Savaria - A Vas Megyei Múzeumok Értesítője 32/2. (2009) (Szombathely, 2009)

HORVÁTH Sándor: A NÉPRAJZI GYŰJTEMÉNY TÖRTÉNETE

A NÉPRAJZI GYŰJTEMÉNY TÖRTÉNETE HORVÁTH Sándor Savaria Múzeum, Néprajzi és Történeti Tár H-9700 Szombathely, Kisfaludy Sándor u. 9., Hungary E-mail: horvath.sandor@savariamuseum.hu HISTORY OF THE ETHNOGRAPHY COLLECTION Systematic establishment of the Savaria Museum ethnography collection began in 1900 following the decision to found the museum. Even preceding this, ethnographic articles were collected by the Vas County Archaeological Society formed in 1872. The first period, until the museum was opened in 1908 and for several years afterwards, is hallmarked by the name of the Premonstratensian monk Kelemen KÁRPÁTI, who was also the first director of the museum. At the same time, the records prove that locksmith Sándor TÓTH also had an outstanding role in the establishment of the collection and in the organisation of the first exhibition, and he was also active as a museum servant. Technically, collection was underway at a European level even in the first period: early on, from the mid 1910s, cameras were used regularly and sound recordings were also made by phonograph; these, however, with a few exceptions were subseguently destroyed or misplaced decades later. During the First World War, development of the ethnographic collection stagnated and only rose from the dust of death in 1928, when Ágoston PÁVEL became keeper of the collection, who besides managing the library, as deputy director was also director of the museum in practical terms. With PÁVEL, ethnographic research began in the museum with a more complex approach and methodology. Although even in KÁRPÁTI'S time, collections had been made in the county villages of other nationalities, KÁRPÁTI, being of Slovene extraction, dealt with particular affection with the ethnography of the Vas Slovenes, known to the Hungarians as Vends, and with their environment, the Őrség. During the Second World War, and presumably in the more recent ownerless years following PAVEL'S death, the ethnography collection was seriously damaged or destroyed. From 1949, Sándor DÖMÖTÖR became director of the institution as ethnography researcher. Linked with his name is the uncovering of many blank spots in the ethnography of the county (for example, presentation of the chestnut culture - i.e. sweet chestnut), as well as the first ethnographic review, in which he also pointed out deficiencies in the investigations to date. His researches and scientific publications are in line with professional requirements, but sometimes, without detracting from their value, the ideological veneer of the age puts in the occasional appearance. In present day research he has examined the socialist transformation of the village, and thus enriched the professional literature with irreplaceable material. Stepping into DÖMÖTÖR'S place in 1958, with great energy, the freshly qualified János BÁRDOSI carried out work sufficient for several museologists over the four decades of his museum activities. He undertook the lion's share of surveying the popular architecture in the settlements of the county. From the design stage almost till the end of realisation of the first phase, he busied himself with the establishment of the county open-air ethnography museum, the Vas County Museum Village, as well as directing the construction of the other open-air ethnography units, including in Szalafő Pityerszer and Cák. In the period following his time, his successors often looked forward to difficult years due to the solution of storage problems and the lack of support. Even so, the collection of now almost 17 thousand pieces has attained the centenary of the museum in more ordered storage conditions, with contemporary (digital) records. And with its newly organised and colourful programs since 1996, the Vas County Museum Village has become one of the units of the county museum network which attracts the most visitors. During the last decade, the staff of the ethnography department have carried out their increasingly thriving work, embedded in an ever broadening system of international relations.