A Historical and Archival Guide to Székesfehérvár (Székesfehérvár, 2003)

A SUMMARY OF THE HISTORY OF SZÉKESFEHÉRVÁR

tions established after the Compromise fell, and the new bank organisations that were set up in the 1920s or even later, were not able to reach notable results. The 9

th General Meeting of the Hungarian National Fireguard Association also needs to be mentioned regarding its importance. Numerous towns and as many as 1 83 fire-brigades participated in the National Fire-fighting Equipment Exhibition that was held during the general meeting. Among trade and political programmes the Catholic Congress of Széke sfehéivár, held in the era of ecclesiastical policy battles, had a special importance. The Catholic People's Party was formed here on 1 7 November 1894. Count Nándor Zichv and count Miklós Móric Eszterházy the leaders of ecclesiastical policy opposition had primary role in arranging the party. Social development, national programmes and exhibitions offered a large scope to the establishment of local press. In the 1860s there were a few periodical publications. The first viticulturist journal of the country The Viticulturist Hall of Székesfehérvár was of importance; it was published between 1862 andl865. Weekly papers were published late in 1871. The first social weekly paper of the town and the county was called Székesfejérvár. In the following year another weekly paper was published under the editorship of the director of the town's archives. This, the Gazette of Fejér County was, however, noncompetitive and publication soon ceased. The most notable weekly, later daily paper of the age of dualism was the Székesfehérvár and Its Region, which was published from 1874. For 35 years the paper was an explicit publication for independence policy. In 1895 the Political Newspaper Publishing House of Székesfehérvár bought the paper, thus liberal interests became its owner. Independence policy, which had social basis in Székesfehérvár launched the Journal of Székesfehérvár. In the late 19

th and in the first decade of the 20

th centurv several educational institutions were opened in Székesfehérvár. After the turn of the century there were 29 schools (grammar school, primary and secondary school of modern languages and science, commercial vocational school, trade school, agricultural remedial school and prison school) and the only institute of higher education, the college of theology. It was the municipal authority that maintained most of