The First National Hygiene Exposition in Belgrade in 1933

Abstract

The paper is about the First National Hygiene Exposition in Belgrade in 1933. It was one of the most significant events and an important part of the cultural policy in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia at that time. It was also the last one in a series of great events under the high patronage of King Aleksandar I Karađorđević. In order to make research in the novelties the exposition introduced, the thus far unpublished archival material has been studied along with the situation drawings of the complex and the restaurant, photo documentation and the exposition presentation in the newspapers of the time, as well as the published material. The aim of the paper is to emphasize the significance of the exposition, its dominant health and education concept with regard to social improvements for the benefit of the general public, all in the context of the period and under conditions it was organized. The paper also aims at presenting a comprehensive view of the exposition impact on the history of the Serbian and Yugoslav medicine, as well as the modernization of the society on the whole. The paper also includes the hitherto unpublished archival material, plans, photographs, brochures’ front pages and so on.

Keywords: history of medicine; Serbia; Kingdom of Yugoslavia; health and cultural policy; popular events; temporary architecture