The Hector Hodler Library (Biblioteca Hector Hodler) and materials from the archive of the Universal Esperanto Association (UEA) in Rotterdam will be ceremonially transferred to the collections of the National Library of Poland in Warsaw. The event will take place on Monday, May 29, 2023.
The Hector Hodler Library is one of the largest collections of Esperanto books in the world.
The most valuable part of the collection is the Hector Hodler Library, one of the largest collections of Esperanto books in the world. The collection dates backs to 1908 and is connected to the activities of the Swiss Esperanto Society in Geneva. In 1912, it was purchased by the son of the eminent painter Ferdinand Hodler, Hector Hodler (1887-1920), a Swiss Esperantist and the co-founder of the UEA, who on his death left the collection to the UEA. The Library comprises nearly 30,000 books, yearbooks of periodicals, and boxes of photographs and records. It also includes some of the first printed works in Esperanto dating from the late nineteenth century and some interesting translations into Esperanto of classics of Polish literature and modern works.
The archive materials from the UEA transferred to the National Library include the following: a collection of documents relating to the activities of the UEA (including internal documents, correspondence with members, entries for literary competitions), a beautiful collection of rare postcards in Esperanto, posters for events in the life of the UEA (world congresses, conventions, anniversaries), recorded Esperanto courses (vinyl records, video cassettes, cassette tapes, CDs), games and toys for teaching children Esperanto through play, photo albums, and commemorative stamps.
Read more at bn.org.pl.
Photo: Paweł Morawiec, The Library Mirror