Bielsko-Bialskie Towarzystwo Historyczne

The Bielsko-Bialskie Towarzystwo Historyczne (BBTH) is a Polish historical association founded in 2011 by historians and other individuals living in Bielsko-Biała who are interested in the broadly understood history of the city, including the history of architecture, economic, cultural, and socio-political life. Its main goal is to study the city's past and popularize its history among residents. This is achieved by inspiring and conducting scientific research and undertaking popular-science initiatives aimed at expanding historical knowledge among the inhabitants of Bielsko-Biała. The association's core activity is scientific research on the history of Bielsko-Biała, with its most important output being publications in the form of books and articles in scientific periodicals as well as the local press. Over the entire period of its existence, members have prepared and published several dozen scientific works as book publications or articles. BBTH publishes its own scientific periodical titled "Bielsko-Bialskie Prace Historyczne"; its first volume appeared in 2014 and contained materials from a conference dedicated to the 700th anniversary of the founding of the city of Bielsko. BBTH has co-organized several scientific conferences tied to important national and city anniversaries, where members and invited guests from the world of historical sciences delivered papers. These conferences covered topics such as "Seven Centuries of Bielsko-Biała" (2012), "Bielsko-Biała: History-Culture-Art" (2015), "From the Past of Bielsko-Biała: Biała" (2017), "Bielsko and Biała during World War II" (2019), and "Bielsko-Biała: History-Culture-Art. Second Edition" (2021). Through the efforts of BBTH members, a memorial plaque to Duke Mieszko of Cieszyn, the founder of Bielsko, was embedded in the wall of one of the townhouses on the Bielsko market square and unveiled on 1 June 2012, with the participation of the then-President of Bielsko-Biała, Jacek Krywult. In 2018, the association also issued a commemorative postcard on the occasion of the centenary of Poland regaining independence. BBTH co-organized a competition for memories of Bielsko-Biała from 1945 to modern times, which resulted in the collection and publication of several memoirs of the city's residents, including one by a BBTH member; the book "Bielsko-Biała wczoraj" was published in 2017, edited by Dr. Jerzy Polak. BBTH is known for its popularization activities. Almost from the beginning, members have conducted open lectures as part of "Historical Thursdays" at the Beskid Library (Książnica Beskidzka) on various topics, not only local history but other issues as well. Other forms of historical education include guided tours of selected parts of the city or thematic tours on specific aspects of history, such as municipal economy or architecture, combined with a lecture on the given topic. BBTH cooperates with local entities such as the Olszówka Association in organizing these. The most popular are tours of peripheral districts with attractive natural features, such as the Gypsy Forest (Las Cygański). Another way to encourage residents to learn about their history are educational street games that recreate a selected fragment of history. The first such game was "Z pamiętnych dni – listopad 1918 roku w Bielsku i Białej" (From Memorable Days – November 1918 in Bielsko and Biała), held in 2011. A year later, a game titled "Polskie drogi do niepodległości w Bielsku i Białej – 1902-1918" (Polish Roads to Independence in Bielsko and Biała – 1902-1918) took place, also part of Independence Day celebrations. BBTH is also active in the media sphere, exemplified by numerous documentary films depicting selected episodes of the city's history. Individuals active in this field include Jacek Kachel and Wojciech Kominiak. Since 2020, Dr. Maciej Bujakowski has hosted a regular program on Radio Bielsko devoted to history, mainly regional history and intangible heritage.

The Bielsko-Bialskie Towarzystwo Historyczne (BBTH) was founded in 2011 by historians and other individuals living in Bielsko-Biała who were interested in the broadly understood history of the city, including the history of architecture, economic, cultural, and socio-political life. Its main goal is to study the city's past and popularize its history among residents. This is achieved by inspiring and conducting scientific research and undertaking popular-science initiatives aimed at expanding historical knowledge among the inhabitants of Bielsko-Biała. The association's core activity is scientific research on the history of Bielsko-Biała, with its most important output being publications in the form of books and articles in scientific periodicals as well as the local press. Over the entire period of its existence, members have prepared and published several dozen scientific works as book publications or articles. BBTH publishes its own scientific periodical titled "Bielsko-Bialskie Prace Historyczne"; its first volume appeared in 2014 and contained materials from a conference dedicated to the 700th anniversary of the founding of the city of Bielsko. BBTH has co-organized several scientific conferences tied to important national and city anniversaries, where members and invited guests from the world of historical sciences delivered papers. These conferences covered topics such as "Seven Centuries of Bielsko-Biała" (2012), "Bielsko-Biała: History-Culture-Art" (2015), "From the Past of Bielsko-Biała: Biała" (2017), "Bielsko and Biała during World War II" (2019), and "Bielsko-Biała: History-Culture-Art. Second Edition" (2021). Through the efforts of BBTH members, a memorial plaque to Duke Mieszko of Cieszyn, the founder of Bielsko, was embedded in the wall of one of the townhouses on the Bielsko market square and unveiled on 1 June 2012, with the participation of the then-President of Bielsko-Biała, Jacek Krywult. In 2018, the association also issued a commemorative postcard on the occasion of the centenary of Poland regaining independence. BBTH co-organized a competition for memories of Bielsko-Biała from 1945 to modern times, which resulted in the collection and publication of several memoirs of the city's residents, including one by a BBTH member; the book "Bielsko-Biała wczoraj" was published in 2017, edited by Dr. Jerzy Polak. BBTH is known for its popularization activities. Almost from the beginning, members have conducted open lectures as part of "Historical Thursdays" at the Beskid Library (Książnica Beskidzka) on various topics, not only local history but other issues as well. Other forms of historical education include guided tours of selected parts of the city or thematic tours on specific aspects of history, such as municipal economy or architecture, combined with a lecture on the given topic. BBTH cooperates with local entities such as the Olszówka Association in organizing these. The most popular are tours of peripheral districts with attractive natural features, such as the Gypsy Forest (Las Cygański). Another way to encourage residents to learn about their history are educational street games that recreate a selected fragment of history. The first such game was "Z pamiętnych dni – listopad 1918 roku w Bielsku i Białej" (From Memorable Days – November 1918 in Bielsko and Biała), held in 2011. A year later, a game titled "Polskie drogi do niepodległości w Bielsku i Białej – 1902-1918" (Polish Roads to Independence in Bielsko and Biała – 1902-1918) took place, also part of Independence Day celebrations. BBTH is also active in the media sphere, exemplified by numerous documentary films depicting selected episodes of the city's history. Individuals active in this field include Jacek Kachel and Wojciech Kominiak. Since 2020, Dr. Maciej Bujakowski has hosted a regular program on Radio Bielsko devoted to history, mainly regional history and intangible heritage. From the beginning, BBTH has cooperated with other institutions in Bielsko-Biała, in particular the District Museum (Muzeum Okręgowe), the City Hall, and the University of Bielsko-Biała (Akademia Techniczno-Humanistyczna), as well as local associations such as "Dom Polski" and the Riflemen's Association "Strzelec". Key publications by BBTH members include "Dom Polski w Bielsku 1902-1952" by Jerzy Polak, "Z badań nad dziejami Bielska-Białej od XIII do XX wieku" by Jerzy Polak, "Zarys dziejów Lipnika" by Jerzy Polak, "Dzieje Mikuszowic Krakowskich" by Jerzy Polak, "Cmentarz ewangelicki w Białej" by Ewa Janoszek (with Monika Zmełty), "Architektura przemysłowa w Bielsku i Białej w latach 1806–1939" by Ewa Janoszek, and "Bielsko i Biała podczas II wojny światowej – wybrane aspekty" edited by Maciej Bujakowski and Grzegorz Madej.

• 2021

  Conference "Bielsko-Biała: historia-kultura-sztuka. Druga edycja" held on 13-14 October.

• 2020

  Dr. Maciej Bujakowski begins regular history program on Radio Bielsko.

• 2019

  Conference "Bielsko i Biała w czasie drugiej wojny światowej" held on 1-2 September.

• 2018

  Commemorative postcard issued for the centenary of Poland regaining independence.

• 2017

  Book "Bielsko-Biała wczoraj" published, edited by Dr. Jerzy Polak.

• 2017

  Conference "Z przeszłości Bielska-Białej: Biała" held on 1-2 October.

• 2015

  Conference "Bielsko-Biała: historia-kultura-sztuka" held on 16 February.

• 2014

  First volume of scientific periodical "Bielsko-Bialskie Prace Historyczne" published.

• 2012

  Memorial plaque to Duke Mieszko of Cieszyn unveiled on 1 June in Bielsko market square.

• 2012

  Conference "Seven Centuries of Bielsko-Biała" co-organized with the University of Bielsko-Biała (30-31 May).

• 2012

  Educational street game "Polskie drogi do niepodległości w Bielsku i Białej – 1902-1918" held.

• 2011

  Association founded by historians and history enthusiasts in Bielsko-Biała.

• 2011

  First educational street game "Z pamiętnych dni – listopad 1918 roku w Bielsku i Białej" held.

A non-profit historical association dedicated to researching and popularizing the history of Bielsko-Biała.

• Bielsko-Bialskie Prace Historyczne

• Dom Polski w Bielsku 1902-1952

• Z badań nad dziejami Bielska-Białej od XIII do XX wieku

• Zarys dziejów Lipnika

• Dzieje Mikuszowic Krakowskich

• Cmentarz ewangelicki w Białej

• Architektura przemysłowa w Bielsku i Białej w latach 1806–1939

• Bielsko i Biała podczas II wojny światowej – wybrane aspekty

• 2017

  Bielsko-Biała wczoraj

1. 1BBTH - Bielsko-Bialskie Towarzystwo Historyczne - historia Bielska-Białejbbth.beskidia.pl
2. 2Bielsko-Bialskie Towarzystwo Historyczne - Wikipediapl.wikipedia.org
3. 3Wikidata Q134546534wikidata.org