Samizdat publications and uncensored publications from Poland in the archives of The Research Centre for East European Studies at the University of Bremen and their collection from the 1980s

Abstract

The article briefly describes the aims of Research Centre for Eastern Europe / Forschungsstelle Osteuropa. It was first founded in May 1982 as „The Research Centre for Independent Literature and Social Movements in Eastern Europe at the University of Bremen”. The chief reason for the establishment of the Centre was the proclamation of martial law in Poland. The original idea stemmed from the Czech dissidents, who believed that research institutes should be established to work on the countries within the Soviet sphere of influence, without putting emphasis on the nature of the party and state. The Centre began its work by collecting material on „Samizdat”, testimonies of the political opposition, religious conflicts, and artistic dissent after 1945/53. The Polish collection contains a comprehensive set of volumes of „Second Circulation“,1976-1989/90. There are textual materials: journals of trade union, and „Solidarność“ movement, books published in underground, documents and leaflets, indipendent mail, posters, and audio-visual materials. The Bremer archive owes its success thanks to the participation of emigrants. Their private collections today are particularly important, and unique in their character. Examples for cataloging and archival description are cited.