Andrzej Wyrobisz (1931-2018)

Professor of early modern history, author of over 450 studies devoted to the history of the economy, society, culture and art.

Born in 1931; a student of Marian Małowist, he graduated from the Institute of History, University of Warsaw. He obtained his doctorate in 1961, habilitation in 1968, in 1978 became associate professor and 1995 full professor. In 1955–1969 he worked at the Institute of the History of Material Culture (today the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology) of the Polish Academy of Sciences; in 1969–2012 at the University of Warsaw–initially at the Institute of History, then at the Institute of Art History. Associated with Przegląd Historyczny from 1954, in 1964–1969 as secretary, 1970–1992 and 2003–2006 member of the editorial team, 1992–2002 editor-in-chief, 2007–2008 permanent associate (he was in charge of, for example, assessing incoming submissions). In addition, he wrote numerous articles published in the journal.

As editor-in-chief, he continued the journal’s formula developed by Stefan Kieniewicz and his long-time deputy, Iza Bieżuńska-Małowist. His achievements included putting an end to the crisis caused by the editors’ dispute with the BGW publishing house, which resulted in months of delay in the journal’s publication in late 1992 and 1993. As a result, Wydawnictwa Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego became the new publisher (in 1999). His efforts to improve the financial situation of Przegląd Historyczny led to PH becoming a journal of not only the Friends of History Society, but also of the Institute of History, University of Warsaw (since 1993).