Rola społecznych opiekunów zabytków w ochronie dóbr kultury narodowej

The social protection of historic monuments in Poland dates back to the beginnings of the 19th century. In the early days this protection was executed through activities of sight-seeing, regional and scientific societies as well as thanks to initiatives of private persons. During the partition of Poland their activities had a clearly patriotic nature. An important role in the protection of Polish monuments was played by the Society of the Preservation of Historic Monuments, the Society of History and Monuments of Cracow, the Polish Tatra Society (the PTT) and the Polish Tourist Society (the PTK) which published, i.a., renowned magazines „Ziemia” (The Earth) and „Wiadomości Konserwatorskie” (Conservation News). . The PTK and PTT as well as the PTTK (which came to life after the fusion of the former two societies) contributed significantly to the rescue of numerous historic monuments and to the mobilization of the society and conservation services to more active work. The group of nearly 7,000 social monuments protectors has great attainments in this field to its credit. Their main objectives are: (1) to maintain the object under their protection in a proper condition, (2) to look after a proper management of the object, (3) to propagate its historic values. The endeavours of social monuments protectors concern mainly less known structures that are rather in a bad technical condition and that are extremely important to the protection of the landscape and cultural environment of the man as well as to the history of the nation. They can also perform some other tasks such as to prepare an inventory or a simplified register, to draw maps and plans as well as make photographic documentation. The PTTK commissions of monuments protection agree these activities with monuments conservators and cooperate with other social associations engaged in the protection of monuments including youth organizations. Social protectors carry out broad campaigns aimed at the propagation of monuments amongst millions of PTTK members. Authorities of this organization attach great importance to the undertaking of large actions on behalf of monuments protection, their popularization and preparation of its members and the entire society to the fulfillment of the tasks envisaged in the Law on the Protection of Monuments and Museums of February 15th, 1962.