The periodical "Wiadomosci klubowe krakowskiego klubu automobilowego" (1929 - 1939) as a historical source

Abstract

The purpose of the research is to carry out an archeographic analysis of the periodical “Wiadomości Klubowe Krakowskiego Klubu Automobilowego” (1929 – 1939). The scientific novelty consists in the fact that for the first time the analysis of the periodical “Wiadomości Klubowe Krakowskiego Klubu Automobilowego” as a historical source was carried out, its value for the study of the history of public bodies in the field of motor sports and tourism during interwar Poland has been elucidated. The methodology of the research is based on source science methods, in particular the method of internal criticism of sources, as well as on archeography requirements. The Conclusion. Therefore, the “Wiadomości” (1929 – 1939) is an extremely valuable source for the history of the KKA and automobile tourism sphere in interwar Poland. The periodical publications could be divided into several thematic areas. One of the key ones was the direction that highlighted the structure and peculiarities of the functioning of the KKA as a public organization: management, membership, areas of activity. Most of the information on the pages of the “Wiadomości” was devoted to motor sports, primarily competitions of various levels and activities of the KKA Sports Commission. Key competitions for the KKA were described in detail: “Winter Trip to Zakopane”, “Track Races” at the stadium in Zakopane, “The Tatra Races”. The reasons for the decline of some of these events and the KKA attempt to organize track (ring) races in Kraków were mentioned. The “Wiadomości” covered the participation of the KKA members in competitions organized by other auto clubs in Poland and foreign countries. The members of the KKA won victories repeatedly, in particular, the following athletes were famous: Adam Potocki, Jan Ripper, Stanislaw Holuj. A significant number of materials and notes in the “Wiadomości” were devoted to automobile tourism in general and the activities of the Tourist Commission and the Tourist Office of the KKA in particular. A social life of the club was also highlighted in the periodical: open lectures, dance evenings, joint celebrations, etc. The editor’s board chief focus was on the issue of cooperation between the KKA and the auto clubs of Italy, Czechoslovakia, and Hungary. The “Wiadomości” is a valuable source for the history of road network development in interwar Poland, traffic rules formation. The periodical also highlighted the problem of reorganizing the system of automobile clubs in Poland in the second half of the 1930s