Collegium Between 1895 and 1910
During the initial period of operation of the Collegium, both the students who were admit-ted to the institute and the teachers employed there were involved in an experiment. This was expressed in the temporary101 nature of the organisational rules and in the temporary employment of the management and the teachers. This was also confirmed by the fact that the Collegium was included as an independent item in the ministry’s budget only from 1896 onwards.102
Thus, Géza Bartoniek managed the affairs of the Collegium as a temporarily appointed director. Management consisted of a very diverse range of tasks, which were regulated under section II.3 of the organisational rules: for the curator , as the commissioner of the MRPE who practised supervision over the institute, management prepared the submissions to the ministry, which were approved by the former. Until Eötvös’ death in 1919, the director did not send, with a few exceptions, independent submissions to the ministry. In addition, with the exception of the ministries, he represented the Collegium before authorities or other legal entities. He supervised and verified the students’ study related achievements, advised them regularly during personal interviews, or reprimanded them (cf. Laczkó 1938: 296). Often, he also visited the suites of collegium students and checked the progress achieved by them, or gave them advice. During such surveys, the most serious punishment was when he avoided a suite, or if he ignored a member of a suite (Gerevich 1947: 2).103 In the initial period, it was also among his responsibilities to monitor the progressive expansion of the library and to supervise the economic affairs. His activity became so diverse by the second half of the 1910s that the issue of hiring library assistants was frequently raised, just as employment of a sub-director to manage economic affairs. The appointment of the director was finalised by the Ministry in October 1897.104 His salary was then raised from an annual 1,600 to an annual 2,500 crowns.
He paid an annual 600 crowns for the provision for his family and for the housing in the building.105 His remuneration essentially classified him into the 6th remuneration category,
100 The Collegium’s training system was examined by Krisztina Tóth using teacher reports in her study (Tóth 1995b: 109–115). However, beyond the personal changes in the teaching staff, the author did not reflect on the changes in the training paradigm.
101 For the text of the Báró Eötvös József Collegium’s provisional Organisational Rules of 1895 see Appendix.
102 Budget appropriation for the year 1896. Title 5. At the Budapest Secondary School Teacher Training Institute and practising grammar school. MDKL box 88, file 185/2.
103 MTAKK Ms. 5982/115.
104 365/1897. Letter of Lóránd Eötvös to the MPRE Minister on the final appointment of Director Géza Bartoniek. Budapest 12 October 1897. MDKL box 39, file 65.
105 62563/1897. Letter of State Secretary Zsilinszky to Loránd Eötvös on the issue of Géza Bartoniek’s salary.
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5.4. Changes in the Teaching Faculty and Training System of the Eötvös Collegium 5.4. Changes in the Teaching Faculty and Training System of the Eötvös Collegium
which was a pro forma college-level recognition of the Collegium by the MRPE. Thus, the form of address of “nagyságos” rose him to the same social rank as the departmental council-lors of the ministry, judges of the judiciary, judicial presidents, school district directors, heads of legal academies, as well as college teachers at the rank of royal counsellors and secondary school principals (cf. Kende–Kovács 2011b: 179–180).
At the proposal of Eötvös Loránd curator , in May 1895 the Ministry commissioned Frigyes Riedl, secondary school of sciences teacher to head the section of Hungarian liter-ature, József Suták, grace order grammar school teacher to head the section of mathematics, Sándor Mika , practising grammar school teacher to head the section of history and Móricz Szilasi, grammar school teacher to head the section of classical philology for a payment of an annual 600 crowns.106 The heads of sections also kept their full-time job, which caused seri-ous problems already in the early stages of their work. In a petition written in early October 1895, Eötvös asked the ministry to grant leave for Szilasi from his main job, justifying his request by the fact that the 35 admitted students were disproportionately divided among the various disciplines and most of them concentrated on classical philology and the field of modern languages. This would resolve the problem of the overload, as Szilasi undertook teaching Hungarian language classes in addition to Latin and Greek classes, significantly reducing Riedl’s burden who taught Hungarian literature and German language. The MRPE provided its consent, thus Szilasi became the first full-time head of section at the institute.107
Riedl held Hungarian, German and French literature lessons three times a week,108 but finally, after the first year, he gave his place to Jenő Péterfy. Péterfy taught literary history studies until 1899. However, on 5 November 1899, unexpectedly, he committed suicide on a fast train heading from Rijeka to the capital.109 Péterfy’s tasks were taken over by Ernest Tharaud, French lecturer, Móricz Szilasi, Frigyes Hoffmann and Rezső Tóth.110 The breakdown of literary history by modern languages was temporary, from 1903 this task was carried out by János Horváth who was the institute’s student with Hungarian-French specialisation.111 He started his teaching career in a secondary school of sciences in the
Budapest, 31 October 1897. MDKL box 38, file 63.
106 50119/1895. Letter from Gyula Wlassics, MRPE Minister, to curator Lóránd Eötvös on the appointment of specialist teachers. Budapest, 17 September 1895. MDKL box 40, file 71/3.
107 Petition of Baron Eötvös Loránd to the MRPE Minister on the issue of the Collegium teachers. Budapest, 1 October 1895. MDKL box 88, file 185/1.
108 Report by Riedl Frigyes on the literary history classes in the academic year 1895/1896. Budapest, June 1896.
MDKL, box 52, file 101/a.
109 After passing the town of Dugaresa, he locked himself up in the toilet and shot himself. His body was buried in Karlovac, because he had no relatives. It is presumably for this reason he ended his life, because he highly appreciated his work at the Collegium, but did not like being a grammar school teacher. In his spare time, he spent a lot of time together with the Bartoniek family He showed no signs of depression at that time.
However, after the evening gatherings, which specialist teachers held at the Szikszai café on Fővám Square, on his way home he often complained to Alexander Mika that his life was pointless. At his funeral, all of the Collegium’s staff was present and his grave, due to the Kisfaludy Association’s efforts, was moved to Budapest in 1901. Péterfy reports on his tragic death: Zoltán Ambrus (1899): Chronicle III. Péterfy Jenő. “A Hét” [The Week], No. 10.46. 756–757. MDKL box 41, file 72/4.
110 158/1899. Letter from Eötvös Loránd to the MRPE Minister. Budapest, 11 November 1899. MDKL box 41, file 72/4.
111 MDKL box 7, file 8, lot 21.
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5. The History of the Eötvös Collegium in the Early Period of the Institute Between 1895 and 1910 5. The History of the Eötvös Collegium in the Early Period of the Institute Between 1895 and 1910
2nd district of Budapest and although Eötvös had repeatedly asked that he be dismissed and finally appointed to the Collegium, this happened only in October 1908.112 Horváth taught Hungarian and French literary studies at the Collegium until his appointment as a university professor in 1923 (Tóth 1995b: 113).
In 1902, the monarch appointed Móricz Szilasi as a regular teacher of the University of Cluj-Napoca, thus the teaching of classical philology was taken over by Géza Némethy.
Némethy taught at state grammar school in the 5th district of Budapest, but from 1902 onwards he was assigned to work at the Collegium113 where by 1909 he achieved the 7th remuneration category, then, in August 1909, the King appointed him a regular classical philology teacher at the University of Cluj-Napoca.114 In addittion to Némethy, Gyula Gyomlay, who taught ancient Greek, was also contracted to head the classical philology department. The dual division of the classical science field remained characteristic in upcom-ing periods: the institute employed a special teacher to teach Latin and Greek. Gyomlay was a teacher at the practising grammar school in Budapest and his annual remuneration was established at 800 crowns.115 Starting with the academic year of 1906/1907, he received a permanent appointment at the Collegium and, similarly to Némethy, in the 7th remunera-tion category.116 Miklós Szabó who had also been the institute’s student, became Némethy’s successor.117 It was characteristic of the Collegium’s personnel policy that it always filled its teaching faculty with its own former students, scholar candidates who knew the internal conditions of the institute well.
With the departure of Szilasi, the Department of Hungarian Linguistics also became vacant, for which Bartoniek chose Zoltán Gombocz, a member of the institute’s very first generation.
Already in 1900, he was assigned to the Collegium as a certified secondary school teacher for a remuneration of 2000 crowns.118 In addition to Hungarian language history, Gombocz also taught Finnish and beginner French classes.119 The academic achievements of the young scholar candidate were always excellent, therefore, in 1900 he was awarded the title of doctor sub aupiciis regis.120 He had remarkable achievements in the field of teaching as well, thus, already in the early years of his activity he had the opportunity to take part in the management of the institute.121 By 1909, his salary reached 2600 crowns plus an extra 800 crowns for
hous-112 90.164/1908. Letter from MRPE Minister to curator Loránd Eötvös on the appointment of János Horváth.
Budapest, 26 October 1908. MDKL box 40, file 70/7.
113 62.213/1902. Letter from Gyula Wlassics, MRPE Minister, to Loránd Eötvös curator. Budapest, 15 September 1902. MDKL box 40, file 71/7.
114 101.585/1909. MRPE Minister’s letter to curator Loránd Eötvös. Budapest, 15 September 1909. MDKL box 40, file 71/7.
115 125/1902. Letter from director Géza Bartoniek to the MRPE Minister. Budapest, 1902. MDKL box 40, file 70/5.
116 18/1906. Letter from Loránd Eötvös to Gyula Gyomlay. Budapest, 5 March 1906. MDKL box 40, file 70/5.
117 MDKL box 19, file 19, lot 55.
118 43.960/1900. Letter from Gyula Wlassics, MRPE Minister, to curator Loránd Eötvös in relation to the position of Zoltán Gombocz. Budapest, 3 July 1900. MDKL box 39, file 66/a.
119 Budapest, June 1900. MDKL box 52, file 101/c.
120 68/1900. Letter from Géza Bartoniek to the MRPE Minister on the appointment of Zoltán Gombocz.
Budapest, 13 June 1900. MDKL box 39, file 66/a.
121 This is confirmed by the fact that, in 1909, he issued a criminal record certificate for Ferenc Kölcsey who was forced to leave the institute due to his illness and he signed it as deputy director (MDKL box 9, file 11, lot 26).
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5.4. Changes in the Teaching Faculty and Training System of the Eötvös Collegium 5.4. Changes in the Teaching Faculty and Training System of the Eötvös Collegium
ing allowance122 and in the same year the ministry finally acknowledged his appointment.123 In 1909, he continued to move up in the office hierarchy: With Némethy’s departure, Gombocz was promoted to the 7th remuneration category because “after the imminent relocation and expansion of the Collegium, there is a need for a young in-house teacher who, besides acting as a head of section, can provide regular help to the headmaster in writing tasks, in managing the archives, in supervising the building and, in general, in the many small tasks of managerial administration that are beyond the capacity of one man.”124 That is how János Horváth got appointed to the vacant position of teacher in 8th remuneration category.125 In the same petition Bartoniek suggested that Miklós Szabó be appointed into the 9th remuneration category into deputy lecturer posi-tion. Although the MRPE provided its consent in principle, Szabó assisted Gyula Gyomlay in his work from the academic year of 1909/1910, but, due to a lack of budget coverage, his final appointment was made only in 1911.126
Image 4: Gyula Gyomlay, teacher of classical philology at the early period of the Collegium
122 22/1/1909. Letter from Géza Bartoniek on the increase of Zoltán Gombocz’s salary. Budapest, 10 March 1909.
MDKL box 39, file 66/a.
123 52.716/1909. Letter from Lajos Tóth, Ministerial Counsellor, to Director Géza Bartoniek on the appointment of Zoltán Gombocz. Budapest, 1 July 1909. MDKL box 39, file 66/a.
124 83/1909. Petition of Géza Bartoniek to the MRPE on the promotion of Zoltán Gombocz and János Horváth.
Budapest, 10 November 1909. MDKL box 39, file 66/a.
125 98/1909. Report by Géza Bartoniek on the oath documents of Zoltán Gombocz and János Horváth to the MRPE Minister. Budapest, 20 December 1909. MDKL box 39, file 66/a.
126 19/1911. Letter from Géza Bartoniek to the MRPE Minister on the appointment of Miklós Szabó. Budapest, 23 February 1911. MDKL box 40, file 67.
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5. The History of the Eötvös Collegium in the Early Period of the Institute Between 1895 and 1910 5. The History of the Eötvös Collegium in the Early Period of the Institute Between 1895 and 1910
From among the first members of the staff there is very little information about József Suták, the teacher of mathematics; he definitely stayed a member of the staff until 1898, but then resigned from his position as head of department, explaining this by being busy with other tasks.127 He, however, presumably held mathematics classes later, but there are no study reports or other documents of any nature about that, only a letter from 1915 exists, which serves as the basis for this conclusion. Sándor Mika, a teacher of the practising grammar school who obtained his qualification at the most famous historical schools in Europe (École des Chartes, historical department of École pratique [Glatz 1989: 42]) was also successfully brought to the Collegium. Although in 1904 because of the recurrence of his eye disease he resigned from his position as head of the history department, eventually, as his health condition improved, Eötvös managed to convince him to stay. Thus, from the academic year of 1906/1907 and onwards, he became a regular, appointed teacher of the institute, classified into the 7th remuneration category. Until his death in 1912, genera-tions of young historians were educated in his classes at the Collegium. His appointment fits into a process, as he received his final status together with Frigyes Hoffmann, Gyula Gyomlay followed somewhat later by Zoltán Gombocz and János Horváth. Subsequently the MRPE considered the Collegium not only as an experimental institution, but, due to its successful operation, it also scheduled its conceptual development. One element of this was the appointment of five permanent teachers to head the faculties of the institute.128
Frigyes Hoffmann a girls’ upper school a teacher was also one of the first teachers of the institute, who taught German linguistics and literature. Hoffmann was also appointed as a regular collegium teacher from 1906 onwards and classified into the 7th remuneration category. He taught at the institute without interruption until his retirement in 1925.129 By 1906, his salary reached an annual 4,000 crowns with 800 crowns as personal supplement and 1,200 crowns for housing allowance.130 Hoffmann, as Bartoniek’s confidant, took over the management of the institute on a temporary basis when the director was obstructed in his duties. In 1897, he directed the Collegium for half a year while Bartoniek was stud-ying the boarding schools of the University of Leipzig, the University of Tübingen and the University of Strasbourg, the grammar school of Heidelberg and the École Normale Supérieur in Paris.131 Between February and May 1898, it was Hoffmann again who acted as director. During this period Bartoniek suffered from severe upper respiratory disease.132 From the academic year of 1897/1898, nature classes at the Collegium were held by Nándor Filarszky. In 1899 he was appointed to the Hungarian National Museum to replace Aladár
127 Letter written by József Suták to Géza Bartoniek on the issue of resignation, 14 June 1898. MDKL box 41, file 72/4.Budapest, 14 June 1898.
128 8769/1906. Letter from György Lukács, MRPE Minister to Loránd Eötvös curator on the appointment of Sándor Mika, Frigyes Hoffmann and Gyomlay Gyula. Budapest, 21 February 1906. MDKL box 40, file 71/3.
129 16/1906. Letter from Loránd Eötvös curator to Frigyes Hoffmann on his appointment. Budapest, 5 March 1906. MDKL box 40, file 70/6.
130 75.926/1906. Letter from the MRPE Minister to Loránd Eötvös curator on the remuneration of Frigyes Hoffmann. Budapest, 22 October 1906. MDKL box 40, file 70/6.
131 35/1897. Loránd Eötvös’s report to the MRPE Minister on the appointment of Hoffmann Frigyes as interim director. Budapest, June 1897. MDKL box 38, file 63.
132 Letter from Frigyes Hoffmann to Géza Bartoniek on the Institute's end-of-semester affairs. Budapest, 27 May 1898. MDKL box 40, file 70/6.
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5.4. Changes in the Teaching Faculty and Training System of the Eötvös Collegium 5.4. Changes in the Teaching Faculty and Training System of the Eötvös Collegium
Richter, botanical guard, thus he never became a regular teacher at the Collegium and remained a remunerated lecturer until his departure in 1934.133
However, the Collegium’s training was enhanced also by linguistic and literary history studies held by foreign language lecturers in the early years of its founding. In his petition submitted in October 1895, Loránd Eötvös curator noted that it would be necessary to employ a French language teacher at the institute.134 He was probably already thinking of employing a foreign language lecturer, which is supported by a letter of the Ministry dated 12 November 1895, in which the Ministry informed the curator that it had contacted Ignác Koncz, a Parisian teacher, with the aim to find a language teacher for the Collegium with an annual salary of 1,000 forints.135 Eötvös’s idea was that the task of the French teacher would be not only to teach the collegium students who specialise in the French language, but also to familiarise them with French culture, therefore, he had to live with his students and take part in their joint meals to introduce them to all areas of social life.136 Several people applied for the job, still, until February 1896, the status of the language teacher was not filled. Bartoniek’s journey and personal meeting with Georges Perrot, head of the Ulm Street Institute, most likely convinced the French about the seriousness of the Hungarian government’s intention. A promise was made to him that a language lecturer would be sent to Budapest each year from among the winners of the agrégation competitive exami-nation (Nemes 1989: 100). Lecturers were usually contracted for two years, but with a few exceptions, they barely stayed for the whole period in the Csillag Street institute. The first lecturer was Emil Giradot who started his job in the academic year of 1895/1896. However, in December 1898 he became seriously ill and suffered lengthy hospitalization due to tuber-culosis. Language teaching was temporarily taken over by Zoltán Gombocz and Jagelló Fail.137 The École delegated Ernest Tharaud as his replacement to its Hungarian sister institution, who received his qualification in History and Geography in Paris. At the request of Izidor Fröhlich, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Bartoniek very warmly recommended him to be the university’s French lecturer;138 and eventually he was elected to this position with an annual salary of 1,600 crowns139. He had a very informal relationship with the collegium students;
this was mentioned by Dezső Szabó when he wrote about his knowledge of the Hungarian language, which did not extend beyond: “Beer and jug, please” (Szabó 1965: 719). Tharaud changed his job as a lecturer to a position at the French scientific institute and Henry Lebeau
133 Letter from the director of the Hungarian National Museum to Loránd Eötvös curator on the appointment of Nándor Filarszky. Budapest, 16 January 1899. MDKL box 41, file 72/1.
134 Petition submitted by Baron Eötvös Loránd to the MRPE Minister on the issue of the Collegium teachers.
134 Petition submitted by Baron Eötvös Loránd to the MRPE Minister on the issue of the Collegium teachers.