The titles were published by the employees of the Department for Cooperation with Polish Community and Poles Abroad under the project The Poles’ Contributions to the World. The books promote the achievements of Poles abroad. The first one, entitled Known Unknown. The Poles’ Contributions to the World, was issued in December 2019. It accompanies an exhibition of the same title prepared by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in cooperation with the Polish Academy of Sciences Archive. The book tells the stories of such personages as Wacław Sieroszewski - an explorer of Yakutia, Antoni Patek - a pioneer in watchmaking, Kazimierz Nowak - a pioneer of Polish reportage and a traveller around Africa, or Stefan Drzewiecki - a pioneer of aviation and undersea navigation. The second publication titled Polish architects in the world, issued in June in cooperation with the Łukasiewicz Institute, follows up on the first book. In the form of a historic reportage, it presents the most distinguished Polish architects who created their works all the way from St. Petersburg and Kyiv, through Siberia, to Asia and South America.

Most people described in both books remain unknown to the public. The initiative to popularize the figures of Poles who gained recognition outside Poland is a work in progress. It will be continued and enriched by exhibitions, editorial and multimedia ventures and it will include new stories of Polish emigrants, exiles, travellers, artists, and architects.

 

MFA Press Office

 

Photo: Gabriel Piętka/ MFA