Who were the students of our university between 1635 and 1777? – Book presentation in the University Library and Archives

On the 13th of May 2022, two new publications of the University History Research Group of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and the Primate Archives were presented in the Reading Hall of the University Library. Both volumes deal with the lists of the students of the higher education institutions operating in Nagyszombat (Trnava). The first book, which contains the lists of students of the early period of our university, was presented by István Fazekas, head of the University History Research Group. He emphasized that the volume may have been published by accident, as for a long time we had only fragmentary information about the students of the early years of the university, as the relevant registers were burned in the National Archives in 1956. In 2006, during the relocation of the Primate’s Archives, censuses were found containing the lists of students of the seminars at the University of Nagyszombat (Trnava). Thanks to these registers, the list of humanities and theology students who visited our university between 1635 and 1777 is almost complete. The volume contains the names of 9567 students, of whom 2598 graduated from both faculties, 2720 studied only theology, 4192 studied humanities only.

The university moved to Buda in 1777, but theological education continued in Trnava until 1850. The list of students of the priest training institute operating here is contained in the second book presented by Krisztina Tóth, head of archives.

The authors of the volume, Adrien Kmety, Júlia Varga and László Szögi, as well as the director of the Primate Archives, András Hegedűs, also gave a short presentation at the event. The volumes could be purchased at a discounted price at the event.

Source/author of illustration:
ELTE University Library and Archives