Collection data:
Collection manager: Bianka Dosztály, Librarian
Number of pieces in the collection: 28,000 pcs
Online availability: Katalógus
Researchability: Our library is not a public collection, it performs the functions of a specialist library, but its files are accessible to anyone. The library material can only be used locally, it is not possible to borrow it.
About the collection:
The Library Collection consists of commercial and catering industry literature. When our museum was founded in 1966, it was created to collect the historical props of the hospitality industry. The basis of the museum’s library is also the catering industry collection, which was created from liquidations, donations and legacies. Accordingly, the collection is not systematic and exhaustive, but rather random, full of surprises and unexpected treasures.
In 1970, the scope of activities of the museum was expanded by the collection of written and physical material of the history of Hungarian trade and tourism, thus turning it into a unique, nationwide collecting institution. The stock of the commercial library was also largely made up of donations.
Over the years, the stock has been supplemented with a more comprehensive drink knowledge material and also with specialist literature related to the card collection.
Structure of the collection:
Balázs Draveczky, Dr. Library of Hospitality History
The nearly 13.000 volume library of catering industry historyn preserves the past of Hungarian gastronomy, and is based on cookbooks, primarily in Hungarian, as well as in German, French, and English. In addition to the history of the hospitality industry and related professions, you can also research topics such as confectionary, winemaking, beverage knowledge, tourism, coffee house and hotel history, Budapest history, health spas, home canning, food industry, canning industry, business types, sales and plant organization.
Mór Gelléri Library of Trade History
The basis of the 10.000 volume trade history library was the textbooks of the Pest Commercial Academy (1857-1873), then the Budapest Commercial Academy (1873-1953) and the Eastern Commercial Academy (1899-1920), which were the second largest in the world. In addition to the works on general commercial topics, Hungarian and foreign language books, catalogs, price lists, chamber reports and notices from trade institutes, as well as other forms, reflecting the development and development of individual trade branches and business types can also be found.
Special collections:
Gábor Antal B.’s legacy
This collection contains about 1,700 volumes of literature and cca. 200 small prints from the world of cocktails, drinks and food. The literature dealing with the world of cocktails occupies a more prominent part in the part of the collection that discusses drinks. We can learn not only about cocktail recipes, but also about the tricks and techniques of the bartender, sommelier, and barista profession. In addition to these, the collection deals more broadly with the following alcoholic beverages: rum, vodka, beer, wine, liqueurs, whiskey, cognac, brandy and tequila.
Antal Jánoska’s card colletion
The card collection of card researcher and card collector Antal Jánoska (1954-) was purchased by the museum between 2014-2017, and a very extensive literature section was added to this collection. The cca. 600 volume specialist library contains Hungarian and foreign language literature related to card culture and card games, as well as a collection of articles in Hungarian. Among the library materials, we can find a collection of fiction and anecdotes related to the topic, as well as magazines and catalogs.
László Jakabffy’s legacy
László Jakabffy was a defining figure of Hungarian gastronomy. Thanks to the family, our library received his private book collection and the furniture of his office. This is how the Jakabffy memorial corner was formed inside the library. His gastro-history and chef collection is available in the museum’s library, the books can be researched, thus helping the training of the present and future generations. His collection consists of 400 volumes.
Collecting activity:
The library mainly collects books on Hungarian-related commercial and catering industry topics. Foreign literature can also be found in the collection, so the goal is to collect them as well, but based on the composition of the researchers, we can say that there is more interest in Hungarian-related topics.
