Matskási István (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 97. (Budapest 2005)

Barina, Z.: János Hanák and his Herbarium

ANNALES HISTORICO-NATURALES MUSEI NATIONALIS HUNGARICI Volume 97 Budapest, 200

5 pp. 5-19. János Hanák and his herbarium Z. BARINA Department of Botany, Hungarian Natural History Museum H1476 Budapest, Pf. 222, Hungary. E-mail: barina@bot.nhmus.hu Abstract - JÁNOS HANÁK is known mostly as a zoologist, but he was interested in botany, mineralogy and other sciences as well. His short biography and botanical activity are discussed here. The rediscovery and the size of his herbarium are presented, and a list of species collected by HANÁK in Hungary is added. With 2 figures. Key words - HANÁK, biography, vascular plants, Vác, Budapest. SHORT BIOGRAPHY OF JÁNOS HANÁK . JÁNOS HANÁK (Fig. 1) was born in Kiskér (Abaúj County, today Abaújkér, Kyre in Slovakia), in 1812. His family moved to Boldogkőújfalu in 1820. His parents were peasants, and the only way for their son to the prosperity seemed learning (WALLESHAUSEN 1956). He finished his secondary schools in Tállya and Sátoraljaújhely (1828), later in Kisszeben. He joined the Piarist order in Privigye (Prievidza, Slovakia) in 1832 and spent his years of study there. At first he was teaching in Breznóbánya (Brezno, Slovakia), then (from 1835) in Vác and Pest (Budapest). In 1837 he arrived to Nyitra (Nitra, Slovakia), from where he could walked all over "Nyitra, Turóc, Liptó, Szepes, Sáros, Abauj, Borsod, Gömör, Nógrád, Pest, Hont and Bars" counties (PÓLYA 1849). After this time he stayed in Szentgyörgy (Jur pri Bratislave, Sväty Jur, Slovakia) where he made acquaintance with JÁNOS BOLLA, who was a teacher there and was interested in botany. In 1840 he returned to Nyitra, then to Abaúj to his relatives, later he was transferred to Máramarossziget (Sighetu Marmatiei, Romania). In Máramarossziget he became acquainted with JÓZSEF GYÖRGY, the chief medical of Máramaros County. In 1844 he moved to Vác again and in 1845 to Pest where he had time to arrange his collections (animals, plants and minerals). He was enthusiastic for nature, in particular animal world. His friends belonged to the (local) intelligentsia. They were not scientists, but were almost the only representatives of the science of the reform era. JÁNOS HANÁK and his friends