Introduction. The text refers to the youth, education, and family life of Zygmunt Ruta, one of the most outstanding professors of Krakow academia. The main part presents his scientific achievements and his influence on the modern pedagogy. The author also explores Professor Ruta’s connections with today’s Pedagogical University of Krakow, which resulted in numerous scientific works and years of thorough academic teaching. Aim. The goal of the text is to present one of the most renown pedagogues and historians of education. Professor Ruta was a remarkable and noble person, expert in education and its various aspects, not only historical. Materials and methods. In order to prepare the text, the comparative and retrospective methods were used. They facilitated the verification of the available sources and existing publications in which the scientific achievements and the person of Professor Zygmunt Ruta – a renown pedagogue and historian of education – are presented. Results. The paper presents one of the most acknowledged professors, teachers and educators connected with the Pedagogical University of Krakow.