MARIJA ILIĆ AGAPOVA 

 

She was born at the end of the 19th century as the 13th child of the rich (wealthy) winegrower known as Lazar Ilic.

She finished elementary school in her bearthplace Padjena near Knin. She continued her education at the Institute of the Empress Maria at the Montenegrin court in Cetinje and the grammar school in Split.  She became a lawyer and doctor of law in 1923 at the Faculty in Zagreb.  Certain sources say that she also enrolled history at the Belgrade Faculty of Philosophy, but did not complete it.

She was very ambitious and dedicated to every job she did.  Her interests included history, sociology and literature.  She loved languages ​​and knew Russian, French, English, German, Italian, Latin and Czech.

 In the period between the two world wars, Mary achieved the most.  At that time, she was the manager of the city library and the head of the museum of the city of Belgrade.  Dedicated and hard work unfortunately cost her career.  As she continued to do her job during World War II, the new government retired her in 1947.

 Her most significant written work is Illustrated History of Belgrade (1933).  Her much larger works are not in written format.  She advocated the emancipation of women.  She never stopped educating herself and passing on her knowledge to others.  In one book, she wrote: "Everyone consciously or instinctively feels that knowledge is the main tool with which they will be able to overcome modern troubles and solve difficult problems."

BELGRADE CITY LIBRARY