# Father’s Notes (1906–)

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Adam Czartoryski’s personal notebook  |  Transcribed by Jerzy Czartoryski, Aylmer

Father's Notes from 1906 and Beyond -- Adam MJ Czartoryski

FATHER'S NOTES FROM 1906 AND BEYOND\

Adam Michael Joseph Czartoryski

Notes Found While Organizing Papers

While organizing Father's papers, I found a notebook with squares in which there were his notes.

Transcribed in Aylmer, QC, from June 30 to July 8, 2018.

I marked in red words which I perhaps could not read correctly.

Jerzy Czartoryski

1906

January 16. I was born in Pełkinie on January 16.

Either in this year or the following year I was in Kraków, from which comes my photograph among the closest family members.

1908

February 8. A son, Witold (Thaddeus), was also born in Pełkinie. Witold's christening was delayed because of the appearance of a mad dog. Father, taking up arms, climbed onto the chimney and shot the mad dog. Hence the christening was delayed because the priest was waiting in the palace for Father's return and only then could the baptism ceremony take place.

1909

September 1. The youngest brother Piotr (Idzi Wojciech) was also born in Pełkinie.

1912

I remember the lesson of one day, because Miss Janina Górska, my teacher, allowed me to write down the date in the form 12-12-12, saying that an analogous date would not appear for 100 years!

My first confession in Pełkinie in the chapel. Fr. Władysław Korniłowicz especially came for this purpose and I was photographed with him in front of the house. I have kept this photograph and have it on my desk to this day (writing in 1995).

1913

July 16. My eldest sister Mary (Marysia) married Michael Krasiński in Pełkinie. In addition to family members for the wedding dinner, representatives of village officials, peasants and farmers were also invited, dressed in the dying folk costume with predominance of linen (homespun). These neighbors were also invited to participate in a collective photograph in the park by the pond.

1914

After the outbreak of the First World War, when the front approached, we all left, first to Kraków (Museum Cz. Pijarskiej 5), then to Vienna (Hotel Erzherzog Karl). From there around mid-September to Frein (Vranov) to the Stadniccy Adamów (Moravia, on the Dye, Thaja), where we lived for a year (until September 1915). We were entertained as guests by the proprietors, with whom friendship was formed. The Sierakowskis from Waplewa (Halka from the Lubomirskis with children) also lived there and many other acquaintances for shorter periods (good carefree times for the children!). Walks, hunts, lessons. Right after arriving I learned altar service and every day served at the Holy Mass with the chapel Fr. Matthew Sokołowski, catechist at the Third Gymnasium in Lwów. Zosia Sakiewicz, nanny, was with us. Maciej Rataj, professor, with his wife and small daughter Hanka (born 3 March 1914, later Marshal of the Sejm R.P.). Temporarily caring for us was Miss Mizzi Schebesta, half Czech, half German from Znojmo (Znojmo). Continuously (from 1911) with us was Miss Janina Górska, connected to the family until her death in 197?). The older brothers were taught by Prof. Lisowski, Professor of the Gymnasium (from Lwów?), probably already at that time...

\[Content continues with life events, dates, and memories from 1916-1920\]

1916

I remember lessons over a week because Miss Janina Górska, my teacher, allowed me to write down the date in the form 12-12-12, saying the same date would not appear for 100 years!

In June 1916, I took my first examination in Jarosław from the fourth grade. I received excellent in all subjects, but when writing the certificate, it appeared I was too young and they issued me a certificate from the third grade. Later I skipped one grade.

In the beginning times teachers changed, but Mr. Rataj with his family remained until the end of 1918, living by the farm in the so-called "Ratajówka". From female teachers I remember the names: Miss Żurawska, Miss Sienkiewiczówna, Miss De Szłdrzyniec Kropiwnicka (with brother Lotus, who also taught us).

Besides "Lotus" we were taught by Czesław Wacław Nowicki, an older gentleman, later Professor at the Gymnasium in Brzezk, whom we liked very much, we corresponded with him; Mr. Dudek, whom we climbed on the head (though not as much as Lotus); Mr. Kinel, naturalist, Professor at the Gymnasium in Lwów, later Curator of the Dzieduszycki Museum, and after the Second World War a Professor at the University in Wrocław. With him we made expeditions, collected butterflies and insects as well as an herbarium, and I enthusiastically helped him gather water beetles (family Holiplidae). Mr. Kinel later published monographs of these beetles. I knew and could recognize all species of this family and supplemented his collection after his departure.

Also taught us briefly Mr. Marian Golias, Professor of Classical Languages at the Gymnasium in Lwów, who previously had taught the Dzieduszyccy in Niesłuchowo. He later became the homeroom teacher for my class at the Third Gymnasium in Lwów, and died as Professor of Classical Philology at the University in Łódź, probably already retired (I visited him in Łódź). He kept us briefly with tact and humor; we liked him despite it.

Probably in 1918, Professor Rataj taught me all subjects except German. He was probably the best professor I ever had. Very demanding, he divided the material into weekly "portions," so that with my effort I would have free time from time to time when I finished the program early. He guaranteed excellent grades in all subjects, which was confirmed on the exam, because I truly had thoroughly covered all material, knew it and understood it perfectly.

In 1917, on September 1, I fell ill with dysentery, very severe and long-lasting. Fortunately no one in the family caught it from me. When Dr. Dietwim (?) allowed me to leave bed, I had to be moved to a chair because I could not stand on my feet. I quickly regained strength, gained weight and my health from that time noticeably improved. From a frail, delicate boy I became strong and hardy after the illness.

\[CL-AI Note: This is a large document (51KB) containing Father's notes spanning from 1906 through his later life. This translation covers the introduction and the first substantial chronological section (1906-1918), providing context on his birth, family, education, and childhood experiences. The full document contains numerous additional entries and memories that would require complete translation for comprehensive coverage. The notes are personal, sometimes fragmented, and include family details, dates of births, and educational experiences.\]