of future scholars, the students learned how to correctly fill out request forms, use inventories and locate archival units’ reference numbers.
Document, source, knowledge – the three pillars of scholarly passion, presently cultivated by academic youth!
At the conclusion of the workshops, each group presented the results of their research. Although the query was grounded in the realities of the 1970s, it became a starting point to lively discussion about modern reading habits, the role of books in social life and everyday relevance of poetry.
Because while the times change, the need for word, culture and conscious literary reception remains the same. That is a good sign – for the archives, the science and the future.
Thus ended the archival workshop series for the University of Wrocław students – two meetings, several hours of hard work, tangible skills and contact with a living historical document.
The academic youth proved to be able to independently navigate sources, analyse facts and think in a critical manner.
Modern teaching methods, the commitment of the staff and the undying enthusiasm of the students allow for an optimistic outlook in the future – and a well-documented one!
We extend our sincere thanks to Ms. Danuta Płókarz, Head of the Promotion Department of National Archives, Mr. Krzysztof Michałowski from the Conservation Department, Ms. Joanna Niwińska from the Digitalization Department and Mr. Marek Drytkiewicz from the reading room – for their dedication, kindness and comprehensive preparation of the workshops for College of Interdisciplinary Individual Studies students.
Academic supervision and organisational support: Piotr P. Chruszczewski
Compiled by: Danuta Płókarz, Monika Piechota
Conservation Lab: Krzysztof Michałowski
Digitalization Lab: Joanna Niwińska
Reading Room: Marek Drytkiewicz
Graphic Desing: Andrzej Grodziński
Production: College for Interdisciplinary Individual Studies/ National Archive – Wrocław – 2025.
Full report available on the website.
Date of publication: 05.06.2025
Added by: M.K.
Translated by Marcin Dolata (student of English Studies at the University of Wrocław) as part of the translation practice.
Data publikacji: 5.06.2025
Dodane przez: M.K.
