Josef Theurer (1862-1928)

Prof. Dr. Josef Theurer became the first rector of the Mining University in Příbram. He was also one of the most important mining specialists with a focus on mathematical and physical research. In addition to his profession, he was also an enthusiastic supporter of amateur theatre in Příbram, a piano virtuoso, conductor, musicologist and promoter of Czech music. He was one of the close friends of famous personalities of our cultural life - Antonín Dvořák and Alois Jirásek.

Josef Theurer was born in Litomyšl on 20 November 1862 in the family of a civil engineer. He graduated from grammar school in his hometown and continued his studies at the University of Prague, graduating with a doctorate in physics in 1885. For several years he worked as an assistant at the physics department, and from 1888 to 1895 he worked at grammar schools in Jindřichův Hradec, Pelhřimov and Prague. In 1895 he was habilitated at the Mining Academy in Příbram in the newly established department of higher mathematics and physics. In 1902 he was appointed professor there and in 1904 he was elected the first rector of the newly named University of Mining (VŠB) in Příbram. He held this position in the years 1904-1905, 1917-1921, 1926-1927.

Theurer's scientific activity occupied several physical disciplines. He was mainly involved in solving problems of theoretical and applied physics, especially in the field of optics, electromagnetism, acoustics, thermodynamics, radiation and other fields, and he also published dozens of mathematical papers. He coordinated his research with the general trend of numerous study trips to research institutes in France, Germany, and Sweden, and maintained creative contacts with them for years thereafter. He was one of the first Czech physicists to study radiophony. He was also the author of one of the first Czech physics textbooks for secondary schools (in 1894). Among his more important works, it is necessary to mention "Introduction to the Science of Radiation" (1910); "On the Advances and Measurements of Emanation" (1924); "Radioactivity and Views on Matter" (1927). His other treatises were published in the Mining Bulletin, Mining World, the Journal for the Cultivation of Mathematics and Physics, and other periodicals. He was the author of a reflection on the development of Czech physics (in 1912) and a comprehensive work "Memorial of the Mining College in Příbram for the years 1899 to 1924" (1924), in which he continued the previous history of this institute written for the years 1849-1899 by Prof. Josef Hrabák. Josef Theurer as a teacher educated many experts in the field of mining engineering. For years he was also an erudite pianist, conductor, music theorist and an enthusiastic promoter of Czech music. With his scientific work, he belongs to the generation of mining engineers who prepared the advent of the scientific and technical process in mining in our countries.

Josef Theurer died in Příbram on 7 September 1928 at the age of 66. Theurer's funeral was held there on 9 September and on 10 September 1928 his cremation took place in Prague. His ashes were first deposited in Příbram and then in his parents' grave in his native Litomyšl. In the past, Příbram did not treat the legacy of this exceptional man in the best way and did not appreciate his contribution to the town, mining sciences, education and national culture. In 1930, the square under the Svatohorské hill in the premises of the Mining College, whose fate he successfully managed in many crisis years, was named after Theurer.

In 1947, a model of Theurer's bust was created in the studio of the academic sculptor Václav Šára (1893-1951). Instead of its completion and placement on Theurer Square, during the communist totalitarianism in 1951, this area was renamed on the occasion of the unveiling of the monument to Julius Fucik to a square named after the communist journalist who had nothing to do with Příbram... With the return of democracy after November 1989, the town of Příbram also tried to revive some neglected traditional values. Therefore, the personality of Prof. Dr. Josef Theurer could not be overlooked. His name returned to the name of the square and the town administration had a bronze bust of him created in the Svojitek foundry and machine shop in Stará Hut near Dobříš, based on the surviving model of Šár's work deposited in the Mining Museum of Příbram, which was unveiled on 13 October 2001 as part of the celebrations of the 150th anniversary of the establishment of secondary mining education in Příbram. It was installed on a stone monolith in the park landscaping of Dr. Josef Theurer Square near the buildings of the former VŠB, now the Příbram Secondary School of Industry and the Higher Vocational School.

Elaborated by: PaedDr. Josef Velfl, Director of the Mining Museum Příbram