Miroslav Krleža Institute of Lexicography


The Miroslav Krleža Institute of Lexicography is Croatia's national lexicographical institution. Based in Zagreb, it was established in 1950 as the national lexicographical institute of the Socialist [Federal Republic of Yugoslavia]. It was renamed after its founder, the Croatian writer Miroslav Krleža, in 1983.

History

The institute was founded in 1950 as the Lexicographical Institute of the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia and was renamed the Yugoslav Lexicographical Institute in 1962. The institution was originally established as a federal body under de facto responsibility of the Federal [Executive Council (Yugoslavia)|Federal Executive Council] while its “founding rights” were relegated to the Socialist Republic of Croatia in 1970s.
Its longtime director was writer Miroslav Krleža, with Mate Ujević as the chief editor. It was based in Zagreb, with branches in Ljubljana and Belgrade. The office in Belgrade was opened in 1981 in the building across the street from the Serbian [Academy of Sciences and Arts] to simplify communication with majority of other common federal Yugoslav institutions.
After Krleža's death in 1981, the institute was renamed as the Yugoslav Lexicographical Institute "Miroslav Krleža".
Following the breakup of Yugoslavia, it was renamed to its current name in 1991, becoming the national lexicographical institute of Croatia, situated in 26 Frankopan Street of Zagreb.

Publications

The institute employs numerous scientists in many areas of expertise and issues general and specific reference works as well as maps and travel guides.
Some of the major encyclopedic works completed or started by the institute in its Yugoslav period until 1991 were:General Encyclopedia – 1st ed. in 7 volumes as Encyclopedia of Lexicographical Institute ; 2nd ed. in 6 volumes ; 3rd ed. in 8 volumes, supplemental, 9th volume in 1988Encyclopedia of Yugoslavia – 1st ed. in 8 volumes ; 2nd ed. with 6 of projected 12 volumes published, with additional volumes in Albanian, Macedonian, and SloveneEncyclopedia of Forestry – 1st ed. in 2 volumes ; 2nd ed. in 3 volumes Encyclopedia of Music – 1st ed. in 2 volumes ; 2nd ed. in 3 volumes Maritime Encyclopedia – 1st ed. in 8 volumes ; 2nd ed. in 8 volumes Medical Encyclopedia – 1st ed. in 10 volumes ; 2nd ed. in 8 volumes Encyclopedia of Fine Arts – in 4 volumes Encyclopedia of Agriculture – in 3 volumes Encyclopedia of Physical Culture – in 2 volumes Encyclopedia of Yugoslav Fine Arts – in 2 volumes Technical Encyclopedia – in 13 volumes The Film Encyclopedia – in 2 volumes
The institute also published numerous lexicons such as:Lexicon JLZ – general lexicon Lexicon of Yugoslav Music – in 2 volumes Sports Lexicon – 1984Maritime Lexicon – 1990
One publication has spanned both the historical eras of Yugoslavia and Croatia, the Croatian Biographical Lexicon – which is still a work in progress, with 9 volumes published between 1983 and 2021.
After 1991 the institute published several major works of the national interest for Croatia:Croatian Encyclopedia – general and national encyclopedia in 11 volumes The Miroslav Krleža Encyclopedia – in 3 volumes Encyclopedia of Croatian Art – 1st ed. in 2 volumes ; 2nd ed. in 8 volumes as Croatian Art Encyclopedia Dictionary of the Croatian Language – 2000Atlas of Croatian History – 1st ed. ; 2nd ed. Istrian Encyclopedia – regional encyclopedia of Istria in 1 volume Croatian Literary Encyclopedia – in 4 volumes Encyclopedia of Hrvatsko Zagorje – regional encyclopedia of Hrvatsko Zagorje in 1 volume
It also continued to publish one-volume reference works:Lexicon of Medicine – 1992Lexicon of Economy – 1st ed. ; 2nd ed. Croatian General Lexicon – 1st ed. ; 2nd ed. ; 3rd ed. General Lexicon of Religion – 2002The Film Lexicon – 2003Lexicon of Soccer – 2004Lexicon of Zagreb – in 2 volumes Technical Lexicon – 2007The Law Lexicon – 2007The Marin Držić Lexicon – 2009Lexicon of Fine Arts – 2014The Ruđer Bošković Lexicon – 2011Lexicon of Philosophy – 2012The Antun Gustav Matoš Lexicon – 2015Lexicon of Turopolje – regional lexicon of Turopolje

Current projects

The institute now runs several major projects related to the Croatian language, history and culture. These include: