Konstanty Krzeczkowski - badacz problemów społecznych i działacz polityczny

Abstract

Konstanty Krzeczkowski is an unusual figure of the beginning of the 20th century and he is considered to be one of the eminent social representatives of that period. He was an educator, librarian, sociograph and university lecturer, however his priority was to analyse workers’ living and work conditions in the Kingdom of Poland, which was his lifelong activity and passion. His outstanding knowledge in the area was implemented towards improving those conditions by the institutional activity, which he was actively engaged in. The social politician, as he was frequently called, put great emphasis on (lightening awareness of and educating the workmen, and that was the reason why he was very active in the training of agitators of the working class struggle, which he organised on evening courses, and at the so called Agrarian School. Beside his academic and educational work, Krzeczkowski published many texts in Warsaw periodicals, A considerable part of his life was devoted to a research on the influence of libraries on readers, which contributed to the development of Warsaw School of Economics Library. Arrested several times, he did not give up his social activity. He gave lectures, among others at Warsaw School of Economics, with which he was permanently associated. The article aims at presenting Krzeczkowski’s major achievements and his outstanding personality.