PUBLIC WORK
Julije Kempf (1864–1934) was a teacher and educator in Požega, serving as the principal of the Boys' Elementary School and later becoming the mayor. He studied the history of Požega and its surroundings and authored several historical and travel works, including the extensive monograph Požega: Geographical Notes from the Surrounding Area and Contributions to the History of the Free and Royal City of Požega and Požega County from 1910. He was the founder of the museum, one of its initial donors, and its first curator. He also served as the commissioner of the Regional Archive for Požega. He was one of the driving forces behind the cultural, educational and social life of Požega. He was involved in various Požega societies as a secretary, member, or president (such as the Firefighting Society of Požega, Mountaineering Society “Vijenac,” Croatian Mountaineering Society, Teachers' Society of the Požega Valley, etc.). Julije Kempf was the author and/or editor of works such as From the Sava to the Adriatic Through Bosnia and Herzegovina (1898), From the Past of Požega and Požega County (1926), My Memories of Požega (posthumously published in 1996), Diary of Ana Jelisava Janković (1933), among others. He was also a correspondent for numerous newspapers and magazines.
PRIVATE LIFE
Julije Kempf was married to Terezija Filić, and together they had three children: Branimir, Tomislav and Mira. Terezija worked as a teacher before her marriage. Later, she dedicated herself to her children and assisting her husband, especially in his writing, manuscript preparation and the development of numerous photographs. In addition to friends, acquaintances and family, he photographed Požega, its surroundings, various artworks and points of interest. His photographs served as illustrations for his works. The Kempf family is the largest donor of museum items to the City Museum, among which more than 800 glass negatives hold particular value. The donations arrived at the Museum over the years, spanning several generations of the Kempf family.