Ion Clopoțel

Ion Clopoțel (November 10, 1892 – August 23, 1986) was an Austro-Hungarian-born Romanian journalist, sociographer and memoirist. The native of a rural area west of Brașov, he attended high school in that city and ultimately earned a university degree in Vienna. While still a pupil, he entered the newspaper business, and his political writings during World War I led the authorities to imprison him for about a year. After the war, he resumed his journalistic activity, editing and leading a variety of publications, most notably the Cluj-based Societatea de mâine. A social democrat by conviction, he held a series of mid-level positions under the communist regime.

Born in Poiana Mărului, Brașov County, in the Transylvania region that was then part of Austria-Hungary, his parents were Ion Clopoțel and Susana (née Lăzăroiu). After primary school in his native village, he attended Andrei Șaguna High School in Brașov from 1904 to 1912. Due to his good grades and material poverty, he received scholarship assistance in the latter part of this period. He was mentored by teachers who included the cultural figures Virgil Onițiu, Iosif Blaga and Axente Banciu. Also while in high school, he became exposed to the writings of Nicolae Iorga, developing a passion for his works and a desire to meet him personally. Traveling at considerable expense to Vălenii de Munte in the Romanian Old Kingdom, he attended Iorga's "summer university" for five years in a row. In mid-1911, struck by the youth's enthusiasm, the latter asked Clopoțel to inventory and catalogue his personal archive and library.

Clopoțel pursued university studies at Cluj, Budapest and, after Românul was shut down in March 1916, Vienna. He took a degree in literature, specializing in Romance philology, and philosophy. While a student, he was especially interested in sociology; a member of his discussion circle was Lucian Blaga, whom he had known since high school. After Vienna, he deepened his sociological background by taking courses at the University of Paris.

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