Technikatörténeti szemle 24. (1999-2000)

Vámos Éva Katalin: A Technikatörténeti Szemle a 20. században

The Review of the History of Technics in the 20

th Century The Review of the History of Technics is the only permanently appearing and permanently refreshed forum of Hungarian technical museology and domestic research into the history of science and technology. The cover of its first issue bears the date 1963. The opening announcement and the leading article define its objectives as follows: "The basis of the cultivation, development and promotion of sciences is the knowledge of the past... It is with joy and great expectations that we welcome the Review of the History of Technics launched by the generousness of the Ministry of Culture. The review materializes our old dreams and requirements with respect to tuition and science and, last but not least, with respect to presenting the development of our people's economy to wider circles. Special thanks are due in this progress to the unselfish and enthusiastic work of the Group for the Collection of Technical Relics which, hopefully, will make realizable the coming into being of the General Technical Museum, the indispensable institution of scientific and practical demonstration. In the interest of this we are enhancing our activity in the field of the history of technology and are awaiting and asking for, the efficient assistance of each of our technical experts." In his leading article László Makkai defined, on the whole, the reasons of the increasing interest in research into the history of technology, in a way valid till today: "In our days, when technical development presents, to humanity, the alternative of terrestrial paradise or final annihilation, it can be understood that interest in the history of technology is increasing, and this interest is no more satisfied by learning about the origin and development of individual techniques or the fate of inventors and inventions but we are waiting for a reply to the question

: which part did technology, in general, play in the history of mankind?" The columns of the first volume still reflect the uncertainty that surrounded the final scope of duties of the Ministry of Culture's Group for the Collection and Registration of Technical Relics. Beside extensive studies, shorter communications, book reviews and reviews of exhibitions there was a column entitled "Industrial monuments", where the industrial monuments appear as a problem belonging into the sphere of authority of this group. At that time the editorial board had 22 members. 1 Dr. h.s. Vadász, Elemér, member of the Hungarian Academy of Science, university professor: Beköszöntő. (Opening announcement) Technikatörténeti Szemle, No. 1. 1963. p. 7. 2 Makkai, László: A technika történeti fejlődésének törvényszerűségeiről. (About the regularities of the historical development of technology) Technikatörténeti Szemle, No. 1. 1963. p. 9.