Eugeniusz Frankowski (1884-1962) belonged to the most prominent figures in Polish ethnology of the first half of the 20th century and a true expert in Iberian studies. This article is the third of the series Iberica Frankowsciana and has been written for the 120th anniversary of the scholar's birth. The author's intention was to commemorate Eugeniusz Frankowski and his achievements both in Iberian and Basque studies. He begins with the account of Frankowski's fieldwork in Spain in the years 1914-1920 (also in Portugal and in the South of France) and his active participation in the Spanish academic life. Next, his constant relations with Spain in the 1930s are presented, as well as the activities promoting closer Polish-Spanish contacts. In the next part of the article the author describes Frankowski's scholarly achievements. However, only small part of his works has been published. Most of the studies prepared for publication, as well as ethnographic documentation were destroyed during the World War II. Many of the opinions about the researches by Frankowski and the meaning of his works in the history of Spanish ethnology, haven't been known in Poland by now.
Interest in the Iberian aspect of the biography of Eugeniusz Frankowski (1884-1962), one of the most eminent Polish ethnologists of the first half of the 20th century, originated unexpectedly, thanks to a personal contact of the author with Professor Maria Frankowska, the widow of Eugeniusz. The author thus terms himself an 'occasional biographer', while the subject of his academic investigations he calls 'Iberica Frankowsciana'. The essay raises a number of questions concerning usefulness of biographical writings for the history of scholarship. It also deals with establishing limits to the biographer's inquires and a hierarchy of the detailed information he is gathering. The author believes that the biographer's duty is to present a portrait as complete as possible; moreover, biographies should be readable. Biographical writings on scholars belong to the history of scholarship sensu largo, including not only the history of ideas but also of people and institutions. Frankowski's career deserves an interpretation both in the frame of historiography of Polish-Spanish contacts and relations, and in the context of the history of Polish ethnology and Iberian studies.
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