Dr Alicja Śmigielska
A graduate of first- and second-cycle studies in cultural studies, specialising in American studies, at the Institute of American and Polish Studies of the Jagiellonian University in Krakow and third-cycle studies in history at the Institute of History and Archival Studies of the Pedagogical University in Krakow, PhD in humanities in the discipline of history (thesis topic: “Wacław Babiński (1887-1957) – Diplomat of the Second Polish Republic. Political and social activity”).
Working in the CDZWiP UP, she organises and participates in numerous educational and knowledge dissemination activities (among others, she prepares exhibitions, participates in conferences and scientific and educational projects).
Her research interests include: the broad subject of forced migration with particular emphasis on Polish-Canadian threads, the Polish diaspora in the world, diplomacy of the Second Republic. Privately, a passionate cook and traveller.
Research team member and substantive contractor for UP’s CDZWiP projects: “Generations are leaving. Source accounts of Polish Sybiraks in Great Britain’, ‘Diaspora of Polish Sybiraks in the world – record of source accounts/Notes and home archives of Sybiraks in the country – archival team’, ‘Renovation and documentation of the Polish cemetery in Kidugala (Tanzania) from the 1940s. The renovation and documentation of Polish tombstones after the former Polish settlement of Masindi (Uganda) and the inventory of the church’ (2021), ‘Renovation and documentation of the Polish cemetery from the 1940s in Kondoa and works at the cemetery in Tengeru (Tanzania)’ (2023 r.). In addition, member of the research team and contractor for projects such as: “The escape route from KL Auschwitrtm. W. Pilecki”, “Inventory of graves, quarters and war cemeteries in the Malopolska region”, “Memory and post memory. The fate of Polish families in Kazakhstan on the example of Karaganda’ (2018), ‘Twilight of generations – the notation of witnesses of history in Malopolska’, ‘Poles in Serbia. Ostojicevo 2019’, ‘Memory of the Borderlands among the people of Gliwice’, ‘Source accounts of Sybiraks from the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship’, ‘Gomulka’s Aliya 1956-1960’, ‘Polish veterans and Siberians in Penrhos, Wales’ (2015), ‘Children of Tehran – Polish Siberians in Israel’, ‘Polish Siberians in Canada’, ‘Polish Siberians in Stoke on Trent’ (2014), ‘Expellees. Saybusch Aktion’, ‘Cities’ (2012-2013).
Honours and awards
– Fellow of the Lanckoronski Birch Foundation, London, UK, 2018.
– Distinction in the Prof. Nancy Burke Competition for the best paper on Canadian themes in Poland, 2011.
– Award from the Rector of the University of Pedagogy in Kraków, 2012.
– Team Prize of the Minister of Education and Science in the category: significant achievements in scientific activities, 2021.
– Team distinction of the Z. Gloger Award and Medal
– Team distinction Diploma of Honour of the J. Dietl Award
– Honorary Siberian Badge of Honour, 2015
– Silver Badge of Honour for Services to the Sybiraks’ Association, 2020.
List of publications
– H. Chudzio , A. Śmigielska, From the memory of a child. Saybusch Aktion – source accounts of Poles displaced from the Żywiec region during World War II, Kraków 2022.
– H. Chudzio, A. Śmigielska, Kanadyjska przystań. The fate of Polish children from the orphanage in Tengeru – in the light of the accounts of witnesses to history, [in:] Historia – pamięć – tożsamość w edukacji humanistycznej, vol. 5, ed. B. Popiołek, A. Chłosta – Sikorska, A. Słaby, Kraków 2018.
– H. Chudzio, A. Śmigielska, Kresy II RP in the memory of Sybiraks living in Great Britain, [in:] Kresy Pamięć, Kresy w pamięci, ed. B. Tracz, Katowice-Gliwice-Warszawa 2018.
– A. Śmigielska, Pokolenie stracone? The experience of Siberia in 1940-1942 in the light of Krystyna Chyży – Ostrowska’s memoirs, [in:] Childhood trampled, ed. A. Bartuś and P. Trojański, Oświęcim 2017.
– H. Chudzio, A. Śmigielska, M. Solarz, Pokolenia odchodzą. Source accounts of Polish Sybiraks from Great Britain. Birmingham, Kraków 2016.
– A. Śmigielska, K. Odrzywołek, A taste of exile…. Experiences of Polish Sybiraks in 1940-1942, [in:] Wiktuały, kuchnia, kultura jedzenia w perspektywie historycznej, ed. by P. Jędrzejewski, P. Magiera, K. Skrężyna, G. Szuster, Kraków 2016.
– A. Śmigielska, Vous êstes des Néo-Canadiens…?, “Konspekt”, 2014, no. 3 (52), pp. 99 – 104.
– A. Śmigielska, Will you “Under the Baobab” meet again nice friends from those years…?, “Konspekt”, 2014, no. 4 (53), pp. 108 – 113.