Collections of the Jozef Pilsudski in London
History
The archives of the Joseph Pilsudski Institute in London contain over 200 different collections of documents. These are mainly the personal materials of important politicians and activists operating in the interwar period as well as representatives of post war Polish immigrants in Great Britain. We have a large collection called the Archive of the Belvedere Collection (part of which consists of the archive of the Commander-in-Chief), containing materials from 1918 to 1922 which is made up of microfilms and negatives which provide an important visual source for research on the Polish-Bolshevik war and the first years of Polish Independence.The archives have grown over the years since the Institute first opened in London in 1947. It’s initial collections were made up of documents brought from Poland before the Second World War and concern chiefly the fight for freedom, the history of the Polish Legions and the years of independence in the 1920s and 30s. Many of these documents are related to Joseph Pilsudski and now form the large collection dedicated to him. This section of the archives is a collection of materials donated by many Poles living in Great Britain over the years. They include not only personal documents but also historical accounts, photographs and correspondence.
Description and digitalisation works
Most of the collections have been analysed and catalogued according to Polish and international archive guidelines. The catalogues have been entered onto the SEZAM and IZA databases and are available on the NDAP website, registered under number 709 “Instytut Józefa Piłsudskiego w Londynie”.
The most important Collections
Photographic Archive
This collection, which is constantly expanding thanks to generous donations, is currently made up of around ten thousand photographs, documenting mainly the Polish Legions and the interwar period. There are also several albums documenting the Second World War, including the movements of the 2 Korpus and the battle at Monte Cassino. Other collections include photographs of Polish immigrants in London, in particular events at the Institute and the Polish Social and Cultural Centre (POSK).Cartographic collection
The Institute’s cartographic collection comprises a rich and diverse range of maps and plans illustrating how the image of Poland has changed over the centuries. It includes materials of varying types, purposes and historical significance — from detailed military and topographic maps to administrative, transport and thematic maps, as well as historical maps documenting changes in borders and political and territorial transformations.A special place is occupied by military maps, which make it possible to reconstruct historical road networks, settlement patterns and the topography of the land. These are complemented by historical and archival maps, city plans, regional maps and atlases, all of which constitute valuable sources of knowledge about the past.
The maps held by the Museum should be regarded as part of a broader cultural heritage. Their value lies not only in their content but also in their date of creation, production techniques, provenance and connections with specific events and places. They provide a starting point for further research and interpretation, bringing geographical knowledge together with political, economic, social and cultural history.
Monte Cassino, 1944