THE SOCIETY FOR PROTECTION OF THE MONUMENTS OF THE PAST. A RETROSPECTIVE VIEW OF ITS ACTIVITIES

Thé Society for Protection of the Monuments of the Past, formed in 1906, exercised an extremely important role in preservation of Polish historical monuments in the Russian sector of partitioned Poland (where there did not exist a state conservation service) and also after Poland’s liberation in 1918. The Society assisted effectively the then scarce number of conservators, its activities having been conducted in many different lines: surveys and photographing of historical monuments, scientific research, elaboration of the methods of conservation, issuing of opinions and carrying out of conservation work on a large scale •— with regard to both the monuments of architecture and movables o f historical value, organization of exhibitions and scientific sessions, issuing of extensive catalogues and other publications. The Society was divided into a few sections all of them headed by experienced specialists, architects, artists, historians o f art, connected mostly with the Department of Architecture of the Warsaw College of Science and Technology. The seat of the Society was Baryczka House in 32 Old Town Market Square, Warsaw, where there was to be found the Society’s collection o f iconographical materials, libry and museum. The Society was dissolved by the Nazi occupation authorities in 1939 but its collection of the works of a rt saved due to the selfless efforts o f its former members. The Society for Protection o f Historical Monuments, formed in 1973, and referring to the tradition of its predecessor, commemorated the seventieth anniversary of the formation o f the Society for Protection of the Monuments of the Past by having organized a formal session in Warsaw on October 21, 1977