Identity Statement

Reference Code

HU OSA 384

Title

István Bartók Photos and Collection of Press Clippings

Date(s)

1990 - 2007

Description Level

Fonds

Extent and medium (processed)

1 Archival boxes, 0.12 linear meters
31 Photo album, 0.22 linear meters
3 Archival card box, 0.94 linear meters
5 Archival box for 35 mm film rolls, 1.26 linear meters
3 Archival photo box, 0.98 linear meters

Context

Name of creator(s)

Bartók, István

Administrative / Biographical history

Human pathologist and university professor Dr. István Bartók (Szeged, 1929 - Budapest, 2007) graduated from the Medical University of Szeged in 1953. He was an employee of the Institute of Pathology of the university between 1953 and 1968, where he also trained to be a pathologist. He took part in several study trips abroad, and in 1966 he earned his doctorate degree in experimental liver pathology. As one of the very few distinguished authors, he could publish his research in Nature and Lancet – a still today very prestigious periodical. From 1968 until his retirement, he headed the Pathology Department of the Péterfy Sándor Street Hospital. Focusing on liver pathology, Dr. Bartók was pioneer in using the then rapidly developing electron microscopic technology. He realized that the age of fundamental research in hospitals was over, so he turned all his attention and energy to human pathology. He was one of the first in Hungary to deal with hepatitis B diagnostics and HBV detection methods. Under his leadership, the department worked by the highest academic standards. His professional activity was recognized by the University of Szeged and he was awarded the title of honorary university professor. He trained excellent specialists who became internationally recognized doctors, either as pathologists or in other fields of medicine. 


He was an avid follower and chronicler of changes in both the urban and political landscape of post-Communist Budapest, and Hungary in general. Following his retirement in 1990, he relentlessly photographed the various districts, house blocks, buildings, facades, memorial plaques, shop windows, and street advertisements in Budapest.

At the same time, he was profoundly interested in the development of Hungary’s newly established political system. He collected political propaganda materials (photos, articles, statements, and ads) from the local and national media on virtually every free and democratic elections after 1989. Bartók also kept each and every flyer and poster dropped in his mailbox by various political activists. He added his own photographs of political rallies and election campaign signs and posters to this collection, creating a unique national political kaleidoscope of the Third Hungarian Republic.

When not wandering the streets of Budapest with his camera, Bartók tirelessly arranged and cataloged his photos and press clippings in over 30 large albums. Having an eye for detail, he produced three inventories for the albums and provided his materials with exact references. Occasionally, he added succinct personal comments, which reveal his critical standpoint on certain political issues and his sour sense of humor.

Archival history

The collection was put together and organized by István Bartók from 1990 to 2007. In addition to the photos and photo albums, handwritten guides, and photo negatives were added by Bartók. The collection came to the Blinken OSA Archivum in 2014 and became available to researchers after being arranged and scanned in 2023.

Content and Structure

Scope and Content (Abstract)

The fonds contain organised albums, newspaper cuttings, paper enlargements, photographic negatives and indexes, reference books made by István Bartók.

Scope and Content (Narrative)

After his retirement, renowned professor of liver pathology Dr. István Bartók (1929-2007), took up the hobby of walking the city and photographing it. After the fall of Communism, he tirelessly roamed the streets of Budapest, taking photos, and creating carefully arranged photo albums. In addition to his own photographs, the albums include documents of public life, newspaper clippings he entitled the National Pantheon and the Pictorial Chronicle which, in addition to press clippings, included election campaign mailings, photographs of posters, and even brochures of the Budapest Transport Company containing practical travel information. However, the bulk of the collection consisting altogether 30 albums (with 2-300 photos per album), is devoted to the streets, buildings, and facades of Budapest. The collection, arranged in four series, contains documents related to Bartók's activities as a photographer. In addition to the paper enlargements, the collection of nearly 10,000 photographs includes the photographer's own register (first series), 31 photo albums with his handwritten captions (second series), as well as photo collections in photo sleeves (third series) and developed negatives of his photographs (fourth series).

Accruals

Not Expected

System of arrangement

​The collection has been processed in its entirety according to the original arrangement, which was done according to the state of receipt.

Conditions of Access and Use

Languages

Hungarian

Description Control

Archivist's note

Digitized by Sándor Bejczy, arranged and described by Balázs Leposa with the help of Peter Elődi. Proof reading by Judit Hegedűs. November 16, 2023. Updated on July 29. 2024.