Hamid Hadžibegić (1898–1988) and his Legacy in the Oriental Institute in Sarajevo

Abstract

Hamid Hadžibegić is counted among the significant researchers of the history of Bosnia and Herzegovina who operated during the second half of the 20^th century. In the first part of this paper, biographical data on Hamid Hadžibegić are offered and supplemented in relation to previous research. Moreover, special emphasis is placed on the time he spent teaching in the Great Madrasa of King Alexander in Skopje and the Sharia Gymnasium in Sarajevo as well as his professional and scientific work in the National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Oriental Institute in Sarajevo. The authors of this paper briefly reviewed Hadžibegić’s bibliography, providing data on the evaluation of his work by his colleagues from Sarajevo and other parts of Europe. Special attention was paid to Hadžibegić’s library, which was donated to the Oriental Institute in Sarajevo, and a special review was made of the mentioned library’s contents in order to create a better understanding of the literature the author read and used in his scientific work. Consequently, this analysis provides information on Hadžibegić’s research interests and shows an appreciation towards his library collection. The last part of this paper deals with the analysis of the book dedications from the collection owned by Hadžibegić. Such inscriptions represent a valuable and interesting source for tracking the inter alia intellectual ties and professional aspirations of the library owner. Thus, Hadžibegić’s library provides insights on how an Ottomanist from Yugoslavia cooperated with researchers from both East and West during the Cold War.