Archiwum Państwowe w Katowicach

  • The State Archive in Katowice

Address

ul. Józefowska 104
Katowice
województwo śląskie
40-145
Poland

Phone

(32) 208-78-01

Fax

(32) 208-78-05

Email


Web

http://www.katowice.ap.gov.pl/

History

The State Archive in Katowice was created by the decree of the voivode of the autonomous Silesian Voivodship from November 1932. Its official name till 1939 was The Archive of Historical Documents of Silesian Voivodship. Under the German occupation it functioned as the filial of Staatsarchiv Breslau and from 1941 as Staatsarchiv Kattowitz. During the war part of archival holdings was evacuated to Germany. After the war the archive was reorganized and in 1946 it became State Archive in Katowice (from 1950 to 1983 Katowice Voivodship State Archive). Till 1992 its seat was the building of the Voivodship Office.

Mandates/Sources of Authority

Nowadays, The State Archive in Katowice works on the ground of the The Act on National Archival Records and Archives of July 14, 1983, Journal of Law, (Dziennik Ustaw) No 38, 1983.07.19 with later changes.

Building(s)

In 1992 the State Archive in Katowice was transferred to the outskirts of the city, to the former barracks in Józefowiec. The new spacious building permitted to relocate to Katowice the documents from liquidated local branches in Będzin, Bytom, Chrzanów and Tarnowskie Góry.

Archival and Other Holdings

The State Archive in Katowice possesses 2776 collections and archival founds. It holds archival records, which cover the period from the XV century to the modern times. The materials originated in the eastern part of Upper Silesia and in the western part of Lesser Poland, including Dąbrowa Coal Bassin (Zagłębie Dąbrowskie). Among documents antedating 1918, the Prussian territorial administration archives are of great importance. Numerous fonds deal with the period of the World War II: Regierung Kattowitz, Oberpräsidium Kattowitz, Oberschlesien Provinzialverwaltung, Treuhandstelle Ost, Sondergericht Kattowitz and the records of NSDAP Gauleitung O/S Kattowitz along with its local subordinates. Moreover, one may find here collections concerning the period of Polish People's Republic (1945-1989); for example, the Silesian Voivodeship Office (Urząd Wojewódzki Śląski), the People's Voivodeship Council (Wojewódzka Rada Narodowa) and the Presidium of the People's Voivodeship Council (Prezydium Wojewódzkiej Rady Narodowej) in Katowice. Valuable and noteworthy are also city records and family records. The State Archives in Katowice possesses the richest collection of industrial records in Poland. Those documents embrace the records of companies, enterprises, firms and workers' societies. After 1989, party records found their repository in the State Archives in Katowice. They are the Polish United Workers' Party (Polska Zjednoczona Partia Robotnicza), the Polish Workers' Party (Polska Partia Robotnicza), the Polish Socialist Party (Polska Partia Socjalistyczna), the United People's Party (Zjednoczone Stronnictwo Ludowe) in Katowice and Democratic Party (Stronnictwo Demokratyczne) in Katowice. The State Archives in Katowice also boasts bountiful cartographic collection containing military, geological, demographic maps of Silesia, Europe and other parts of the world. One of the largest collection of mining maps in Europe, preserved in the fond Higher Mining Office (Oberbergamt) in Katowice (1743-1976), deserves special attention. Furthermore, one may encounter here rich sphragistical, photographic and poster collection.

Opening Times

The State Archive’s holdings are available in the workroom open Monday - Thursday 9.00 - 17.45, Friday 9.00 – 14.45.

Conditions of Access

The access is regulated by Instruction No. 4 of the Head Office of State Archives in Poland, dated February 1, 2013.

Sources

  • YV/ClaimsCon'06/online search

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