Documents from the period 1919-1939/1942 from the archive of the Stephanus Bathoreus University in Vilnius in the Lithuanian Central State Archives: contents, history and future prospects

Abstract

Along with liquidation of the Stephanus Bathoreus University (SBU) in Vilnius exe- cuted by Lithuanian authorities in December 1939 there was also closed entire files’ documentation connected with two decades of the University activity. The files were listed, wrapped up, tied up with strings and deposited in the University’s cellar. And that is how they were stored throughout entire time of the World War II. Has the Polish government tried to regain them – we do not know. After the war entire documentation was transported to the archive of Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic. Part of the personal files were separated and withdrawn from the set. Their fate is not clear. The documentation of the archive was not ordered and access to it was limited. It was used only by Soviet researchers. Some certified copies were also prepared e.g. for the former SBU employees and sparse inquiries of Polish archivists were answered. Not sooner than after Lithuania regained its independence in the beginning of the 90ties the SBU archive was „discovered” for the sake of the research. Researchers from Poland have drawn attention to its research value and started to use it in their research on history of Polish science in the 20th century. This research interest caused that Lithuanian archival authorities started efforts directed on ordering and describing an entire archival set, also allowing for materials’ copying and publishing. The description is done in Lithuanian language, simultaneously there is prepared research monograph on SBU.