Varga Benedek szerk.: Orvostörténeti közlemények 149-157. (Budapest, 1996)

KISEBB KÖZLEMÉNYEK / ESSAYS - Vida Mária: A szervezett védőnőszolgálat előzményei. A Stefánia-szövetség megalakulásának 80. évfordulójára (1995)

In contrast to the chivalry values of men (bravery, courage etc.) the principles of sick-, poor-, or childcare were easily related to women. During the 16—17th centuries in Hungary in most of the aristocratic chateaus the landladies played an important role in establishing the cultural life of their courts. Since their husbands were occupied with the wars against the Turks (and sometimes against the King) the landladies, beside organising labour, paid attention to sick-care, poor relief and even the education of their people. The chateau of Orsolya Kanizsai at Sárvár, Kata Bánffy at Németújvár, Zsuzsanna Lórántffy at Sárospatak, Anna Bornemissza in Transylvania etc. were the centres of this interesting late Renaissance-early Baroque aristocratic culture. The author points out that early Hungarian women movement, which started in 1790, soon became nationally organised. Teréz Brunszwick was the first lady who set up a nursery school in the early 19th century. Her initiative was followed suit by Amália Bezerédy, Blanka Teleki and Klára Leövey in female education. Publications on mother- and baby-care, children education and midwifery were increased from the 18th century. Most of the books were written in Hungarian to reach the largest possible publicity. The author collects two dozens of the most important books of them. From this sporadic, early and individual examples during the 19th century mother- and baby-care went towards professionalism both in respect of the objectives, and those who were involved in this movements. The first Hungarian female doctor, Countess Vilma Hugonnai (1847—1922), who had received her M. D. in Zürich in 1879, could only nostrify her diploma in 1897. However, women have been allowed to study at Budapest University from 1895.