Profile of a Librarian: Pitsa Tsakonas of the Benaki Museum
Profile of a Librarian: Pitsa Tsakonas of the Benaki Museum
By Catherine Tsounis
http://www.hellenicnews.com/readnews.html?newsid=9024&lang=US
Greek civilization is not confined to the small land mass of Modern Greece.
It encompassed Southern Europe, the Balkans, North Africa, Turkey, and the
Middle East up to parts of India. This civilization is well represented in
the collections of the Library of the Benaki Museum. Pitsa (Kalliopi)
Tsakonas-Hilas head librarian of the Benaki Museum Library is attempting to
preserve and promote the library's treasures.
“The library of the Benaki Museum was founded in 1931 by a generous gift
from Antonis Benaki,” said Head Librarian Tsakonas. “Its development and
expansion is due to contributions from benefactors and donors. We have the
largest museum library in Greece with over one hundred thousand books and
periodicals. We have six branches in Athens”.
Concerning her life , she explained that her “parents were refugees from
Asia Minor my father from Smyrna and my mother from Vourla. Someday I will
return to Asia Minor to see our ancestral land. I was first in my class in a
Private Librarianship School, then in the Public Librarianship College in
Athens, and at last in the Panteion University of Athens. The librarianship
was a new and unknown profession and it was difficult to acquire a job. My
professor, because of my good records, recommended me for the position in
the library at the Benaki Museum. I organized the library from scratch.”
Ms. Tsakonas achieved career success after marriage. “My father married me
to Haralambos Tsakonas, a local construction businessman at eighteen years
old. My marriage took place three months after I graduated High School. I
married and then went to college through the support of my husband.
Haralambos is an extraordinary person. The Tsakonas family is originally
from Laconia of the Peloponnese. He supported his in-laws up to their
passing away in 1998 within six months of each other. They both died in our
home where we lived altogether and in our arms. Haralambos is retired. I
look forward to retirement so I can spend more time with him.”
The librarian comes from a family of self-made persons of the Athenian
suburb in Kesariani. In 1922, refugees from Ionia (the Greek territory of
Asia Minor) were given homes here. There is an area under the name “Nea
Ionia” where many refugees live. “There is a stadium near our home,” she
said. “The World War II German occupation forces would gather all suspected
of resistance. They were taken to the stadium and executed in groups. We
heard all. Many persons lost their lives in this arena that now host soccer
and athletic events”.
“I did not have a personal life of my own.” she continued. “My focus was
raising my family and my job. We have a daughter, Eleni, who works in the
Photographic department of the Benaki Museum. Our son, John graduated the
Economics University in Piraeus. He has a Master of Economics degree in
English. He currently is employed in “Singular Logic Company.”
The outgoing, smiling Pitsa is a distinguished librarian. She is a humble
person with a positive, optimistic outlook. She is fluent in English with
computer skills and has written two books and many articles in periodicals.
She invites all to visit her outstanding library.
Her book “Palia Entipa tis Bibliothikis” (Old and rare books of the Library)
was published in Athens in 1985. The book is a catalogue that classifies the
library's rare books from 1499 to the 18th century. Volumes are divided as
touring, history, literature, religion, miscellaneous materials and book
covers. The books are in Greek, Latin, French, German, Italian and English.
“Byzantine manuscripts of the 11th, 12th and 13th centuries are in our
collections. Our founder, Antoni Benaki, gathered many books on Greek
history and Greek life, especially under the Turkish Occupation
“Turkocratia” from 1499 to the 19th century. The books in English from the
1600s to 1900 are extraordinary. Thomas Smith, a fellow at ST. Mary
Magdalene College, London, wrote “Remarks upon the Manners, Religion and
Government of the Turks: A Survey of the Seven Churches of Asia as they now
lie in Ruin and a Brief Description of Constantinople.”
She explained that “The oldest book of the Library is incunabula “archetype”
dated 1499, published in Venice by Cretan printers (Zacharias Kalliergis and
Nikolaos Vlastos) with the text of the philosopher Simplikios concerning the
writings of Aristotle. The Greek Refugees from Asia Minor and Pontos brought
many liturgical books, for example brought a New Testament from 1811,
published in Venice by Nikolaos Glykis and another New Testament, printed by
Nikolaos Saros in 1687 was brought from the Pontos. The Byzantine
manuscripts from the 1200s on animal skin parchment contain the gospels,
psalms of David, philosophical texts and rules of law. The travelers books
with interested impressions and many engravings are very important for the
Greek life of the previous centuries.”
She continued the interview by saying “we have many exhibition catalogues.
You will enjoy reading The Glory of Byzantium at Sinai. Nine icons of the
tenth to 13th century from the Holy Monastery of St. Catherine on Sinai with
a twelfth century manuscript were exhibited at the Benaki Museum. A rare
icon of Saint Panteleimon, with scenes from his life of the 13th century, is
rarely seen in our typical Greek Orthodox Churches.”
Librarian Tsakonas described the catalogue “Treasures: from Asia Minor and
Eastern Thrace” as being unique. “The exhibit was organized by Department of
Culture of the City of Athens in 1992,” she explained. “It commemorated
seventy years after the Asia Minor Catastrophe. Rare jewelry, household,
religious items and manuscripts were exhibited. The Catalogue gives one the
impression that he/she were at the exhibit.
“The life of early twentieth century artists in the book, The Generation of
the 30s: In its Search for Greekness, is outstanding,” she said. “The
exhibit was held in 1998. The catalogue shows the relationship of artists of
the 30s generation with the expressive vitality of painting of the
Greco-Roman and Christian world. Oil paintings of Dimitrios Pikionis, Fotis
Kondoglou, Nikos Hadjikyriakos-Ghika, Nikos Nikolaou, Nikos Engonopoulos,
George Mavroidis, Yiannis Pappas and Yiannis Moralis are included.” The
catalogue is bilingual Greek/English.
Pitsa Tsakonas-Hilas is fluent in French and English. Her command of the
English language is extraordinary. She has never been to the United States.
The librarian is a natural linguist. She lavishes love on the literary
masterpieces that enter her hands. Ms. Tsakonas has a mission: to pass on
the legacy of the Hellenic-Byzantine civilization to the international
community of the twenty-first century.
Internet links:
http://www.benaki.gr/index.asp?lang=en&id 10201- Benaki
Museum Collections
http://www.benaki.gr/inner/en_popup_index.asp- Museum website
Photo 1 – Librarian Tsakonas with rare books.
Photo 2- Mrs. Tsakonas describing a Byzantine manuscript.
--
June Samaras
KALAMOS BOOKS
(For Books about Greece)
2020 Old Station Rd
Streetsville,Ontario
Canada L5M 2V1
Tel : 905-542-1877
E-mail : kalamosbooks(a)gmail.com
(or) kalamosbks(a)aol.com
www.kalamosbooks.com
--
June Samaras
KALAMOS BOOKS
(For Books about Greece)
2020 Old Station Rd
Streetsville,Ontario
Canada L5M 2V1
Tel : 905-542-1877
E-mail : kalamosbooks(a)gmail.com
www.kalamosbooks.com