Czech Manuscripts Society

The Czech Manuscripts Society (Česká společnost rukopisná, ČSR) is a Czech civic association founded in 1993, continuing the legacy of the Czechoslovak Manuscripts Society that existed from 1932 to 1952. Its stated mission is scholarly research and popularization of knowledge about Old Czech manuscripts, particularly the disputed Dvůr Králové and Zelená Hora Manuscripts (RKZ) and related monuments. The society fully embraces the legacy of František Palacký and Pavel Jozef Šafařík. It conducts independent research, publishes monographs, the journal Zprávy ČSR, and the Almanach rukopisné obrany. Members meet monthly for regular working sessions, and the society organizes public lectures and exhibitions. It also maintains a website dedicated to RKZ and an electronic conference on the topic. The society is based in Prague and is registered as a spolek (association) under Czech law. In 2017, it published the anthology 'RKZ dodnes nepoznané' to mark the 200th anniversary of the discovery of the manuscripts.

The idea of founding a society to defend the Dvůr Králové and Zelená Hora Manuscripts (RKZ) was first voiced by Pavel Josef Šafařík in 1859 in connection with the so-called Kuh affair. However, no such society was established during the great manuscript battles of 1886–1899, nor in connection with the 'Prohlášení o vyřešení otázky rukopisné' published on 31 December 1911 in Národní listy. In spring 1918, a manuscript commission was to be created to deal with the defense of RKZ, but its members voluntarily suspended activity to prevent it from being misused by Austrian authorities against Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk and negotiations for Czechoslovak independence. Prominent defenders of the manuscripts at that time included František Mareš, twice rector of Charles University, philosopher and physiologist, and Viktorin Vojtěch, professor of photography and photochemistry at Charles University. In 1926–1927, the Rukopisný fond vědecký (Manuscript Scientific Fund) was established, which later became part of the Czechoslovak Manuscripts Society, founded in Prague in 1932. The goal of the newly founded civic association was 'the dissemination and popularization of scientific research on ancient cultural manuscripts in general, and especially on Slavic, particularly Czech, manuscripts.' The first chairman elected at the founding general assembly was JUDr. Václav Perek. The second chairman was Professor Viktorin Vojtěch. In addition to lecture activities and building a library, the society published the periodical 'Zprávy Československé společnosti rukopisné'. In 1939, a branch was established in Brno, initiated by Moravian archaeologist František Adámek, with Professor Karel Absolon as branch chairman. Events after 1938 pushed the RKZ issue aside, and the society's activities were effectively suppressed. Activity resumed in 1945 with regular meetings and lectures, but the publication of Zprávy could not be restored. In 1948, unfavorable times for manuscript defense returned; after the adoption of the Law on Voluntary Organizations and Assemblies in 1951, the society could no longer exist as an independent organization, and an extraordinary general assembly in May 1952 decided on voluntary dissolution. Former members and other interested parties maintained at least written contact, but publication opportunities were essentially nil. In 1991, the Club of Friends of the Manuscripts was formed, which re-established contacts among those interested in the manuscripts. On the initiative of its members, a restoring general assembly of the Czech Manuscripts Society was organized in March 1993. The current activities of the Czech Manuscripts Society focus primarily on popularizing knowledge about the manuscripts and other disputed monuments, but also on its own research. It holds regular working meetings, publishes Zprávy České společnosti rukopisné, and participates in organizing lectures on related issues. Its website offers not only the texts of the manuscripts (images of originals and various transcriptions) but also articles and overviews of documents on the manuscripts and the disputes surrounding them. In 2017, the society published the anthology 'RKZ dodnes nepoznané' for the 200th anniversary of the discovery of the Dvůr Králové and Zelená Hora Manuscripts, discussing the manuscripts from chemical, linguistic, and historical perspectives, and noting their significance in Czech art. Current information about the society's activities can also be found on its Facebook page.

• 2017

  Publishes anthology 'RKZ dodnes nepoznané' for the 200th anniversary of the manuscripts' discovery.

• 1993

  Czech Manuscripts Society is re-established.

• 1991

  Club of Friends of the Manuscripts is formed.

• 1952

  The society voluntarily dissolves due to political pressure.

• 1945

  Activities resume after World War II.

• 1939

  A branch is established in Brno.

• 1932

  Czechoslovak Manuscripts Society is founded in Prague.

• 1926

  Rukopisný fond vědecký (Manuscript Scientific Fund) is established.

• 1918

  A manuscript commission is planned but suspended to avoid misuse by Austrian authorities.

• 1859

  Pavel Josef Šafařík first voices the idea of founding a society to defend the RKZ.

Scholarly society and advocacy group for the authenticity of the Dvůr Králové and Zelená Hora Manuscripts.

• Zprávy České společnosti rukopisné

• Almanach rukopisné obrany

• 2017

  RKZ dodnes nepoznané

1. 1Official websiterukopisy-rkz.cz
2. 2Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Czech Wikipediacs.wikipedia.org