Commemorative event at Athenian Club marking Corfu Reading Society’s 190th anniversary
CORFU. The event was opened by Mr. Koukoulomatis, President of the Athenian Club.
On Thursday, 28 May, a commemorative event honouring the Corfu Reading Society was held with great success in the packed events hall of the Athenian Club, as part of the celebrations marking 190 years of its continuous and uninterrupted operation.
The event was opened by the President of the Athenian Club, Mr. Koukoulomatis, who welcomed the representatives of the Reading Society, the oldest intellectual association in the country, as well as all invited guests.
Next, the President of the Reading Society, Mr. Thanasis Makris, took the floor. Among others, he thanked the President and the Board of Directors of the Athenian Club, making special reference to the Corfiot businessman Mr. Nikolaos Kosmatos, who, as a member of the Board of Directors of the Athenian Club as well as a member of the Reading Society, made a decisive contribution to the organisation of this event.
Next, the Scientific Director of the Reading Society, Mr. Dimitris Zymaris, spoke, providing a brief historical overview of the Society and outlining, in general terms, its rich collection of books, archival material, and cultural heritage, as well as its recent research and educational activities.
The event was concluded by Mr. Anastasios–Ioannis Metaxas, Honorary Professor of Universities, President of the Ionian Academy 1808, member of the Athenian Club, and Honorary Member of the Corfu Reading Society, who referred, among other things, to the historical conditions that led to the establishment of the two historic associations and to their parallel development during the early years of their operation.
At the end of the event, as a token of honour, Mr. Makris presented Mr. Koukoulomatis with a silver owl (the emblem of the Corfu Reading Society since its founding).
The Administrative Committee expresses once again its gratitude to Mr. Nikos Kosmatos for his overall care and contribution in making this event possible.
The Corfu Reading Society (https://anagnostiki-etairia-kerkyras.eu) is the oldest intellectual institution in Greece, with uninterrupted operation since 1836. Born out of the liberal Western European ideas of the 19th century, it developed a social, educational, political, and patriotic character, gradually attaining a prominent position in the intellectual and social life of the Ionian region.
Its members have included major figures such as Dionysios Solomos, Andreas Kalvos, Iakovos Polylas, Lorentzos Mavilis, Konstantinos Theotokis, and many others.
Since the early 20th century, it has been housed in its own emblematic two-storey 18th-century building, located on the eastern side of the old town of Corfu, featuring museum-like halls.
It maintains a rich, specialised, and continuously expanding library (over 50,000 volumes, including rare editions from the 16th to the 19th century), as well as unique collections of diverse archival material (manuscripts, maps, newspapers, works of art, and photographs).
Since 1969, it has published the academic journal “Bulletin of the Corfu Reading Society,” while also issuing other publications of Ionian interest. It maintains contacts with cultural institutions in Greece and abroad, as well as with the academic community. It also organises conferences, lectures, concerts, and exhibitions, and regularly implements research and educational programmes.
Today it has approximately 450 members and operates as a non-profit private legal entity, governed by an Administrative Committee elected every two years.
The combination of its collections with the unique atmosphere of its premises makes it an attractive research centre for a wide range of Greek and international researchers and visitors.
The Reading Society systematically pursues outward-looking activities and, making use of specialised personnel, focuses on the preservation and promotion of its book and archival heritage. It continues its established activities while also developing new initiatives aimed at leveraging modern multimedia tools for the dissemination of knowledge and engagement with younger generations.
ELENI KORONAKI
