É. Apor (ed.): David Kaufmann Memorial Volume: Papers Presented at the David Kaufmann Memorial Conference, November 29, 1999, Budapest.

ORMOS, István: David Kaufmann and his Collection

DAVID KAUFMANN AND HIS COLLECTION Hungarian. In addition, he was also the librarian of the Seminary for a period of twenty-two years.

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2 Although Kaufmann found Budapest somewhat strange at first, soon he got used to living there. In due course his private life became settled too, meaning that it was no longer only his profession and work that attached him to his new fatherland: on 10 April 1881 he married Irma Gomperz, the exquisitely educated and delicate scion of a considerably affluent family.

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1 He had found the ideal wife, who could encourage him in his scholarly activities on the basis of the human and personal harmony existing between them. David Kaufmann enjoyed the company of his new relatives: he found himself surrounded by remarkable, highly-educated, gentle, pleasant people and there can be no doubt that the affluence and material independence assured by his new milieu also contributed considerably to his general sense of well-being. Kaufmann is known to have used the wealth at his disposal also to support the activities of several Jewish scholars both in Hungary and abroad, especially in Eastern Europe, mainly in Poland and Russia. It was precisely these scholars who coined for him the abbreviated name RaDaK in accordance with an age-old Jewish custom.

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4 The young couple lived in Andrássy street, which was just becoming the principal, most elegant and grandiose street of the incredibly quickly developing capital of a prosperous country: the large Neo-Renaissance block of luxury flats at No.20 stood, and still stands, as an equal match next to the lavish palace of the Opera House, which is justly regarded as one of the major sights of a beautiful capital.

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5 David 2

2 Izidor GOLDBERGER, Dr. Kaufmann Dávid élete és munkái. [The life and works of Dr. David Kaufmann], In: Dr. Kaufmann Dávid emlékezete [The memory of Dr. David Kaufmann], Budapest 1900. 19. He was elected to this post annually at the first staff meeting of the Seminary at the beginning of the school-year in every September. 2

3 Her father was Sigismund (Zsigmond) GOMPERZ (1817-1893), her mother Rosa (Róza) GOMPERZ (1830-1917). Sigismund GOMPERZ had in fact married his own niece, the daughter of his younger brother, Philipp (Fülöp). That is why the rather strange name form occurs in our sources: Gomperz Roza, szül. Gomperz \ Rosa Gomperz. née Gomperz

] / Rosa Gomperz. geb. Gomperz. 2

4 K

RAUSS 1901 (1902). 19-20. 2

5 In 1882 KAUFMANN lived at 47 Király street. Budapesti czim- és lakjegyzék [Directory of addresses and homes in Budapest], Second year. Budapest 1882. 464. This historicist mainly Neo-Gothic - building was the famous Pekáry House, no doubt one of the most beautiful spots in the capital in those days. (It is still standing.) See Budapest lexikon. 2nd ed. Budapest 1993. I. 679. FROJIMOVICS - KOMORÓCZY - PUSZTAI - STRBIK 1999. 162-163. In the 1894 edition of the metropolitan list of addresses and homes (8th year) KAUFMANN'S address is already listed as 20 Andrássy street. This block of luxury fats, known as the Kramer House, was built in 1880 according to the designs of Vilmos FREUND

. Oral communication by József SISA. In 1882 the address of "Sigismund/Zsigmond Gomperz, merchant," was 23 Deák Ferenc street, while in 1894 it was 20 Andrássy street. 131