'The benefactor of Szeged', 'The Széchenyi Ferenc of Szeged' - this is how contemporary press and the citizens of Szeged described the canon of Esztergom Somogyi Károly at opening of the Somogy Library 195 years ago. He offered his own library of 43 701 volumes he had collected for decades after the destruction of the great flood. The document stating the conditions was signed on 15 February 1881.

Somogyi Károly was born on 1 April 1811 in Tiszaföldvár. His mother was called Kelemen Borbála, his father Somogyi Csizmazia Sándor, a certified lawyer. Books were natural part of life for the family since the parents of the children were deeply involved in literature.

Somogyi Károly wanted to be a priest ever since his childhood. In 1834, he was ordained. From 1840, the periodical Religio and Education employed him. In 1841, he was appointed teacher of the session of Esztergom and supervisor. In 1847, he became doctor of theology at the University of Pest based on his essay written on sensibility of law in 1841.

He was among the founders of the Association for Good and Cheap Publishing's and later of the Saint Stephen Association. In 1858, he became correspondence of the National Academy of Hungary. He held his inaugural speech of the essence of humanities and its task. He was appointed canon first to Bratislava, later to Esztergom where he worked until hi death.

His library he offered for education and sciences was opened by the reign Franz Joseph on 16 October 1883. The oldest cultural institution of the town was also the base of the later established University of Szeged. One interesting point of the memorial exhibition is located in the old reading room of the library since the Palace of Public Education hosted it until 1984. Due to the work of the first manager of the library, the museum that presently hosts the exhibition was established.

A selection of the most interesting and valuable pieces of the collection awaits the visitors this time. Among the displayed volumes, the visitors can see a codex held in Szeged titled 'ciméliák'. A prayer book from 1492, the 'Missale of Prague' with large illustrations about the Arch of Noah and castles of Hungary of the 17th century.

Manuscripts borrowed from Esztergom are first shown at the exhibition. We express our gratitude for them to the archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest dr. Erdő Péter, the treasury of the Basilica, the Archives of the Primate and the Library of the Cathedral.