I visited “Sikorski Museum and Insitute” for the first time on 6th March 2014. I was truly overwhelmed by the size of its archives and fantastic assistance of Jadwiga Kowalska – Deputy Keeper of the Archives.
I spent the entire day working through the private collection of Krystyn Lach Szyrma who was a professor of philosophy at Warsaw University. He became famous as a writer, journalist and political activist.
His collection helped me to look at early Polish immigration to Britain from a different perspective. It brought new light to the Polish exiles’ social and financial situation between 1831 and 1864. This vast collection includes: private notes, leaflets, tickets, vouchers and press articles (from The Times, The Morning Post, L’Unnivers, The Morning Herald, Christian Times).
Among hundreds of documents I found a few that really enlightened my imagination:
1. Record of newly established Literary Association of Friends of Poland from 1832. Its aim was to assist new exiles with securing employment.
2. An appeal to the British Public on Behalf of Polish Exiles (1832).
3. Record of Polish Exiles’ Friend Society – 1833 when de la Garde former chamberlain of Stanislaus, King of Poland contacted Mr Thurston and informed him about struggling existence of several country men that settled in London. There was also a list of donors attached.
4. An invitation to attend series of five lectures on the Religious History of the Slavic Nations by Valerian Krasinski author of “History of Reformation in Poland.” Leaflet was dated 8th May 1847.
5. Leaflet advertising “The Annual Grand Polish Fancy or Full Dress Ball in Bid of the Funds of the Literary Association of the Friends of Poland” from 29th May 1848. Ticket price was £1.
I’ve also discovered that there were 250 Poles working in various professions across England in 1852 (according to the Literary Association of Friends of Poland).
