Magyari Márta (szerk.): A Debreceni Déri Múzeum Évkönyve 2011-2012 (Debrecen, 2012)
Muzeológia - Gáborjáni Szabó Botond: A Debreceni Református Kollégium kiállításainak helytörténeti vonatkozásai
232 gAborjAni szabó botond Botond Gáborjáni Szabó Local History in the Exhibitions of the Reformed College of Debrecen What is a museum's reponsibilty concerning local history? As a Hungarian city with a notable and distinctive past, Debrecen played a remarkable role in the history of Hungary on several occasions. The importance of the local history of Debrecen and its (re)presentation is manifested by the fact that the 7th, bibliographic volume of the monograph on the history of Debrecen contains 10,304 entries, and its select bibliography runs to almost 700 pages. A high proportion of these entries relate to the Reformed Church and its College. As the once small market town, having adhered to the principles of the Reformation, grew into the largest city [in Hungary] in terms of population in the 16th centry, becoming the wealthiest as well, local history and church history are inseparable here. Debrecen also became a centre for the Transtisza region due to the relationship between the Reformed Church and College on one hand, and the town's trade and handicraft guilds on the other. So religion and culture were equally important in the rise of the town. So, what is the role of the museum regarding local history? The mission statement of the Museum of the Reformed College states, "its task is to pass on its values to the next generation... in awareness that preserved values must serve to benefit the community, for inspiration and education are as important an obligation as preservation." This text is an edited version of my lecture given at the Conference of the Hungarian Ecclesiastical Archivists' Association on local history in Debrecen. Since librarians, archivists and museologists approach exhibition design differently, the lecture presented some of the principles and theoretical dilemmas of mounting exhibitions. From the museological viewpoint, the scenario is a set of pieces of information and aims that help so that the exhibits may have a meaning, and so that their meaning may enforce the message of the whole exhibition. Museologists often argue that exhibits are riven from their original context. For example, it can be a delicate affair to present religious objects in new contexts. Our exhibition of ecclesiastical art is designed in such a way as to use the natural turning points of human life from the cradle to the grave, together with the relevant ecdesciastical ceremonies, to mark the original context. The baptismal and sacramental vessels, tacitly chosen on an esthetic basis, are still presented in a functional context. in this era of multimedia, all exhibitions must strive to offer an experience. A local history exhibition may enhance its effect if it can muster the typical objects, or those of a rather symbolic significance, of a community, or a civilization, a location, a time or a culture. The chapter Cults, objects and symbols emphasizies that communities may be described not only through symbols, but through their enthusiastically adored personalities as well. The representation of symbols and cults may be as informative for a foreigner as it is identity-enforcing for locals.
