The IPN has announced the recipients of the 25th edition of the “Custodian of National Memory” Prize, one of the Institute’s most prestigious distinctions. Presented today at the Royal Castle in Warsaw, the award honours individuals and organisations whose dedication helps preserve the memory of Poland’s twentieth-century history and pass it on to future generations. The awards were presented by the Deputy Presidents of the IPN, Karol Polejowski and Mateusz Szpytma.

This year’s laureates are:

Anna Datkowska - researcher and guardian of sites connected with communist repression in post-war Poland.

Jerzy Kropiwnicki - public figure and long-time advocate of historical remembrance initiatives.

Prof. Wiesław Jan Wysocki - historian and educator whose work has helped popularise the stories of key figures in Poland’s struggle for freedom.

The St. Joseph Calasanz Parafiada Association - recognized for decades of educational and commemorative work devoted to the victims of the Katyn Massacre.

Wanda Kiedrzyńska (posthumously) – historian, archivist, former prisoner of Ravensbrück, and a pioneer in documenting the history and victims of the German concentration camp for women.

During the ceremony, IPN Deputy President Karol Polejowski emphasised that the laureates are more than guardians of the past: “Our Custodians not only preserve the memory of the past, but also lay the foundations for it to survive through future generations.”He also noted that many of the award recipients have entrusted their collections and historical materials to the Institute, describing this as a sign of “the highest trust” in the Polish state and its institutions. As he stressed, one of IPN’s core missions is to collect the scattered fragments of Poland’s history, research them, and ensure that remembrance endures.

Established in 2002, the “Custodian of National Remembrance” Prize recognises individuals, institutions and civic organizations whose work contributes to preserving historical truth, commemorating victims of totalitarian regimes, and strengthening public awareness of Poland’s history. The idea behind the award is to promote respect for the nation’s past and the values thanks to which Poland was reborn after years of subjugation. The prize is honorary, and its winners receive the title of Custodian of National Memory.