Karol Poznanski papers, 1918-1975

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Summary

Creators:
Poznański, Karol, 1893-1972
Abstract:
Correspondence, diary, speeches and writings, memoranda, reports, printed matter, and photographs, relating to Polish foreign relations, especially with France and Great Britain, during the interwar period, and to Allied diplomacy and the Polish government in exile during World War II.
Extent:
9 manuscript boxes (3.6 Linear Feet)
Language:
Mainly in Polish
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Karol Poznanski papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Background

Scope and content:

Karol Poznanski, diplomat, consul general, teacher, writer and émigré activist was born in partitioned Poland and spent most of his life working abroad in the Polish diplomatic service. Educated as a lawyer, he made a significant contribution to the restoration of Poland's consular network. Being only in his early 30s he became Poland's top expert in international negotiations. He served in the capacity of secretary, legal and plenipotentiary delegate of various Polish delegations, and signed agreements with other countries.

Most of Poznanski's life was spent in Great Britain, where he was appointed Consul General in London in 1934. He remained in this position until 1945, when the British withdrew recognition of the government he represented. Thereafter he kept himself busy in the Polish émigré circles where he provided legal assistance and volunteered in many organizations (some of which he created) such as the former Foreign Service officials, refugees, cultural and professional associations. He also performed the functions of administrator of estates, notary public, translator, and judge.

The various series in this collection reflect the different stages of Poznanski's life, mainly the time he spent in Great Britain. This is true especially of the correspondence series, covering to a small degree the 1930s, as well as late 1960s and early 1970s. The same is true with the subject series. Of particular importance is the conventions and treaties series, which illustrates the significant input Poznanski made in the diplomatic arena. The photographs portray individuals and events of Poland's inter-war diplomatic history.

This collection was acquired by the Hoover Institution in 1995.

Biographical / historical:
Date Event
1893
Born, Warsaw
1913-1919
Studied law in Paris as well as in Geneva and Fribourg in Switzerland
1919
Clerk, Consular Department, Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Adviser, Polish Legation, Bern, Switzerland
1920
Volunteer in Polish-Russo War
1920-1921
Expert and Secretary of the delegation to negotiate peace with Soviet Russia, Riga, Latvia
1921
Consular negotiator with Latvia, Estonia and Finland
1922-1927
Chief, Consular Department, Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Warsaw
1922
Member, Polish delegation to negotiate with Germany on Upper Silesia
1922-1923
Expert in Polish-Czechoslovak and Polish-Turkish negotiations
1924
Reporter on Polish consular law
1925
Plenipotentiary delegate to negotiate the Treaty of Friendship and Commerce between Poland and Turkey, Lausanne, Switzerland
1927-1934
Consul General, Paris
1929
Delegate to the League of Nations Conference on Ethnic Minorities
1930-1933
Lecturer on Polish consular law, Warsaw
1934-1945
Consul General, London
1943-1945
Deputy director and director, Diplomatic-Consular Course, London
1943-1950
Expert in inheritance law
1945-1947
Section head, Interim Treasury Committee for Polish Question
1945-1970
Chairman, Polish Citizens Committee for Refugees
1947-1970
Consultant in Polish and international law, London
1950-1952
Lecturer on comparative consular law and diplomatic service, London
1971
Died, London
Acquisition information:
Materials were acquired by the Hoover Institution Library Archives in 1995.
Physical location:
Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is open for research; materials must be requested in advance via our reservation system. If there are audiovisual or digital media material in the collection, they must be reformatted before providing access.

Terms of access:

For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Karol Poznanski papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Location of this collection:
Hoover Institution Library & Archives, Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-6003, US
Contact:
(650) 723-3563
hooverarchives@stanford.edu
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