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The academic community and the foreign occupier. The 160th anniversary of the January Uprising

The academic community and the foreign occupier. The 160th anniversary of the January Uprising

The new temporary exhibition commemorates the involvement of the Jagiellonian University's academic community in the January Uprising. Read more about the exhibtion after opening the full article. Visitors can enter the Collegium Maius cellars and access the new exhibition idaily between 10 am and 17:30. Free entry.

28 February — 11 April 2023

Although the January Uprising ended in military defeat, it became one of the most significant experiences shaping the history of the Polish nation. The national insurgency demonstrated that a political modus vivendi with Russia was impossible, but more imporantly, it became a legend firmly implanted in the national consciousness which shaped the future generations — the same generations that rebuilt the independent country in 1918 and that later stood up to defend it in 1939. This legend, carried through works of literature, arts and history, includes a narrative about the first Polish underground state which united the efforts of uncounted people, often conflicted with each other, into a single entity guided by an unwavering will. The historical importance of their collective effort, labour and determination was emphasised by many notable figures, including the national leader Józef Piłsudski in his famous lecture "Year 1863".

Among the social groups supporting the preparations for the Uprising and then the active fight was the Jagiellonian University. Professors, junior staff, alumni and active students — all can be found in the historical accounts concerning the insurgent struggle in 1863 and 1864. It is hardly surprising because Cracow, a city located very close to the border of the Russian-controlled Kingdom of Poland, become one of the centres of insurgent leadership, and its University, being one of the most important institutions in Cracow, could not remain passive under such circumstances.

Jurists, doctors, philosophers, natural scientists and other scholars — all provided support to the insurgent army stationed in Galicia, joined the military units moving beyond the border, worked in various agencies of the National Government, and took care of the sick and wounded returning from the battlefields. Preserving the memory of those people, the university community, is the main goal behind the exhibition created on the 160th anniversary of the January Uprising.

Visitors can enter the Collegium Maius cellars and access the new exhibition idaily between 10 am and 17:30. Free entry.

Co-organiser of the exhibition: Jagiellonian University Department of Medicine History — Collegium Medicum.

 

Photographs: 

Tadeusz Żuliński and Feliks Wiśniewski among a group of students. Photo by Ignacy Krieger, 19th/20th c. Cracow Museum collection.

The Bierkowski brothers of Cracow: Kazimierz, Włodzimierz and Józef. Photo by Natan Krieger, 19th/20th c. (photocopy), 1863 (original photo). Cracow Museum collection.

Karol Gilewski. Photo by Walery Rzewuski, Cracow, date unknown. JU CM Medicine History Department collection.

Alfred Obaliński. Photo by Walery Rzewuski, Cracow, date unknown. JU CM Medicine History Department collection.

Photogallery