The history of Krakow university sociology goes back to the end of the 19th century.
In 1930 the Department of Ethnology and Sociology was established, first headed by Professor Jan Stanisław Bystroń, and later by Professor Kazimierz Dobrowolski.
This department was transformed in 1957 into the Department of General Ethnography and Sociology and Professor Kazimierz Dobrowolski remained its Head. In this institution, in particular, the trend of the integral method and historical and cultural studies were developed, as well as the perspective of social anthropology represented by Professor Andrzej Waligórski - a student of Bronisław Malinowski. In the same 1957, the Department of Sociology and Demography was established, headed by Professor Paweł Rybicki and focused on socio-structural and population issues (the latter was mainly undertaken by doc. Wanda Czarkowska).
In 1970, both departments merged and the Institute of Sociology of the Jagiellonian University was established. Its directors were, in turn, Professors Władysław Kwaśniewicz, Piotr Sztompka, Andrzej K. Paluch, Tadeusz Borkowski, Zdzisław Mach, Krzysztof Frysztacki, Marian Niezgoda, Marek Kucia, Marcin Lubaś, Kaja Gadowska and (now) Marta Smagacz-Poziemska.
In 2020, the Institute of Sociology of the Jagiellonian University celebrated its 50th birthday.
50th anniversary of the Institute of Sociology of the Jagiellonian University
Krakow, February 18, 2020
February 18, 2020 is the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Institute of Sociology of the Jagiellonian University in Krakow.
Exactly half a century ago, by the decision of the Minister of Education and Higher Education, by order on the organizational structure of the Jagiellonian University in Krakow, the Institute of Sociology of the Jagiellonian University was established at the then Faculty of Philosophy and History - it was created by merging the Department of General Ethnography and Sociology and the Department of Sociology and Demography. Its first Director was Professor Władysław Kwaśniewicz, who held this position for two terms (in the years 1970-1978). In the following years, the directors were: Professor Piotr Sztompka, Professor Andrzej K. Paluch, Professor Tadeusz Borkowski, Professor Zdzisław Mach, Professor Krzysztof Frysztacki, Professor Marian Niezgoda, Professor Marek Kucia and (now) Professor Marcin Lubaś.
Over the past half century, the Institute of Sociology of the Jagiellonian University has been developing dynamically, constantly enriching the educational offer responding to the needs and expectations of the changing world, implementing important scientific and research projects, educating young people in the spirit of responsibility, openness to the world and world-wide diversity, and preparing them to be active in the labor market and in the social world, developing cooperation with the local community and numerous partners in the international network.
Today, the Institute of Sociology of the Jagiellonian University is one of the leading sociological centers in Poland. An open and modern place. Each year, we host scientists, researchers and practitioners from many countries in Europe and the world, students and doctoral students studying here under national and international educational programs, participants of scientific conferences, seminars and training courses.
We are a community of students, PhD students, employees who share a constant interest in the world, willingness to act, sociological imagination and, above all, passion!
Emphasizing the significant achievements of the past decades, today we undertake the commitment of further development for our Institute, the local community and the world of science. Remembering our history and thinking about the future, today we begin the celebration of the Jubilee of our Institute of Sociology.
We send heartfelt greetings to all people associated with the Institute over the years!
50 years on Grodzka Street
Exactly fifty years ago, at the turn of August and September 1971, our sociology moved to Grodzka Street. In a practical sense, the then MA in Sociology Marian Niezgoda was responsible - he did bravely.
First a few details from that time. We moved (I signal "we", as I personally was between the third and fourth years of my studies) from the previous two very small premises. One of them was located on the second floor at ul. Straszewskiego 27, there was also the "headquarters". The second, on the first floor at ul. Gołębia 14. Imagine that our current rooms mean a multiplication (at least six times) of the surfaces added to each other. This already shows how modest those earlier conditions were.
Of course, our past fifty years on Grodzka Street were filled with various cases and events. Let me mention three in a completely free, actually chaotic way.
First, first, the director's office was in room 52, and the secretary's office in room 51. It was not until some time later that there was an exchange that settled the order that still existed.
Secondly, a unique "set design" during the famous 1980/81 carnival. Numerous posters, statements, certificates of all kinds. The walls of the Institute were literally flooded with them. Neither before nor after anything like that was and probably will not be. I stopped by us a few days ago; this, so to speak, dignified emptiness.
Thirdly, a few years later (I do not remember the exact date, but probably still in the first half of the 1980s) a serious fire broke out, which destroyed a large part of the enfilade, mainly the present seat of the Department of Applied Sociology and Social Work. Fortunately, no one suffered any health damage and the losses were slowly removed.
The Institute is, above all, people. Consequently, let me remind you of a very interesting and still needed article by Professor Andrzej Paluch, with the most obvious title: "Institute of Sociology of the Jagiellonian University" (Scientific Papers of the Jagiellonian University, Papers of Sociology, issue 13, 1989). I would like to emphasize with great appreciation that Andrzej in a very meticulous and accurate manner indicated, among others, dozens of people, variously, even briefly, associated with our institution. He has done something that uniquely contributes to our history.
Would anyone, after many years, be ready to take on a similar task? Points for this shouldn't be expected, but it's not all that is about it, it's also worth it
I cordially greet you and wish you good luck in the very upcoming new academic year!
Krzysztof Frysztcki