The text mentions the collection of F. Jaworski, historian of Lviv history and culture, are mentioned in the text. The collection is divided into two parts - one is a library of "leopolitans", the other is a hand archive of biographies, memoirs, notes, prints, rare sketches and others.

(Source: 'Earth. Tygodnik Krajoznawczy Ilustrowany" Warsaw 1914, no. 14, pp. 5-8, after: Wielkopolska Biblioteka Cyfrowa).

A modernised reading of the text.

Polish collections. "The Collection of Franciszek Jaworski in Lviv".

In our descriptions of Lviv's collections we have so far only mentioned those that owe their origin to the love of souvenirs of the past for their own sake and for no other purpose. This time we would like to acquaint the reader with a different type of collection, namely a collection that is in fact a handy library, archive, study room and in general what no one working in science, devoted to special research in a given subject, can do without. By their very nature, collections of this kind have to be different from those motivated solely by a love of antiquities - they are usually more uniform, more skilfully assembled, more carefully kept within a certain framework. The scientific specialisation of the owner determines above all the content and direction in which they are to develop. In turn, their importance is greater the higher the position of their owner in the field of scientific work: their descriptions and detailed discussion.

As far as such collections in Lviv are concerned, the first place should be given to those owned by Franciszek Jaworski, an outstanding historian of the history and culture of this city, the author of so many valuable works and ancient-historical studies dealing especially with the city on the Poltva River. From his always masterful and exquisite pen came a long series of monographs, as well as a great number of smaller, completely original studies, mostly based on archival research, which were printed from 1897 in the columns of the "Kuryer Lwowski", as well as in its supplement, the "Tygodnik", and later in three annuals of "Na ziemi naszej".

Generally, in his work as a historian, Fr Jaworski moved away from the journalistic columnist, which is also the reason for the form of almost all his works, characterised by a light, charming style, free from getting entangled in trivial investigations and deliberations, so common in scientific studies, usually avoided eagerly by non-professional readers. For these reasons Jaworski himself holds in high esteem the excellently written works of W. Łoziński and Ludw. Kubala, and of the older works of J. Lam; his favourite book are the works of P. Skarga with their exquisite Polish language, and of the classics he is most interested in Horace.

From among the classics he is most interested in Horace. In the works of Fr Jaworski one can easily trace these sympathies. Those who only know a few of his most important things can judge how much he equalled and perhaps surpassed the author of "Lviv Patriciate" and "Lviv Art", in which he took over the wonderful studies of the excellent historian of the era of "Fire and Sword" and the Swedish "Deluge", which he considered most valuable in the work of the extraordinary chronicler, journalist, novelist of customs, J. Lam. Skarga is his master when he dresses a beautiful page of his works in the solemnity of the archaic Polish language, when he wants to speak with dignity in a commemorative act, when he speaks in a more austere, steadfast and ascetic manner; the cheerful Horace is a pleasant companion in moments when he forgets about everyday worries, becoming acquainted with those whom he has brought to new life, digging out from piles of old paper their great and small troubles, joys and joys.

Fr Jaworski is a master, especially in depicting scenes from the life of the Lviv bourgeoisie in the past. So far, no one has been able to recreate so many wonderful pictures of the noisy, quarrelsome, contentious and always temperamental life of the citizens of the city with the lion's seal. Łoziński is a historiographer of the patriciate, Jaworski a historian of the grey bourgeoisie, especially of those from the suburbs, always dissatisfied with the "lords", but always willing to join their ranks as soon as possible. Drawing from the pages of the archives, Jaworski is able to pour so much life into the yellowed ink-stories that it's as if these "sips" were leaking out to us today; we see how they come into God's world, how they grow to the glory of God and the homeland, how they love each other, marry, quarrel, litigate fiercely, draw up endless wills, make holy bequests, absolve their offspring and finally lie down to sleep forever.

Already the first popular book on Żółkwi, published by "Macierz Polska" and not signed with the author's name, was a harbinger of what to expect from him. His numerous other works, such as an accessible monograph on Gródek, the author's hometown, a two-part work on ex-librises and libraries in Lviv, an extremely interesting study on the Polish kings in Lviv, a monograph on the Lviv Town Hall and the Gródek cemetery, a work on the "Nobility of the city of Lviv", "Lviv during the reign of Władysław II," and a book on the history of the city. The latter were collected by the author in parts and published with illustrations in a book entitled "Jagiełły", a repeated, enlarged edition of "Król Polski we Lw" (Polish Kings in Lviv), a whole lot of columns published at that time in "Kuryer Lviv". The latter were collected by the author in parts and published with illustrations in the book "Lwów stary i wczorajszy" ("Lviv Old and Yesterday"). "Lviv Old and Yesterday's", which almost immediately sold out in two editions, establishing his fame as an outstanding stylist and popular author. His masterful use of beautiful language and his gift for a light and engaging lecture even in things that seemingly do not present much room for display can be seen in his magnificent publication "Polskie pierścienie historyczne" ("Polish Historical Rings"). "Polskie pierścienie historyczne" ("Polish Historical Rings"), or "Medaliony polskie" ("Polish Medallions"). Both of these publications are now out of print. Apart from this, Fr Jaworski also wrote a lot of minor things, such as about Prince Józef Poniatowski, the year 1865, the siege of Lviv and L.d. Recently he had intended to compile the painstakingly collected material - very interesting, by the way, and somewhat sensational - for a monograph on the well-known fresco painter Stroiński, as well as three sketches on the history of Lviv. A larger work on the cultural history of Lviv, a pendant to "Lviv Old and Yesterday", is also in print, the result of combining a number of columns published over several years, mostly in the "Kuryer Lviv". This publication, richly illustrated, will also include a newly completed longer column on Lviv Freemasonry, which was read with great general interest in the journal.

As we can see, the post is astonishing in its abundance. It must also make one wonder how much work all these things required, and wonder all the more when one considers that they were accomplished in the space of ten years with hardly any cover. And perhaps nothing could explain this better than a closer acquaintance with the author's working system, with his workroom, his library and a kind of archive that can be considered his collection.

Editor Jaworski's collection is divided, according to his two different occupations, into two parts. As a municipal archivist, and thus a historian ex officio, he has an appropriate library, consisting of "Leopolitans" and the most important general works on Polish history. In turn, as a journalist and columnist, sensitive by necessity to current memories of the past, over time he amassed a whole archive consisting of many biographies, articles, notes, clippings, prints, pamphlets, rare sketches, all of which make up a very valuable set of "Leopolitans", mostly rare or not easily accessible. A look at this part of Jaworski's collection is the best way to understand why he was able to give so many valuable works to our literature in such a short time, it explains how he used his time economically, without wasting it on long searches in libraries and public collections. By diligently completing this section, he acquired a remarkable knowledge of the literature on his subject, as well as an extraordinary ability to search for sources and materials - something he particularly excelled at, providing ample evidence of this in his numerous works. Wanting his writings to be read by those for whom he intended them in the first place, i.e. the widest circles, he avoided burdening them with remarks and footnotes which would put off the non-specialist reader, but nevertheless based them on very detailed research, both in archives and in libraries or museums. In this respect, Jaworski deserves our full trust, and there would be no reason to reproach him for this if we consider the goal he sets himself for almost every work, which is intended mainly for the broadest circles of the intelligentsia.

The author begins each item in the archives, completes it on the basis of his own materials and, where necessary, goes to libraries and public collections. In order to be able to do this, he has divided his archive into individual groups. Thus, the above-mentioned clippings, prints, brochures, notes, and notes are arranged in various sections - separately there are materials on the history of Lviv churches, the newest buildings, various institutions, monuments, memorials, historical personalities, scholars, artists, writers, individual nationalities, and in general in sections depending on the direction of work and research in a given subject. There are many rare portfolios filled with all these things, many interesting things saved from oblivion and destruction.

The second section is the library, represented only by the "Leopolitan", as well as handheld publications such as bibliographies, dictionaries, catalogues, codes, etc. The first place is taken by the "Leopolitan". The most important of these is a beautiful collection of chronicles, mostly in old editions, as well as historical works that, if only for a few pages, are classified as things Lviv. Of course, the largest part of the Lviv historian's collection is occupied by a set of publications in this field, including everything possible and interesting that has been published in the past on this subject - a lot of descriptions, reports, memoirs, monographs, etc. Niesiecki, Finkel, Rastawiecki etc. - The greatest value of the library is its coverage of a single topic, which, for the holder of all the work to date, has been the history of Lviv in its most varied manifestations of its past.

A passion for the direction once chosen could not remain without influence on everything that occupies our author. Just as he often likes to stop along the way to enjoy the view of some beautiful detail on an old patrician house or a venerable temple, to look at the more characteristic nooks and crannies, or to catch the pulse of life in its more interesting manifestations, so he also likes to rest his eyes on all of this at home, dressing it up in old drawings, lithographs and especially wonderful engravings. He also has many "Leopolitans" of this kind in portfolios, collected with fondness for years, as well as numismatic items, medals, medallions, miniatures, commemorative and artistic objects, etc., having something to do with the history of his favourite city. Beautiful old furniture, old Polish ceramics, old Lviv clocks in the neighbourhood of paintings and engravings on the walls make up an unusually aesthetic whole, which has little in common with the most essential value of Jaworski's works, with their content and refined form. However, there is a difference between the two as the author is sometimes dissatisfied with his books (always demanding too much from himself), but each new acquisition, a book or a painting, a medallion or a miniature, an engraving or a print, is a source of real joy for him - in this respect, the smallest thing, once included in his acquisitions, has a whole history in the memory and recollections of its owner. In this respect, the smallest thing, once included in the list of acquisitions, has a whole history in the memory and recollections of its owner.

Jaworski always fiercely defended himself against being called a collector for himself and a collector for his own property, although he never denied that "if things were going better with everything", he would certainly not "waste" his time on writing trifles, but he would most willingly devote himself to some great work, lasting several or even more than ten years, burying himself in his favourite books, occupied with them and with the collected collections. And in this, too, he proves to be a collector of the purest blood, as everyone who knows him even slightly better must consider him to be, even though the author and owner himself does not wish to acquire the undeserved name, maintaining that what he possesses is "not yet a collection".