Archiwa i kolekcje prywatne w zasobie Instytutu Pamięci Narodowej

Personal archives and collections constitute a modest yet significant part of the archival fonds of the Institute of National Remembrance. They complement the rest of the collection, which consists of materials produced or collected by Poland’s security services during the communist period. Due to their specificity and origin, they constitute a remarkably interesting group of archival sources popular with scholars of the contemporary history of Poland. The article focuses on the formal and legal aspects of collecting, analysing and making available personal archival materials from personal collections and archives. Special focus is given to the circumstances in which such materials could be acquired by the Archive and the legal regulations governing such acquisitions. The author also presents the rules of sharing such archival materials, noting that, in principle, they are available to researchers and journalists without major restrictions. The most interesting personal archives and collections available in the Archive of the Warsaw and other field branches of the Institute are also presented.