The Challenges and Triumphs of Archival Research in Poland

By Kieran Stenson

Living abroad and research are both surprise-prone activities. My research abroad experience in Poland, therefore, has been full of many! Most recently, I discovered that King Stanisław II August’s personal draft of the Constitution of 3 May 1791, the object of my research, is believed by scholars to have been completed on December 20th—my birthday. I like to think this means that I am researching the right topic.

A portrait of the controversial King Stanisław II August, the last king of Poland and the foremost author of the Constitution of 3 May 1791. 

Of course, there have been hurdles. Since I am taking Polish language courses during my time here, it is sometimes difficult to find the mental energy for archival research. I have to be deliberate about planning ahead and making sure that my schedule does not conflict with itself. However, in some ways I think this has forced me to be a more thorough and deliberate researcher. And, of course, my language classes have helped me decipher and sift through the writings of late 18th century Polish writers—though not their handwriting! The biggest challenge I can foresee this summer is the danger of getting overwhelmed—by the amount of work, the topic itself, or just the idea of doing research. The best way for me to mitigate these challenges has been to maintain a weekly schedule and work consistently. Furthermore, I have realized that no amount of preparation can really prepare you for diving into a topic. At some point, you just have to start reading. I suppose a lot of researchers start reading about a topic during their first research project and then simply never stop. 

The Marshal’s Baton of Stanisław Małachowski, Marshal of the Sejm during creation and proclamation of the Constitution of 3 May 1791.

 There has also been plenty to celebrate. This month, of course, saw the 233rd anniversary of the Constitution of 3 May 1791, and all the celebrations and days off that Poles enjoy during the “long weekend” of May 1-5. Parades and events honoring the authors of the Constitution (notably absent is always King Stanisław II August himself—more on that in the project!) were frequent, fun, and good motivation to keep working. 

The western hinterlands of Kraków, along the Vistula River.

In the coming weeks I am preparing to travel to Warsaw to conduct research in the archives there, which will hopefully prove both useful to my research and be an interesting experience. I must once again thank the Tyler Center and FSU for this incredible opportunity, and I am very much looking forward to presenting my research in the Fall