Krzysztofory nasze, kartki z dziejów zmagań o własny dom

Abstrakt

OUR KRZYSZTOFORY. EPISODES FROM THE HISTORY OF A STRUGGLE FOR A HOME OF OUR OWN

From its establishment in 1899 as a branch of the  Archives of Kraków, the Museum had problems finding itself  a proper seat. Once that branch had been converted into  an autonomous institution in accordance with a resolution  of the National Council of Kraków of 18 December 1945,  endeavours to have it located in a facility of its own went  underway.  It is highly possible that the initiative to suggest Krzysztofory  Palace for the seat of the Museum came from the first  director of the Museum, Jerzy Dobrzycki. Basing themselves  on the report delivered by the director during the meeting of  the Commission for Culture and Art at the National Council  of the City of Kraków on 2 June 1958, the Commission  passed the motion no. 18 addressed to the executive of the  Council and concerning the conversion of part of the mansion  no. 35 at the Main Market Square, meaning the historic  Krzysztofory Palace, into the main seat of the Museum. As  was stipulated in the motion, the Museum was to have at its  disposal the sections of the said building that were not occupied  by other establishments thereat, namely the Europejska  café and Cricot Theatre. From that moment, further efforts  undertaken by the Museum with the view to improving or  drastically changing its situation in terms of the allocation  of official premises were intertwined with the struggle to be  allotted space in the mansion.  On 27 April 1960 the National Council of the City  of Kraków passed a resolution that, according to Article 7  thereof, stipulated the provision of the Historical Museum  of the City of Kraków with proper conditions to carry on  with its activity. Also, the document contained a declaration  that the executive of the National Council, which was  responsible for putting the resolution into practice, would  turn to the central government with a motion to safeguard  funds in the central budget that would suffice to reimburse  for the renovation of Krzysztofory Palace.  In February 1964 Stanisław Czerpak was appointed director  of the Museum. He continued in the line of work  of his predecessor with genuine energy and a great deal of  personal involvement. A turning point in the history of  Krzysztofory Palace came about in consequence of the decisions  made during the joint meeting of the executives of  the National Council of Kraków Province and the National  Council of the City of Kraków held on 8 November 1965.  As was resolved during that meeting, the mansion was to  be put at the disposal of the municipality with the proviso  that it would be intended for the Historical Museum of the  City of Kraków. Also, it was decided that all the rooms that  would fall vacant in Krzysztofory Palace would be made  over to the Historical Museum. The first contract stipulating  the establishment of the Museum in the mansion was  concluded on 1 May 1966. According to that contract, the  Museum was allotted four rooms on the second floor in the  part of the building overlooking 2 Szczepańska Street. Additional  rooms on the third floor were obtained on 1 June  1966. Until October 1966, the Museum had at its disposal  the total floor space of 833 square metres in the mansion,  which permitted the removal of its main departments to  Krzysztofory Palace.