Many years of effort by Slovak intellectuals led by A. Radlinský resulted in 1870 - in the period of magyarization - in the nationwide establishment of the St. Adalbert’s Society, an organisation with a focus on the cultural and moral education of the Slovak nation.Federal action had a long tradition in Trnava. In the Middle Ages there were various religious fraternities, later, different associations and societies with diverse cultural, charitable, educational, economic and sporting focuses were established. But in the 19th century, when, as a result of the political and ethnic structure, the Hungarian and German bourgeoisie were at the forefront of society, the possibilities of cultural life for Trnava citizens of Slovak nationality were significantly reduced.The St. Aldabert’s Society gradually acquired three adjoining town houses, the last of which was replaced in the mid 1930’s, by a building by architect F. Florians. The Society’s publishing house, located here, issued nationwide, in 1937, the Single Catholic Songbook. Nearly half of the 541 spiritual songs included in the songbook were composed by M. Schneider Trnavský.The medieval corner building with an arched courtyard and stuccoed ceilings from the 18th century, situated opposite the Franciscan church, was in 1935 the Museum of F. R. Osvald. The primary purpose of the museum was to restore the remembrance of Trnava University. The museum existed until 1950. Its exhibitions were later taken over by Západoslovenské Museum in Trnava. However, some of the collected works of stoneware are still concentrated in the smaller courtyard of the second historical Society building. One is the early Baroque portal from 1695, transferred there from another location. According to the coat of arms at the top of this portal, it seemed to belong to an abolished urban construction. It could perhaps be from the fortification gate, which was rebuilt during the construction of the current Bernolák´s Gate.

 

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