Research topics

“The Manor House and the Palace as the Organizer of Socio-Economic Life of the Village”
Long-term activities involving: field research, inspiration for the scientific community, cooperation with scientific institutions, scientific conferences, etc., aimed at gaining information on the way of functioning and development of manor houses and rural areas, with particular emphasis on mutual relationship and reliance between landowners, and the inhabitants of their villages. The research cover: analysis of scientific studies and other available sources (including interviews) and archival queries (of land, judicial and other records).

“Water mills in the Province of Silesian (continuation)”
Field studies involving: film and photographic documentation of selected mills from the region of Silesia, interviews with millers and their families, record of memories, beliefs and tales related to the profession. The above documentation will be used to create other ethnographic films within the framework of the project entitled: The Multimedia Library of the Museum “Upper Silesian Ethnographic Park in Chorzów”. It will also result in a scientific study in the form of an article. Thanks to these actions the Museum will be able to archive likely the last records of the dying profession and elements of the folklore associated with it.

“Traditional crafts and handicrafts (continuation)”
Research activities including: film and photographic documentation of nowadays rarely passed from generation to generation handicrafts and craft skills (embroidery, cross embroidery, jewelry – Cieszyn filigree, sculpture, folk arts, sewing traditional highlander costumes, spinning on the spinning wheel, blacksmithing) in the region of the Silesian Beskids, Cieszyn Silesia, Museum “Upper Silesian Ethnographic Park in Chorzów” etc., collecting information on them, visual and descriptive archiving of disappearing forms of professional activity, enriching the list record of artisans and craftsmen, publishing of the article. The above documentation will also help create other ethnographic films within the framework of the project entitled: The Multimedia Library of the Museum “Upper Silesian Ethnographic Park in Chorzów”.

“Monographic Study: the Town of Grzawa and the Current District of Chorzów – Chorzów Stary”
Inauguration of the long-term interdisciplinary research programs which are supposed to result in publishing monographs of the town and the district. The process of collecting necessary research material included: source research, archival query, library query, cartographic analysis, iconographic materials analysis, field survey, selection of objects in the field of interest and their recordings, measurement and photographic cataloging of selected objects, ethnographic research, accompanying observation, film and photographic documentation. Historical-urban researches base on historical, urban and conservation studies, while for selected objects of material culture researches applied documentation schemes of the National Institute of Heritage. Chorzów Stary was once a unique village complex in the middle of urban development, whereas Grzawa is a relatively well preserved cultural landscape of the village with interesting relics from the point of view of the Museum “Upper Silesian Ethnographic Park in Gorzów.

“Rural industry – resource identification”
Gathering information on still existing objects related to the rural industry in order to complement the Museum’s open-air exhibition. The process of collecting research materials includes queries, surveys, field reconnaissance, photographic documentation, descriptive documentation concerning the tangible and intangible heritage, cataloging objects.

“Reconstruction and study concerning history of objects”
Inauguration of the long-term researches aimed at acquiring information about owners of buildings showcased on the Museum’s exhibition, reconstruction of genealogy, recording tales of descendants. Research will include: source research, archival query, library query and ethnographic research.

“Reconstruction and archiving of genealogy of families living in villages of Upper Silesia”
The Museum’s inspire and coordinates the activities of the concerned families, initiate contact, take patronage over this type of activity and obtain sources.

“Archiving of memoir stories”
Record of memoirs (of descendants of owners of acquired and rebuilt by the Museum objects, found during activities connected with the archiving genealogy research program , etc.), aimed at preserving them for future generations (stories of this type do not preserve longer than for three generations, and contain valuable information about the socio-cultural reality and the way their authors’ think and perceive their world).

“Spring ritual cycle in the commune of Czechowice-Dziedzice”
Studies covering the archiving of disappearing and functioning within the spring cycle rituals, beliefs and narrative forms cultivated in Czechowice-Dziedzice, Bronów, Ligota and Zabrze – cooperation with the Association of Culture Researchers’ Circle of the Culture Center of the Czechowice-Dziedzice.

“Ethnographic archive”
An attempt to acquire ethnographic archives or access to collections of field researchers operating in the last century. The activities of the folklore department will include: obtaining archive materials or their copies, cataloging of their contents, making the materials available to the concerned persons, partial publication of resources, cooperation and inspiration in the preparation of academic papers.

“Lost villages rediscovered”
Research aims to find the relics of the old architecture of the late medieval and modern villages, which were abandoned for some reason. Selection of a particular village will be based on research findings concerning history, geography, cartography and archeology of the settlement, which will enable to determine the exact extent and internal structure of the village. A great number of historical queries is expected to result in information about the settlement unit, the way of life of its population and the reasons for stopping settlement processes in this area. The main goal of the research is to determine the overall context and character of the transformations observed in the selected village. The final result of the research will be the enrichment of the resources of the open-air museum, which will be able to present reconstructions of buildings not only from the XIX and XX century, but also from earlier historical periods basing on the acquired information and assumptions. The effects will be achieved through long-term, comprehensive archaeological research.

“Transformations of the rural landscape”
Inauguration of researches aimed at analyzing the space management of old villages and their urban transformations and collecting documentation concerning the disappearing rural landscape. The research work will cover: cartographic and iconographic materials analysis, field recognition, gathering film and photographic documentation.

“The last farmers of the industrial part of Upper Silesia”
Research aimed at initiating contact and collecting photographic documentation of farms existing in the area of urban communes of industrial part of Upper Silesia. The material will be used to create a temporary exhibition under the same title. Later on, the researches will be expanded by a larger number of research issues.