Parish Library Research Articles

17th-century Prayer Books of Cistercian Nuns in the Collection of the Parish Library of St Bartholomew and St Hedwig in Trzebnica

17th-century Prayer Books of Cistercian Nuns in the Collection of the Parish Library of St Bartholomew and St Hedwig in Trzebnica

The Good Neighbours: Words and Images in the Ms. 3368 of the Sainte Geneviève Library in Paris

The essay aims to explore some historical-conceptual junctures of the Early Modern literary culture, starting from the perspective of the meeting and interaction between words and images in the physical space of a manuscript and in the conceptual space of a mnemotechnical treatise. Therefore the article describes a richly illustrated manuscript of the Parisian library of Sainte-Geneviève (ms. 3368), which contains an Italian treatise on the art of memory from the mid-15th century. The semiotic, rhetorical and cultural strategies mobilized by the physical co-presence of a text and its figurative translation represent in fact the core of every mnemonic process. The illustrations visualize the result of the associative process that enables remembrance, whilst the text follows and breaks down the process in a linear way, normally mentioning the res memorandae and then the image that has to be visualized in the mind.

Dzieje archiwum księcia Ksawerego Saskiego – historycznego dziedzictwa Francji, Polski i Niemiec

The article discusses the history of the split of Prince Xavier of Saxony’s archive into three parts: a French (the Departmental Archives in Troyes), Polish (the Polish Library in Paris), and German one (the Saxon Main State Archive in Dresden). The article presents the successive stages of the scattering process throughout the 19th century and on the selected examples taken from the French and Polish historiography shows how the split of the collection affected the state of research on the life of the Saxon Prince.

Preservation or Correction?

Abstract The manuscript Heb. 110 of the National Library in Paris (=Ms Paris 110) has long been considered by many targumic scholars to be the best manuscript for the Aramaic targums to the Hagiographa, mainly due to its many prominent and consistent Palestinian linguistic features. This article discusses the peculiarities of Ms Paris 110 in comparison with many other earlier manuscripts, and shows that many of its Palestinian and other features do not reflect the original language of the targums, but rather a late tradition characterised by ‘Palestinianisation’ and linguistic editing. This has serious implications for current trends in targumic studies.

العلاج بالکی فی ضوء تصاویر مخطوط جراحیة الخانیة المؤرخ بعام 870هـ/1465-1466م والمحفوظ بالمکتبة الوطنیة بباریس - دراسة فنیة حضاریة

تحتفظ المکتبة الوطنية بباريس بنسخة من مخطوط جراحية الخانية تحت رقم حفظ suppl turc 693 وهو مؤرخ بعام 870ه/1465-1466م، وعليه إهداء باسم السلطان العثماني محمد الفاتح، وهو يتألف من مقدمة وثلاثة أبواب، خصص الأول منها للعلاج بالکي وهو يشتمل على 57 فصلا، تتناول العديد من الأمراض وطرق علاجها بالکي، و55 تصويرة توضيحية، والهدف من هذه الورقة البحثية دراسة هذه التصاوير دراسة فنية حضارية وذلک من خلال محورين: الأول وصفي، والثاني تحليلي. The National Library in Paris houses a copy of the Gerrahiyya al khanyya Manuscript, inv. suppl turc 693, dated back to 870 A.H./ 1465-1466 A.D. The Manuscript has a dedication to the Ottoman Sultan Muhammad al-Fatih. It consists of an introduction followed by three sections. Section I was devoted to treatment by cauterization in 57 chapters covering various diseases and methods of cauterization and was illustrated by 55 paintings. The present research paper aims to study these paintings artistically and culturally based on two themes: Descriptive and analytical.

Kilka uwag o życiu i twórczości Jerzego Ręczyńskiego, autora poematu Dziewica Litwy Emilia Plater

The purpose of this study is a presentation of works of the Lithuanian nobleman Jerzy Reczynski (1805–1899), a soldier of the 1830–1831 Uprising and, after its suppression, an emigre. Reczynski lived, in turn, in France and Great Britain. Based on his published literary works, linguistic treatises, his memoirs from the time of the uprising as well as unpublished manuscripts and, above all, his comprehensive diary, his biography has been established, and an analysis of his whole oeuvre carried out. Special attention was paid to the manuscripts kept in the Polish Library in Paris: a journal entitled Życiopis and a historical poem devoted to Emilia Plater. The author of the article attempts at the analysis of the poem’s content and the establishment of its inspiration sources, that is those historical and literary texts that served as the source material for Reczynski.

THE ODDITY OF THE RUSSIAN TURGENEV LIBRARY (PARIS, FRANCE)

The paper briefly describes a history of establishing Russian Public Library in Paris, 1875, by an initiative of Russian politician German Lopatin; now, the Library is considered as the oldest Russian language book collection formed outside Russia. Ivan Turgenev's personal library took as a basis of the memorial document collection that gradually became a center of cultural life for the first wave of Russian revolution emigration to France. The article discloses content of the document collection by type of issues, calls its sources until it was seized by Nazi occupational administration in 1940, outlines the history of its “travelling”. Also, the general description of several examples of books and magazines that previously belonged to Ivan Turgenev's Russian Public Library and now is stocked in Vyacheslav Shishkov Altai Regional Universal Scientific Library (Barnaul, Russia) is given.

Zakłady (dépôts) dla emigrantów polskich w Châteauroux i departamencie Indre w latach 1831–1833

Refugee depots for Polish emigrants in Châteauroux and Indre department in the years 1831–1833 In the article the author presents the setting up and operation of refugee depots (Fr. dépôts) in the Indre department for Polish emigrants who arrived in France after the fall of the November Uprising. The refugee depot in Châteauroux was one of the several depots founded by the French government. It was intended for civil exiles. The other camps for military refugees were set up in Avignon, Lunel, Besançon, Bourges, Lons-le-Saunier, Salins and Dijon. From the beginning of August 1832 till August 1833, the French authorities directed civilians to cities of Indre: Châteauroux – the capital of the department, as well as Issoudun, Levroux, La Chatre, Argenton, Buzançais, Chatillon, Saint Benoit, and La Blanc. The author establishes that in that period of time, 634 Polish refugees went through the camps of the Indre department. Most of them were students (from the Vilnius University), young officials and members of free professions. They came from the pre-partition areas of the former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (Lithuania, Volhynia and Podolia). Despite the restrictive policy of the administration and the fact that they stayed in the French province, the Poles engaged in the social and political life of emigration. They participated actively in democratic and educational organizations of the Great Emigration. In many cases, by their own determination, they went to study and obtained aducation at French universities and technical universities. The article is based on sources from the Indre Department Archives in Châteauroux, archives of the Defense Historical Service in Vincennes, the National Archives in Paris, the Polish Library in Paris, the Princes Czartoryski Library in Krakow, and academic studies.

Early Manuscripts of Quran (Through Data of Hijazi Calligraphy and Archaeological Evidence)

This research tackled the manuscripts of the early Quran (through the data of Hijazi calligraphy and archaeological evidence), reviewing the spelling phenomena that characterized Quran writing in close relation to the reality of Arabic writing. It also attempted to enlist the characteristics of calligraphy in early Quran copies as influenced by Nabataean script or what might be called early Arabic calligraphy (Hijazi calligraphy), comparing it with early Arabic inscriptions. Moreover, the study identified the relationship between the spelling system used in writing early Quran copies and the one used in early Arabic inscriptions, and attempted to conceive ways of identifying and dating the early Quran manuscripts preserved in regional and international libraries.The study is mainly based on five copies of the Quran manuscripts preserved in international libraries and book houses; namely: The Quran manuscript preserved in Berlin National Library (Berlin Quran), the Quran preserved in Birmingham University Library (Birmingham Quran), Tubingen University Library Quran (Tubingen Quran), the Quran preserved in the National Library in Paris (Paris Quran), and the Quran preserved in the British Library in London (London Quran).This is in addition to a collection of stone inscriptions and early dated papyrus received.The identification of the origin of Arabic calligraphy is significant for researchers of ancient Arabic inscriptions and of the Quran, whether in terms of the manuscripts or the drawings and other related sciences. Such identifications also enables identifying the characteristics of this calligraphy, especially the early ones with which the first Quran was written to explain those sciences and others, and to resolve the debate on the origin of the calligraphy with which the Quran in the era of the Prophet peace be upon him was written and copied in the era of the Caliphs, may Allah be pleased with them all. There are many trends and theories in determining the origin of the Hijazi Arabic calligraphy with which the Quran was written. A researcher of early dated Arabic inscriptions can easily identify a well-established writing system that writers followed, no matter how well that system resulted in conformity between what is written and what is pronounced.The study concluded with a set of findings and recommendations, the most important of which are:- The study proved that the early Quran copies received (samples of study) were copied and written in soft Hijazi calligraphy.- The study and the models of Quran manuscripts used proved the authenticity of the Holy Quran, despite the claims of Orientalists and skeptics.- The study revealed that most of the tithing marks were later on added in the early Quran manuscripts after their copying.- The study proved that among the main criteria that assist in dating the Quran manuscripts, especially the early ones, are their technical standards, as well as the linguistic standards in comparison with the cultural heritage, and then the radioactive carbon (C14) examination. تناول هذا البحث مخطوطات المصاحف المبکرة (من خلال معطيات الخط الحجازي والشواهد الأثرية)، واستعرضت الظواهر الإملائية التي تميز بها رسم المصحف على نحو أکثر صلة بواقع الکتابة العربية، کما حاولت حصر سمات خطوط المصاحف المبکرة المتأثرة بالکتابة النبطية أو ما يمکن أن نطلق عليه الخط العربي المبکر (الخط الحجازي)، ومقارنتها بمثيلاتها بالنقوش العربية المبکرة، وأوضحت تلک العلاقة بين النظام الإملائي المستعمل في رسم المصاحف المبکرة، والنظام الإملائي المستخدم في النقوش العربية المبکرة، وحاولت الدراسة وضع تصور لطرق تعيين وتأريخ المخطوطات المصحفية المبکرة المحفوظة في المکتبات الاقليمية والدولية.

Домашняя парижская библиотека Мережковских: Описание печатных изданий на русском языке

The material provides a detailed description of 14 files corresponding to 14 titles of the Russian-language prints from Zinaida Gippius and Dmitry Merezhkovsky Paris library sold to the National Library of France (BnF) by Vladimir Zlobin. The description is an annex to the article “Zinaida Gippius reading works from her Paris library” published in issue 14 of Literaturnyi Fakt (2019). All prints are presented in alphabetical order. Each entry contains detailed bibliographic data supplemented by the book or magazine issue code in the BnF catalog, as well as the inventory number and the price from the inventory, which records the act of acquiring the Merezhkovskys’ library by the BNF. In order to introduce Merezhkovskys' notes into scientific circulation as fully as possible, the description systematically gives the pages and lines marked by the spouses and all the textual and non-textual annotations of the owners. The graphic characteristics of the notes (color, means — ink, pencil, etc.) are also reproduced, making it possible to transmit Merezhkovskys’ multi-layer notes with great precision. The description is particularly useful for the study of Merezhkovskys' creative method and journalism, as well as for the biography reconstruction.

Towards Automating Inconsistency Checking of Legal Texts

Inconsistencies in legal texts are sometimes hard to find and correct. In this paper a novel machine executable methodology is described, which can facilitate this process. We demonstrate the methodology on the American University of Paris Library Circulation Policy No. AA036EN.<br/>

Зинаида Гиппиус за чтением книг из домашней парижской библиотеки

Зинаида Гиппиус за чтением книг из домашней парижской библиотеки

Duchowieństwo i stowarzyszenia katolickie wobec bibliotek dla ludu w Galicji na przełomie XIX i XX wieku

The clergy, Catholic associations and libraries for the folk in Galicia at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuriesIn the last decades of the 19th century libraries for the folk began to be created, founded by various educational societies for example by Catholic communities. In the documents of libraries’ functions and tasks it was emphasized that libraries should spread education consistent with Catholic faith and morality. The clergy were encouraged to set up and run parish libraries. The journals for priests provided advice on the organization of libraries. Appropriate guides were issued, too. In order to facilitate the selection of books appropriate for the assumed educational purposes, annotated catalogs were prepared by priests or various Catholic communities.

Căminul cultural „Regele Carol al II-lea“ din Grăjdana, Județul Buzău (1934-1940)

Căminul cultural „Regele Carol al II-lea“ din Grăjdana, Județul Buzău (1934-1940)

Księgozbiór parafii we Wrzawach w świetle wizytacji generalnej z 1748 roku

The article presents the parish library in Wrzawy in 1748. Information about it was provided by the protocol of the general visitation of the archdeaconry of Zawichost in the diocese of Cracow, realized by the archdeacon of that time, Józef Cyprian Lange (+1757). The collection of 15 books had a typically pastoral character. Texts of the Holy Scriptures, homiletic works of Alexander Lorencowicz, Sebastian Stryjewicz, Jan Osorius, Didacus Nisenus theological-moral Jan Busaeus, Robert Bellarmine, Ludwik of Granada and ascetic Tomasz and Kempis, helped to work on the pulpit or in the confessional. Thus, although it was not a collection of books, it was varied in content.

The Chained Parish Library of Chirbury, with Reference to Herbert Family Provenances

This article examines a parochial library which was established in Chirbury, in Shropshire, following the death in 1677 of its long-serving incumbent, Edward Lewis. It is particularly concerned with a number of claims which scholars have made about the collection, notably that it preserves a portion of a library which the poet George Herbert (1593–1632/3) established in the nearby town of Montgomery and that it contains books which were once owned by two of George Herbert’s brothers, Lord Herbert of Cherbury (1581/2–1648) and Sir Henry Herbert (1594–1673). The article finds no evidence for the former claim, conclusive evidence that the library contains books once owned by Lord Herbert, and some evidence that it contains books once owned by Sir Henry. It also presents a transcription of a devotional poem, written on a pastedown of one of the books, which is ascribed to an unidentified ‘Beatrix Herbert’.

Wyższe Studium Polskie przy Bibliotece Polskiej w Paryżu w 1945 roku

Following the German occupation of the French capital city, an idea sprang up in the Polish intellectual circles to intensify propagation of Polish culture and knowledge of Poland among young Polish and French people. This concept was to be implemented in the Polish Library in Paris by a series of lectures organized by the Department of Science of the Polish YMCA1 in France in late 1944. The success of the lectures encouraged the Polish Library to launch the Polish College with the goal of making available to primarily Polish youth, studying and working in Paris, the achievements of Polish science and culture and to prepare the young people for work in Poland. The curriculum was developed and, as expected, the College’s operations were financed by the YMCA. Wacław Grzybowski, Ph.D., a former ambassador of Poland to the USSR, was appointed director of the College. The lecturers included illustrious intellectuals: priest Augustyn Jakubisiak, Ph.D., Franciszek Pułaski, Zygmunt Dygat, Irena Gałęzowska, Wieńczysław d’Ercville and many other. The College enjoyed considerable popularity among the students. The changing political situation in Poland put a stop to the promising operations of the College. To some extent, it was continued in the Catholic University of Paris ( the Institut Catholique de Paris). Since 1945, the University hosted the Centre for Slavic Studies where the Polish Section (Section Polonaise) was established. It is worth emphasising that an ambitious attempt at establishing studies for young Poles abroad was made in Madrid, on the initiative of the Polish ambassador, count Józef Potocki, representing in Spain the Polish government in London.

«Reproduire la vie»: l’influence d’Octave Mirbeau sur la dernière mouture du roman “Le Livre de Goha le Simple” d’A. Adès et A. Josipovici

Octave Mirbeau met Egyptian francophone writers Albert Ades and Albert Josipovici in 1914, while they were living in the neighbourhood of his villa in Triel, a small town on the banks of the Seine, west of Paris. During their frequent conversations between 1914 and 1916, Mirbeau conveyed his strong convictions about authentic contents and purified style in literature: an author must reproduce real life without interpretation and moral judgement from his own side. These conversations had an influence on Ades and Josipovici’s still unpublished novel, Le Livre de Goha le Simple. The young authors reworked it on the basis of the new ideas about literature they were discovering with Mirbeau. This paper identifies and analyses the impact of Mirbeau’s ideas on the final text of the novel (published in 1919 by Calmann-Levy, Paris) by comparing it with a complete manuscript conserved at the French National Library in Paris, written before meeting Mirbeau. It emerges that in the final text detailed descriptions are often removed or shortened, and moral and psychological analysis avoided, as Mirbeau advocated. The change is more evident around the description of the main characters: scholar Cheikh-el-Zaki “loses” extensive theological considerations, while the complex psychology of El-Zaki’s young wife Nour-el-Ein and Goha himself is presented quite unexplained to the reader’s intuition in the final text. In 1916 Mirbeau, obviously pleased with the book that the authors only shared with him after reworking it, signed the foreword of Goha.

Information Needs and Behavior of Catholic Priests in Croatia

ABSTRACTThis article presents a segment of the results gathered in a doctoral study that investigated information needs and behavior of Catholic priests in Croatia. The study focused on parish priests in particular and their information needs and behavior in the liturgy and care-giving role. The research was conducted with the help of quantitative and qualitative methodology. Print questionnaires were filled out by 327 respondents, while in the follow-up interviews 20 respondents took part. Research results show that respondents, in the care-giving role and liturgy, require information about theology, general culture, psychology, and pedagogy. More than half of respondents find information for liturgy on religious websites and in their personal parish libraries. However, in their care-giving role they seek information most often from their parishers, members in parish pastoral and economic boards, and from colleagues at their regular meetings organized by the (arch)diocese. Both in liturgy and care-giving role, respondents use religious publications to a much larger degree than secular books, magazines, or newspapers. The respondents explained that in liturgy they consult colleagues and parishers in order to exchange advices and ideas, while in the care-giving role some respondents also prefer to seek an advice from an expert in specific field. The results of this study can help Catholic Church and theological faculties when preparing the information literacy courses for future parish priests.

Założenia projektu badawczego pt.: „Opracowanie katalogów XIX-wiecznych druków. wydanych na emigracji i ziemiach polskich ze zbiorów Biblioteki Polskiej w Paryżu i Towarzystwa Historyczno-Literackiego” oraz związana z nim integracja środowiska bibliotekar

The article describes the assumptions of the research project entitled “Describing the catalogues of the 19th century prints published in emigration and on Polish land from the collection of the Polish Library in Paris and The Historical and Literary Society”. It presents the methodology of studying the materials (VTLS/Virtua) and the specifics of the collection of the Polish Library in Paris. The realisation of the project is an opportunity to exchange experiences between the employees of different institutions taking part in the project. The workshop of the librarians of the PAU and PAN, Ossolineum and the Jagiellonian Library are characterized with local otherness, and due to this cooperation it is possible to broaden the skills and qualifications and share the knowledge. The integration of the community is being made in several aspects - scientific, professional and social.