Wydawcy książek w Łodzi w latach 1945–1956

Abstract

[Book publishers in Łódź in the years 1945-1956].

The article presents the activities of the book publishers in Łódź in the years 1945-1956.
After the liberation from the German occupation, the city became the seat of nationwide
publishers: Czytelnik, Książka, Wiedza. Private publishing houses were established by the
pre-war publishers, booksellers and printers, e.g. Kazimierz Pawlak, Stanisław Jamiołkowski,
Zbigniew Kozierkiewicz, Władysław Krauze. They published classics of the Polish and world
literature, scientific and popular science publications and handbooks. There were also
publishing cooperatives among which the SW „Polonista” - the publisher of literary studies
dissertations - and Łódzki Instytut Wydawniczy that specialized in children and young
adult literature, played the leading role. The publications were prepared by the numerous
city institutions, e.g.: Łódź Scientific Association, the State Book Institute, the Library of the
University of Łódź, the City Art Gallery in Łódź, Textile Research Institute, Military Research-
Publishing Institute. Jewish publishers issued works recording Jewish martyrology, bellelettres
and writings devoted to Palestine.
From 1949 to 1950 publishers who were not socialized were eliminated from the market.
Private publishers from Łódź also liquidated their companies, cooperatives were closed
down or connected with the central superior structures. From 1950 to 1956 there were
two professional scientific presses: Łódź Scientific Association and the Łódź Branch of the
Polish Scientific Publishers. For numerous institutions book publishing was an addition to
their basic activities. They published specialist literature, needed by experts working in
different industry branches (cotton, rubber, leather, etc.) as well as prints for social workers.
Łódź repertoire was completed by books prepared by cultural institutions, National Front
propaganda publishers and Diocesan Curia’s presses