A child, a passion, and a mission to fill the gap: Affective, social, and personal impacts of a German minority community archive

This article, based on empirical data, especially interviews conducted in August 2024, examines an independent community archive that currently operates in south-western Poland, in the region of Silesia. The German Minority Research Center’s main goal is to preserve German identity and language amon...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Archival science Vol. 26; no. 1; p. 1
Main Authors: Wiśniewska-Drewniak, Magdalena, Kapała, Adriana, Rosa, Agnieszka, Siuda, Kamila
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.02.2026
Springer Nature B.V
Subjects:
Anthropology
Archives & records
Archivists
Career opportunities
Community
Computer Appl. in Arts and Humanities
Cultural and Media Studies
Cultural Heritage
Digital archives
Documentation
Endangered
Historical text analysis
Identity
Information Storage and Retrieval
Interviews
Job satisfaction
Library Science
Linguistic identity
Literature
Local materials
Minority & ethnic groups
Original Paper
Regions
Research centers
Research facilities
Satisfaction
Trustworthiness
Women
United Kingdom > UK
Poland
United States > US
Archives impact
Independent archives
German minority
Community archives
Minorities in Poland
ISSN:1389-0166, 1573-7500, 1573-7519
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:This article, based on empirical data, especially interviews conducted in August 2024, examines an independent community archive that currently operates in south-western Poland, in the region of Silesia. The German Minority Research Center’s main goal is to preserve German identity and language among Germans in Poland, to study and document the community history and popularize their input in the history of the region. The article focuses on social, affective, and personal impacts of the German Minority Research Center’s archive. Analysis indicates that the archive preserves endangered heritage, supports cultural initiatives, empowers women, and addresses minority issues like German identity. It builds trust within the minority community and helps create counter-narratives. Data also indicate the lack of trust of the German minority in Polish state (public) archives. Archival contributors experience both stress and satisfaction, gaining skills and career opportunities. However, sustainability and the emotional demands of archival work remain challenges. The article argues that independent archives like GMRC provide scholarly and community value, offering alternatives to mainstream institutions and fostering personal and collective reflection.
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ISSN:1389-0166
1573-7500
1573-7519
DOI:10.1007/s10502-025-09522-9