Wydawcy książek w Łodzi w latach 1945–1956

Abstract

The article presents the activities of the book publishers in Łódź in the years 1945–1956. After the liberation from the German occupation, the city became the seat of nationwide publishers: Czytelnik, Książka, Wiedza. Private publishing houses were established by the pre-war publishers, booksellers and printers, e.g. Kazimierz Pawlak, Stanisław Jamiołkowski, Zbigniew Kozierkiewicz, Władysław Krauze. They published classics of the Polish and world literature, scientific and popular science publications and handbooks. There were also publishing cooperatives among which the SW „Polonista” – the publisher of literary studies dissertations – and Łódzki Instytut Wydawniczy that specialized in children and young adult literature, played the leading role. The publications were prepared by the numerous city institutions, e.g.: Łódź Scientific Association, the State Book Institute, the Library of the University of Łódź, the City Art Gallery in Łódź, Textile Research Institute, Military Research- Publishing Institute. Jewish publishers issued works recording Jewish martyrology, bellelettres and writings devoted to Palestine. From 1949 to 1950 publishers who were not socialized were eliminated from the market. Private publishers from Łódź also liquidated their companies, cooperatives were closed down or connected with the central superior structures. From 1950 to 1956 there were two professional scientific presses: Łódź Scientific Association and the Łódź Branch of the Polish Scientific Publishers. For numerous institutions book publishing was an addition to their basic activities. They published specialist literature, needed by experts working in different industry branches (cotton, rubber, leather, etc.) as well as prints for social workers. Łódź repertoire was completed by books prepared by cultural institutions, National Front propaganda publishers and Diocesan Curia’s presses.