Correspondence from 1963-1996 is also part of the collection, in which she contacted well-known figures from both Poland and the U.S., including, Leopold Tyrmand, Andrzej Wajda, Daniel Passent, actor Frank Langella and American composer Tupper Saussy. Also contained in the collection are numerous notes related to Elżbieta’s preparation for plays, film scripts with annotations showing how she prepared for roles, audio recordings of English-language pieces in which she played, as well as theatre programmes collected by the actress.
A separate folder contains documents associated with the Everything for Sale film, in which she acted during a difficult time in her private life - her husband was considered persona non grata. Czyżewska left in 1968, but she returned to act in the film. The folder consists of photos, notes related to the preparation and a summary prepared by the director. This collection will enrich our resources splendidly. This is the first such collection we have received. It will now be developed, described and explained, then made available for everybody - says the director of the National Digital Archive, Wojciech Woźniak.
As explained by the Minister of Culture, after Czyżewska’s death, a part of her legacy was preserved, but still, a "disordered fragment was under threat of being forgotten”.
This information came to our consulate. Material was taken, then transferred to Poland. After reading it I thought it’d be best if it reached the National Archive, which have the experience and equipment for their development. These are important documents, and some of them were unknown. - said Zdrojewski
The Minister pointed out that he really cared about this collection being made a part of the National Archive.
Firstly, because of the heroine, who is remembered primarily from comedies, by which she gained affection, but also from other, specific roles on stage and film. I recall that when she lived in New York she also helped Solidarity. This collection shows how versatile the actress was - stressed the minister.
He also recalls meeting her twice in New York.
Meetings were focused on inviting her to Poland. Invitations were accepted, but she failed to take advantage of them. I also wanted some of her memories to be published. During the last years of her life, the actress required help that was given, among others, by the Ministry. Her legacy is extremely valuable, and will undoubtedly enrich our archives – summed up Zdrojewski
Elżbieta Czyżewska gained fame in the 60s playing major roles in films such as Husband of Her Wife, Wife for an Australian and Where is General. Between 1961 and 1967, she performed in the Warsaw Dramatic Theatre. In 1967, along with her husband, American journalist David Halberstam, she went to the USA. She was unable to continue her career there. From the early 80s, she was a guest actress in numerous Polish movies. She died in 2010 in New York.
Source: PAP.pl, ed. & translated: KM, 03.06.2014