Local history collections

Operating as part of the Nikola Zrinski Library in Čakovec since 1978, the Insulana local history collection holds resources relating to Međimurje, a region in northern Croatia between the Mura and Drava rivers. With its name stemming from Insula Muro-Dravan, the old Roman name for the Međimurje region, the collection assembles print publications, non-book material and other resources on Međimurje thematising the region’s geographical features, origin, historical development and all aspects of its present-day existence.

Unlike other local history collections, whose range of activity frequently varied according to administrative and territorial shifts in the regions which they target(ed) in terms of their work, the Insulana local history collection, regardless of until 1990 being administratively bound to the region of the city of Varaždin, has always focused on assembling material from the area between the Mura and Drava rivers and Croatia’s border with Slovenia. The problem for the Insulana collection on the other hand has always been the acquisition of the region’s historical resources, owing to Međimurje frequently changing rulers throughout history as a result of which valuable materials have been taken from the area and seized by the former Austro-Hungarian Empire as its national treasure.

The particularly valuable part of the collection, which holds over 3,100 book titles, are private archives containing a wide variety of resources, ranging from manuscripts to ephemera, and providing relevant and authentic information about Međimurje and the individuals who contributed the most to its culture, the quality of education in its area, to its economy, political developments and its progress in general. The collection’s private archives are protected, managed and made accessible according to professional standards applying to this, especially valuable type of library material and include unique and rare resources by or related to music educators Joža (Josip) Požgaj and Eva Požgaj, educator Petra Ferković, attorney, publicist, politician and poet Dr Ivan Novak, one of the first Croatian women practicing medicine Dr Milana Novak-Gavrančić and firefighter Antun Novak.

 Among varied book and non-book material in Insulana’s private archives including approximately 10,000 items, the archive of Dr Ivan Novak particularly stands out. Its 5,000 items are grouped as manuscripts (letters, notes and other Dr Novak’s autographs), official correspondence (various types of documents), ephemera (posters, leaflets, playbills, declarations), books, newspapers and journals (which published Dr Novak’s research papers) and photographs, and also include material such as a herbarium, which Dr Novak made in secondary school, medals, paintings, Dr Novak’s law firm’s sign, etc.

 A large part of Dr Novak’s archive relates directly to Međimurje, the circumstances which marked the period when it was under Hungarian occupation and the conditions in it during the First World War and its subsequent liberation and annexation to Croatia in 1919. The letters, documents, press material and photographs documenting the participants in and the very organisers of Međimurje’s return to Croatia make Dr Novak’s archive an invaluable source of data and information on the vital part of Međimurje’s history.

 Resources in the collection were harvested as part of a crawl performed on 27 December 2023, resulting in 157 collected URLs, totalling 57 GB of data.

The cultural heritage of Osijek, the largest city in eastern Croatia, and of Slavonia, Croatia?s eastern historical region, is represented by the holdings of two valuable local history collections ? Essekiana, operating as part of the Museum of Slavonia, and Mursiana, held as part of the Osijek City and University Library (GISKO).

GISKO develops and curates the Mursiana local history collection as part of its Main Reading Room. It primarily collects all library resources in any way related to the city of Osijek, but it secondarily also spans resources related to Osijek-Baranja County and the region of Slavonia, contained in Slavonica, Mursiana?s sub-collection. Since GISKO is not only a public and city library, but also the library of the Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, its local history collection also includes the titles published by the Osijek university. In terms of content, Mursiana, as GISKO?s local history collection, includes titles published in Osijek and its surrounding region (with particular emphasis being placed on those published prior to 1945), titles authored by the inhabitants of Osijek and its surrounding region, titles by authors originating from Osijek and its surrounding region as well as content on it published anywhere in the world.

Wishing to shed light on the history of Osijek in all its richness, as well as on the city?s social structure, art, the creative achievements of its prominent figures and other specific aspects of Osijek?s cultural and historical heritage not available on physical carriers, the Croatian Web Archive (HAW) collected publicly available websites and other online content related to the city of Osijek. In this way it has brought together in the online environment the content of various cultural institutions, associations, local websites, the Osijek university?s faculties, local schools, kindergartens, as well as social media content related to Osijek?s past.

Resources in the collection were harvested as part of a crawl performed on 20 October 2022, resulting in 847 collected URLs, totalling 148 GB of data. 

The awareness of the importance of protecting local culture is reflected in local history collections, which act as the guardians of regional heritage. Bringing together in one place varied content specifically related to some area makes such collections an authentic and valuable resource for anyone interested in learning about that area, its past and present, for which reason local history collections have scientific, documentational, historical, artistic and social value.

Possegana, the local history collection of the Požega City Library which preserves and makes available resources related to the city of Požega and its surrounding region, Požega-Slavonija County and notable figures from the region, was established in 1985. Its greatest treasures are the original copies of books by Antun Kanižlić (1699-1777) and Miroslav Kraljević (1823-1877), the legacies of Ivša Bošnjak Dragovački (1879-1955) and Zlata Kolarić-Kišur (1894-1990), personal libraries of Julije Kempf (1864-1934) and Franjo Ciraki (1847-1912), manuscripts by prominent figures in the region’s history and works by other writers related to Požega.

The Croatian Web Archive (HAW) collects, preservers and makes available in one place publicly available webpages and news sites related to Požega-Slavonija County such as those of local cultural institutions, institutions and organisations of local and regional self-government, various associations, schools, kindergartens, local web portals, etc.

Resources in the collection were harvested as part of a crawl performed on 28 September 2021, resulting in 83 collected URLs, totalling 114 GB of data.

The town of Mali Lošinj comprises the southern part of the island of Cres, which begins with the area between Koromačno bay and the town of Ustrine, also including the island of Lošinj, a group of smaller islands (Unije, Ilovik, Susak, Male Srakane, Vele Srakane) and a number of uninhabited islets. It covers an area of 223 km² and according to the 2011 census its population is 8,116.

It is the largest town on the island of Lošinj and the island’s administrative centre, as well as the largest island town of the Adriatic. It and its surrounding region have a long naval and tourist tradition and are famous for rich cultural heritage, natural attractions and exceptionally pleasant climate.

Resources in the collection were harvested as part of a crawl performed on 21 September 2021, resulting in 42 collected URLs, totalling 51 GB of data.

The island of Cres boasts several superlatives – the title of the largest and northernmost island in the Adriatic Sea, including that of the second longest and second highest Adriatic island, being the site of the largest cryptodepression in Croatia (Lake Vrana), but also the title of the most sparsely populated Adriatic island.

Cres is also distinguished by its exceptional biodiversity and rich fauna, which is most famous for the griffon vulture.

The island has been inhabited since prehistoric times, when it was populated by the ancient Liburnians, a skilled seafaring tribe, which the rich social history of the island starts with. The cultural heritage of Cres includes over 40 archaeological sites dating from prehistoric times, while urban settlements established during classical antiquity have been inhabited to this day, with Cres being the island’s homonymous main urban centre.

Resources in the collection were harvested as part of a crawl performed on 20 September 2021, resulting in 65 collected URLs, totalling 83 GB of data.

The municipality of Gradac is the southernmost municipality in Split-Dalmatia County, located on the Adriatic coast. Officially founded in 1993, it includes the towns of Drvenik, Zaostrog, Podaca, Brist and Gradac, the municipality’s homonymous administrative centre. It covers an area of 73 km² and according to the 2011 census its population is 3,300. Its economy is mainly tourism-oriented, mostly owing to its geographical position and natural attractions that it abounds in.

Resources in the collection were harvested as part of a crawl performed on 20 September 2021, resulting in 55 collected URLs, totalling 83 GB of data.