373Creating links in education. Teachers and their associations UDC 378.011.3-057.175:061.2:378.4(Ljubljana) 1.08 Published Scientific Conference Contribution Received: 24. 2. 2014 Tea Anžur* The Association of University Professors of Ljubljana 1919–1945 Društvo univerzitetnih profesorjev v Ljubljani 1919–1945 Izvleček Ljubljanska univerza je že dve leti po nastan- ku – ob koncu leta 1921 – ustanovila društvo, ki je povezalo visokošolske profesorje in se je imenovalo »Udruženje visokošolskih učiteljev v Ljubljani.« Naloga društva je bila pomagati mladi univerzi, ki se je že kmalu po ustanovitvi srečevala z vrsto težav. Zlasti v prvem desetle- tju, to je v dvajsetih letih prejšnjega stoletja je Udruženje slovenskih profesorjev pomemb- no sodelovalo v boju za izboljšanje položaja slovenske univerze. Prizadevali so si zlasti za njeno neokrnjenost in obstoj. Po vojni je bilo Društvo več kot desetletje del sindikalne or- ganizacije, zato se je ukvarjalo s sindikalnimi problemi svojih članov (stanovanja, dopusto- vanja, urejanje posmrtninskega in kreditnega sklada). Njegova primarna naloga pa je bila tudi skrb za kakovostno delo svojih članov, prizadevanje za ustreznejši položaj univerzi- tetnih asistentov in ustvarjanje primernejših delovnih razmer na univerzi. Ključne besede: Univerza v Ljubljani, univerzitetni profesorji, društvo Key words: University of Ljubljana, university professors, association 15th Symposium on School Life, part 58. Visit us / obiščite nas - Sistory: http://hdl.handle.net/11686/37712 Abstract Towards the end of 1921, two years after its foundation, the University of Ljubljana estab- lished an association of professors of higher education called “The Society of Teachers of Higher Education of Ljubljana”. Its mission was to provide support for the young univer- sity, faced with a number of difficulties soon after its foundation. In the first decade espe- cially – that is, in the 1920’s – the Association of Slovenian Professors played an important role in the struggle to improve the situation at the Slovenian university. Their main effort was to preserve its integrity and existence. Af- ter the Second World War more than a decade the Association was a part of the union and it was mainly dealing with current problems of the union members (housing, vacations and collective credit funds). Its main role was also to improve the status of university teachers and working conditions at University. * Tea Anžur, Univerza v Ljubljani / University of Ljubljana, Zgodovinski arhiv in muzej Univerze / University Historical Archives and Museum, Slovenia, Ljubljana, Slovenia; e-mail: tea.anzur@uni-lj.si 374 Šolska kronika / School Chronicle • 3 • 2019 Introduction Archival material represents invaluable cultural heritage that is essential for the existence of any institution. For close to half a century, the University of Ljubljana has been archiving material in-house, overseen by a specialist service of the Rector's Office: the Archival-Museum Service or the University Histori- cal Archives and Museum (ZAMU). The service was founded when an expert was first appointed to the position of archivist and curator. By the decision of the University Council, Ana Benedetič, previously the curator of the Museum of Gorenjska in Kranj, filled the position on 1 September 1968. The idea of establish- ing University archives coincided with the preparations for the celebration of the University's 50th anniversary and was supported by the then-Rector, Dr. Roman Modic. Initially focused predominantly on museum activities, the new service was named the Museum-Archival Service; later the Service encountered increasing amounts of archival material and was renamed the University Archival-Museum Service. As planned and implemented from the very beginnings of the Service, the Historical Archives today employs three experts working in the fields of ar- chival, museum and library science. The Historical Archives and Museum now houses more than 500 linear metres (lm) of archival material in 10 stores. Profes- sionally processed and stored in suitable depots, the material has been labelled and made accessible to users. When it comes to museum matters, the University Historical Archives and Museum is responsible for documenting the movable cultural heritage of the University of Ljubljana. In the last decade alone, the Rector's Office has collected more than a hundred museum exhibits. The museum department has a photo library with more than 27,000 photographs, which have been professionally pro- cessed and organised chronologically and thematically. The archival reference library has some 4000 units, mainly monographs and fewer periodical literature, most of which were collected by the University administration, while some were also acquired through exchanges and purchases. The Historical Archives and Museum expert staff are well aware of the im- portance of material presentation for successful research work. Accordingly, they have organised a number of exhibitions about the University of Ljubljana building – the former Provincial Mansion –, the University rectors and Slovenia's great- est poet, France Prešeren, as well as detailed presentations of several University members: the Faculty of Law, the Biotechnical Faculty, the Faculty of Theology, the Faculty of Technical Sciences and the Faculty of Medicine. The exhibitions were accompanied by extensive exhibition catalogues or exhibition brochures; most exhibitions are available in digital form on the University website. The staff of the Historical Archives have published the results of their re- search activities in expert articles and discussions focused on the history of 375Creating links in education. Teachers and their associations schooling in Ljubljana and on professional archival and museum topics. The University Historical Archives and Museum has made contributions to science conferences in Vienna (1991), Ljubljana (1996), Ichenhausen in Bavaria (1996), Modinci (2000), Budapest (1999), Aachen (1996), Šmarje (2003), Križevci (2006), Bielefeld (2006) and elsewhere. As the subject of this year's international sympo- sium is the presentation of teaching staff and their associations as promoters of the teaching process, we are introducing (The Association of University Profes- sors of Ljubljana), established at the University of Ljubljana in 1921. No materials have been preserved from the earliest beginnings of the Association, but infor- mation was collected from the University Council and University administration minutes. However, we do have materials from the post-war period that date back to the period from 1954 to 1995; they include general meeting and executive board minutes, reports from commissions and pending matters. The Association of University Professors of Ljubljana The desire to establish a Slovenian university has a long history, dating back to the time of national awakening, the revolutionary year of 1848. One of the de- mands included in the Slovenian national programme was a Slovenian university. The idea had a solid foundation in the form of the established Jesuit higher educa- tion system and the Ljubljana Lyceum. However, the desire was not fulfilled until the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It was not until the beginnings of Yugoslavia that the long-ignored demand of the Slovenian nation was met. In 1918, the National Government in Ljubljana appointed the University Founding Board, headed by the President, Dr. Danilo Majaron, and the Secretary, Prof. Dr. Fran Ramovš, a young Slovenian linguist. The Board was tasked with laying the groundwork for establishing the university and finding the professorial staff, most of whom had previously worked at foreign, mainly Austrian universities and scientific institutions but had returned to the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes to find employment once Austrian universities began to dismiss univer- sity teachers of Slovenian nationality in the new political climate. In June 1919, when the University of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes was estab- lished, it employed 18 professors. The full professors appointed at the Faculty of Theology were Dr. Aleš Ušeničnik for Christian philosophy, Dr. Franc Ušeničnik for pastoral theology and Dr. Ivan Zore for church history. At the Faculty of Law: Dr. Ivan Žolger, full professor at the University of Vienna, for international law; Dr. Leonid Pitamic, associate professor at the University of Černovice, for admin- istrative law; Dr. Bogumil Vošnjak, private assistant professor at the University of Zagreb, for Yugoslav public law; and Dr. Ivan Žmavc, curator of the university li- brary in Prague, for national economy. Dr. Žmavc turned down the position. The full professors appointed at the Faculty of Arts were Dr. Josip Plemelj, who had 376 Šolska kronika / School Chronicle • 3 • 2019 previously lectured in mathematics at the University of Černovice; Dr. Rajko Nahtigal, Slavic linguistics lecturer in Graz, for gen- eral Yugoslav philology; Dr. Fran Ramovš, private assistant professor at the University of Graz, for the Slovenian language; and Dr. Ivan Prijatelj, curator of the Court Library in Vienna, for the history of modern Slavic literature with a special focus on Slovenian literature. The Faculty of Technical Sciences also appointed four full professors who had previously worked as professors or experts in various technical fields at different in- stitutions in Vienna. Dr. Rihard Zupančič, professor at the Vienna University of Tech- nology, was appointed mathematics lecturer; Dr. Karl Hinterlechner, mining councillor at the Geology Institute in Vienna, took over the fields of mineralogy and petrography; Dr. Maks Samec, teacher at the Vienna Re- alschule, was appointed chemistry lecturer; Dr. Ing. Milan Vidmar, assistant professor at the Vienna University of Technology, took over the field of electrical engineering. The Faculty of Medicine appointed two full pro- fessors who had previously lectured at the University of Prague, Dr. Albert Botteri, assistant professor of ophthalmology, and Dr. Alfred Šerko, a neurology and psy- chiatry expert, as well as appointing an associate professor, Dr. Janez Plečnik, who had attained his doctorate in Vienna and specialised in pathology, a subject that he later taught at the University of Ljubljana.1 The first university in Slovenia found its professors among Slovenian scientists who had already achieved habili- tation or had fulfilled most of the conditions for habilitation. Since there was a lack of qualified candidates, honorary professors and private assistant professors were used as a temporary solution. The University of Ljubljana also welcomed Russian immigrants who settled in the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes and sought employment.2 Further obstacles were posed by the government in Belgrade delaying new appointments. Additionally, there were requests for the closure of some faculties and even the University of Ljubljana itself – being the 1 Fifty years of the Slovenian university in Ljubljana 1919-1969, Ljubljana 1969, p. 64. 2 Tatjana Dekleva, Russian professors at the Faculty of Law in Ljubljana 1918-1945, Arhivi, XXI, Ljubljana 1998, p. 77. Prof. dr. Karel Hinterlechner, Professor at the Faculty of Technical Sciences, Member of the Association of University Professors and Rector of the University. (University of Ljubljana Historical Archives and Museum) 377Creating links in education. Teachers and their associations newest and smallest university compared to the universities in Belgrade in Za- greb, it was usually neglected in the national budget. As early as 1921, Belgrade called for the closure of two of the smaller Univer- sity of Ljubljana faculties, the Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Technical Sciences, despite the fact that both faculties had successfully formed their own institutions and achieved success without state support.3 Attempts to suppress the University of Ljubljana continued in the years that followed. In the 1922-1923 budget, as many as 14 full professorships were terminated, of which 7 had al- ready been filled, and remunerations for honorary professors and other items were reduced. On top of that, the closure of faculties was announced yet again.4 In order to combat these problems, facilitate the beginnings of the young Univer- sity of Ljubljana and ensure that it maintained its independence, on 8 December 1921 its professors established the Association of University Teachers in Ljublja- na (Udruženje visokošolskih učiteljev v Ljubljani), stating as their mission the protection and promotion of the interests of universities, other higher educa- tion schools and their teaching staff.5 The Association also aimed to defend the freedom of religion and education, and to support the preservation and mod- ern improvement of the autonomy of universities and other higher education schools. The Association was intended to protect the interests of teachers under any government and on any occasion with the aim of improving their material situation.6 Another way that the Association tried to achieve this was by coop- erating with the University Council in order to ensure a maximum degree of autonomy for the University. Following the measures undertaken by the govern- ment in Belgrade on 16 January 1925, including the non-academic retirement of several professors at the University of Zagreb without the knowledge and involve- ment of the academic authorities, the Association was united in lodging a protest with Nikola Pašić, the Prime Minister. At the same time, the University Council stated that it welcomes all attempts for a fair autonomy of our universities and that the government should only act against university professors with the full cooperation of the academic authorities. 7 Meanwhile, the Association of Uni- versity Teachers published a resolution strongly defending the autonomy of the University. Following a proposal from Prof. Dolenc, the resolution was supported by the University Council at the meeting on 20 November 1923.8 3 Ana Benedetič, Association activities from the founding to World War II, At the 70th anniversa- ry of the Association of University Professors, Ljubljana 1921-1991, Ljubljana 1991, p. 3. 4 Fifty years of the Slovenian university in Ljubljana 1919-1969, Ljubljana 1969, p. 70. 5 Slovenian commemorative collection of papers: At the 20th anniversary of the Kingdom of Yu- goslavia, Ljubljana 1939, p. 205. 6 Ibid. 7 Fifty years of the Slovenian university in Ljubljana 1919-1969, Ljubljana 1969, p. 72. 8 ZAMU IV, Minutes of the university council and university administration meetings, Minutes of the 1st university council of 20.11. 1923. 378 Šolska kronika / School Chronicle • 3 • 2019 The young university was troubled by more than just its efforts for greater independence – due to the lack of state resources, it was threatened again by downsizing or even closure. In the 1923-1924 academic year, the proposed finan- cial act contained an article that stipulated the closure of the Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Technical Sciences. The University Council prepared a strong protest against this, stating that the University of Ljubljana is of the greatest cul- tural significance for the entire country and a prerequisite for the national survival of our nation outside the borders of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes.9 Prof. Dr. Karel Hinterlechner, Rector and Association member, discussed the possible solutions in his treatise, The Issue of Universities in Yugoslavia with a Special Focus on the University of Ljubljana (Prašenje univerz v Jugoslaviji s posebnim ozirom na ljubljansko vseučilišče). He refuted the arguments against the continued existence of the Slovenian university by establishing that the clo- sure of the university would only save the state a negligible share of the national budget.10 In Belgrade they argued that the University of Ljubljana was producing far more graduates than were needed. Prof. Dr. Hinterlechner replied that the main purpose of the university was to "nurture objective science, disregarding even the needs of the university" and that teaching only came second. It was his belief that the first task of the university was to teach competent students about science and scientific methods, rather than to act as a "breeding ground" for fu- ture civil servants. The latter was only a secondary task, since "the state finds its most competent workers at academies".11 However, the matter of the continued existence and development of all the faculties and the fate of the University of Ljubljana was far from resolved. The discussion broke out anew at the University Council meeting on 25 November 1927; while preparing a university act, the Uni- versity Board drew up a draft that again planned the downsizing of the University and the closure of several faculties. Since there was no dedicated act governing the University of Ljubljana upon its founding, it was governed by the legisla- tion of the University of Belgrade. When the promised act for the University of Ljubljana failed to materialise, the early 1920s saw the drafting of a state-wide university act that reflected the intention of the central government to bring the three universities closer together and ensure the development of each individual field only at the university that offered the best conditions.12 Belgrade mainly fo- cused its attention on the two smallest faculties, the Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Technical Sciences. To stand up to them, at the suggestion of Prof. 9 ZAMU IV, Minutes of the university council and university administration meetings, Minutes of the 1st university council of 15. 10. 1923. 10 Fifty years of the Slovenian university in Ljubljana 1919-1969, Ljubljana 1969, p. 72. 11 Ibid. 12 The Faculty of Medicine at the University of Ljubljana 1919-1945, Exhibition catalogue, Ljublja- na 2012, p. 48. 379Creating links in education. Teachers and their associations Dr. Ivan Plečnik the professors elected a three-member council to manage the national fund for maintaining the University.13 The council comprised members of the Association of University Teachers, professors Dr. Franc Ksaver Lukman, Dr. Karel Hinterlechner and Dr. Fran Eller.14 In support of the University, the University Council and the Rector, Prof. Dr. Rajko Nahtigal, submitted a plan for a resolution wherein it was emphasised that the Slovenian public supports the continued unimpeded operation of the University and that its closure would represent an illegal activity and a degradation of academic teachers,15 a statement that was supported by the professors, students and the political public alike. The Ministry of Culture devoted as many as 10 meetings to the matter of downsizing the University of Ljubljana. Late 1927 saw the publication of a printed memoran- dum entitled The Importance of the University of Ljubljana for Slovenians and the State of SCS, which was published and signed by 38 Slovenian associations. In the introduction, substantial arguments were stated for the existence of in- dividual faculties and their contribution to scientific development. In February 1928, a delegation from the University of Ljubljana working in conjunction with the Zagreb and Belgrade university boards succeeded in convincing the minister to eliminate from the financial act proposal the contentious articles that planned the closure of smaller faculties, thus preserving the existing situation. Another memorandum was drawn up, stating that university-related issues should be re- solved by a universities act rather than a financial act.16 The new act was later published in Službene novine on 28 June 1930 and preserved all the faculties of the University of Ljubljana and the full teaching staff brought together by the As- sociation of University Teachers. An important member of the Association was the professor and theologian Dr. Fran Ksaver Lukman, whose main contributions to the Slovenian culture were translations, interpretations of patristic literature and analyses of the history of early Christianity. Additionally, he was a full professor of historical dogmatics, the history of Old Christian literature and the history of the first three centuries of Christianity.17 Dr. Lukman was elected Rector at the University Council meet- ing on 31 May 1926. The January 6th dictatorship established by King Alexander and the central- ised organisation of the state in 1929 brought the Association activities to an end. In 1931, the abolished Slovenian Association of University Teachers was replaced 13 ZAMU IV, Minutes of the university council and university administration meetings, Minutes of the university council of 25. 11. 1927. 14 Ana Benedetič, Association activities from the founding to World War II, At the 70th anniversa- ry of the Association of University Professors, Ljubljana 1921-1991, Ljubljana 199 , p. 4. 15 Fifty years of the Slovenian university in Ljubljana 1919-1969, Ljubljana 1969, p. 75. 16 Fifty years of the Slovenian university in Ljubljana 1919-1969, Ljubljana 1969, p. 78. 17 Jože Ciperle, The University of Ljubljana and its rectors, dr. Franc Ksaver Lukman, Ljubljana 2006, p. 21. 380 Šolska kronika / School Chronicle • 3 • 2019 by a single association known as the Association of University Teachers of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia (Udruženje univerzitetskih nastavnika kraljevine Jugoslavije) with three sections in Bel- grade, Zagreb and Ljubljana. The first President of the Ljubljana Section was Prof. Dr. Rado Kušej. As of May 1935, the President of the Ljubljana Sec- tion of the Association of University Teachers of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia was Prof. Dr. Marius Rebek, while as- sociate professor Dr. Ivan Tomšič was appointed Secretary on 26 November 1932.18 In this pre-war period, the Lju- bljana Section had an average of 40 to 75 members. Their role and involve- ment in resolving university-related issues is evident from the minutes of the University administration meet- ing on 19 November 1937. Dr. Rado Kušej reports on his visit to Belgrade, where, as the University of Ljubljana delegate, the Rector and Vice-rector gave him the finished proposals of the Belgrade Section for the future finan- cial act. While he had no objections to the proposals, he did highlight the irregular hierarchy that would enable an assis- tant professor to have a higher rank and salary than an associate professor and an associate professor was higher than a full professor. The importance of the visit is evidenced by the fact that the Belgrade University administration forwarded the proposals to the Minister of Education and assured the Ljubljana delegates that Kušej's arguments would be implemented.19 During the Italian occupation in World War II, the only way for professors to continue their work was within the context of the Association of Teachers in the Province of Ljubljana (Združenje šolnikov Ljubljanske pokrajine), which had a section for university professors and assistant professors. After the German occupying forces assumed power, General Lev Rupnik, the President of the pro- vincial administration, appointed Rihard Zupančič, professor of mathematics at 18 Ana Benedetič, Association activities from the founding to World War II, At the 70th anniversary of the Association of University Professors, Ljubljana 1921-1919, Ljubljana 1991, p. 7. 19 Ibid. "The Importance of the University of Ljubljana for Slovenes and the State of SHS", 1927. Title page. (University of Ljubljana Historical Archives and Museum) 381Creating links in education. Teachers and their associations the University of Ljubljana, State Commissioner of the Association of Teachers on 24 December 1943.20 After the war, in these new circumstances, the Association was reorganised and revived. Despite the relative proximity of the events in the 1950s through to the 1980s, the documentation from the period is incomplete due to frequent changes in the location of the Association offices. We are missing general meet- ing minutes and executive board meeting minutes for certain individual years. There is no information available for the year 1951, aside from the fact that Prof. Dr. Božidar Lavrič was elected as the first Association President. By 1983, the As- sociation had had 16 presidents, the last of whom was Dr. Anton Ogorevc. The Association was organised into commissions, sections and the Executive Board. Soon after 1952, three important commissions and two administrations were es- tablished: the Commission for the Organisation of Scientific Work, the Housing Commission, the Holiday Commission and the Administrations of the Pension Fund and the Death Benefit Fund. Later, several temporary commissions were established as and when required: the Terminology Commission, the Commis- sion for Textbooks and Lecture Notes, the Commission for Directed Education, the Commission for Daytrip Organisation, the Commission for Member Issues, the Code Commission, the Statute Commission, the Commission for Research and Teaching Assistant Issues, the Commission for Club Activities and others. 1983 saw the introduction of the Section of Retired University Professors, presided over by Prof. Dr. Ivan Bonač. The Section focused on new areas includ- ing physical and recreational activities, health lectures, lectures on current social issues, cultural activities, the organisation of daytrips and excursions and activi- ties in the club rooms as regulated by the Association rules. In keeping with the purpose of the Association, the rules prescribed suitable positions, roles, rights and obligations for professors, something that the Association focused on in all its activities. Continuing their activities after World War II, the Association members kept up with the conditions at the University, particularly when it came to im- portant matters such as university reforms, and sought common solutions for current political situations. They published many articles on the depoliticisation of education, supported a reorganisation of the University to achieve greater au- tonomy, supported the fight for human rights and the improvement of economic conditions, and focused particularly on the issue of pedagogical and research work at the University as well as the crucial role of professors in the process. When it comes to the new challenges of today, the Association sees a solution in changing the attitude of society towards education, especially higher education, and establishing a clear delineation of the vision for the development of higher education. 20 Anton Suhadolc, The life and work of mathematician Rihard Zupančič, Kronika 1-2, 49, Ljublja- na 2001, p. 91. 382 Šolska kronika / School Chronicle • 3 • 2019 Sources and Bibliography Sources ZAMU IV - Zgodovinski arhiv in muzej Univerze v Ljubljani [University of Ljubljana Historical Archives and Museum], Zapisniki sej univerzitetnega sveta in univerzitetne uprave 1919- 1945 [Minutes of the university council and university administration meetings]. Bibliography Petdeset let slovenske univerze v Ljubljani 1919-1969 [Fifty years of the Slovenian university in Ljubljana 1919-1969], Ljubljana 1969. Tatjana Dekleva: Ruski profesorji na pravni fakulteti v Ljubljani 1918-1945 [Russian professors at the Faculty of Law in Ljubljana 1918-1945], Arhivi, XX, Ljubljana 1998. Ana Benedetič: Dejavnost društva od ustanovitve do druge svetovne vojne, Ob sedemdesetlet- nici Društva univerzitetnih profesorjev, Ljubljana 1921-1991 [Association activities from the founding to World War II, At the 70th anniversary of the Association of University Professors, Ljubljana 1921-1991], Ljubljana 1991. Spominski zbornik Slovenije, Ob dvajsetletnici Kraljevine Jugoslavije [Slovenian commemo- rative collection of papers, At the 20th anniversary of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia], Ljubljana 1939. Jože Ciperle: Univerza v Ljubljani in njeni rektorji, dr. Karel Hinterlechner [The University of Ljubljana and its rectors, Dr. Karel Hinterlechner], Ljubljana 2006. Medicinska fakulteta Univerze v Ljubljani 1919-1945, Razstavni katalog [The Faculty of Medi- cine at the University of Ljubljana 1919-1945, Exhibition catalogue], Ljubljana 2012. Anton Suhadolc: Življenje in delo matematika Riharda Zupančiča [The life and work of math- ematician Rihard Zupančič], Kronika 1-2, Ljubljana 2001. Summary The Association of University Professors of Ljubljana 1919-1945 Tea Anžur Towards the end of 1921, two years after its foundation, the University of Ljubljana estab- lished an association of professors of higher education called “The Association of University Professors of Ljubljana”. Its mission was to provide support for the young university, faced with a number of difficulties soon after its foundation. In the first decade especially – that is, in the 1920’s – the Association of Slovenian Professors played an important role in the struggle to improve the situation at the Slovenian university. Their main objective was to preserve its integrity and existence. In 1925, Professor PhD Karel Hinterlechner, Association member and University Rector, opposed the disbandment of the University and rejected criticism that the University of Ljubljana raised too many, graduate students, emphasizing that the University's main job was “to cultivate an impartial science, even disregarding the needs of the University”. The Association also worked closely with the University Council. Following the measures taken by the Belgrade government as a result of the non-academic retirement of some of the professors at the University of Zagreb without the knowledge and cooperation of the academic authori- ties, they responded together, expressing their disagreement. As for the costs necessary for the existence of the University, the staff, at the proposal of Professor PhD Ivan Plečnik, elected a three-member council, responsible for managing a national fund for the support of the Univer- 383Creating links in education. Teachers and their associations sity. It consisted of Professors PhD Franc Ksaver Lukman, PhD Karel Hinterlechner and PhD Fran Eller. When a new university law was being drafted (in 1930), the Society members were already deep in discussion on individual articles of the law in March 1928 at the general meet- ing. With its centralist system, the dictatorship of the 6th of January suppressed the operation of the Association. In 1931, the dissolved Slovenian “Society of University Teachers” was replaced by “The Association of University Teachers of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia” with three individual sections in Belgrade, Zagreb and Ljubljana. One year before the war, the Ljubljana section had an average membership of 40 to 75 people. During World War II, under Italian occupation, the Association of Schoolteachers of the Region of Ljubljana was formed with separate branches for university and assistant professors. After the war, the Association revived once again. Povzetek Društvo univerzitetnih profesorjev v Ljubljani 1919–1945 Tea Anžur Ljubljanska univerza je dve leti po nastanku – ob koncu leta 1921 – ustanovila društvo, ki je povezalo visokošolske profesorje in se je imenovalo »Udruženje visokošolskih učiteljev v Ljublja- ni.« Naloga društva je bila pomagati mladi univerzi, ki se je že kmalu po ustanovitvi srečevala z vrsto težav. Zlasti v prvem desetletju, to je v dvajsetih letih prejšnjega stoletja, je Udruženje slovenskih profesorjev pomembno sodelovalo v boju za izboljšanje položaja slovenske univer- ze. Prizadevali so si zlasti za njeno neokrnjenost in obstoj. Prof. dr. Karel Hinterlechner, član društva in rektor univerze, je leta 1925 nasprotoval ukinitvi univerze in zavračal očitke, da lju- bljanska univerza vzgoji preveč absolventov, ter poudaril, da je naloga univerze predvsem »nega nepristranske znanosti in to celo ne oziraje se na potrebe univerze«. Društvo je tesno sodelovalo tudi z univerzitetnim svetom. Ob ukrepih beograjske vlade zaradi neakademske upokojitve ne- katerih profesorjev na zagrebški univerzi brez vednosti in sodelovanja akademskih oblasti so skupaj nastopili in izrazili nestrinjanje. Glede stroškov, ki so bili potrebni za obstoj univerze, je profesorski svet na predlog prof. dr. Ivana Plečnika izvolil tričlanski svet, ki je vodil narodni fond za vzdrževanje univerze. V njem so bil profesorji dr. Franc Ksaver Lukman, dr. Karel Hin- terlechner in dr. Fran Eller. Ko se je pripravljal nov zakon o univerzi (1930), so člani Udruženja o posameznih členih zakona že marca 1928 zelo aktivno razpravljali na občnem zboru. Šesto- januarska diktatura je s svojim centralističnim sistemom zatrla delovanje društva. Leta 1931 je ukinjeno slovensko »Udruženje univerzitetnih nastavnikov» nadomestilo »Udruženje univerzi- tetskih nastavnika kraljevine Jugoslavije« s tremi sekcijami v Beogradu, Zagrebu in Ljubljani. Leta pred drugo svetovno vojno je bilo v ljubljanski sekciji Udruženja včlanjenih povprečno 40 do 75 oseb. Med drugo svetovno vojno v času italijanske okupacije je delovalo Združenje šolnikov Ljubljanske pokrajine s posebnim odsekom za univerzitetne profesorje in docente. Po vojni je društvo znova zaživelo.