At the time of the 140th anniversary of the death of the first mayor of the Benešov district, Karel Drahotín Villani, the conference Between Municipality and State opened the topic of district governments. Historians and archivists explored district self-government in relation to public administration, tracing its development and composition from its origins to the mid-20th century. A number of papers dealt with prominent figures in county councils.
Portrait of baron Karel Drahotín Villani (Humoristické listy, year 1883, issue 14)
Two members of our team attended the conference. Martin Klečacký paid attention to the highest representatives of the districts – district mayors. He focused on tracing the changes in their socio-professional background during the 19th and early 20th century. Hana Sedláčková presented the role of virilist plenipotentiaries and estate employees as members of district councils. The meeting was organized by three institutions – the Masaryk Institute and Archives of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v. v. i., the State Regional Archives in Prague and the Podblanicko Museum, p. o. You can find more information and the programme here.
Vlašim Castle (Facebook Podblanicko Museum)
