The Archives & Library Department

The Archives & Library Department has collections related with the profile of activity of the Cracow Saltworks Museum in Wieliczka. The archival and library collections include various issues related with the mining industry and the history of the mining cities Wieliczka and Bochnia set against the history of the region from prehistoric times to modern times.
The collections are procured by means of purchases, participation in antiquarian auctions and by means of exchange among similar institutions in the country and abroad (including Muzeul Nationel al Bucovinei – Suceava, Náródni Technické Muzeum – Praha, Museo de Ciencias Naturales de Alava – Gasteiz Spain, Cacica Salt Mine, Landesamt für Archäologie mit Landesmuseum für Vorgeschichte – Germany).

Collections
The Museum Archives has almost 4,500 volumes.These are documents, manuscripts and an extensive collection of documents regarding the operation of the Cracow Saltworks.

· Documents: the oldest document is dated June 18, 1492 and refers to the sale of foremanship in Wieliczka. A precious collection is also the documents of Polish kings, including Sigismund, I, Sigismund Augustus, Stefan Batory, Vladislaus IV, Jan III Sobieski;

· Manuscripts: Saltworks deeds (documents related with the operation of the salt mine between 1772 and 1918).

The Library

has over 20,000 volumes. Among them, a collection of old prints (over 70 items) is particularly precious, as well as the book collection of the Saltworks Library, which was operated by the Saltworks in the 19th century and at the beginning of the 20thcentury and which contains approx. 2,000 volumes.

· Old prints: the oldest is “Cosmography” by Sebastian Münster from 1564;

· Book collection of the Saltworks Library;

· Books and magazines on mining, history, archaeology, geology, art and ethnography.
Archives

• Documents: the oldest document is dated June 18, 1492 and refers to the sale of foremanship in Wieliczka. A precious collection is also the documents of Polish kings, including Sigismund, I, Sigismund Augustus, Stefan Batory, Vladislaus IV, Jan III Sobieski.

Manuscripts

• Saltworks deeds (documents related with the operation of the salt mine between 1772 and 1918)

Library

• Old prints (the oldest is “Cosmography” by Sebastian Münster from 1564);

• Book collection of the Saltworks Library;

• Books and magazines on mining, history, archaeology, geology, art and ethnography.

Contact

Marta Ajkowska-Mazur
+48 12 289 16 34
m.ajkowska@muzeum.wieliczka.pl

Monika Kempa
m.kempa@muzeum-wieliczka.pl
+48 12 289 16 69