Wacław Olszewicz’s research work and his contribution to the development of Polish librarianship

Abstract

The article concerns biographical characteristics and activities of Wacław Olszewicz (1888-1974) – a lawyer, economist, Polish culture historian, librarian and library scientist, Polish Cultural Association (PTK) activist. Together with his brother Bolesław, he inherited one of the largest private collections in the early twentieth century in Poland from his father, Adolf Olszewicz. In 1920s and 1930s, apart from his professional activities as a lawyer and economist, he devoted himself to community activities in the field of libraries and librarianship development. During the German occupation his library was partially dispersed and most of the collection was destroyed by the Germans. W. Olszewicz spent war and post-war period in Lviv, where he continued his work with books as a librarian and bibliographer in Ossolineum, Ukrainian Academy of Sciences and the Academy of Sciences of the USSR. He maintained contact with Polish scientists, publishing his works in Polish journals.