Debrecen4U
September 8, 2025
A New Chapter in Debrecen’s Press History: 900,000 Pages of Journals Now Available Online
At a press conference held in the Térey Memorial House, it was announced that digitized newspapers and journals showcasing the history of Debrecen and Hajdú-Bihar County are now freely accessible online.
The event also unveiled the program lineup for this year’s Térey Book Festival. Thanks to the initiative, interested readers can now access approximately 900,000 pages of material through a joint project by the National Széchényi Library (OSZK), the Hungarian National Museum, the Municipality of Debrecen, and the Méliusz Juhász Péter Library. Digitized newspapers and journals showcasing the history of Debrecen and Hajdú-Bihar County are now freely available online.
On September 5th, at the press conference held in the Térey Memorial House, László Pósán, Chairman of the Parliament’s Cultural Committee, emphasized that the newly accessible sources represent a cultural value that had previously been available only to a limited audience. The digitized collection of local newspapers and journals can now be browsed on the Electronic Periodicals Archive and Database (EPA), allowing anyone to explore past issues of Alföld, Debreceni Szemle, Néplap, and Hajdú-bihari Napló, among others. This vast archive offers a rich resource not only for local historians but also for teachers and students. In total, 804 volumes comprising approximately 876,000 pages of content have been made available through this initiative.
Dávid Rózsa, Director General of the National Széchényi Library, explained that the digitization project began two years ago in response to requests from local communities. The Méliusz Juhász Péter Library provided a highly detailed list to support the work. So far, one-third of the collection has been completed, with the full project expected to conclude next spring.
The press conference also celebrated the sixth Térey Book Festival, hosted by the Méliusz Juhász Péter Library and the Déri Museum. Pósán László noted that the event reflects the city’s current cultural identity and praised poet János Térey for capturing the essence of being local —the process by which newcomers gradually become part of the city’s fabric. Térey’s openness to innovation and respect for tradition were defining traits of both his work and the city itself.
István Puskás, Deputy Mayor of Debrecen responsible for cultural affairs, stated that János Térey was a genuine and devoted researcher of Debrecen’s identity. “Anyone who moves to Debrecen eventually becomes a local—Térey was able to portray this phenomenon beautifully,” he said, adding that the Book Festival pays worthy tribute to the poet’s memory. The organizers are guided by the intention to nurture the sense of local belonging in the same spirit Térey embodied. He also highlighted the exemplary collaboration between the two libraries in the field of digitizing cultural heritage. He noted that the event was born out of Térey’s sudden and tragic passing, and that the poet continues to be present in the life of the city through contemporary literature. “We dedicate this opportunity to his memory, and we strive to preserve the essence of Debrecenness in the way he entrusted it to us,” he concluded.
This year’s festival focuses on Térey and music, offering a retrospective of the city’s musical history. A special exhibition curated by Zoltán Poós will showcase Térey’s musical inspirations and personal collection. Poet Tamás Korpa, the festival’s curator, presented the detailed program and noted that the venue has undergone both interior and exterior renovations to welcome visitors with a fresh look.
The festival will also celebrate the 70th birthday of literary scholar Zoltán Bertha and the 80th of Béla Márkus. A chamber exhibition and poetry readings will commemorate Éva Stetka, a poet born 95 years ago who has since faded into obscurity. Visual artist József Tasnádi will donate 14 new works to the library, which will be on display. Attendees can also enjoy special talks and encounters, including a conversation between poet Illés Molnár and actor Géza Röhrig.
A city walk will introduce visitors to the works of architect István Sajó, whom Térey greatly admired. Two new books will debut at the event: Térey’s translations of ancient dramas and a major new drama collection titled “In Sodom, the Grass Is Fatter. Tamás Korpa expressed that a dynamic oeuvre is one that never ends, as János Térey continuously releases new volumes from his drawer. Since his passing, at least three new books have been published each year.
Tamás Korpa concluded that the festival enriches Debrecen’s cultural life in a meaningful way, celebrating the diversity of contemporary Hungarian literature and Térey’s remarkable legacy. According to the curator of the Book Festival, the event enriches Debrecen’s cultural life in a worthy manner, celebrating the diversity of contemporary Hungarian literature and the rich oeuvre of János Térey.
Source and photo credit:debrecen.hu
