Borza Tibor (szerk.): A Magyar Kereskedelmi és Vendéglátóipari Múzeum évkönyve 1982 (Budapest, Magyar Kereskedelmi és Vendéglátóipari Múzeum, 1982)

Borza Tibor-Dr. Draveczky Balázs-Gundel Imre H. Szűcs Gitta-Dr. Horváth Iván-S. Nagy Anikó-Dr. Thoma Lászlóné: A Magyar Kereskedelmi és Vendéglátóipari Múzeum gyűjteményei

THE COLLECTIONS OF THE HUNGARIAN MUSEUM OF COMMERCE AND CATERING MATERIAL COLLECTIONS IN THE HISTORY OF THE TRADE A significant source of research in the field of the history of the trade is a collection containing over 13,000 objects which serve to show from various angles the commercial activities of the past. Its range is determined by the museological approach to this branch of research. The grouping of the material objects is not performed according to the traditional types of material, the objects belonging to the determining commercial activity furnishing the units. The main groups of the collection are as follows: trade-signs, sign-boards, shop equipment, furnishing and work-tools, measuring equipment, boxes for the products, jars, product samples, publicity objects, commercial administration, market trade, the objektive material of commercial training. The most significant and visible scene of the commercial activity was the shop itself. The shop equipment on display with the adjoining tools and furnishings, work-tools, and products formed the material complex of this special branch of trade. The measuring equipment furnish an independent group and we intend to present them as more complex in their historical perspective. Even for the publicity expert of the present, the publicity objects of the past have many lessons to tell, which in ingenuity, usefulness and often even aesthetic value, are very remarkable. The technology of packaging can be traced back in the multiplicity of the boxes and jars, from the late nineteenth century to the present days. The commercial manysidedness and activity is well reflected by the marerial objects of market trade and commercial administration. (Anikó S. Nagy) DOCUMENTARY COLLECTION IN THE HISTORY OF THE TRADE The collection which comprises over 60,000 pieces — which also serves as a source in the history of the trade - can be divided into administrative and publicity documentation, and within these they form 19 separate groups. The collection of documents contains various testimonials, employment papers, records, statutes and the text of laws and acts. The archives contain documents relating to corporations, chambers and commercial firms. Similar material may be found in certain groups which, in subject matter seem to differ from the rest. Such is the trade union and party material of commercial employees, the manyfold relics of functional training and the records of 249