A municipal clerk was the main, and at times only, official in the cities of ages past. Following his appointment by municipal authorities, the outstanding incumbent pledged his loyalty, obedience, and most of all honesty. He performed the function of the city council’s secretary, sometimes in addition to being one to the mayor’s or alderman’s office; he prepared documents, kept city hall records, and made certified copies pertaining to ownership matters. The presented book gives 14 biographical accounts of the clerks who kept records in the city of Gliwice between the end of 15th century and the year 1744.  Each of these accounts details a given clerk’s origins, his professional career, and the output in terms of keeping records, as well as his family and personal wealth. Moreover, the book describes the legal bases for the functioning of both, the Gliwice City Hall and its chancellary.  Last but not least, the author attempts to paint a collective portrait of the said municipal clerks and supplements his work with the tables providing examples of the discussed notary publics’ official writings.

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