Portrait of Maria Papiewska

Maria Papiewska (1883-1974) was born in the village of Choroszynka in the former Biała poviat. After moving to Warsaw, she attended trade courses, thanks to which she gained a practical profession. In the capital she joined the left-wing PPS party. Accused of illegal political activity, she spent a year in prison at the Pawiak prison. In 1908 she married Franciszek Papiewski. Three years later, the couple moved to Lublin, where they remained close for the rest of their lives.

She was involved in the social life of the city. She had an ability to win people over, and was hard-working and self-sacrificing. She held managerial positions in various Lublin institutions, including the Lublin Food Society, which she co-founded.

Her greatest contribution was in the field of education. In 1908, she opened the Freblow Institute, which applied an innovative, individual approach to the education of each pupil. In 1921, she became a councillor and vice-president of the Lublin City Council. She was involved in education, health and unemployment prevention. She was also active as a journalist in the Lublin press.

During World War II, she organised secret teaching in her home. She helped the needy and prisoners of Majdanek by collecting food.

After the war she managed the LLS library and was elected an honorary member of the Supervisory Board. She was awarded the Officer's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta.