Original scientific paper
MILKO CEPELIĆ IN THE LIGHT OF AN UNKNOWN MANUSCRIPT OF HIS
Branko Ostajmer
Abstract
The Đakovo priest, historian and ethnographer Milko Cepelić (Vuka, 1853 – Đakovo, 1920) left an impressive trace in the past of Croatian policy, ethnography and historiography. His ethnographic work has to date been best elaborated by research; the political and journalist part of his many activities remains to this day insufficiently explored. In this paper Cepelić and his work are examined in the light of a manuscript privately owned by Cepelić’s distant relatives, so far unknown to the wider public. The manuscript originates in 1916 as an introductory part of the catalogue of Cepelić’s textile collection, since 1920 kept along with the catalogue in the Zagreb Ethnographic Museum. The text, containing valuable autobiographic data, significantly supplements the understanding of all activities, in particular the political activities, of this estimable Croat. The introductory study, along with notes supplementing the manuscript, offers an insight into a broader historical frame; particular attention is paid to Cepelić’s political profile. The published manuscript presents Cepelić as a true patriot whose passion for the most part of his life was politics; he continually followed the political path of Josip Juraj Strossmayer whom he respected immensely. In that context it is no surprise that his political passivity in many respects coincided with the death of bishop Strossmayer, i.e. with fundamental changes shaking the Croatian political scene at the beginning of the century.
Keywords
Milko Cepelić; Croatian ethnography; Đakovo; bishop Josip Juraj Strossmayer; Croat-Serb Coalition; Obzor (newspaper)
Hrčak ID:
110088
URI
Publication date:
1.10.2013.
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