Volume 18: The Kielce Region part 1

The Complete Works vol. 18: The Kielce Region part 1. Wrocław – Poznań 1963, pp. II+244. Photo-offset re-edition; first edition: Cracow 1885.

This is the first of two volumes of ethnographic monographs of the region of Kielce which covers the southern part of the region (with the city of Kielce) as well as the northern part of the Cracow region and of the border area between Silesia and Lesser Poland. Apart from general historical and geographical outline, the volume comprises descriptions of family and annual cycle rites and universal songs. The latter, together with the songs published in the second part of the monograph, form an extensive collection of 1,031 songs and ritual, dance or other melodies. Kolberg conducted the field work in the region between 1852 and 1856, and then gathered most of the folklore material and wedding descriptions published here. He also utilized general descriptive and ethnographic literature preceding the edition on the Kielce region, particularly papers and reports of W. Siarkowski, published in local journals and annuals of the Cracow Academy of Arts and Sciences.