This article is dedicated to the work behind creating the image of Franciszek Wielopolski, Count of Pieskowa Skala, the first of the Pinczow dynasty, who took the name Marquess Gonzaga-Myszkowski. Understanding the levels of manipulation in the area of genealogy and heraldry used by the magnate is possible in the context of the deeds of the Wielopolski family, who, thanks to appropriate marriages in the 17th century, obtained a significantly high status. The best proof of this is probably the rapid career of Franciszek’s father, Jan, who held the position of the Grand Chancellor and, through marriage to the sister of Queen Marysieńki, became a relative of John III Sobieski. Franciszek did not have such a rapid career as his father, however, using his achievements and those of his predecessors, he reconstructed the acts of his family, calling on the alleged kinship between the Wielopolski and Szafraniec families, as well as the heritage of the Komorowski family, the counts of Żywiec. When he became a Senate Clerk, he received the duty of representing the Pinczow Triumphus meritorum gentilitio. This was the next opportunity to reconstruct his image as the descendent of a distinguished family, and also as a relative of one of the most significant Italian families. Discussion of these changes is based on analysis of stored documents, family crests and works of art.

In the article, the author tries to present the fight of the I Brigade of the Polish Legions during the Battle of Kostiuchnówka. This was the bloodiest battle entered into by the Polish legionnaires during World War I. The main burden of the fighting was taken upon itself by Piłsudski’s brigade, which, on 4 July 1916, was attacked by the Russian forces. Particular corps were engaged in fierce fighting in the defence of specific positions. The most difficult episodes included the defence of the Piłsudski Redoubt by soldiers of the 7th Infantry Division, as well as the fierce fighting of the 5th Infantry Division by the River Garbach and in the Polish Forest. Although the result of the murderous fighting of the I Brigade and other units of the legions was their forced retreat across the River Stochód, the Battle ended in a tactical victory for the Polish forces. The legionnaires inflicted huge losses on the Russian army, not allowing them to break through the front-line and buying time for the leadership of the C.K. Army to call up reinforcements. The blood lost by the soldiers in the Battle of Kostiuchnówka was not in vain. Throughout Europe, the necessity to create an independent Polish state was discussed more frequently.

In 1850, the Dominican church and priory in Krakow burned down during the Great Fire. Shortly after this disaster, the Order began rebuilding them both. While the works on the roof of the central nave of the Holy Trinity Church were underway, a “time capsule” was placed in a sphere at the top of the flèche on 19 October 1863. A document written on parchment by Piotr Wilhelm was put inside. The text describes the Great Fire of Krakow and the rebuilding of the Dominican temple, as well as a construction disaster in April 1855. text names prominent people associated with the friary over the centuries, as well as members of the last two church rebuilding committees. The document also contains a description of funding sources necessary to restore the temple. The text then speaks of the indulgence granted by Pope Pius IX for benefactors, the 600th anniversary of St. Hyacinth’s death, and the second funeral of Leszek II the Black’s remains in 1857. The source also describes the state of works in the church and provides information concerning the amount of money accumulated through contributions and collections of the congregation. At the end of the main text, Father Wilhelm mentions the ongoing January Uprising and the “millennium jubilee of the nation’s existence”, alluding to the 1 000th anniversary of St. Cyril and St. Methodius beginning their missions in Great Moravia. The document concludes with over 60 signatures of people of various rank and social status, who participated in the celebration of placing the “time capsule” in a sphere at the top of the flèche. The source is an interesting testimony of universal human aspirations to leave behind a material vestige.

Aleksandra Czechówna (1839–1923) was the daughter of Tomasz Czech and Aleksandra, née Zielińska. Her “Journal from the whole life...”, written for over 60 years (1856– 1923), is stored in the National Archives in Krakow, ref. no. 29/1582/1–29/1582/44 (former ref. no. IT 428/1–428/44). It represents a great source that depicts the cultural, social and daily life of Krakow in the second half of the 19th century, and the first two decades of the 20th century.
The text placed here comes from two volumes of the “Journal”: volume 40, ref. no. 29/1582/40 (former ref. no. IT 428/40) and volume 41, ref. no. 29/1582/41 (former ref. no. IT 428/41). It represents a continuation of the entries concerning the first two years of World War I and describes the third year of the ongoing fight (see. “Krakowski Rocznik Archiwalny” 2014, Vol. 20, pp. 111–132; 2015, Vol. 21, pp. 133–163).
The presented text was written by an intelligent, perceptive observer of events of great importance for Poles. The author mainly used press reports and clerical announcements, but also made use of personal accounts. She was well informed and up-to-date about the 170 Bożena Lesiak-Przybył development of events. The journal represents an illustration of the increasingly difficult daily life of the town’s residents in successive years of the ongoing war, but also provides a description of the feelings of Poles and their great expectations connected with the creation of a Polish state. In addition, it contains a very interesting vision of the usage of “wartime” scientific and technical inventions in daily life.

The legacy (personal archive) of Mieczysława Mitera-Dobrowolska (1900–1992), professor of Polish Studies at the University of Silesia, stored in the Archive of Science PAN & PAU in Krakow, is simultaneously the archive of the Mitera family. This rich archival collection, which is only partially ordered, represents an open area for methodical studies. These are presented based on analysis of the archival materials of Mieczysława’s brother, Stanisław Mitera (1890–1915) a Polish Studies specialist, scout and legionnaire. This small part (0.40 metres long) of an archival collection totalling around 10 metres in length indicates the presence of numerous research fields with reference to the remaining documentation. The materials of other members of the Professor’s family – her parents Adolf and Waleria as well as their children, Jadwiga (1893–1985), Julia (1895–1971), Kazimierz (1897–1936), Zygmunt (1903–1940), and Tadeusz (1905–1985), distinguished in education, science and culture, are like legacies within a legacy. The author attempts to explain the reasons behind the conducted methodical studies, emphasising the values of methodical tips contained in Wytyczne opracowania spuścizn po uczonych (A Scholar’s Guidelines for Studying Legacies) (Warsaw 1990) as well as the plan for an inventory proposed in it. The author emphasises that, just like each person, each archival material created by a person is unique.