Stefania Tuchołkowa née Zaleska (1874-1924) was a Polish journalist, writer and national activist.[1]

Stefania Tuchołkowa
Stefania Tuchołkowa z domu Zaleska
Stefania Tucholkowa
Born(1874-04-25)April 25, 1874
DiedMarch 4, 1924(1924-03-04) (aged 49)
Bydgoszcz, Poland
Resting placeNowofarny cemetery Bydgoszcz
Occupation(s)Writer, publicist, national activist

Biography

edit

Childhood

edit

Stefania Zaleska was born on 25 April 1874 in Bożejewiczki, Żnin County, 48 kilometres (30 mi) southwest of then Bromberg.[2] Her parents were Romuald Zaleski, a landowner and Rozalia née Sulerzyńska.

The couple had only daughters in addition to Stefania: Maria (died in infancy), Józefa and Władysława.[3]

She was first educated at home and then went at the age of 12 at Anna and Anastazja Danysz's boarding school for girls in Poznań.[4]

Activities in Bydgoszcz

edit

On 13 November 1891,[4] she married Artur Tuchołka, a landowner. After losing their estate, the Tuchołkas moved to Bromberg around 1900. Artur became a merchant: they eventually settled at today's 73 Dworcowa street.[5] The couple had nine children, two of whom died in childhood.[4]

Once in the city, Stefania devoted all her free time to literary and educational work as well as reading campaigns among Polish residents or charity work.

After Halina Warmińska, wife of Dr. Emil Warmiński, she took in 1917 the seat of chairwoman of the Reading Room for Women (Polish: Towarzystwo Czytelni dla Kobiet). She also participated in the Polish Women's Circle in Bydgoszcz (Polish: Koła Kobiet Polskich w Bydgoszczy).[6] From 1912 onwards, Tuchołkowa started publishing her works in a column of the daily newspaper Dziennik Bydgoski,[7] estalished in 1905 by Jan and Wincentyna Teska.

During World War I she helped Wincentyna Teskowa in editing and publishing the Dziennik Bydgoski[8] and in 1919 she temporarily served as its editor-in-chief.[9]

She regularly lobbied for the return of the city of Bydgoszcz to the Polish territory.[8] During the Greater Poland Uprising, together with other women, she operated in a clandestine cell at the Polish People's Council for the city of Bydgoszcz, recruiting volunteers for the uprising and organizing their smuggling to the fighting areas.[10] Furthermore, Tuchołkowa became the godmother of the flag of the 62nd Infantry Regiment billeted in Bydgoszcz (today's Warszawska Street).[11]

After the re-creation of Poland, Stefania turned to political activities. In 1920, she took the lead of the Women's Circle of the Christian Democratic party.[6] Under this banner, she was elected in 1921 to the Bydgoszcz City Council.[8] However, she had to resign before the end of her term, on 4 February 1924, due to permanent and incurable heart and kidney conditions.[4]

She died on 4 March 1924, in Bydgoszcz. She was buried at the Bydgoszcz Nowofarny cemetery.[12] Her funerals gathered crowds of Bydgoszcz residents, including the mayor of Bydgoszcz, Bernard Śliwiński.[4]

Literature activity

edit

She devoted herself with passion to literature. She penned popular social and historical novels (The Devil of game, Goraj, The Maid of Orleans) and plays

She translated novels from French into Polish.

National, patriotic and Catholic values pervaded her journalistic works (articles, short stories, feuilletons, lyrics). They were published in Dziennik Bydgoski and Przewodnik Katolicki (Catholic Guide).

On 8 December 1922, Stefania represented the Bydgoszcz literary community at the congress of the Polish Writers' Trade Union in Poznań.[13]

Works

edit

Journalistic works

edit

Novels

edit
 
Cover of the Dąb św. Wincentego à Paulo
  • Marcin's farmstead: (a picture from life) - Marcinowa zagroda : (obrazek z życia) (1908);[17]
  • The Devil of game- Polish: Demon gry (1909);
  • Goraj - A story set against the backdrop of the times of Mieczysław I and Bolesław Chrobry written on the 950th anniversary of the introduction of Christianity to Poland (1916);[18]
  • The Maid of Orleans - Dziewica Orleanska (1923);[19]
  • On the Wings of Icarus: A National Novel Against the Background of the Uprising of 1863 - Na skrzydłach Ikara : powieść narodowa na tle powstania roku 1863 (1933).[20]

Plays

edit
  • The Oak of St. Vincent de Paul: a scenic picture for young people in 2 versions - Dąb św. Wincentego à Paulo : obrazek sceniczny dla młodzieży w 2 odsłonach (1917);[21]
  • When the Brave Trumpets Sound - Gdy zabrzmią trąby Chrobrego : epizody sceniczne w 3 aktach ze śpiewami narodowemi na tle wojny i zmartwychwstania Polski (1919);[22]
  • Uncle Fonsio: an operetta farce in 2 acts for singing groups and amateurs - Stryjek Fonsio : farsa operetkowa w 2 aktach dla drużyn śpiewaczych i amatorów (1922);[23]
  • Ludwik Narbutt, dramatic poem in 3 acts - Ludwik Narbutt, poemat dramatyczny w 3 aktach (1923).

Translations

edit

Commemorations

edit

In 1990, a street in the district of Fordon has been named after her.

For the Women's Day 2020, Stefania Tuchołkowa was distinguished as one of the 25 most prominent women from Bydgoszcz.[25]

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ Błażejewski, Krzysztof (23 August 2020). "25 najbardziej znanych i najpopularniejszych bydgoszczanek w ostatnich 100 latach". expressbydgoski.pl. Polska Press Sp. z o.o. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
  2. ^ Błażejewski, Stanisław; Kutta, Janusz; Romaniuk, Marek (1995). Bydgoski Słownik Biograficzny. Tom II [Bydgoszcz biography dictionary. Tome 2] (in Polish). Gdańsk: Kujawsko Pomorskie Towarzystwo Kulturalne Gdańsk. p. 145. ISBN 9788385327271.
  3. ^ Marek, Marek (2011). "Bożejewiczki". polskiezabytki.pl. polskiezabytki. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Nadolska, Anna (1995). Ziemianka w służbie Bydgoszczy. Kulturalna, społeczna i narodowa działalność Stefanii Tuchołkowej na początku XX wieku. Kronika Bydgoska 39 [A landowner in the service of Bydgoszcz. Cultural, social and national activity of Stefania Tuchołkowa at the beginning of the 20th century. Bydgoszcz Chronicles 39] (in Polish). Bydgoszcz: Towarzystwo Miłosnikow Miasta Bydgoszczy - Bydgoskie Towarzystwo Naukowe. pp. 85–102.
  5. ^ Weber, Władysław (1922). Adresy Miasta Bydgoszczy [Bydgoszcz Address book] (in Polish). Bydgoszcz: Księgarnia Bydgoska. p. 32,39,515.
  6. ^ a b Nadolska, Anna (2017). Radne Miejskie w międzywojennej Bydgoszczy. Kalendarz Bydgoski [City Councilors in interwar Bydgoszcz. Bydgoszcz Calendar] (in Polish). Bydgoszcz: Towarzystwo Miłośników Miasta Bydgoszczy. pp. 115–118.
  7. ^ Kulpiński, Henryk (1979). Początki prasy pomorskiej "Dziennik Bydgoski". Kalendarz Bydgoski [The beginnings of the Pomeranian press "Dziennik Bydgoski". Bydgoszcz Calendar] (in Polish). Bydgoszcz: Towarzystwo Miłośników Miasta Bydgoszczy. pp. 128–130.
  8. ^ a b c Bydgoskie Centrum Informacji (8 March 2023). "ONA I KULTURA. STEFANIA TUCHOŁKOWA, BYDGOSKA LITERATKA, DZIAŁACZKA I EMANCYPANTKA - WYKŁAD". visitbydgoszcz.pl. Bydgoskie Centrum Informacji. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
  9. ^ Nadolska, Anna (2017). Radne Miejskie w międzywojennej Bydgoszczy. Kalendarz Bydgoski [City councilors in interwar Bydgoszcz. Bydgoszcz Calendar] (in Polish). Bydgoszcz: Towarzystwo Miłośników Miasta Bydgoszczy. pp. 115–118.
  10. ^ Zielazna, Jolanta (27 December 2021). "Powstańcy w spódnicach. Te kobiety z regionu pomagały rannym i jeńcom w czasie powstania wielkopolskiego". pomorska.pl. Polska Press Sp. z o.o. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
  11. ^ K., Br. (1974). 20 stycznia 1920 roku w Bydgoszczy. Tak nadeszła wolność po raz pierwszy. Kalendarz Bydgoski [January 20, 1920 in Bydgoszcz. This is how freedom came for the first time. Bydgoszcz Calendar] (in Polish). Bydgoszcz: Towarzystwo Miłośników Miasta Bydgoszczy. pp. 75–77.
  12. ^ Romanowski, Mikołaj (1 November 2022). "Cmentarz Nowofarny w Bydgoszczy - tak wyglądał w dniu Wszystkich Świętych". expressbydgoski.pl. Polska Press Sp. z o.o. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
  13. ^ Mrozek, Zdzisław (1982). Z dziejów towarzystw kulturalno-oświatowych artystycznych i naukowych Bydgoszczy w okresie międzywojennym. Kronika Bydgoska 6 [From the history of cultural, educational, artistic and scientific societies in Bydgoszcz in the interwar period.. Bydgoszcz Chronicles 6] (in Polish). Bydgoszcz: Towarzystwo Miłosnikow Miasta Bydgoszczy - Bydgoskie Towarzystwo Naukowe. pp. 133–145.
  14. ^ Ł.R. (22 January 2022). "Stefania Tuchołkowa uroczystości z 1921 roku przyrównała do wizyty króla Jana Kazimierza". portalkujawski.pl. portalkujawski. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
  15. ^ Tuchołkowa, Stefania (1907). Nowelki [Short Stories] (in Polish). Inowrocław: Druk. "Dziennika Kujawskiego".
  16. ^ Tuchołkowa, Stefania (1946). Cześć pieśni! [Hello Songs!] (in Polish). Świecie: Druk. "Dziennika Kujawskiego".
  17. ^ Tuchołkowa, Stefania (1908). Marcinowa zagroda : (obrazek z życia) [Marcin's farmstead: (a picture from life)] (in Polish). Chicago: W. Dyniewicz.
  18. ^ Tuchołkowa, Stefania (1916). Goraj : powieść na tle czasów Mieczysława I i Bolesława Chrobrego napisana w 950-siątą rocznicę zaprowadzenia chrześcijaństwa w Polsce. T. 1-3 [Goraj: A novel set against the backdrop of the times of Mieczysław I and Bolesław Chrobry written on the 950th anniversary of the introduction of Christianity to Poland. Vol. 1-3] (in Polish). Poznań: Drukarna "Pracy".
  19. ^ Tuchołkowa, Stefania (1923). Dziewica Orleańska : powieść historyczna [The Maid of Orleans: A Historical Novel] (in Polish). Poznań: Księgarnia św. Wojciecha.
  20. ^ Tuchołkowa, Stefania (1933). Na skrzydłach Ikara : powieść narodowa na tle powstania roku 1863 [On the Wings of Icarus: A National Novel Against the Background of the Uprising of 1863] (in Polish). Grudziądz: W. Kulerski.
  21. ^ Tuchołkowa, Stefania (1917). Dąb św. Wincentego à Paulo : obrazek sceniczny dla młodzieży w 2 odsłonach [The Oak of St. Vincent de Paul: a scenic picture for young people in 2 versions] (in Polish). Poznań: Księgarnia św. Wojciecha.
  22. ^ Tuchołkowa, Stefania (1919). Gdy zabrzmią trąby Chrobrego : epizody sceniczne w 3 aktach ze śpiewami narodowemi na tle wojny i zmartwychwstania Polski [When the trumpets of Brave sound: stage episodes in 3 acts with national songs against the background of war and the resurrection of Poland] (in Polish). Bydgoszcz: Księgarnia Bydgoska.
  23. ^ Tuchołkowa, Stefania (1922). Stryjek Fonsio : farsa operetkowa w 2 aktach dla drużyn śpiewaczych i amatorów [Uncle Fonsio: an operetta farce in 2 acts for singing groups and amateurs] (in Polish). Poznań: Księgarnia św. Wojciecha.
  24. ^ Tuchołkowa, Stefania (1902). Bez rodziny : powieść [Sans Famille] (in Polish). Mikołów: K. Miarka.
  25. ^ Błażej, Bembnista (6 March 2020). "Miasto pamięta o zasłużonych bydgoszczankach. Nowa wystawa na Mostowej". metropoliabydgoska.pl. Grupa Enjoy Media. Retrieved 2 June 2024.

Bibliography

edit
edit