Józef Ondrusz

Who was Józef Ondrusz?

Józef Ondrusz was a Polish teacher, writer and folklorist from the Zaolzie region of Cieszyn Silesia.

Ondrusz was born in the village of Darków to a coal miner. He graduated from a Polish grammar school in Fryštát and later from teachers' seminary in Ostrava. After World War II Ondrusz taught at the Polish school in Darkov and wrote several schoolbooks for Polish schools in Zaolzie. He also co-founded magazines for children, Jutrzenka and Ogniwo. He was an active member of PZKO and also became active in the Polish scouting in Czechoslovakia. He earned a doctorate in 1972 for his thesis Proza ludowa Śląska Cieszyńskiego 1845-1970.

Ondrusz was fascinated by the culture and traditions of Cieszyn Silesia and was a keen collector of everything related to regional culture. He eventually published traditional folk fables, proverbs and stories, often literally adapting them.

He wrote his works in literary Polish and in the local dialect. His works focus mostly on regional folklore, culture and fables.

Ondrusz also contributed to the popularization of bookplates in Cieszyn Silesia in the 1960s. Many notable Polish and Czech artists made bookplates for him.