- 7 March 2020, we commemorated the 170th anniversary of the birth of T. G. Masaryk. The Masaryk Institute and Archives of the Czech Academy of Sciences prepared a series of events, publications, and programs related to the personality of the first Czechoslovak president. Some dates had to be postponed, but most of the events will take place. We warmly invite you to participate, listen, and read!
Media coverage can be found here.
- October 2020 The Embassy of the Czech Republic in Bratislava is organizing a lecture series with discussions at the Faculty of Law, University of Trnava, starting at 11:00, on the occasion of the anniversary of the founding of Czechoslovakia. The debates will feature Dušan Kováč from the Slovak Academy of Sciences (topic: T. G. Masaryk and Slovakia), Dagmar Hájková from the Masaryk Institute and Archives of the Czech Academy of Sciences (topic: October 28 – Celebrations of the founding of Czechoslovakia over 100 years), and Jakub Štofaník from the Masaryk Institute and Archives of the Czech Academy of Sciences (topic: T. G. Masaryk’s travels in Slovakia).
September 22, 2020 Masaryk Today – discussion at the Václav Havel Library
Since 1989, the theme of Masaryk has undergone many changes. The anniversaries of 2017–2020 (80 years since TGM’s death in September 2017, the 100th anniversary of the founding of Czechoslovakia in October 2018, and the 170th anniversary of TGM’s birth in March 2020) have renewed interest and inspired many popular, commercial, and academic works about T. G. Masaryk. His image and life contributions have been variously updated through texts, films, and artworks. The effort for authenticity and originality often went hand in hand with searching for new forms and alternative presentations. The discussion focuses on topics connected with the possibilities of “endless” inspiration by a significant historical personality across disciplines and genres, as well as questions related to creators’ motivation to update historical models. The panelists included Zdeněk Ležák, Pavel Kosatík, Paulina Skavová, and Maxim Velčovský. The discussion was moderated by Vratislav Doubek. Watch the recording of the discussion on the Havel Channel!
Exhibition TGM on the Net
June 1 – July 31, 2020, Science and Art Gallery, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Národní 3, Prague 1 (Press Release)
Open Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., free admission.
How would T. G. Masaryk communicate in the age of social networks? The exhibition presents various forms of communication Masaryk used. The centerpiece is his work desk as a metaphor for a computer keyboard or phone display.
The exhibition is curated by Johana Studničková, concept developed by Dagmar Hájková, Pavel Horák, and Martin Jemelka.
Prepared within the project Correspondence Networks of T. G. Masaryk and the Founding of Czechoslovakia in 1918.
Don’t miss the new publication about TGM!
Dagmar Hájková – Pavel Horák – Lukáš Rous (eds.): T.G.M. in Brief, Prague 2020, published by the Masaryk Institute and Archives of the Czech Academy of Sciences.
The publication briefly, readably, and reliably guides through the stages of T. G. Masaryk’s private and public life and his family in their historical context, using words and images. It is based on a series published in 2017 in the newspaper Lidové noviny.
New volume of the TGM Writings published!
Democracy in Politics. Texts from 1907–1910, vol. 27, edited by Vojtěch Kessler and Marie L. Neudorflová, Prague 2020, 854 pages.
This volume contains texts by T. G. Masaryk from 1907 to 1910, including articles, interviews, polemics, brochures, printed speeches, reviews, joint declarations, and lectures. Masaryk’s publishing activity at that time was strongly influenced by his double political candidacy and several political scandals in which he was more or less actively involved. This mainly refers to the so-called Wahrmund affair from 1908, in which Masaryk provided intellectual defense of a suspended professor of church law. His engagement in the so-called Zagreb and Friedjung trials also gained international attention.
March 6 – Open Day at the Masaryk Institute and Archives of the Czech Academy of Sciences
During the Open Day, students from Prague secondary schools – Gymnázium Botičská and Gymnázium Eliška Krásnohorská – visited the Masaryk Institute and Archives of the Czech Academy of Sciences. They had the opportunity to visit the archive and TGM library, see many exhibits, and attend two seminars – on T. G. Masaryk monuments and their history, and on the so-called Washington Declaration. The archive tour was organized by Helena Kokešová, head of the Department of Personal and Historical Funds, together with colleagues; in the library, the tour was led by head librarian Jana Dvořáková and Lenka Wágnerová; seminars were conducted by Lucie Merhautová and Dagmar Hájková. We thank the students and their teachers for their interest! Didn’t manage to sign up with your school? No problem, there will be another chance in November during the Week of Science and Technology.
Materials for download: History of the Archive of the TGM Institute (pdf); History of the TGM Library (pdf)
- May 5 – Book World Fair, presentation of the TGM Correspondence edition – the event was canceled.
At this year’s Book World Fair, you can also find a stand with publications by the Masaryk Institute and Archives of the Czech Academy of Sciences. As part of the accompanying program, on Friday, May 15, there will be a presentation of the TGM Correspondence edition, including the latest volumes (TGM and Slovak Public Figures /1918-1937/; TGM and J. S. Machar) and planned publications.