Born in Nowy Sącz on 31st May 1897, Zofia Ameisenowa, daughter of Maurycy and Jadwiga, née Jachet, was a professor of History of Art at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow and a custodian of the Jagiellonian Library.

In 1915, she began studying at the Faculty of Philosophy of the Jagiellonian University  where she studied History of Art and Archaeology. After graduation, she started working at the Jagiellonian Library, dealing with graphic collections and the problems of Jewish iconography of the Old Testament. At that time, she was already one of the leading researchers of the history of the Middle Ages. After the war broke out, she left for Lviv, followed by Łuck and Kosow where she ended up in the ghetto. Together with her husband, she managed to escape to Romania, first finding shelter in Bukovina, and then in one of the Bucharest monasteries. After the end of the war, she returned to work at the Jagiellonian Library. Despite having the opportunity to leave for Palestine, she did not decide to leave “her” collections, as she was truly involved in the life and activities of the Library. In 1955, she received the academic title of Associate Professor , followed by the full Professor title in 1959.

Zofia Ameisenowa died on 25th December 1967 in Krakow. She donated all her movable and immovable property to the Jagiellonian University. She is buried at the new Jewish cemetery at Miodowa Street in Kraków.

Photo courtesy of the Jagiellonian Library in Krakow.