Kresy. Photographs from the National Digital Archive
The album from the publishing series of the National Digital Archive presents nearly half a thousand unique photographs of the Eastern Borderlands (Kresy Wschodnie) from the era of the Second Polish Republic. These images were meticulously selected from photographic collections such as the Koncern Ilustrowanego Kuriera Codziennego – Archiwum Ilustracji (Illustrated Courier Company – Illustration Archive), the Photographic Archive of Henryk Poddębski, and the Collection of Photographs of Lviv and Its Vicinity. The publication invites readers to immerse themselves in the atmosphere and multicultural heritage of these regions during the interwar period.
The album showcases, among others: city and village panoramas, figures associated with public and cultural life, scenes from daily life including work, celebrations, and landscapes characteristic of the borderland provinces.
As with all NAC publications, Kresy. Photographs from the National Digital Archive has been released in both Polish and English.
Magierscy: Photographers from Lublin
The ninth publication in the National Digital Archives’ editorial series, authored by Olga Nasińska and Łukasz Karolewski, offers a valuable record of the legacy of outstanding photographers from Lublin – Stanisław and Jan Magierski, father and son. In 2019, Jan Magierski donated a collection of photographs to the National Digital Archives, which became part of two newly established collections: Collection No. 152 – The Stanisław Magierski Photographic Archive and Collection No. 153 – The Jan Magierski Photographic Archive.
The album takes readers through various stages of the Magierski family’s life – from their fascination with photography and active involvement in Lublin’s social and cultural life before the war, through their heroic resistance activities and documentation of wartime atrocities, to the challenging postwar years of repression and loss of stability. It is not only a collection of photographs but also the story of an extraordinary family whose lives intertwine with Poland’s tumultuous history.
Jan Magierski’s photographs reveal a unique sensitivity to the beauty of nature. His work has been showcased in over 60 solo and group exhibitions both in Poland and abroad. Jan Magierski received numerous prestigious awards, including the FIAP 1992 in Barcelona and the Maria Luisa Memorial in Infiesto in 2002 for a series of photographs titled Polar Night.
New York, New York: Photographs by Czesław Czapliński from the National Digital Archives
The publication features over 50 photographs by renowned photographer Czesław Czapliński, presented in large format during an outdoor exhibition at the Gallery of the Royal Łazienki Museum in Warsaw in May 2023. The photographic legacy of this exceptional artist is being systematically donated to the National Digital Archives. Czesław Czapliński is not only an acclaimed photographer but also a highly talented documentarian who has captured moments of New York City life through his lens.
The Capital by Rassalski
This album is our next publication focusing on a specific photographer and their work. It is also one more album about Warsaw, though quite different from the previous titles: this time we show the city at one of its bleakest moments, devastated in the aftermath of the Warsaw Uprising, but gradually rising again from the ashes. Stefan Rassalski’s photographs enable us to observe the process step by step.
Wojciech Tuszko the Photographer
The album Wojciech Tuszko, the Photographer is another testimony to the excellence of Polish photography. What makes it unique is the fact that its subject is known mainly as a theorist of photography and a chemist. His debut as an artist came only after he turned ninety-four. Another reason why this book holds special significance is because in 2016 Wojciech Tuszko donated his whole body of work to the NDA, becoming one of its biggest contributors.
100 x 100
Sixt album published by National Digital Archives in the year when Poland celebrates the 100th anniversary of regaining independence in 1918. This publication is the result of a joint work of internet users from all over the world who voted for the 100 best photos of interwar Poland from the NDA’s collection. Thanks to their involvement in the project, which started in February 2018, that we managed to select 100 unusual photographs showing the free, independent, dynamically developing Poland after 1918.
Colonel Józef Hartman
Fourth album published by National Digital Archives and Foundation of the Polish Home Army Cichociemni Paratroopers. Militaria.pl is the strategic partner of the project.
Album by Katarzyna Brąkowska and Łukasz Karolewski depicts the life of colonel Józef Hartman an adjutant to the President of the Republic of Poland Ignacy Mościcki in prewar period. During the II World War he trained elite special-operations paratroops of the Polish Army in exile, created in Great Britain during World War II to operate in occupied Poland. He was the embodiment of officer’s virtues and all that was best in the generation of the reborn interwar Republic of Poland.
This project is part of the commemoration of the centennial of the regaining of independence “Niepodległa“.
Niepodległa Poddębskiego / Independent by Poddębski
Fourth monographic album published by NDA. Niepodległa Poddębskiego/Independent by Poddębski (1946-2002). Henryk Poddębski was one of the most prominent Polish photographers of the 20th century. He documented the birth and dynamic development of the Second Polish Republic in the interwar period. Album published in Polish and English.
This project is part of the commemoration of the centennial of the regaining of independence “Niepodległa“.
Narcyz Witczak-Witaczyński
Third monographic album published by NDA. Narcyz Witczak-Witaczyński (1898-1943) was a soldier, cavalryman and photographer. He documented the everyday life of the Polish cavalry and he was one the official photographers of Józef Piłsudski. This album constitutes a selection and overview of Narcyz Witczak-Witaczyński’s photographic legacy. Album published in Polish and English.
PRL Grażyny Rutowskiej
Second monographic album published by NDA. Grażyna Rutkowska (1946-2002), a jurnalist and press photographer, worked for “Dziennik Ludowy” and “Zielony Sztandar” . Her photographs are a perfect testimony to the dynamics of civilisational changes and the evolution within the society in times of Polish People’s Republic.
Warszawa Siemaszki
Is a book published in traditional and electronic forms. This is the first monographic album of Zbyszko Siemaszka, an excellent photographer, whose photographs are kept in the NDA. Text: Katarzyna Kalisz; concept and coordination: Bartłomiej Kuczyński; graphic design: Zofia Herbich.
Anna Sobczak, Między tradycyjnym a wirtualnym archiwum
Is a publication introducing the readers into the issues of the contemporary digital archiving, such as: computerization, standardization, digitalization, virtual archive. It was prepared on the basis of Anna Sobczak’s PhD thesis, collecting extensive factual materials regarding the establishment of digital archives in Germany. The book is available at the website of the National Digital Archives and in reputable digital libraries.
Narodowe Archiwum Cyfrowe. Wizja, projekt, ludzie
is a book summarising the first years of our activity and the early days of digital archives in Poland. We hope that due to this publication our users will realize the extremely important place of digitalization and creation of digital resources in building modern Poland.
EAD_PL. Międzynarodowy standard zapisu informacji o zasobie archiwalnym
This book is a Polish-language version of one of the most popular standards of recording information on archive materials, prepared by the National Digital Archives.
Photographs of the National Digital Archives. Events, personalities, phenomena
Is a leaflet presenting the selected photographs from the NDA’s resources, presenting the following subjects:
– politics, 2nd World War
– society, Judaica, personalities
– architecture, culture and art
– technology
An Outline History of the Archives of Audiovisual Records / National Digital Archives
Is an article of Filip Kwiatek, manager of the Photography Department of the NDA, devoted to the history and activities of the AAR, which was transformed into the NDA on 8 March 2008.
Due to publishing photographs on the NDA’s website, in 2010 Polish users saved ca. PLN 83 million
The National Digital Archives estimated the financial benefits of the digitalization of the archive heritage and creation of digital archives. The amount of 83 million shows the size of the barrier created by the traditional access to archive materials, and forms an important indicator for the assessment of the support of development of the human capital in Poland by digitalization of and providing on-line access to the cultural heritage.