Flying University – Museum of Industry and Agriculture, Warsaw
Fact of the Polish figure „Polon and Rad – Maria Skłodowska-Curie”
Part of the „The emancipation of women” topic
Established by Jadwiga Szczawińska-Dawidowa in 1885 Flying University in Warsaw was operating clandestinely and offered forbidden higher education to women barred from official institutions. As a response to the Russification policies imposed by Tsarist Russia it was focusing on preserving Polish language and heritage.
From its outset, the „Womanish University”, as it was called, was unique in its inclusion of women, providing them an academic sanctuary to study philosophy, literature, history, and sciences—subjects from which they were typically excluded. It served as an intellectual hub where women could forge networks, share ideas, and find solidarity. These connections often translated into organized advocacy for women’s rights, laying the groundwork for future feminist movements in Poland.
Notably, the Flying University was the alma mater of some exceptionally influential women. Maria Curie, who later became a two-time Nobel Laureate, and Helena Rubinstein, a future cosmetics magnate, both benefited from this unique educational environment.
