Born: 20 May 1804, Poland
Died: 11 May 1896
Country most active: Poland
Also known as: NA
The following is excerpted from “400 Outstanding Women of the World and the Costumology of Their Time” by Minna Moscherosch Schmidt, published in 1933.
At the beginning of the nineteenth century, the education of women was not a matter of great concern anywhere in the world, even among the wealthy classes. So the women of that time who stood out above the others possessed great inherent qualities, and above all, strength of will and human understanding. Emilja Sczaniecka, the daughter of a wealthy Polish family, was such a woman as this. She was left an orphan in early youth, and on completion of her studies she entered public service; she received grateful recognition from her countrymen because of her strength of character and tireless labors. She was a Sister of Mercy during Poland’s war for Independence, and in 1831, when in spite of a bitter struggle Warsaw was captured by the Russians, she was compelled to flee from Poland, together with the others who had taken part in the uprising. Later, amnesty was granted to her and she returned to Poland, but as she was possessed of vast estates and great wealth, she was again arrested. The Prussian authorities sequestered her entire estate and she was put on trial for treason. After lengthy proceedings, she succeeded in having the fine remanded, and retired to her estate in Pakosiaw. Highly idealistic, she considered her estate not as her own property, but a public trust to be administered by her for the benefit of all.
Together with the great Polish patriot. Dr. Karol Marcinkowski, she established schools and community buildings, such as the Bazar in Poznan, a Student’s Aid Association, a Women’s League, and educations institutions for women and girls, as well as men.
She was offered great sums of money to give up her land, but she refused indignantly, and unceasing in her labors, this great woman died on her estate in 1896. In the field of community and welfare work, she is a splendid example of Polish womanhood.