The Committee of Historical Sciences of the Polish Academy of Sciences was established in the 1950s and gathers most renowned and distinguished historians affiliated with Polish universities and other research institutions. In the past the Committee was led by such outstanding scholars as Stefan Kieniewicz, Jerzy Topolski, Marian Biskup and Janusz Żarnowski. Presently the Committee on Historical Sciences is headed by professor Tomasz Schramm of Adam Mickiewicz University.

The Committee of Historical Sciences of the Polish Academy of Sciences speaks on behalf of the Polish community of historians. It focuses on historical research, social and professional status of historians and all other matters pertaining to the field of history.

Research commissions, working as a part of the Committee, represent diverse areas of historical expertise and are interested in various historical periods. At the same time, they bring historians together, drawing their attention to the interesting and important research topics.

The Committee of Historical Sciences of the Polish Academy of Sciences is authorized to represent Poland in international historical organizations. Most importantly, as Polish National Committee, it represents Poland in the International Congress of Historical Sciences (ICHS). The Committee also coordinates and supports the work of Polish historians in the international historical commissions affiliated with ICHS.