Archive

Collect, Preserve, Catalog & Promote

The Polish Institute and Sikorski Museum (PISM) is a registered charitable organisation operating under the laws of England and Wales (see: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/312168/charity-overview?_uk_gov_ccew_onereg_charitydetails_web_portlet_CharityDetailsPortlet_organisation)

It primarily houses documentation created by the Polish Armed Forces and the Polish Government-in-Exile. The IPMS holdings also include archival materials dating back as far as the 15th century.

The entire collection can be divided into the following thematic sections:

19th century and earlier

Interwar period

Second World War

Operational diaries and chronicles

Daily orders 

The Polish Underground Movement Study Trust

The Polish Government-in-Exile

Over 800 personal and organisational collections of the Polish émigré community

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  • 19th century and earlier – the oldest records date back to the 15th century;
  • Interwar period – fragmentary diplomatic, military and civil records;
  • Second World War – primarily covering the history of the Polish Armed Forces, including the Polish Air Force and the Polish Navy;
  • Operational diaries and chronicles – of military units and civilian organisations;
  • Daily orders – of individual units and formations of the Polish Army and Polish Armed Forces;
  • The Polish Underground Movement Study Trust – including materials relating to the Home Army (Armia Krajowa), including Section VI (Special) of the General Staff of the Commander-in-Chief, the Social Department of the Ministry of the Interior, and the Cichociemni. Most of these archival materials are held by the Polish Underground Movement Study Trust (Studium Polski Podziemnej): https://studium.org.uk/index.php/en/;
  • The Polish Government-in-Exile – including the National Council of the Republic of Poland, Presidents of the Republic of Poland, the Council of Ministers, individual ministries and diplomatic missions;
  • Over 800 personal and organisational collections of the Polish émigré community – donated, among others, by politicians, diplomats, military personnel, academics, writers, painters, artists and actors, as well as schools, scouting organisations, youth, social and academic organisations.

     

    Samples from the Archive

                 The  rights to all images on this website are vested in the Polish Institute and Sikorski Museum. Reproduction by prior approval only. 

     

    The PISM Archives are staffed by a small team headed by the Director of Archives. The team is supported by approximately 15 regular volunteers.

    Since the Institute was established, the following individuals have served as Keeper/Director of Archives:

    1. Dr. Edmund Oppman (1945–1951)
    2. Regina Oppman MA (1951–1980)
    3. Capt. Wacław Milewski (1980–1989)
    4. Dr. Andrzej Suchcitz (1989–2025)
    5. Jadwiga Kowalska MA (2025–present)

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    The Polish Institute and Sikorski Museum is a registered charity (no. 312168) and other than funds that we generate through our activities, we are totally reliant on membership, donations and legacies to enable us to carry on with our work.

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