Vladimir Tkalčić: “Professional Spiritus Agens” of the Ethnographic Department of the Croatian National Museum

As one of the rare museum experts in Croatia, Vladimir Tkalčić was involved in events that would lead to the establishment of the Ethnographic Department of the Croatian National Museum in October 1919. Later on, during his fifteen- year service with the Museum (1919-1934), as its first keeper (Curator) and then Manager/Director (1925-1934), he continuously worked on directing and organising the professional and scientific work, covering a wide and nowadays still current range of museum activities. The article addresses two topics: Tkalčić’s role in the establishment and placement of the Ethnographic Department of the Croatian National Museum in the building of the then Trade and Crafts Museum and Tkalčić’s influence on the profiling of early professional activity, the emphasis being on the collection of items for the holdings