Karol Miarka also called Elder or Father (22 October 1825 – 15 August 1882) was a Polish social activist in Upper Silesia, teacher, writer, publicist and printer.

Miarka's consciousness was to some extent influenced by Bernard Bogedain [pl], an advocate of learning the Polish language among Poles in Silesia, whom he met in 1853 during his visit to the Pielgrzymowice school.

He founded a circulation Catholic Bookstore, initiated the Catholic Library series in 1870, published calendars; established the Kasyno Katolickie association, where he organized amateur theatrical meetings from 1870 onward, the Kółko Katolickie, the Poczciwych Wiarusów Company, the Upper Silesian Loan Society of Vlasans in Mikołów and others.

[3] In 1875–1880, he continued his activities in Mikołów, where he established a printing house;[4] in addition to the Katolik, he published other periodicals, such as the educational and moralistic weekly Monika.

Karol Miarka's literary work focused on the Silesian land, folk tales, the history of the region and its folklore.