The major purpose of this book is to present Johann Gregor Mendel (1822-1884) in a real and interesting way based on the most recent historical research and analysis of authentic sources. The authors aim to show Mendel s scientific thinking and inner feelings together with his environment and to communicate his message as a multifaceted personality and modern experimentalist.

The book draws from the only existing short sketch of Mendel s youth, his letters and the biographical ceiling paintings that were made according to his proposal. They form the basis of the self-portrait concept.

The structure of the book follows thematic groups covering Mendel s activities from a poor village boy in search for education and financial security, as not being physically suitable for running his father's farm. The book does not perpetuate the myths invented by some creative authors to make Mendel s biography more attractive. Mendel s lifeand work are dramatic enough without those embellishments. Mendel found happiness in science and he was able to explain the theory of new scientific facts. He was not a tragic figure, he did not work to become famous, but to be useful. His pea research has now been appreciated as a genius accomplishment of a scientist.

The book is published at the occasion of Mendel s birthday bicentennial.

Autorentext

Anna Matalová is Emeritus Head of the Mendelianum of the Moravian Museum that continues the historical research started by the Franz (now Moravian) Museum founded by the learned Agricultural Society in 1817. She was the first (and the last) assistant to Jaroslav Krízenecký after his release from the communist prison. Since then, she has devoted her life to research into Mendelian history and its presentation. She was editor of the academic journal Folia Mendeliana. After the Velvet Revolution, and until her retirement, she was the Head of the Mendelianum in Brno and Chairperson of the Czech Committee for the History of Science and Technology in Prague. Shortly after the fall of the so-called Iron Curtain, Anna began organizing the international Mendel Forum conferences to facilitate intensive and open communication among researchers and experts from the West and the East. Thanks to her endeavour, the Mendelianum has now been located in the authentic rooms of Mendel s Agricultural Society in the historical heart of Brno. She also has highlighted other places connected with Mendel s life and authored Mendel s Path in Brno. She was instrumental in the establishment of the Fund for Mendel s native house (farmstead of Mendel s parents) in Hyncice (now part of Vrazné), allowing for its reconstruction as a place for cultural meetings. In her exhibitions and scientific publications, she has presented Mendel s accomplishments in context with actual cultural, social and scientific topics. Her husband, son and daughter consider Mendel as a member of the family.

Eva Matalová is a leading Research Scientist at the Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences and a Professor at the University of Veterinary Sciences in Brno. She has "inherited" her interest in Mendel from her mother, Anna. Eva has been active in the Mendelianum since her PhD studies, organizing annual Mendel Forum conferences in the 21st century and other activities focused on students and youth (Junior Mendel Forums, Wednesdays with Mendel, DNA afternoons, Science in Action, etc.). Eva proposed the idea of the International Mendel Day on March 8, and established an International Mendel Network consisting of expert 3 scientists and historians. She was the initiator, facilitator and guarantor of the project Centrum Mendelianum, based on Annäs concept of Mendel s accomplishments as a naturalist. Eva feels honoured to assist with publication of this book on the occasion of the bicentennial of Mendel's birth. With love to our genetic offspring, Tommy and Luky.

Inhalt

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NEW means not included in Iconographia Mendeliana 1965

First. (NEW. Ceiling painting in Mendel s reception room showing an angel plowing the field.) Mendel on the crossroad. Leaving his home country. His peasant origin. The only son and heir of the estate. Gifted boy of impaired health. Progressive forebears. Exceptional influence of teachers.

Second. (Ceiling painting in Mendel s reception room showing the parish church tower and two persons grafting trees.) Baptism. Entry in the church register. Birth certificate issued by Father Schreiber. Father Schreiber, humanist, priest, Mendel s teacher and fruit tree improver. Third. (NEW. Autobiography in Mendel s hand. ) Elementary school in Hyncice, main school in Lipník, Gymnasium in Opava, Institute of Philosophy in Olomouc. Futile attempts at making his living as a teacher. Application to the Augustinian monastery in Old Brno.

Fourth. (Ceiling painting in Mendel s reception room showing pyramids, meteorological instruments, thermometer and maps.) Founding member of the Austrian Society for Meteorology and Earth Magnetism in Vienna. Expert in meteorology of the Nature Research Society in Brno. His meteorological publications.

Fifth. (Ceiling painting in Mendel s reception room showing the beehives.) Beekeeper. Founder of the bee-house in the monastic orchard. Experimenter with the controlled mating of the bee queen with selected drones in confinement. Participant of the apiculture congress in Kiel. Chief figure in the Brno Beekeepers Society. Journal Die Honigbiene von Brunn. References to Mendel s experimental work in acclimatization of bees in Russian and German specialized journals.

Sixth. (Four ceiling paintings in the library showing assemblages of plants.) Flores amavit. His experiments with peas and other plants. Mendel s lectures on pea hybrids. Echoes in the newspapers. Printed lecture on peas. Printed lecture on hawkweed.

Seventh. (Two ceiling paintings in the library depicting collections of apples, pears, plums and vine grapes. Mendel s activity in the Section of Fruit Tree Growing, Vine Improvement and Gardening in the Moravian and Silesian Agriculture Association in Brno. Instigation to his research in plant hybrids. Certified examiner of fruit tree growing of the Agriculture Association. Co-organizer of flower exhibitions in Brno.

Eight. (Ceiling painting in the library ceiling showing his personal emblem). One field of the coat of arms shows his relationship to free masons.

Ninth. (Reproductions of death certificate and death announcement.) All official positions of Mendel listed on the occasion of his death. Obituary notices. Farewell letters. Loneliness and passing. Tenth. (Two ceiling paintings in Mendel s reception room showing portraits of St. Augustin and St.Monica.) Study of theology. Eleventh. (Reproduction of the critical handwritten visitation report by the Brno Bishop.. NEW)

Mendelis mentioned as a student of profane sciences. Teacher in the progressive gymnasium and Technical Institute taking initiatives contrary to the classical concept of education based on religion, philosophy and linguistics.

Twelfth. Crystallization of the body of dissenters and Mendel s colleagues at the Brno progressive school. The Comthur Cross for Mendel s voting to the German Liberal Party in 1871 election as the only abbot in the monarchy.

Thirteenth. The Agriculture Association in the Museum of Moravia in Brno Fourteenth. Mendel and Brno: 40 years of life