Hörcsik Richárd: A Sárospataki Református Kollégium gazdaságtörténete 1800-1919 (Sárospatak – Miskolc, 1996)

Irodalom

college in Sárospatak had 12 such districts over the country. Students were appointed to visit parishes and wealthy protestant families to collect donations. Before leaving on their errands they were sworn in and given a little booklet (libellus) for the administration of the collection. On their return they brought only the money back but the grain and wine was stored in the college's warehouses over the country. Donation from grain and grape harvest very much depended on the harvest of the year. However, the amount of donations decreased over the years. The college's economic balance (1800-1849) The college can be compared to a small holding comprising of viticulture, a bank responsible for financial dealings and also a free enterprize involving buks, press and millstone mines. However, the use of the profit shows the college's true nature. The profit was primarily used to insure the smooth running of the education in the school. The college's financial balance can most clearly be deduced from the general book-keeping. The clear profit did not amount to very high but if the college's achievements are considered, such as the construction of a new school buil-ding, the overall income was very satisfactory. During the first 50 years of the 19th century the college managed to finance its building works and improvements from its own enterprizes. The college's income came from 3 major sources. 1. Internal and external financial sources (vineyards, pubs, fields, winemaking, millstone mining, press). 2. Financial enterprize (lending money on interest). 3. Donations. The income was used in 2 major ways. 1. It was used to ensure the conditions of education (salaries for proffessors, teachers, grants for students, the upkeep of the old building and construction of a new building. 2. Money was ploughed back into the improvement and upkeep of the college's enterprizes. So, despite the relativly low profit the conditions in the college improved. The proffessors' salary increased. Students had the opportunity to finance their own education. Younger students by acting as foot-boys. Older ones from legation, working as student officers, from different grants and from payment in kind.