The History of Jesuit Libraries in Croatia An Overview

The purpose of this study is to provide a historical overview of the Jesuit libraries in Croatia from their foundation to the present. The first known libraries were at Jesuit high schools, called "colleges," established during the seventeenth century. This article deals with foundation of libraries at the Jesuit colleges in Zagreb, Varazdin, Pozega, Rijeka, and Dubrovnik, emphasizing their role supporting education and the dissemination of knowledge. These libraries were witness to a strong influence of Jesuits colleges on the spiritual, educational, and intellectual life of many Croats. Highlighted in this respect is the famous library of the Jesuit school in Dubrovnik (Collegium Ragusinum). After the suppression of Jesuit order in 1773, the colleges were closed, and their libraries scattered and plundered. Nevertheless, many books survived. Portions of the collections of the former Jesuit colleges are today an invaluable part of the patrimony of the largest Croatian libraries.