Professor Marian Szyjkowski (1883-1952) was an eminent Polish philologist and historian of Polish literature who played a key role in the organisation of Polish studies at Charles University in Prague. Born in Lviv, Szyjkowski studied Polish philology at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow, where he obtained his habilitation in 1923. In the same year, he accepted the offer to take up the Chair of the History of Polish Literature in Prague, where he de facto organised the first Polish Studies at that university. He was associated with Charles University and Prague until his death in 1952. Professor Szyjkowski was buried in Prague's Malvazinky Cemetery.

His tombstone is in the form of a slab, at the head of which is a cross on a three-stepped pedestal. On the second step of the pedestal is an inscription in memory of Professor Marian Szyjkowski:
Dr. MARJAN SZYJKOWSKI / PIERZYZY PROFESOR JEZYKA I / LITERATURY POLSKIEJ NA UNIWERSYTCIE / KAROL IN PRADA. / 15.12.1883 + 21.9.1952. //.
There are also inscriptions below in memory of Eliza Stepanova and Katerina Szyjkowska (d. 1977). The plaque is on the gravestone of Jozef Horin (d. 1909).
In Prague, a plaque to his memory was unveiled on the building where Professor Szyjkowski gave his inaugural lecture in 1923. Rectangular, with a bust executed in relief on the left side and a relief inscription on the left side: PROF. MARIAN SZYJKOWSKI / 1883 - 1952 / PHILOLOGIST, RESEARCHER OF ČESKO-POLSKÝCH KULTURALNÍCH VZTAHŮ, / ZAKLADATEL PRVNÍ KATEDRY POLONISTIKY / MIMO POLSKÉ ÚZEMÍ, KTERÁ VZNIKLA NA UNIVERZITĚ / KARLOVĚ V PRAZE, U PRILEZITOSTI 100. VÝROČÍ INAUGURAČNÍ PŘEDNÁŠKY, PROSLOVENÉ V TÉTO BUDOVĚ 13.10.1923. / PHILOLOGIST, RESEARCHER OF CZECH-POLISH CULTURAL RELATIONS, FOUNDER OF THE FIRST / FOREIGN CHAIR OF POLISH STUDIES / ESTABLISHED AT THE CHARLES UNIVERSITY IN PRAGUE. / ON THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE INAUGURAL LECTURE / DELIVERED IN THIS BUILDING ON 13/10.1923 //.