Technikatörténeti szemle 19. (1992)

KÖNYVISMERTETÉS - Papers of the First „MINERALKONTOR” International Conference on the History of Chemistry and Chemical Industry (Veszprém, 12-16 August, 1991)

ÉVA KATALIN VÂMOS * CONNECTIONS BETWEEN HUNGARIAN AND GERMAN CHEMICAL SOCIETIES (1867—1914)** The Hungaian Chemical Association, the independent association of Hungarian chemists, serving both scientific purposes and the protection of interests of Hungarian chemists (against the employment of foreigners working in Hungary) was founded as late as 1907 (1). The Hungarian Academy of Sciences (founded 1825—1827), although it had departments of natural science and had 16 chemists as members during the 19th century, was mainly interested in languages and humanities (2). The Royal Hungarian Association for Natural Sciences (founded 1841) had a very active department of chemistry and mineralogy that published the second chemical journal in Hungary (3) (the first attempt was made in Kolozsvár/Cluj and lasted but a few years) (4). The Association of Hungarian Engineers and Architects had also a chemical department (5), there was a Trade Union of Chemical Workers (6) and a National Union of Chemical Manufacturers (founded in 1902) (7). Still it was a great event also for Hungarian chemists when in 1868 the „Germán Chemical Association in Berlin" was founded and opened its doors wide to the whole world (8). As it is well known, already in 1872 tehre were five times as many „foreign'as Berlin chemists participating in the work of this association (9). Although the first non-German member came from Bohemia, (10), already in 1868 there were Hungarian members like Prof. Károly Than and Mátyás Balló (11). The society started 1867 with the following goals: „The German Chemical Association in Berlin has set the aim of the development of the whole area of chemistry. In order to achieve this goal, regular meetings will take place, where original works will be read and other information discussed, a library of chemical literature as complete as possible should be acquired for the use of the members, and the Transactions of the Association should be published ..foreign" in appropriate form by the Board (12). Concerning the members, their admittance, rights and duties, provisions made in 1867 were as follows: The Association consits of: 1) honorary members, 2) members residing in Berlin, •Országos Műszaki Múzeum, 1117 Budapest, Kaposvár u. 13—15. ••This study forms part of the research project JHistory of the German Hungarian relations in the field of science and technology" supported by the National Committee for Technology cal Development, Budapest