What the manuscripts from his collections say about J.M.Ossoliński - lecture

time

15 October 2026 at 17.00 free admission

Venue

Ossolineum Plac Nankiera 17 Conference Room, Wroclaw

Lecturer

Ewa Orłowska (Manuscripts Department of the Ossolineum Library)

Bibliophile, bookkeeper, historian, translator — what the manuscripts from his collections say about Józef Maksymiliano Ossoliński

Did Ossoliński have a sense of humor? Who called him “the perfect bookworm”? Did the count translate works about space travel and write novels?

“They all write, “Shall I put my hands on the cross? (...) Am I just sad to be a reader and not get the author's fame?”

Józef Maksymilian Ossoliński is known more for the library he founded than for his writing activity, despite the fact that he left behind about 100 volumes of his own manuscripts. The lecture will present both the manuscript part of his collection and the manuscripts of Ossoliński himself.

The collection of books and manuscripts collected by the Count reflected his goals: it was not an impressive collection visually impressive, but presented a special value for the study of Polish history, literature and culture. It was to be a research workshop not only for Ossoliński himself, but also for others. Collecting white crows, the count was already thinking about creating a public library to serve the nation. During the lifetime of Józef Maximilian, only some of his translations were published, and of his literary works — a poem dedicated to his aunt, published in 1780. Three volumes of his monumental project — “Historical and Critical News” — also managed to be published. Much of the legacy did not appear in print, the count also repeatedly began works that he never completed and some of the texts still remain only in manuscripts.

We invite you to a series of lectures, during which Ossolineum employees will introduce the figure of Józef Maksymilian Ossoliński. This is a great opportunity to hear about the history of the Ossoliński family, Ossoliński's biography and bibliophile passion, but also about the most valuable treasures of medallion art, cartographic polonicas, old prints or manuscripts from the original collection of the Count.

Lectures will be held periodically from January to December (excluding July and August) 2026 on Thursdays at 17.00.

We invite you to follow the deadlines!