Wizerunek XIX-wiecznego chłopa z Mazur w świetle źródeł i literatury wspomnieniowej

Abstract

The image of the Masurian peasant has not yet been discussed in a separate publication, because it is an objectively difficult topic. In the sources we have a different perception of this social layer by Polish and different by German historians. In addition, historical policy played a big role here, since showing the image of the peasant appropriately for the Polish or German propaganda. Considering individual elements of everyday life, we also see a completely different image of the same peasant. My intention was not to harmonize the image of a nineteenth century peasant from Masuria, but to choose – as objectively as possible – various sources that give an image of this social layer. I hope that the sources that I used will inspire readers to reflection and trying to draw conclusions about the Masurian peasants in the 19th century. For writing the article three extensive scientific sources were used, begining from the oldes of them which comes from 1959 and which was written by the eminent bibliologist and historian Władysław Chojnacki. Considering the sequence the second source is about collection of Andreas Kossert – German researcher with Masurian roots. This sources come from 2002. The last one is the latest work of the marriage of Grzegorz Jasiński and Małgorzata Szymańska-Jasińska, an expert on the history of Masuria in the 19th century. In addition, two sources were printed individually in the monograph. There is Wojciech Kętrzyński from 1872 and the memories of Karol Małłek about 1890–1919. Using found collections they were quoting Polish and German documents, articles from contemporary newspapers, fragments of books, accounts of clergy and laity from trips to Masuria, official reports, letters, as well as documents found in the State Archives in Olsztyn, the Kórnik Library or German archives. The oldest are from 1817, most from the mid-nineteenth century (from 1838 to 1865), the last chronologically from 1889, 1900 and 1915.