ALEKSANDER GIEYSZTOR, THE FIRST DIRECTOR OF THE ROYAL CASTLE IN WARSAW

Aleksander Gieysztor (1916–1999) wasunquestionably one of the most outstanding representativesof the Polish humanities in the 20th century. He consideredhimself a historian, and his basic workplace was theHistorical Institute of the University of Warsaw, while hisresearch focused around mediaeval culture. He becamea museum professional slightly against his own will, in thelast decades of his career, when taking on the position ofthe Director of the rebuilt Royal Castle in Warsaw. Despitethinking of himself as a historian, Gieysztor was wellprepared to exert the function, since he had always beenextremely interested in artistic sources, as important andclear as a historiographer’s narrative or a chronicler’s note.Not only did numerous publications testify to his interest,but he also formulated the programme of the Team for theResearch into the Beginnings of the Polish State, which heheaded in 1948–1955. Owing to its historical and symbolicalsignificance, the Warsaw Castle took an important positionin Gieysztor’s career. He was by Stanisław Lorentz’s sidefrom the very beginning, supporting him in his efforts tohave the Castle rebuilt, the project neglected by Poland’sCommunist authorities. Having become member of theCivil Committee for Rebuilding the Royal Castle, Gieysztorheaded its Archaeological-Historical section. From 1973he became member of the so-called Castle Curator Board:a team which collegially managed the Castle. Estheticalsensitivity and artistic erudition, as well as a thoroughknowledge of old-Polish culture provided Gieysztor withan excellent background to fit with the group of scholarsdecisive for the shape and educational programme of thereconstructed Castle; later, individually, they allowed himto find satisfaction in the role of the Director heading itsfurbishing. Gieysztor acknowledged this project to havebeen his greatest intellectual challenge in the last decadesof his academic career. However, he regarded it as his duty:service to society longing for symbols to shape its historicalidentity.