Hudi József (szerk.): Kacz Lajos visszaemlékezései (Pápa, 2011)
Angol nyelvű összefoglaló
The book contains the memoirs of chief notary of Komárom Lajos Kacz entitled My memoirs written in 1914. The original photocopy of the book was provided by his greatgrandchild István Dávidházy, a Sopron citizen. The town Komárom belonged to Hungary from its foundation to 1920 and again between 1938 and 1945. In 1920 and in 1945 it became part of Czechoslovakia, from 1993 it has belonged to Slovakia. Lajos Kacz pursued a carrier of a typical nobleman. He wanted to be a minister, but because of the financial situation of the family he finally became a civil servant. He was born on 9th November 1844 in Komárom as the son of a reform nobleman István Kacz and his wife Teréz Tassy. The gifted boy attended the elementary school in his hometown between 1851 and 1855 then carried on with his secondary school education in Komárom, Pressburg and in Pápa. He started his higher studies at the Academy of Theology in Pápa, and he finished them in Budapest. He passed his first cleric examination in the spring of 1868. He spent the study year of 1869/70 in the Netherland as a scholarship holder pursuing his studies at the University of Utrecht. In May 1870 he travelled around in England, in the Netherland and in Germany, later he returned to his hometown fulfilling his mother’s wish where he worked as a teacher for a short while then became a civil servant at the town hall. In 1875 he was elected a vice notary then in 1876 he got the title of chief notary of Komárom. In the meantime he studied law in Pápa and took a final examination in law and state administration in 1873. He was nominated economic adviser in 1886, in 1907 a senior adviser and was elected as vice mayor. He served his town in this position until he retired on 28th February 1914. He died on 1“ November 1921 in Komárom. His excellent talent in drawing was inherited by his son, Endre Kacz (1880-1969), who became a well-known painter. The memoirs written in an easy-to-read style is an important cultural and life-style document which gives and insight into his family, his childhood, his studies inland and abroad and the difficulties of starting his carrier. The introductory study written by the historian József Hudi reveals that Lajos Kacz actively took part in the cultural life of the town: he acted as a journalist and editor and organised and led cultural societies. He was the presbyter of the Reform Congregation of Komárom for decades and acted as the president of the People’s Bank of Komárom. He also played an important role in the modernisation of the town. JÓZSEF HUDI Memoirs of Lajos Kacz-324 -
