Donors

Julian Godlewski (1903-1982)

Julian Godlewski, a Doctor of Juridical Science at the University of Jan Kazimierz was born in Lvov. After the war he settled down in Switzerland. As a prominent expert on industrial law he held a high position at the Thyssen Steel Concern. He accumulated a capital big enough to be able to purchase Polish historical monuments scattered all over the world. Some of the acquisitions were sent to Poland (Wawel, the Museum of the Polish Army in Poznan, the National Museum in Warsaw, the Royal Castle), others found their place at the Polish Museum in Rapperswil, revived thanks to Godlewski´s attempts. The collection was enriched with oil paintings of Józef Brandt, Józef Chełmoński, Alfred Wierusz – Kowalski, Iwan Trusz, watercolors of Julian Fałat, pastels of Leon Wyczółkowski, works of Jerzy Kossak, Artur Nikutowski,  Jacek Malczewski, Józef Czapski and Piotr Michałowski. Julian Godlewski was also a cofounder of the LIBERTAS foundation.

Iza Poznańska de Landsberger (1901–1978)

The art works belonging to the Silberstein – Poznański family were gifted to the Museum as a legacy of Iza Poznańska Landsberger (1901 – 1978), a resident of Geneva, one of the daughters of Maurycy and Sara. Her last will of 1983 indicated fifteen paintings, one sculpture, a Goblin tapestry as well as several objects of Jewish religious cult as a donation to the Polish Museum. In the Art Room of XIX/XX century works we can find a bust of Sara Silberstein Poznańska, sculptured in white marble by Henryk Glincenstein, the Goblin tapestry with six scenes from the family history, five watercolors of Julian Cegliński depicting views of Kazimierz, paintings of Ludwik Gędłko, Józef Brandt and Józef Chełmoński.

Count Artur Tarnowski (1903-1984)

Born in March 1903 in the Tarnowski Palace in Tarnobrzeg, died in December 1984 in Montreal, Artur Tarnowski was a Polish landowner, a farmer, a political activist and a Member of Parliament of the II Republic of Poland. During the World War II count Artur Tarnowski was forced to leave Poland and in 1946 he and his family settled down in Montreal, Canada. In 1978 count Artur Tarnowski gifted 108 miniature paintings to the Polish Museum. The collection of miniatures he donated is one of the most interesting Polish miniature collections and consists of works of Wincenty Lesseur and his apprentice Waleria Tarnowska.

Jan Nowak-Jeziorański (1914-2005)

Jan Nowak-Jeziorański was a Polish journalist, writer, politician and a social worker. He served during the World War II as one of the most notable resistance fighters of the Home Army. He is best remembered for his work as an emissary shuttling between the commanders of the Home Army and the Polish Government in Exile in London and other Allied governments which gained him the nickname “Courier from Warsaw”, and for his participation in the Warsaw Uprising. After the war he worked as the head of the Polish section of Radio Free Europe, and later as a security advisor to the US presidents Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter. His collection, dedicated to the military and post-military activities of the ´Warsaw courier´ holds works of art, prints, watercolors, former arms, maps and royal letters. The most valuable pieces are undoubtedly: a set of Norblin´s works on Polish attire from 1817 and lithographs depicting the Polish army (works of Teofil Mielcarzewicz and Antoni Simon), published in the 30s, Carl Heideloff XVIII’s prints presenting views of Warsaw and a map of the Kingdom of Poland, comprised of 25 sheets, edited by Philip von Pfau in 1770 – 1974 and marking out the borders of the III Partition of Poland.

Roman Umiastowski ps. “Bolesław Żarnowiecki” (1893-1982)

Born in January of 1893 in Warsaw, Roman Umiastowski pseudonym “Bolesław Żarnowiecki” was a military historian as well as a colonel of the infantry unit of the Polish Army. He died in London in December of 1982.

Donor of a collection of over 500 old prints mainly created in XVII, XVIII and XIX century: architectural landscapes, city views, portraits of kings, magnates, generals and national heroes. Umiastowski also donated maps and antique prints collection.

Adam Heymowski, coat of arm: Samson (1926-1995)

Born in 1926 in Poznań, Adam Heymowski was a Polish heraldry expert, librarian, sociologist and the director if the Royal Library in Stockholm. Throughout his life he issued many scientific publications and designed coats of arms. He donated the Museum with a prints collection dedicated to the insurgents of the November Uprising, containing portraits of the participants.

Romer’s family from Cytowniany

The Romers’ Parlour was created in the Polish Museum on Andrzej Romer’s initiative. Apart from the book collection, family albums and mementos it displays paintings of Zofia Dembowska – Romer. Born on 16th February in Dorpat she was a painter of a Polish origin. In 1911 she married Eugeniusz Romer (1871 – 1943), an owner of a health resort in Cytowiany, Lithuania. Her paintings can be found in Lithuanian museums and in the National Museum in Warsaw. The works she created in Canada belong to many private collectors. In 1993 an art gallery displaying her paintings was presented in Warsaw.

Andrzej Romer

Andrzej Romer, the youngest son of Eugeniusz Romer and Zofia Dembowska was born in 1921 in Cytowiany. Associated with the underground resistance movement he worked in the intelligence unit. In 1946 – 48 he was a personal secretary of Józef Rettinger in London. In 1948 Andrzej Romer immigrated to the USA. In Ann Arbor he obtained a Master title and during the next fourteen years worked together with Tadeusz Sendzimir – a great constructor and inventor. Later on his career directed him to work in Japan and France. In 1968 however he came back to the University and passed all the doctorate exams at the International Relations and Economy Faculty. He soon became a representative of the Textron concern and moved to Belgium. He negotiated big contracts in Portugal, Germany, Hungary and Poland. Andrzej Romer has lived in Brussels for many years now. He published numerous articles in the French ‘Culture’ and ‘Historical Journals’ concerning the Polish – Lithuanian relations. He is also one of the authors of a discourse on the Polish – Japanese relations and the last of the Romers, who speaks Lithuanian fluently. His donations to the Museum were the Patek watches and a collection of snuffboxes, the Library was gifted with numerous books and family documents.

Czesław Marek (1891-1985)

Born on 16th September 1891 in Przemyśl he was a Polish composer, pianist and music teacher. In January 1915 Marek immigrated to Zurich, Switzerland, where he made friends with Busoni. In 1916 – 1919 he taught a piano class in the José Berr Conservatory. In 1932 he assumed Swiss nationality. He died in Zurich in 1985 at the age of 94. After his death the interest in his music increased, most of the works were released in the 90´s.

Czesław Marek donated Jan Ignacy Paderewski’s mementos.

Kazimierz Bartkowiak

Born in 1904 in Lwówek, Wielkopolska he was a graduate of the Poznan Agriculture Academy. Before the World War II Kazimierz Bartkowiak worked for The Department of Agriculture in Warsaw and just before the outbreak of the war he was delegated on the behalf of the Ministry do the USA. In 1939 he came to Fribourg, Switzerland, where in 1946 he defended his Ph.D thesis: `Die Poduktions- und Absatzverhältnisse der Kernobst mit spezieller Berücksichtigung der Schweiz`. Throughout many years he was an expert on agricultural industry of backward countries on behalf of the ONZ. He lived in Carabietta in the canton of Tessin. Kazimierz Bartkowiak always supported the Polish organizations; he was especially fond of the Polish Museum, where according to his last will a scholarship fund of his name was supposed to come into being. Unfortunately his wish has not been accomplished. Kazimierz Bartkowiak died on 23rd of September 1996 in Lugano. The Museum received only a renaissance chest.