Arciszanka's student hat

The Wacława Arciszowa private female school, founded in 1912, was one of Lublin's best-known educational institutions. Initially located at 70 Krakowskie Przedmieście Street, it changed its premises several times over the years. Before the outbreak of World War II, it rented premises at 6 Kapucyńska Street.

The school was managed by its founder, who employed competent people as directors. She also took care of the proper selection of the teaching staff, ensuring a high level of education for the graduates. In 1920, the first Arciszanki took their matriculation exam.

The characteristic headgear of Wacława Arciszowa's disciples was a white cap with a peak and an amaranthine cord at the brim. The colouring referred to the Polish national colours. It was adopted from 1915, when, with the supervisor's consent, the schoolgirls, dressed in white blouses with amaranth bows tied under their necks, went out to greet soldiers of the Polish Legions entering Lublin. In the interwar period, with the division into middle and high schools, it was customary for the girls in the last grades to embroider the letter A in the middle of their caps for middle school girls in navy blue and high school girls in amaranth.

With the onset of the Nazi occupation, Wacława Arciszowa's school was closed. In 1940, the Private School of Commerce was opened in its place, which functioned until the end of hostilities. The school soon returned to its original profile. Subsequent disciples continued to wear their distinctive headgear. In 1949, the school, run for years with great dedication by its founder, was nationalised. The Arciszanki’s tradition was maintained by the IV Stefania Sempołowska Secondary School in Lublin.