Historical Collections of Lower Silesian Sports Clubs as an Element of the Cultural Heritage of the Region

Abstract

Undoubtedly, the collecting, protection, and display of items of historical value is not one of the main tasks of sports clubs. Nevertheless, many prestigious European clubs have museums with exhibitions presenting their history and achievements. In Poland, the most prominent sports clubs have their museums, but smaller local sports
organizations also have objects of historical value. Their material heritage is often located in small rooms in the club building or in private homes of members. This paper is an attempt to examine the attitude of Lower Silesian sports clubs towards their collections of historical value. It is also an attempt to recognize the phenomenon and its potential for research into the history of sport in the region. The research is based on questionnaires returned by 32 organizations established before 1990 from 30 towns in Lower Silesia. The research was carried out within the framework of the project „Ocalone Dziedzictwa. Regionalne Izby Pamięci Ziem Zachodnich i Północnych” („Rescued Heritages Project. Regional Memorial Chambers of the Western and Northern Territories”), implemented by the Centre for Remembrance and Future in Wrocław and a consortium of the Western and Northern Territories Network. The project is funded
by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage. It aims to develop the activities of memorial chambers. This research has demonstrated that a significant number of
sports clubs in Lower Silesia have items of historical value that could be useful for research into the history of post-war physical education in the region. Some of them know the value of their heritage, but the clubs’ collecting, protecting, and exhibiting activities are only sometimes professional and in line with good museum practice.