A prominent Pomeranian researcher from Grudziądz and long-standing president of the Scientific Society in Toruń, the Reverend Alfons Mańkowski (1870-1941), took an interest in Mazuria as early as 1912. He came to Ruciane and Ukta, visited the Old Believers in Wojnowo, then Mikołajki, Giżycko and Stare Juchy. Two years later he arrived in Działdowo, to record the destruction wrought by the Russians in the First World War. From both journeys he printed longer reports in the Poznan illustrated weekly “Praca”. While pastoring in 1910-1920 in Złotów near Lubawa, he wrote several studies on the Polish movement in these lands, including the publication in 1922 of two letters by Gustaw Gizewiusz in a supplement to the “Gazeta Gdańska” called “Pomorze”. He devoted several important publications to Warmia, including the papers on Polish literature, on clergymen from Warmia who carried out religious services in Pomerania. He took a broader look at Warmian customs and beliefs. He was assisted in this study by Andrzej Samulowski from Gietrzwałd.