Julije Kempf (25 January 1864 – 6 June 1934) was a Croatian historian and writer. Kempf was born in Poà ¾ega, Slavonia. After graduating from Poà ¾ega gymnasium, he attended teachers school in Zagreb. Afterwards, he worked in Novi Vinodolski as a teacher, before returning to Poà ¾ega in 1885 to teach in Elementary school for boys.
Soon he became well known for his efforts to make lessons more interesting for pupils, while adhering to scientific principles and didactic methods. Kempf supported founding of, and eventually presided over Poà ¾ega valley teachers' association, finally becoming a member of Union of Croatian teachers' associations. Thanks to his reputation, Kempf became headmaster of the Elementary school for boys in Poà ¾ega in 1902. In 1917, thanks to many of his professional achievements, Kempf was appointed Royal county school superintendent, a function he held until 1925. In 1925, Kempf became mayor of Poà ¾ega, and he served his city in that way for four years.
Kempf travelled throughout Croatia, many other parts of then Austria-Hungary, Germany, Italy, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro and Romania. His literary works, "From Sava to Adria through Bosnia and Herzegovina" (1898), "Along the coast of Adria" (1902), "From Poà ¾ega valley" (1914), "Around Psunj mountain" (1924), "Topusko spa" (1929), and many others, bear witness that Kempf had systematically noted his travels. Kempf wrote prefaces for two books of letters he had received from Dragutin Lerman while Lerman was in Africa. These books were "Letters from Africa from Dragutin Lerman" (1891) and "New letters from Africa from Dragutin Lerman" (1894), and represent conscious effort to give readers, especially citizens of Poà ¾ega, an insight into faraway continent.
His most important work is "Poà ¾ega, geographic notes from the area and articles of history of free and royal city of Poà ¾ega and Poà ¾ega county", published in 1910.
In 1910 Kempf was first to be named honorary citizen of Poà ¾ega. After his retirement from professional career, he became even more socially active. He was active participant of various societies and associations such as "Croatian reading room", "Poà ¾ega valley teachers' association", "Volunteer Firefighter Association of Poà ¾ega", Croatian Singing Association "Vijenac", "Mountaineer Association" and many others.
His particular contribution to the cultural life of Poà ¾ega was founding of Educational-cultural committee in 1924, and most notably, founding of City museum. At first, the exhibits collected for City museum were stored in franciscan abbey in Poà ¾ega, until there was more permanent solution. Finally, the City museum opened on 19 October 1930 in old county hall of the County palace, with Kempf as its first curator and principal.