The story of the only phographer of the Great Union

1. UNIVERSITY OF AGRONOMIC SCIENCES AND VETERINARY MEDICINE OF BUCHAREST
FACULTY OF MANAGEMENT, ECONOMIC ENGINEERING IN AGRICULTURE
AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Samoilă Mârza -the story of the only
photographer of the Great Union
Vasile Elena-Nicoleta
8315

2. The great historical moment of the Union of Transylvania with Romania on 1
December 1918 was captured by a single photographer, Samoila Mârza, a peasant
from the village of Galtiu, Alba County, became the "photographer of the Union"
by chance at the age of 32.
Samoilă Mârza was born on September 18, 1886, in Galtiu, Sântimbru, Alba
County, in a peasant family.
Between 1909 and 1911, he
made an apprenticeship with the
Iainek photographer, from whom
he trained the mysteries of this
profession. He then bought a
camera with the price of selling
two oxen from the family
household. In 1914, after the
start of World War I, he was
recruited into the Austro-
Hungarian army and sent to the
front in Galicia, then arriving to
Riga.

3. In 1916, after Romania entered the war, he was sent to the Italian front, where he
was employed in surveying and photography military service.
At the end of the war, Samoilă Mârza left Trieste to Vienna, following the
withdrawal of Romanian troops organized by the Romanian National Central
Council.
Samoilă Mârza took just
five shots with images
from the Grand National
Assembly.tTwo
photographs with the
official stands at which
the act of the Union was
read before the Great
National Council and of
the people, by dr. Aurel
Vlad and Greek Catholic
Bishop Iuliu Hossu, three
snapshots were captured
by the crowds attending
the historic event, Plateau
Romans.

5. In 1919, Samoila Mârza published the photos in the album "The Great Assembly
from Alba Iulia in Faces", which was also published in the "Alba Iulia" newspaper
in the March 10th issue.
The album was a pride of motivation for the Romanian delegation attending the
Versailles Peace Conference, several copies being sent to Prime Minister Ion C.
Bratianu, the President of the Conducting Council Iuliu Maniu and other
personalities of the moment. One copy came to King Ferdinand I, who particularly
appreciated the work of Mirza, who gave him a congratulatory letter, inviting him to
become a provider of the Royal House. Also the recipient of the album was the
French general Henri Mathias Berthelot, who, in gratitude, sent the photographer a
travel subscription on all French railways.
Although his work was of great historical importance, photographer Samoilă Mârza
has always lived close to poverty, proof that for almost 60 years he used the same
old camera with which he had immortalized the events of 1 December 1918.

6. Bibliography
http://www.rador.ro/2017/12/01/portret-samoila-marza-povestea-singurului-
fotograf-al-marii-uniri/
http://www.dacoromania-alba.ro/nr33/samoila_marza.htm