Matskási István (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 81. (Budapest 1989)

Kecskeméti, T. ; Nagy, I. Z.: Fiftieth anniversary of the independent Geological and Palaeontological Department of the Hungarian Natural History Museum

The progress was interrupted for a short time by World War II. The post-war period was characterized by a dynamic development. Scientific as well as expositional works continued with great energy and productivity. Stratigraphical studies went into details, palaeobiological and palaeoecological research began, and Pleistocene small-vertebrate faunal elaborations continued. KOLOSVÁRY'S (1901-1968) coral and balanida studies, CSEPREGHY-MEZNERICS (1906-1977) Miocene malacological results and JÁNOSSY'S vertebrate palaeontological elaborations were published in rapid succession. At that time (1954) a large-scale exhibition was opened, displaying the geological past in its evolution by using new techniques (dioramas, pictures etc.). The progress was interrupted again by a tragic conflagration in 1956. Almost 80% of the palaeontological collection was destroyed, all the library material and a great part of the exposition was burned. After the fire the department had received new, modern facilities, and the rejuvenated staff together with related institution made important collecting. So the collections had been restored by 1960 and had a considerable value. The collection containing exactly 87,000 inventory items has 36 internationally notable special collections. This material forms the basis of the intense research and educational work carried out at present. The research activities have been extended into new fields: micropalaeontological, Brachiopoda and Ammonoidea research have begun. Besides stratigraphical and palaeoecological studies, phylogenetic, palaeogeographical and palaeobiogeographical research are carried out. Besides research on Cenozoic formations, Mesozoic research gets more and more space. Research works mostly fit into one of the native (OTKA, MM) or international research programs (IGCP). Of the 10-15 studies published by the five researches annually, the Miocene Pectinida monograph of CSEPREGHY-MEZNERICS (Paris, 1966) and the Pleistocene Synthesis of JÁNOSSY (Amsterdam, 1984) are especially notable. The department, jointly with the Mineralogical and Petrographical Department, has had its own scientific journal to publish the departmental researchers' results since 1969. Due to various educational programs 3 permanent, 3 periodical and 9 travelling exhibitions are opened to the public at present. The ample and valuable collections, as well as the results achieved until now all play a role in heightening the reputation of the Hungarian Natural History Museum. Authors' address: Dr. Tibor Kecskeméti & Dr. István Zoliin Nagy Geological and Palaeontological Department Hungarian Natural History Museum H-1370 Budapest 5, Pf. 330 Hungary