photography from the Library of Congress collection

27th May, 6:00 PM | cinema hall of the Emigration Museum in Gdynia

Free admission

What Polish treasures are hidden in New York? How did the Polish Institute of Arts and Sciences fight for them? Its Executive Director, dr Bożena Leven will tell us about it on 27th May at 1 Polska Street. The lecture accompanies the beginning of the Institute’s and Museum’s cooperation on a project whose aim is to digitalize and circulate the manuscripts of Andrzej Bobkowski, the writer.

The Emigration Museum in Gdynia and the Polish Institute of Arts and Sciences began cooperating to digitalize and promote the diaries, manuscripts and correspondence of one of the crucial Polish emigrant writers. As a part of the introduction of the Digitalization and Promotion of the Collection of the Polish Institute of Arts and Sciences (PIASA). Stage 1: Andziej Bobkowski, its director, dr Bożena Leven will talk about the history and present day of PIASA.

The Polish Institute of Arts and Sciences was founded by a group of Polish emigrant scientists, who continued the work of the Cracow Polish Academy of Learning which was liquidated during the German occupation. Bronisław Malinowski, a world-famous anthropologist, was the first president of the Institute. After World War II, PIASA became a leading social organisation, which promoted the achievements of Polish science and art in the USA.

Its building in Manhattan houses one of the largest archives of Polish documents abroad. The complete works of Jan Lechoń and Andrzej Bobkowski are among them. It also has an impressive art collection. Olga Boznańska, Maksymilian Gierymski, Jacek Malczewski, and Władysław Podkowiński are only some of the painters whose pieces can be seen there. These collections are valuable resources for many institutions, including the Emigration Museum in Gdynia.

Thanks to the joint project of the Gdynia Museum and the New York Institute, the Polish Andrzej Bobkowski readers will have access to them without the need to travel to the USA. The PIASA resources will be constantly available at the Museum reading room.

As a part of the introduction of the Digitalization and Promotion of the Collection of the Polish Institute of Arts and Sciences (PIASA). Stage 1: Andrzej Bobkowski, classes for literary scholars and historians will take place. Their participants will develop their research skills based on the PIASA material. We have also planned a number of events to promote the work of the Sketches in Ink author, like a cycling city game as well as travel and calligraphy workshops.

Andrzej Bobkowski (1913 – 1961) published stories and sketches, however his most important texts were diaries and correspondence, in which he depicted the world of his times. He spent the years of World War II on the Seine, which resulted in his most famous piece Sketches in Ink. France 1940-1944. From 1948 until his death, Bobkowski lived in Guatemala.

The Digitalization and Promotion of the Collection of the Polish Institute of Arts and Sciences (PIASA). Stage 1: Andrzej Bobkowski project was co-financed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage.