Inwentarz zespołu „Wyższe Seminarium Duchowne w Gnieźnie” z zasobu Archiwum Archidiecezjalnego w Gnieźnie
INVENTORY OF THE ‘ECCLESIASTICAL SEMINARY IN GNIEZNO’ FOND FROM THE RESOURCES OF THE ARCHDIOCESAN ARCHIVE IN GNIEZNO

Summary/Abstract: Founded in 1960 by Primate Stefan Wyszynski, the Gniezno Archdiocesan Archive was assigned with the role of collecting, preserving, processing and providing access to archival materials related to the history of the Archdiocese and Metropolis of Gniezno. The ‘Ecclesiastical Seminary in Gniezno’ fond, which reflects the history of one of the oldest seminaries functioning in the Polish lands, occupies an important place in its collection.The Gniezno Seminary was founded by Archbishop Stanisław Karnkowski in 1602. However, its erection witnessed unfavourable times, and consequently proved unsustainable. In 1718, Archbishop Stanisław Szembek reestablished the seminary and entrusted its administration to the missionaries of St Vincent à Paulo. It survived in that form until 1835. After the dissolution of the congregation under the Prussian partition, Archbishop Marcin Dunin decided to transform the Gniezno seminary into a practical education facility for seminarians. This form of institution survived until 1927, although the seminary was closed in 1875–1886 as a result of the kulturkampf. In 1927, Cardinal August Hlond eorganized the seminary’s studies. In Gniezno, he established a full philosophical study for seminarians from the archdioceses of Gniezno and Poznań. During World War II, the Germans set up a police school in the building. Seminar classes did not resume until April 1945. In 1953, Cardinal S. Wyszyński managed to consolidate philosophical and theological studies in Gniezno. Since 1998, the Gniezno seminary has been part of the Faculty of Theology of the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, while retaining its own legal personality and organizational distinctiveness.The rich tradition of the Gniezno seminary has resulted in a preservation of extensive archival resource concerning its activities. It includes 376 units that refer to documentation produced after 1718. This is because the earlier documents produced by the seminary’s registry have not survived, as evidenced by the printed inventory report accompanying this study. It includes archives with distinguishable thematic groups of files: alumni; regulations and curricula; library; income and expenditure; contracts and accounts; Braciszewo estate; inventories; correspondence; archbishop’s boarding school; foreign seminary; priestly retreats; construction records.

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