Szuman's Family History

 

Szuman Family go down in the history of Torun with their social, scientific and cultural activity. Leon Szuman was an eminent surgeon, social worker, humanist, author of many scientific papers in the field of medicine, co-organizer of Pomeranian Association of Child Care, and an active member of the Scientific Society in Torun. Leon Szuman as a young doctor came to Torun in 1879. In 1893 he opened his own clinic.

His house became the center of social and patriotic activities, the mainstay of Polish culture in the Prussian

partition. Dr. Szuman gave his ideals to his seven children. Henryk Szuman was one of the leaders of the Torun's Society of Philomats. Two of his brothers were devoted to science. Leon - the youngest brother died young. Sisters: Maria and Irene had married and settled in the countryside.

Wanda Szuman completed a seminar for teachers to be able to take care of children from poor families. During the World War I she organized, the first unit of the Polish Red Cross in Torun to help prisoners and workers returning from Germany. She was a leader of organizers of Polish education in Pomerania. In the interwar period she worked with Janusz Korczak and her brother Henryk on organizing an orphanage. After the World War II in the building of father's clinic she opened the school for kindergarten teachers.

It was closed by the communist authorities in 1949. After retiring at age of 62 Wanda Szuman started her work with blind children. Over 20 last years of her life she spent on developing artistic skills of people with disabilities. Wanda Szuman died at the age of 104 in 1994.

She was awarded Papal Medal "Pro Ecclesiae et Pontifice" and the Order of the Smile. She also become a honorary citizen of Toruń.

In 2000, on the hotel's ground floor Szuman Family Memorial Chamber was opened.