István Tömörkeny (born István Steingassner, Cegléd, December 21 , 1866 – Szeged , April 24, 1917 ) Hungarian writer, journalist, ethnographer, archaeologist, museum and library director. He was born into an Austrian Swabian family, and his father managed an inn in Cegléd. Tömörkény commenced studies with the Piarists in Szeged, followed by three years at a reformed high school in Makó (1877-1880). Financial troubles forced him to halt schooling at 16. He supported himself as a pharmacist from 1882-1886, but yearned for independence. He adopted the name Tömörkeny while working as a journalist for the Szeged Híradó. Without formal credentials, he became a soldier after serving as a pharmacist, spending time on the Bosnian-Turkish border and in Vienna. Returning to Szeged, he embraced journalism and writing for Szegedi Napló. He later became an official in the Somogyi Library and City Museum, playing a key role alongside director János Reizner. He pursued specialized courses in librarianship, natural history, ethnography, and archaeology. After Reizner's passing in 1904, Tömörkeny assumed the position of director until his death in 1917.

István Tömörkeny - Wikipedia