Autobiographical Sources in the Holdings of the Archives of the Jewish Historical Institute, Warsaw Cover Image

Źródła autobiograficzne w zbiorach Archiwum Żydowskiego Instytutu Historycznego w Warszawie
Autobiographical Sources in the Holdings of the Archives of the Jewish Historical Institute, Warsaw

Author(s): Monika Taras
Subject(s): History
Published by: Stowarzyszenie Centrum Badań nad Zagładą Żydów & IFiS PAN
Keywords: biography; account; correspondence; card index

Summary/Abstract: The Archives of the Emanuel Ringelblum Jewish Historical Institute contain autobiographical sources well-known to researchers, such as accounts, diaries or journals, grouped into three major collections: accounts (No. 301), diaries (No. 302) and the Underground Archives of the Warsaw Ghetto (the Ringelblum Archive). In addition, the archival holdings contain biographical documents scattered in many collections, sparsely used by the researchers, which include forms, surveys, registration lists, biographies, letters, and applications. These constitute not so much a complementary source of our knowledge of the Holocaust, but they help to expand it. They are invaluable given that they were written immediately after the war (mainly 1940s), and their authorship (survivors, their relatives, or witnesses). In these materials individual fates of Jewish citizens are focused, as well as tragic events in towns and villages overlooked in history books.

  • Issue Year: 2013
  • Issue No: 9
  • Page Range: 508-520
  • Page Count: 13
  • Language: Polish