Cabinetele de lectură din Bucovina. Cabinetul de lectură „Silvestru” din Frătăuții Vechi

Abstract

Abstract: The reading rooms, with the support of the students’ societies and personalities, managed through the organized cultural and social manifestations to enter the countryside and urban areas to contribute to preserving the national identity, promoting the Romanian traditions and creating a socializing climate between intellectuals and peasants. As the social and cultural necessity, reading rooms and reading societies appeared and developed in Bucovina after 1860.

The village of Frătăuţii Vechi after 1775 was part of the District (Rădăuţi County). According to the data, provided by the Society for Culture and Literature in Bucovina in 1905, there were 21 reading rooms and reading societies in Rădăuţi District.

The “Silvestru Reading room” from Frătăuţii Vechi was established in 1896 and functioned in Nicolai Luchian’s home. In 1900 the Cabinet had 64 members, the library with 131 books, two papers and a fortune of 88 florins and 10 farthings.

The reading room, through the folk parties with theater, dance and singing, through the book collection, charity works and other events, was the cultural and social landmark in peasant’s life.