Památník slečny Zimmerové z let 1818–1837 / Album amicorum of Miss Zimmerová, 1818–1837

Pages	61-85
Citation	MAREŠOVÁ, Dana. Památník slečny Zimmerové z let 1818–1837 / Album amicorum of Miss Zimmerová, 1818–1837. Journal of the National Museum. History Series. Prague: National Museum, 2015, 184(3-4), 61-85. ISSN 1214-0627. Also available from: https://www.nm.cz/en/periodicals/jotnmhs/184-3-4/pamatnik-slecny-zimmerove-z-let-18181837-album-amicorum-of-miss-zimmerova-18181837

Journal of the National Museum. History Series | 2015/184/3-4

This article, Album amicorum of Miss Zimmerová, 1818–1837, focuses on the bourgeoisie, and a study of album amicorum (Stammbücher) at the beginning of the 19th century, taking account of the educational and language level seen in these sources of a personal nature. Not enough research has looked at commonplace books from the 19th century, with interest previously focused on these kinds of manuscripts from earlier periods, and focused on the upper classes, mainly the nobility. Researchers have for a long time overlooked modern alba amicorum, and most researchers interested in studying sources of a personal nature have looked at other documents such as autobiographies, diaries, memoirs and many others which were written at this turn of two epochs. The submitted study gives a path for revealing the life of Miss Zimmerová, who lived in Prague in a trader’s family, and who later married a publisher. The owner of the album amicorum moved in trading circles. As such, she was a member of the bourgeoisie, or urban elite, although two entries demonstrate contact not just with townsfolk, but also members of the upper classes. The records found on the pages of Miss Zimmerová’s album also indicate the environment in which she moved and which she was surrounded by, with whom she met. We find out little about Terezie Zimmerová herself and the recorders in her book. In and of itself, the album is an interesting source, and it also shows the artistic taste of the writers, what they knew of literature at the time, and last but not least indicates what the value of friendship, and also love, meant to them, at a time as dramatic and eventful as the 19th century.

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