Szotyori-Nagy Ágnes (szerk.): A Magyar Mezőgazdasági Múzeum Közleményei 2013-2015 (Budapest, 2015)

Tanulmányok - Szirácsik Éva: Az uradalomtörténeti kutatások lehetőségei a Magyar Mezőgazdasági Múzeumban

Possibilities of estate research in the Museum of Hungarian Agriculture

ÉVA SZIRÁCSIK

The building of the Museum of Hungarian Agriculture, founded in 1896 and colloquially known as Vajdahunyad Castle, is a combination of Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque elements which recall the estate centres of large landowners in the feudal period. From mediaeval beginnings to the dissolution of large estates in 1945, domains in state, ecclesiestical or private ownership had always defined contemporary agriculture.

Within the museum the question arises: during its long existence what has been the attitude of the institution to estate history? In field trips or research projects was attention given to the collection or examination of estate records, and was the possibility of research into estate history a consideration at all? There is also the issue of exhibitions and whether during their planning a consideration was given to estates. The most important question however is whether the current material of the museum gives an opportunity to examine estate history.

Former, substantial research into estate history in the museum had largely been based on the sources of archives. Valuable collections in the museum had barely been noticed by researchers in the field. The museum’s material can form a valuable source base for studies, source publications and exhibitions concerning estate history.

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