Lajos Pósa's national education service and the children's magazine "My Newspaper"

Lajos Pósa was born on April 9, 1850 in Radnót, Gömör County. His father Antal Pósa was a farmer, his mother Mária Kovács. His younger brother Károly died when he was still a child. He started school in Nemesradnót. As an excellent student, he continued his studies at the United Protestant High School in Rimaszombat. Here he became friends with Kálmán Mikszáth. After graduating from high school, he studied theology in Sárospatak, and then obtained a teaching qualification in Budapest. He published his writings from the 1870s in Mór Jókai's "Üstökös" newspaper, the Mulattató Újság. He became increasingly interested in writing and, in order to secure his livelihood, he accepted a job offer from the editor of the Szegedi Napló. In Szeged, he met the gypsy prima Dankó Pista, who set countless of his poems to music. Here he became one of the founders of the weekly illustrated magazine for young people called Jó Barát, which was the first Hungarian children's magazine with literary aspirations. On December 15, 1889, he moved to Budapest at the invitation of the managers of the Budapest Singer and Wolfner company. Together with Benedek Elek, he started the weekly children's magazine called "Az Én Ujságom". He edited this first children's magazine with a literary value and patriotic spirit until his death. Before Pósa, Hungarian children's literature was almost exclusively based on translations of foreign works. The children's magazine, which was popular among children and Hungarian families, quickly reached a large circulation. Pósa published his poems in this magazine and the stories and tales of the prestigious writers of the time (Mór Jókai, Kálmán Mikszáth, Géza Gárdonyi, Gyula Krúdy, Ferenc Herczeg, Mózes Gaál, Sándor Endrődi, Viktor Rákosi, Sándor Bródy, István Tömörkény, György Egri, Zoltán Thury, Károly Lovik, Ede Sas, Jenő Heltai and Zsigmond Móricz) were also published here. It was he who discovered the talent of Ferenc Móra, who showed great respect for him. Thanks to the magazine, he became the favorite of many children, Pósa's uncle. In 1900, he married Lídia Andrássy in Monoron, whose daughter he adopted, Sárika. He led an active social life. The Pósa-asztal Society was famous, around which writers, artists, and musicians grouped, such as: Árpád Feszty, Géza Gárdonyi, Sándor Bródy, István Bársony, Viktor Rákosi, Géza Lányi, and Pista Dankó. He started the Filléres Library, published 350 volumes, was co-editor of Readers' Books, published more than 50 volumes of his poetry, and wrote hundreds of songs for the composer Pista Dankó. He received numerous awards and recognitions. He was elected a member of the Petőfi Society, and was appointed an honorary citizen of the National Association of Early Childhood Educators. The Teachers' Association of Komárom County also elected him an honorary member for his merits in Hungarian national public education and the flourishing of Hungarian youth literature. On his 40th poetic anniversary in June 1914, several thousand children marched in front of the “fairy tale king” who was enthroned. A month later, on July 9, 1914, he died in Budapest. His full-length seated statue was inaugurated in Budapest’s City Park in 1930. He received a bust in his native village in 1934. In 2010, the Children’s Library of the László Németh City Library in Hódmezőváráshely took his name, and his bust, created by Emese Gábor, was unveiled in front of the building, as was the Lajos Pósa Memorial Plaque, which was first awarded by Táltoskönyvek Kiadó in 2014. His poetic style shows the signs of the folk-national literary trend. After 1945, his figure disappeared into the darkness of oblivion. Until the turn of the millennium, his memory was preserved only in his native village, Nemesradnót and Gömör. Since then, numerous events and books have drawn attention to the importance of the poet's work and presented his works. On December 13, 2014, Lajos Pósa received the Hungarian Heritage Award of the Board of Trustees of the Hungarian Heritage and European Association, which was awarded for his service to national education and for founding the children's magazine Az Én Ujságom. Source: László Nyitray: Pósa Lajos, Budapest, 2014, ISBN 978-963-7082-45-0 The works of Pósa Lajos have been published in the following places (www.posalajos.com): Poems, Author, 1878 New Poems, Author, 1881 Poems of Pósa Lajos, Author, 1883 Songs and Tales for Youth, with illustrations by János Jankó, with a foreword by Kálmán Mikszáth; Author, 1884 Little Bouquet – Poems for Good Children, Singer and Wolfner, 1885 In Ten Years, Author, 1886 Children's Poems, with illustrations by Gyula Bloch, Author, 1886 New Songs of Szeged, Vilmos Méhner, 1886? My Songs, Sándor Bába, 1887 Four Tales for Children and Youth, Traub and Partners, 1887 Little Golden Garden, Singer and Wolfner, 1887 Pista Dankó – György Molnár – Lajos Pósa: The Jeweler's Daughter, György Molnár, 1887 Songs of the Golden-feathered Bird, with illustrations by Lajos Elischer, Légrády Brothers, 1888 ABC with colorful pictures and poems, Róbert Lampel, 1888 Pista Dankó – Ottó Müller – Döme Nikolits – Lajos Pósa: The Abduction of a Girl, Réthy and his sons, 1889 Butterflies, Singer and Wolfner, 1888 Flower Fall, Endrényi and Partners, 1889 Children's Garden, Ottó Nágel Jr., 1889 Little Stories, Vilmos Méhner, 1889 Áron Kiss – Lajos Pósa: The Book of Little People, Singer and Wolfner, 1890 From Morning to Evening, Singer and Wolfner, 1890 Rosebush, with illustrations by Lajos Elischer, Légrády Brothers, 1891 Golden Days, Ottó Nágel Jr., 1891 Ágost Tihanyi – Lajos Pósa: The Ringing Golden ABC, Singer and Wolfner, 1892 Grandma's Tales, Singer and Wolfner, 1892 Fairy Tales, Ottó Nágel Jr., 1892 Csingilingi, Singer and Wolfner, 1892 Miklós Weiss – Lajos Pósa: For a Blonde Little Girl, Pesti Hírlap, September 27, 1892 (musical supplement) Áron Kiss – Sándor Péterffy – Lajos Pósa – Ágost Tihanyi: A Book of Verses – For Childcare Institutions, Shelters and Families, Singer and Wolfner, 1893 Áron Kiss – Péterffy Sándor – Lajos Pósa – Ágost Tihanyi: Songbook – For child care institutions, shelters and families, Singer and Wolfner, 1893 Áron Kiss – Lajos Pósa: Storybook – For child care institutions, shelters and families, Singer and Wolfner, 1893 Book of Flowers, József Ede Rigler, 1894 Book of Fragrances, József Ede Rigler, 1894 Golden Sunbeam, Róbert Lampel, 1894 Lajos Pósa's Storybook, Singer and Wolfner, 1894 Golden ABC, with illustrations by Ignác Ujváry, Singer and Wolfner, 1894 Pentecost Roses for Children, Róbert Lampel, 1894 Lajos Serly – Lajos Pósa: The Little Ringed Boy, Zenélő Magyarország, 15 November 1894. Pista Dankó: 76 original Hungarian songs to the lyrics of L. Pósa, Rózsavölgyi and Co., 1895. Ilona Zachariásné Kallós – Pista Dankó: The Secret with lyrics by L. Böszörményi, P. Dankó, G. Gárdonyi and L. Pósa, József V. Schunda (s. n.) Balatoni nóták, on five poems by Lajos Pósa, Béla Méry, 1895 Home and freedom, Singer and Wolfner, 1895 Miss Nádszál, the Légrády Brothers, 1895 Grandfather's storybook, Singer and Wolfner, 1895 Prayers for children, Singer and Wolfner, 1895 Cini-Cini, with illustrations by Ödön Tull, Róbert Lampel, 1896 Pista Dankó – Pista Lajos Pósa: The Sorrow of the Hungarian People, * József Vencel Schunda, 1896? My dear mother, Singer and Wolfner, 1897 Heroes of freedom, with illustrations by Károly Mühlbeck, Singer and Wolfner, 1898 The song is coming, Singer and Wolfner, 1899 Bellflowers, Singer and Wolfner, 1899 Béla Bartók: Four songs to lyrics by Lajos Pósa, Ferenc Bárd and his brother, 1904 Works of Lajos Pósa I-V. With illustrations by Károly Mühlbeck, Tales, I-II; Short stories and life stories; Golden chest, I-II. Singer and Wolfner, 1905-1907 Tale of the Little Pig and Other Stories, Singer and Wolfner, 1907 Bait Tale, Singer and Wolfner, 1907 Prayers and Greetings, with illustrations by Károly Mühlbeck, Singer and Wolfner, 1907 A Beautiful Tale for the Violin, Mrs. Lajosné Pósa, 1908 Anna Wohlfahrt Richárdné Grill: Songs for the Youth, (Szólam Edition) Lajos Pósa et al. adaptation of children's poems, Viktor Hornyánszky, 1909 Aranyliget, Béla Wellisch, Szentgotthárd, 1911 Figurás fésék, with illustrations by Károly Mühlbeck, Hungária, 1912 Játékos könyv, Jótok, fáfák, fádák, provából, Singer és Wolfner, 1914 Kis tükör, Elblésék az újjúság, Budapesti Hírlap Nyomda, 1914 Poems of Lajos Pósa (selected), with a foreword by Sándor Bródy, Singer és Wolfner, 1914 Poems of children (selected), with a foreword by Ferenc Herczeg, Singer és Wolfner, 1914 Mariska tells stories, Magyar Kereskedelmi Közlöny Hírlap és Könyvkiadó, 1917 Kacsoh Pongrác – Dalok kisgyermekenken, Pósa et al. poems, Rózsavölgyi and Co., 1918 Lidike, with a foreword by György Lőrinczy, Mrs. Lajosné Pósa, 1920 The Sorrow of the Hungarian People, * Légrády Brothers, 1921 Arany ABC, with illustrations by Bella Kőszegi, Singer and Wolfner, 1928 Édes anyám (II), with a foreword by György Lőrinczy; Mrs. Lajosné Pósa, 1929 Uncle Pósa's Great Storybook, with illustrations by Kató Benedek, Singer and Wolfner, 1937 Bird Book, Rigler József Ede Papírnemügyár Rt., Budapest, 1943? Cicaiskola, Selected by: Anna Fazekas; Illustrated by Anna F. Győrffy, Móra Publishing House, 1960 Tulipántos láda, Edited by: Vita Zsigmond; ill.: T. Klára Blaier, Ion Creanga, Bucharest, 1981 Spring; Iluska and the cat, Illustrated by: Anikó Rákosy, Hungarian Diafilm Manufacturer V., 1989 Once upon a time a prince, (reprint of the 1895 edition of the World-Beautiful Lady Nádszál, by Légrády), Hunikum, Budapest, 1991 Tülökvár, Compiled by: István Bettes, Lilium Aurum, Dunaszerdahely, 2002 Arany ABC, illustrated by Ignác Ujváry, Edited by Rozália Csipka, Sikerx Bt., 2004 (copy) Hungary Fairyland – Awakening Lajos Pósa, Selection from the poems of Lajos Pósa – Excerpts Countess Gyuláné Andrássy, István Bársony, György Egri, Mózes Gaál, János Gracza, Endre Gyökössy, Jenő Heltai, Ödön Jakab, Gyula Krúdy, Kálmán Mikszáth, Ferenc Móra, László Móra, Gyula Nógrádi Pap, Ede Sas and Béla Telekes, from their writings published in the children's magazine Az Én Újságom; with the study of child psychologist László Nagy (1906); György Lőrinczy's celebratory speech (1914); Az Új Idők (Herczeg Ferenc)'s farewell, with poems by János Gracza, Ferenc Móra and Mihály Baja. Editor: Jenő Miklós Kun, Kairosz Publishing House, 2005 Uncle Pósa's most beautiful verse tales – Animal tales; Uncle Pósa's most beautiful children's poems; Uncle Pósa's most beautiful winter poems for Christmas, Edited and illustrated by Gábor Emese, Táltoskönyvek Publishing House, Budakeszi, 2006 Selected tales of Lajos Pósa, Társ Publishing House, Sepsiszentgyörgy, 2007 Uncle Pósa's rocking chairs, lullabies, and toddlers for the little ones, edited and illustrated by Gábor Emese, Táltoskönyvek Publishing House, 2007 Uncle Pósa: Hahó! Hahó! It's snowing - edited and illustrated by Gábor Emese, Táltoskönyvek Publishing House, 2007. Uncle Pósa's nursery rhymes, skill-building verses, edited and illustrated by Gábor Emese; Táltoskönyvek Publishing House, 2008 Uncle Pósa: Teaching tales - about King Matthias, edited and illustrated by Gábor Emese; Táltoskönyvek Publishing House, 2008 Lajos Pósa – Attila Sirkó (drawing): The Little Axe, Comenius Publishing House, 2008 Lajos Pósa: Where is Lackó?, Pro Junior Publishing House, 2008 Uncle Pósa: Three Beautiful Butterflies – ed. and ill.: Gábor Emese; Táltoskönyvek Publishing House, 2009 Cica-iskola – Pro Junior Publishing House, 2009 Lullaby – Uncle Pósa’s poem, Gábor Emese’s drawings; Táltoskönyvek Publishing House, 2009 Uncle Pósa: Funny poems, funny tales – Gábor Emese; Táltoskönyvek Publishing House, 2009 Uncle Pósa: Silver storybook – with Gábor Emese’s paintings; Táltoskönyvek Publishing House, 2009 Uncle Pósa: Golden storybook – with Gábor Emese’s paintings; Táltoskönyvek Publishing House, 2009 The little bird sings – Lajos Pósa’s sung poems performed by József Dinnyés, not just for little ones; Reintegration Foundation, Budapest, 2010 In anthologies, reading books, sheet music, on audio CD, – after 1945: Betűbokréta, Reading book for Catholic primary schools II. p. for children, Szent István Társulat, 1945 Kindergarten poetry book, Editor: T. Éva Aszódi, Ifjúsági Publishing House, 1955 Late-Century poets, Edited by György Végh; ed.: Csanádi Imre, Magvető, 1959 “Everyone is preparing for new paths” – The literature of the 1918/19 revolutions, Collection of texts, Editors: Klára Ács et al., Institute of Literary History of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, 1959 Collection of texts on the 19th century. from the literature of the second half of the 19th century, Editor: László Bóka et al., Textbook Publishing Company, 1961 András Hegedűs: Children's and Youth Literature, Textbook Publishing Company, 1966 Fly Bird, Editor: Beatrix Balogh, Folk Culture and Propaganda Office, 1966 Gate to Fairytale Land, Editor: István Bodrits, Fórum Newspaper and Book Publishing Company, Újvidék, 1966 Tiborné Bauer: Children's Literature Textbook, for kindergarten teachers, Textbook Publishing Company, 1967 Treasure Chest Hungarian Reader's Book, Editor: József Magyar, Hungarian Writing, Buenos Aires, 1968 Flower Garden Reader's Book, Editor: Anna G. Kassai, Ferenc Horváth, Hungarian School Committee, Munich, 1969 Cini-cini Music, Kindergarten Book, Editor: Éva T. Aszódi, Móra Publishing Company, 1969 My violin is broken – Dankó Album, selected by Gábor Vas, published by Jenő Simon Music Publishing Company, Budapest, 1975 Three sparrows with six eyes, Editor: Sándor Weöres, Szépirodalmi Könyvkiadó, 1977 Temple window, Divine poems and translations, Editor: Dezső Fükő, Press Department of the Reformed Synod, 1980 Hóc, hóc, soldier, Editor: Zsuzsa Moldoványi, Ferenc Móra Publishing House, 1982 (3rd edition) Grandma's picture book (in memory of Károly Mühlbeck), Editor: Ferenc Bodor, Minerva, 1985 New golden harp – (anthology from a Christian perspective), Editor: Sándor Tenke, Hungarian Reformed. Church Synod Office, 1987 Mustard Seeds, Edited by Barnabás Somogyi, Hungarian Baptist Church, Győr, 1987 Praise of the Guard, (Poems about Monor), Monor Local History Circle, 1989 My Newspaper – Selection from the children's newspaper of Elek Benedek and Lajos Pósa, Edited by Attila Csokonai, Skíz Publishing House, Bp., 1992 Golden Butterfly, Selected by Klára Cs. Lingvai; Edited by Mária Vofkori; With drawings by Margit Soó-Zöld, Kriterion, Bucharest, 1994 Multicolored butterfly, a little tale, Poems, tales, stories for kindergarten and primary school children, (Text collection), Editor: Rozália Kóka, Márton Áron Publishing House, 1994 Large reading book, Editor: Ildikó Kováts, Pesti Szalon Publishing House, 1994 Literary text collection, Gypsy-related writings – For secondary schools I-IV. p., Konsept Publishing House, 1994 When I will be six years old, Editor: Ágnes Szele, Sziget, Kaposvár, 1995 Budapesti negyed, 1896-I. Edited by: András Gerő et al., Budapest Metropolitan Archives, 1995 Seven Centuries of Hungarian Poets, Edited by: István Lakatos et al., Tevan, Békéscsaba, 1996 How was her blonde, Selected by: József Köves, K. U. K, 1999 The Poetry of the Turn of the Century, Edited by: Györgyi Pozsvai, Unikornis Publishing House, 1999 The Ides of March, Poems, Songs, Scenes; School Aid, Edited by: Dr. János Lengyel, UNIO Lap-és Könyvkiadó Kft. (s. n.) The People of Árpád, (facsimile edition of the 1896 volume), Barnaföldi G. Archive, Bp., 2000 Eternal Homeland – Hungarian History in Verse, Edited by: Zoltán Bartha, Tinivár, Kolozsvár, 2001 Who wrote…? – Forgotten poems, Editor: Katalin Havas, Fekete Sas Publishing House, 2001 Recitation book, Selected by: István Margócsy, Unikornis, 2001 Purring – Cat tales, cat poems, with drawings by Zsuzsa Füzesi, Urbis Publishing House, 2004 Vera Jákó – Lajos Pósa: The violin of Dankó Pista is broken; In. The beauty of the song is in the words 5. EMB Bp., 2004 “Who is rocking the cradle, Janika…” – (audio CD); Magneoton, 2007 Winter Fairytale Festival (audio CD) Judit Pogány, Artúr Kálid, Alma ensemble; Retro Media, 2007Towns related to his activities: Nemesradnót, Budapest, Rimaszombat, Sárospatak, Szeged, Monor