The booklet used in this example belonged to a Roman Catholic man named Michael Horváth who was born in the village of Csatka in Veszprém county. He is the ancestor of an acquaintance. The booklet pertains to his apprenticeship in Pozsony in the year 1896 as a blacksmith's helper. He later emigrated to America and brought this book with him.
Format: This example is a string-bound booklet -- only pages used for recording individual-specific information are shown here.
Cover Pages --- Personal Info --- Work Record
Content of Booklet.
Cover Page.
- Munkakönyve -- literally work book is the compulsory document showing a person's occupational history.
- Above that title is the manuscript name and occupation of the holder of this book: Michael Horváth, a blacksmith's helper.
- At the upper right is a document tax stamp with the cancellation of the county records office.
- On the back cover is a cancelled seal to show that the book has not been tampered with.
- On the lower part of the front cover is the seal of the Pozsonyi Ipartestület -- the Pozsóny Trade Association (essentially a guild or trade union). I believe the picture of a hearth in the middle of the seal is indicative of the metal-working trades.
Personal Information Pages.
- At the top of the left-hand page is a book number, probably sequential by year.
- Both the birthplace (Születési helye) and place of residence (Illetöségi helye) are given as Csatka, in Veszprém county, Hungary.
- The item above the date seems to identify documents provided at the time of application.
- At the bottom of the left-hand page the book is dated and signed by the head district administrator (föszolgabiro) and the handstamp of the office was applied.
- The right-hand page is titled "Personal Description" (Személyleirás).
- Birth Year (Születési éve): 1876.
- Confession (Vallása): Roman Catholic
- for additional details of physical description.
- Occupation (Foglalkozása): Blacksmith (kovács).
- At the bottom of the right-hand page is a printed statement about the regulations covering this work book, and a manuscript notation that the person has seen those regulations.
These pages provide for a record of work assignments. The information provided, regarding each assignment, is described below. Only a single entry for three months in 1896 are found in this record.
- Employer (foglalkozása): here the handstamp of the employer is shown with the trade union's handstamp superimposed.
- Beginning Date: 20 July 1896.
- Occupation: Blacksmith.
- Ending Date: 14 October 1896.
- Wages (Munkabér): all at once (egyszerrény).
- Toward the end is the signature of the employer and the handstamp of the trade union.