On the occasion of the bright Easter holidays and the unusual conditions in which we are welcoming them, the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences makes freely available the three jubilee editions, prepared on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the Academy.
“The Building of BAS: a Symbol of Knowledge and Spirituality”, “Donations and Benefactors of BAS 1869 – 2019. In the Foundations of Bulgarian Science” and “A Brief History of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences” would be a fascinating read for the days spent at home, as the books are full of curious and unknown facts, richly illustrated with photographs of distinguished figures, capturing important moments of Bulgarian history, facsimiles and documents.
The first book is dedicated to the history of the central building of BAS which has become a symbol of the knowledge and spirituality of the Bulgarian state. All the vicissitudes of its construction which went through several stages at the end of the XIX and the first three decades of the XX century are fascinatingly told. The book is richly illustrated with photographs and drawings from the designs of the seven chief architects of the first academic building in Bulgaria.
The other book, dedicated on donation and the benefactors of BAS, gives specific examples of the history of donation in favor of science. The construction of the central building of BAS was made possible by the then academicians who mortgaged their own properties to obtain a construction loan. The book emphasizes the need to donate to science without which statehood is impossible. It is richly illustrated with photographs of celebrities and facsimiles of documents.
The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences is the first institution of the Third Bulgarian State established before its restoration. The Academy’s thorny journey into its 150-year life is briefly but interestingly presented in the third book in the series. The photo material illustrates both documents and events and personalities of the institution’s history.
