Technika kontekstów i znaczeń jako proponowana metoda badawcza do pracy ze źródłami wspomnieniowymi i refleksją podmiotu – przykładowa analiza

The article presents in an accessible way a new method of working with diaries and memories in historical research. The technique of contexts and meanings was constructed by the author in order to examine the memoirs of Prince Michał Kleofas Ogiński (1765–1833) from the period of his entire life from the moment he began his political activity. The sources discussed in this article are obtained from the State Archives of Historical Records in Moscow „Observations on events occurring in Poland since the end of November 1830” (in the original French). The technique of contexts and meanings is based on a thorough analysis of the source text, especially the meaning of specific words and phrases, as well as their interpretation, taking into account the context of the statement. It is based on the assumption that the experiences that a person has when reminiscing are highly similar to authentic experiences from the past. However, this applies only to a specific group of memories that concern events that the researcher calls the cassation of the identity of certain communities. In the article, an example of the use of this technique is preceded by a concise theoretical introduction, which discussed the innovative concepts and assumptions related to it.