Past Abstracts
1,037 abstracts found
The Ethnic Dynamics of Transylvania between 1920 and 2020
History/Political ScienceAccording to census data, Transylvania’s population in 1910 was 53.8% Romanian and 31.6% Hungarian. According to the last census, the proportion of Romanians was 70.62% while the proportion of Hungarians was 17.92% in Transylvania. The official statistics used in my analysis indicate that the historical and cultural centers of the Transylvanian Hungarian community –– Kolozsvár (in Romanian: Cluj-Napoca), Nagyvárad (in Romanian: Oradea), Szatmárnémeti (in Romanian: Satu Mare), Nagybánya (in Romanian: Baia Mare), Nagyenyed (in Romanian: Aiud), Torda (in Romanian: Turda), Zilah (in Romanian: Zalau) –– once were majority Hungarian population centers. But during recent decades, they became majority Romanian settlements. For instance, Transylvania’s unofficial capital, Kolozsvár, had a Hungarian population of 81.6% in 1910; currently, the proportion of Hungarians is 15.9%. In 2001, the law on public administration extended the social acceptance and scope of activity for minority language practices in Romania. But this law is only permissible where the proportion of any minority population reaches 20% of the total population. Among Transylvanian cities, there are currently five (i.e., Csíkszereda/Miercurea Ciuc, Marosásárhely/Targu Mures,Nagyvárad/Oradea, Szatmárnémeti/Satu Mare, and Sepsiszentgyörgy/Sfantu Gheorghe) where the proportion of Hungarians exceeded 20% at the 2011 census. As such,only these five cities qualify for minority mother tongue usage in administration and justice offices.
The Evolution of American Studies in Hungary, 1970s to the Present
Language/LiteratureThe Evolution of American Studies in Hungary, 1970s to the Present
AHEA keynote address, Pécs, June 20, 2025
For over four decades after World War II, the Eastern part of Europe was sealed intellectually
from the West by the communist governments, who were thus hoping to prevent the inflow of
supposedly dangerous “bourgeois” ideas. In Hungary, all departments of Western languages
(and even of classical philology) at non-Budapest based universities were shut down in 1949,
to be reinstated after 1957 only. Later, in Kádár’s Hungary, the idea of institutionally pursuing
studies that related directly to the U.S. was anathema until the late 1980s: it was considered a
subversive act, a revolt against the established order. Academics teaching American
topics—like many other intellectuals in Hungary—were under constant surveillance: their
lectures and seminars were bugged and reported (often by students), while state control spread
to what books were allowed to be translated and brought out by publishing houses (all state
owned), intricately overseen by censors of many kinds. This talk will first give an overview of
the political background, explaining the dead-ends that pioneering Hungarian scholars ran
into until the late 1980s, to be followed by presenting the breakthroughs achieved in the
nineties, when the institutional framework for teaching and researching American Studies
topics was established country-wide. As a theoretical backdrop to the trajectory American
Studies took in Hungary since the seventies, the talk will discuss the epistemic shift from the
respect mode of Old American Studies to the attack mode of New American Studies, finding
a parallel in the shift between outright rejection and wholehearted acceptance before and after
the regime change in Hungary. The talk closes with a snapshot of the current situation,
showing up the rich and diverse body of Hungarian American Studies scholarship in the
2020s.
AHEA keynote address, Pécs, June 20, 2025
For over four decades after World War II, the Eastern part of Europe was sealed intellectually
from the West by the communist governments, who were thus hoping to prevent the inflow of
supposedly dangerous “bourgeois” ideas. In Hungary, all departments of Western languages
(and even of classical philology) at non-Budapest based universities were shut down in 1949,
to be reinstated after 1957 only. Later, in Kádár’s Hungary, the idea of institutionally pursuing
studies that related directly to the U.S. was anathema until the late 1980s: it was considered a
subversive act, a revolt against the established order. Academics teaching American
topics—like many other intellectuals in Hungary—were under constant surveillance: their
lectures and seminars were bugged and reported (often by students), while state control spread
to what books were allowed to be translated and brought out by publishing houses (all state
owned), intricately overseen by censors of many kinds. This talk will first give an overview of
the political background, explaining the dead-ends that pioneering Hungarian scholars ran
into until the late 1980s, to be followed by presenting the breakthroughs achieved in the
nineties, when the institutional framework for teaching and researching American Studies
topics was established country-wide. As a theoretical backdrop to the trajectory American
Studies took in Hungary since the seventies, the talk will discuss the epistemic shift from the
respect mode of Old American Studies to the attack mode of New American Studies, finding
a parallel in the shift between outright rejection and wholehearted acceptance before and after
the regime change in Hungary. The talk closes with a snapshot of the current situation,
showing up the rich and diverse body of Hungarian American Studies scholarship in the
2020s.
The Fearful Right and the Brave Left? About the Ideological Dimensions of Fear
History/Political ScienceThe main goal of my research is to explore the right and left dimensions of the phenomenon of fear. I would like to argue that the categories of left and right continue to be defining aspects of political identities, and by mapping their emotional structure we can better understand the current relevance of these ideologies. By examining fears related to the refugee crisis and climate change, my research aims to show how political ideology works in our everyday lives and has an influence on our (political) decisions.
The studies that have examined political fears have mostly linked fear to conservativism and right-wing populism, while the fears of the left have generated far less scientific interest. In addition most research has been conducted using quantitative methods in the American political context. Thus, my study aims to use qualitative methods to explore differences and similarities between the political fears of left-wingers and right-wingers in Hungary. In the course of the research so far seventy semi-structured creative interviews have been conducted with political activists. The interview questions were combined with projective techniques and the activists belonged to political parties which were members of the Hungarian Parliament.
The preliminary findings of my research show that regarding migration and climate change extreme ideological positions were rarely found among the respondents. However, political polarization is one of the most important fears perceived by the interviewees in Hungary today. The results of my research also confirmed that Hungarian society is by no means polarized “by itself”, but the polarization process is mainly the creation of the political elites, who intensify naturally existing opinion differences to create a battle between good and evil.
The studies that have examined political fears have mostly linked fear to conservativism and right-wing populism, while the fears of the left have generated far less scientific interest. In addition most research has been conducted using quantitative methods in the American political context. Thus, my study aims to use qualitative methods to explore differences and similarities between the political fears of left-wingers and right-wingers in Hungary. In the course of the research so far seventy semi-structured creative interviews have been conducted with political activists. The interview questions were combined with projective techniques and the activists belonged to political parties which were members of the Hungarian Parliament.
The preliminary findings of my research show that regarding migration and climate change extreme ideological positions were rarely found among the respondents. However, political polarization is one of the most important fears perceived by the interviewees in Hungary today. The results of my research also confirmed that Hungarian society is by no means polarized “by itself”, but the polarization process is mainly the creation of the political elites, who intensify naturally existing opinion differences to create a battle between good and evil.
The Federation of Free Hungarian Jurists
History/Political ScienceThe Federation of Free Hungarian Jurists (FFHJ) was an organization established by László Varga in 1953, composing Hungarian émigré legal professionals. It became more active in the aftermath of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. Despite its significant involvement in advocating for the Hungarian cause on the international stage, the activities of the FFHJ remain largely unexplored by scholars. Operating primarily in exile, the organization aimed to represent the interests of Hungarians who fled their homeland following the revolution and to draw global attention to Hungary's struggle under Soviet domination. The FFHJ played a crucial role in presenting the Hungarian cause before the United Nations and the U.S. government. Through legal arguments, diplomatic engagement, and public advocacy, the organization sought to highlight violations of human rights and the suppression of national sovereignty in Hungary, and Central and Easter Europe more broadly. The FFHJ acted as a bridge between displaced Hungarians and international policymakers, emphasizing the moral and legal dimensions of Hungary's plight. Its efforts included drafting petitions, providing expert legal opinions, and lobbying influential political figures to sustain international pressure on the Hungarian regime and its Soviet backers. The proposed presentation will highlight the need for scholarly exploration of the FFHJ's contributions to Cold War-era advocacy. Analyzing the organization's activities would not only enrich our understanding of the Hungarian diaspora's role in shaping global opinion but also shed light on the intersection of legal expertise and political activism in exile communities during a critical period of 20th-century history.
The Forgotten Author, Julianna Zsigray
Language/LiteratureJulianna Zsigray [1903-1987] was a prolific and a very popular author in Hungary before WWII. She published over two dozen novels and was an established person in the Hungarian literary scene. Her early works were publishes in the prestigious NYUGAT periodical, suggesting that she was accepted by her contemporaries. During the period, from 1931 to 1948, she published a novel almost every year, and the books enjoyed great popularity. In 1944 she was persecuted for her anti-German behavior, however during the Communist dictatorship, her censorship continued and she was not allowed to be published. After the 1956 revolution, she was able to publish some works but only with great difficulty. The generation, which grew up the decades after WWII did not have a chance to become acquainted with Zsigray's books and she became a "Forgotten Author". Today she is not recognized among the Hungarian literary personages. What we face with, in this case, is not singular in our example. There are many "Forgotten Authors" in Hungarian history and maybe it is time to review the works of those writers?
The Fundamental Interconnectedness of All Things: Nationality Rooms in the Cathedral of Learning
Cultural Studies/ArtsThe interior of a building provides hints about what the building itself might be like. The form, construction period, and architectural style determine the image it projects. This lecture aims to uncover connections between the design principles of three Nationality and Heritage Rooms in the Cathedral of Learning: the Yugoslav, the Hungarian, and the Austrian Rooms. Despite being three distinct rooms representing different nations, their connection becomes more apparent when considering that, from the 19th century until the early 20th century, some areas of the three countries were not part of a nation state, but of a multinational empire, Habsburg Central Europe. On the other hand, it’s also interesting to note that the design in two of the rooms (the Hungarian and the Yugoslav Rooms) reflects the imprint of the nation-states that emerged after the First World War (Serbia, Hungary, Austria). This presentation explores the distinction between nationality and ethnicity and how these two concepts are represented, or rather underrepresented, in the Yugoslav Heritage Room. Additionally, it delves into the connections between folk and neo-baroque in Hungarian art, particularly in architectural design and music, as well as highlighting the unique characteristics of the Austrian room.
The research was conducted within the framework of the Fulbright Scholarship, and the initial presentation of the research took place in Pittsburgh, U.S., at the University of Pittsburgh in the Cathedral of Learning's Hungarian Heritage Room.
The research was conducted within the framework of the Fulbright Scholarship, and the initial presentation of the research took place in Pittsburgh, U.S., at the University of Pittsburgh in the Cathedral of Learning's Hungarian Heritage Room.
The Future of the Hungarian Past: The Evolving Image of Magyar Ethnogenesis
History/Political ScienceIn the past few years there has been rather remarkable uniformity among establishment historians concerning the so-called Hungarian conquest of the Carpathian Basin at the end of the 9th century. This doesn’t mean that there have not been different opinions expressed by bona-fide academics in the past decade. The most notable had been those of the late Gábor Vékony. Vékony suggested that the common Finno-Ugric ancient homeland existed much further west than had been proposed earlier. And he offered a drastically different version of the Hungarian conquest story: the conquerors were few in numbers, were Turkic-speaking nomads, and were in time asimilated by the Carpathian Basin’s mainly Ugric-speaking autochthonous population.
The most prolific among the independent scholars (or the people of the “street” as establishment academics call them) is István Kiszely, a retired biologist. Kiszely differs greatly from the establishment academics in his opinions about the ancient Hungarian homeland and in his rejection of the theory of the Finno-Ugric origins of the Magyars.
What will be the future of Hungarian historiography of the pre-900 age in the 21st century? As far as the academic establishment is concerned, the future will probably be a protracted fight to defend orthodoxy. As far as the opinions of “the street” are concerned, we can predict that, as long as Hungary’s present will be plagued by great social and economic problems and the country’s future will appear bleak, the search for a glorious Hungarian past will continue.
The most prolific among the independent scholars (or the people of the “street” as establishment academics call them) is István Kiszely, a retired biologist. Kiszely differs greatly from the establishment academics in his opinions about the ancient Hungarian homeland and in his rejection of the theory of the Finno-Ugric origins of the Magyars.
What will be the future of Hungarian historiography of the pre-900 age in the 21st century? As far as the academic establishment is concerned, the future will probably be a protracted fight to defend orthodoxy. As far as the opinions of “the street” are concerned, we can predict that, as long as Hungary’s present will be plagued by great social and economic problems and the country’s future will appear bleak, the search for a glorious Hungarian past will continue.
The Global Network Builder: Aurél Török
Education/Social SciencesAurél Török (Thewrewk) Ponori (1842–1912) was the most prestigious representative of the Hungarian anthropology founded in the 1880s, a scientist who followed the "Hungarian type", a professor at the University of Budapest, for a few years its rector, and a nationally known authority. He used the Hungarian spelling of his name because he thought it was more appropriate for a scientist with a civil career. His father was a writer, an active figure in the 19th-century public sphere, who brought up his sons with great awareness and attention, and taught them how to build and use social relationships. When Aurél Török took up the rectorship of the Royal Hungarian University of Budapest on 22 September 1907, he was at the peak of his academic career and had achieved outstanding academic results. On the first page of the published rector's address, he gave 24 lines of academic and public titles – a list that could be the outline of a biography. Turkish doctor of medicine, public and full professor of anthropology, director of the Institute and Museum of Anthropology, corresponding member of the Academy of Sciences, Royal Court Councillor, Knight of the Order of the Iron Crown, Honorary Member of the Anthropological Society of Munich, Honorary Member of the Société D'Antropologie of Paris, Corresponding Member of the Anthropological Society of Washington, Member of the Anthropological Society of Berlin, Member of the Moscow "Imp. Obzsesztvo Lubitelej Jesztjesztvoznanija Antropologij I Jethnographij", and a corresponding member of the Sociedad logica de la isla de Cuba in Havana – and the list goes on. The Manuscript Archives of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences hold hundreds of letters written to Aurél Török from all over the world. Török had an exceptional network of international contacts, which he maintained and expanded until his death. In this lecture, I will analyse Aurel Török's global network of contacts: who did he know, who were his friends and colleagues, and how did he relate to them?
The Globalization of Kodaly-inspired Teaching: From Hungary to the United States
Music/FolkloreThe Hungarian composer Zoltán Kodály revolutionized music education by promoting music literacy through folk songs, singing games and high-quality art music. This “Kodály Concept” spread from Hungary throughout the world. This historical sketch focuses on the connection between the USA and Hungary in the globalization of Kodály-inspired music education.
Individual exchanges were a first step in introducing the Kodaly Concept in the United States. Kodály began his extensive international work in music education and composition in 1946. Americans Denise Bacon, Mary Helen Richards, Elizabeth Moll, and the “Ringer Fellows” (1968) including Jean Sinor and Connie Foss Moore came to Hungary. Hungarian music educators Péter Erdai and Katinka Dániel taught in the United States. Other Hungarians such as Erzsébet Szönyi, Katalin Forrai, Janö Ádám and Klára Kokas had a deep influence on music educators in America and throughout the world.
But this dissemination could not be done by individuals alone. It was aided by organizations. The Kodály Institute in Kecskemét, and the Liszt Academy in Budapest educated international students. The International Society of Music Education (1953) held their 1964 conference in Budapest and Kodály, Forrai and Szönyi were all long-term officers. The International Kodály Society, (1975) was the first non-governmental international organization in Hungary. Yearly sessions at conferences of the National Association for Music Education and the American Organization of Kodály Educators promote the Kodály Concept to practitioners throughout the United States.
And thus, the legacy of Zoltán Kodály lives on in Hungary, the USA and throughout the world.
Individual exchanges were a first step in introducing the Kodaly Concept in the United States. Kodály began his extensive international work in music education and composition in 1946. Americans Denise Bacon, Mary Helen Richards, Elizabeth Moll, and the “Ringer Fellows” (1968) including Jean Sinor and Connie Foss Moore came to Hungary. Hungarian music educators Péter Erdai and Katinka Dániel taught in the United States. Other Hungarians such as Erzsébet Szönyi, Katalin Forrai, Janö Ádám and Klára Kokas had a deep influence on music educators in America and throughout the world.
But this dissemination could not be done by individuals alone. It was aided by organizations. The Kodály Institute in Kecskemét, and the Liszt Academy in Budapest educated international students. The International Society of Music Education (1953) held their 1964 conference in Budapest and Kodály, Forrai and Szönyi were all long-term officers. The International Kodály Society, (1975) was the first non-governmental international organization in Hungary. Yearly sessions at conferences of the National Association for Music Education and the American Organization of Kodály Educators promote the Kodály Concept to practitioners throughout the United States.
And thus, the legacy of Zoltán Kodály lives on in Hungary, the USA and throughout the world.
The Great Powers and the Forced Transfer of Hungarians
History/Political ScienceIn the peace preparation of the victorious Great Powers, at the initiative of Stalin, the expulsion of Germans from Poland and Czechoslovakia played an important role to fix the new borders in the Eastern part of Europe. Benes exploited the Soviet aims to settle the Slovakian question -i.e. to realize the fusion of Czech and Slovakian lands and to get rid from the entire Hungarian population by a forced transfer on the German pattern. My paper will expose the inter-allied negotiations on the forced transfer of Hungarians from Czechoslovakia, including Stalin's presidential archives new sources, to be published in Moscow in the autumn 2016.
The Heritage Speaker Dilemma
Education/Social SciencesAnyone proud of their Hungarian roots is a delightful presence in the Hungarian language classroom. However, when heritage speakers sign up for Hungarian classes, the instructor is often faced with a dilemma. Do we start at zero with these learners and act in class as if they had just as little knowledge of Hungarian as true beginners? Do we adapt the curriculum to heritage speaker needs, thus catering to their higher proficiency, yet risking the intimidation of the rest of the class? Is there a comfortable in-between? And just how proficient exactly is their “higher proficiency”? Is there a way to help them get rid of fossilized bad habits in using the language? Do they profit from materials that are different from textbooks geared towards traditional language learners, or can these books be adapted successfully to their needs? In an era where individualized learning gets more and more emphasis, what are best practices of working with heritage speakers? This presentation, aimed to be interactive with fellow Hungarian instructors, will discuss some methods that have proven useful in classrooms with heritage speakers and invite colleagues to share their experiences, in hopes of a more integrated instruction of Hungarian for heritage speakers in the US and beyond.
The History of Hungarian Life in Columbus, Ohio
History/Political ScienceColumbus Ohio is America's 15th largest city with over 800,000 residents. The 2014 US census estimate says there are over 20,000 self-identified Hungarians in the Columbus metro area.
In the early 1900s, there were many factories on the South Side. It attracted many Hungarian immigrants. In 1906 a Hungarian Reformed church was established on Woodrow. Two streets away, a Hungarian Roman Catholic church was built on Reeb. It was named for St. Ladislas, an early Hungarian king and saint. In 1974, the City Council officially designated a part of the South Side as Hungarian Village.
By the mid-1980s, St. Ladislas ended its monthly Hungarian masses. Hungarian events were discontinued as Hungarian Catholics moved & chose to attend various other Catholic churches in the area. The Reformed church remained in Hungarian Village. The area has deteriorated & today only one 90 year old Hungarian is in Hungarian Village.
In 2008, the Columbus Reformed church, a member of th Calvin Synod, lost its full time minister. The Calvin Synod has 23 member churches in 11 states. Twenty two were founded around 1900. Most are struggling to survive. After seven years, the synod has been unable to find a suitable minister for member churches in Columbus, Dayton, & two other locations. The newly elected bishop presides over a church that has lost its building. There are 37 other Reformed churches in 17 states & DC that do not belong to the synod. Most are newer churches in major cities.
All Reformed churches are listed with contact information in the annual Bethlen Almanac published in Ligonier, Pennsylvania.
A major force in Columbus Hungarian Life has been the non-denominational Hungarian Cultural Association. In 2010, the HCA began holding monthly programs at the Reformed church. Even today, HCA holds well-attended dinners, a July festival, plus Soup & Learn programs on Hungarian topics. One of our popular programs is "Life Stories of Local Hungarians"--with one presenter born in the US & one born overseas. Eighteen Magyars have already presented their stories to interested audiences. HCA has shown that we can bring Hungarians to the South Side church, though events held in nicer neighborhoods draw bigger numbers.
In the early 1900s, there were many factories on the South Side. It attracted many Hungarian immigrants. In 1906 a Hungarian Reformed church was established on Woodrow. Two streets away, a Hungarian Roman Catholic church was built on Reeb. It was named for St. Ladislas, an early Hungarian king and saint. In 1974, the City Council officially designated a part of the South Side as Hungarian Village.
By the mid-1980s, St. Ladislas ended its monthly Hungarian masses. Hungarian events were discontinued as Hungarian Catholics moved & chose to attend various other Catholic churches in the area. The Reformed church remained in Hungarian Village. The area has deteriorated & today only one 90 year old Hungarian is in Hungarian Village.
In 2008, the Columbus Reformed church, a member of th Calvin Synod, lost its full time minister. The Calvin Synod has 23 member churches in 11 states. Twenty two were founded around 1900. Most are struggling to survive. After seven years, the synod has been unable to find a suitable minister for member churches in Columbus, Dayton, & two other locations. The newly elected bishop presides over a church that has lost its building. There are 37 other Reformed churches in 17 states & DC that do not belong to the synod. Most are newer churches in major cities.
All Reformed churches are listed with contact information in the annual Bethlen Almanac published in Ligonier, Pennsylvania.
A major force in Columbus Hungarian Life has been the non-denominational Hungarian Cultural Association. In 2010, the HCA began holding monthly programs at the Reformed church. Even today, HCA holds well-attended dinners, a July festival, plus Soup & Learn programs on Hungarian topics. One of our popular programs is "Life Stories of Local Hungarians"--with one presenter born in the US & one born overseas. Eighteen Magyars have already presented their stories to interested audiences. HCA has shown that we can bring Hungarians to the South Side church, though events held in nicer neighborhoods draw bigger numbers.
The History of Jászberény in 1944: How Hungarian History Molded My Hungarian-American Identity
Cultural Studies/ArtsThe seeds of this presentation was planted years ago by my grandmother. Every summer she would tell me stories about her childhood during World War Two, the 1956 Hungarian revolution, socialism, the fall of it in 1989, neoliberal economic reforms, and Hungary joining the EU. The goal of my presentation is to interpret in light of international research how a small provincial town, Jászberény and a young Hungarian girl experienced the events between March and November of 1944, and the horrors that Hitler and Stalin’s armies inflicted. Based on interviews from Margit Hegedűs - my grandmother - and secondary sources, including an interview with a military historian at the Hungarian Military Museum, I have pieced together the events of 1944 in Jászberény. I found that the experience of my grandmother and the local events in Jászberény closely fit into both Deák’s description of Hungary under Nazi occupation and Snyder's characterization of the Soviet Union's occupat!
ion. My study proposes that only when examining the Holocaust and the Soviet occupation on the micro level can we understand the truly horrific nature of it.
The real significance of this study for me was the exploration and transformation of my Hungarian –American identity as the historical events in conjunction with my family stories of 1944 unfolded. This presentation will discuss how the examination of history contributed to identity formation.
ion. My study proposes that only when examining the Holocaust and the Soviet occupation on the micro level can we understand the truly horrific nature of it.
The real significance of this study for me was the exploration and transformation of my Hungarian –American identity as the historical events in conjunction with my family stories of 1944 unfolded. This presentation will discuss how the examination of history contributed to identity formation.
The History of the Kodály Ensemble of Toronto: Masters-pupils-results
Music/FolkloreMy research is about the formation of the Kodály Ensemble and its history during the decades, masters, members, results, group formation. I would like to introduce when and how the idea of forming a Hungarian folk dance ensemble in Toronto came from. Who were the first members, and what changes did the formation cause in the Hungarian community of Toronto? After introducing the beginnings I will speak about each of the dance masters who had been working for the Ensemble. The focus will be on the technical methods they used during their periods and the effects of these methods both on the community of the Ensemble and the dance knowledge of the members. During the past few decades, there were many changes in the profession of folk dance teaching in Hungary; these changes must have influenced the work of folk dance masters in Toronto as well. I would like to summarize this improvement and its effects. Through my research, I will gain information about the forming and changing of the groups inside the Ensemble, because it can reflect on one hand how attractive the methods of the masters were from the pupils’ point of view and, on the other hand how the Hungarian community of Toronto changed during the years.
The Horthy-Archive: Unpublished Documents of the Horthy-Family from 1956
History/Political ScienceIt has been part of the Hungarian cultural memory for several decades, that the indirect cause of Miklós Horthy’s death in January, 1957 was the depression he fell into when the Hungarian revolution was overpowered and defeated by the Soviet invasion. According the memoir of his daughter-in-law, Ilona Edelsheim Gyulai, “he did everything mechanically” since November 1956. “He neither read the papers nor listened to the radio any more.”
Ilona Edesheim-Gyulay passed away in South England three years ago, at the age of 93. Since that time I have been sorting, digitalizing, researching and publishing her papers. The collection contains several volumes of diaries, from different periods of the 20th century, written by various members of the family. Most of the papers are still unknown in Hungary. According to plans they will be published in the forthcoming years, edited by me. First part of this series: Diary of Magda Horthy (spouse of the regent), was published in Hungary by Libri in my edition in November 2015.
In my lecture I intend to analyze the contemporary entries of Ilona Edelsheim Gyulai’s diary. Besides the narrative text of the diary I will demonstrate and analyze contemporary correspondences of the former regent with relevant actors of the Hungarian emigrant community, like Miklós Kállay, Ferenc Chorin, and Pongrácz Sommsich. These documents are also part of the archives of Ilona Edelsheim-Gyulai; none of them have been published or even researched before.
Ilona Edesheim-Gyulay passed away in South England three years ago, at the age of 93. Since that time I have been sorting, digitalizing, researching and publishing her papers. The collection contains several volumes of diaries, from different periods of the 20th century, written by various members of the family. Most of the papers are still unknown in Hungary. According to plans they will be published in the forthcoming years, edited by me. First part of this series: Diary of Magda Horthy (spouse of the regent), was published in Hungary by Libri in my edition in November 2015.
In my lecture I intend to analyze the contemporary entries of Ilona Edelsheim Gyulai’s diary. Besides the narrative text of the diary I will demonstrate and analyze contemporary correspondences of the former regent with relevant actors of the Hungarian emigrant community, like Miklós Kállay, Ferenc Chorin, and Pongrácz Sommsich. These documents are also part of the archives of Ilona Edelsheim-Gyulai; none of them have been published or even researched before.
The Hungarian American Coalition: Twenty Years of Service as an American NGO
Cultural Studies/ArtsFounded in Washington, D.C. in 1991 as a nationwide, non profit, 501©3 organization, the Hungarian American Coalition’s (Coalition) mission is to mobilize and coordinate the talents and resources of its membership to promote the interests of the Hungarian American community.
Topics to be discussed: the Coalition’s membership, leadership, funding and operations; its development as a credible, dependable voice for Hungarians in the United States; highlights of past and present Projects and Accomplishments in the areas of Information, Education and Culture and Human Rights Advocacy; advocacz of NATO expansion to include Hungary; training future leaders for Hungary and the U.S. through Scholarships, White House Internships and Congressional Internships; developing the Coalition’s wide network of contacts with Washington decision-makers, the wider U.S. community, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, Serbia and Sub-Carpathia; humanitarian assistance programs; leadership of HATOG conferences to promote cooperation among Hungarian American organizations in the U.S.; partnership with civil organizations in Hungary, such as the ICDT, The, Constellation Energy Institute, the Hungarian Academy of Sciences The Lantos Institute and others; co-hosting with the USIA individuals and groups of visitors from Budapest to the U.S.; providing funding assistance to member organizations for valuable programs; advocacy for granting of Visa Waivers to Hungarians, etc.
Topics to be discussed: the Coalition’s membership, leadership, funding and operations; its development as a credible, dependable voice for Hungarians in the United States; highlights of past and present Projects and Accomplishments in the areas of Information, Education and Culture and Human Rights Advocacy; advocacz of NATO expansion to include Hungary; training future leaders for Hungary and the U.S. through Scholarships, White House Internships and Congressional Internships; developing the Coalition’s wide network of contacts with Washington decision-makers, the wider U.S. community, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, Serbia and Sub-Carpathia; humanitarian assistance programs; leadership of HATOG conferences to promote cooperation among Hungarian American organizations in the U.S.; partnership with civil organizations in Hungary, such as the ICDT, The, Constellation Energy Institute, the Hungarian Academy of Sciences The Lantos Institute and others; co-hosting with the USIA individuals and groups of visitors from Budapest to the U.S.; providing funding assistance to member organizations for valuable programs; advocacy for granting of Visa Waivers to Hungarians, etc.
The Hungarian Content in Virtual Access
Science/EconomicsIn my presentation I will talk about electronic access of Hungarian content and how does it change the usage of the library. Accessing electronic sources from all over the world makes possible to build libraries without walls and eliminates borders.
The Hungarian Contribution to the Films of Ernst Lubitsch
Cultural Studies/ArtsErnst Lubitsch (1892-1947) is considered to be Hollywood’s most elegant and sophisticated director, known for his urbane comedies of manners. Ninotchka, The Shop Around the Corner, To Be or Not To Be, Heaven Can Wait are some of his best-known gems. He is still the subject of scholarly work, most recently Joseph McBride’s HOW DID LUBITSCH DO IT? published in 2019.Throughout his career he had a number of Hungarian collaborators as writers and actors. But all of the best known films of the sound era were based on stories and plays written by Hungarians--Ernest Vajda, Melchior Lengyel, Miklos Laszlo, Laszlo Bus-Fekete, Lajos Biro. To what extent was Lubitsch’s success due to the witty, urbane cynicism of the café culture of Budapest writers and intellectuals? This paper will examine their contribution.
The Hungarian Faith Church (Hit Gyülekezete): Domestic and International Activism
Cultural Studies/ArtsThe Faith Church (Hit Gyülekezete) is a Protestant religious movement which emerged as a semi-underground church in the latter years of the Cold War. Its roots are in the 1970s through a series of contacts with foreign, primarily American, evangelical churches. With the fall of communism in the post-1989 period, the church was able to function openly and today has grown to more than 70,000 members. The church combines elements of evangelicalism and Pentecostalism, but a central theme of the Church is in its philo-Semitism and it fits comfortably into the world of Christian Zionism, a belief in the continuing covenantal role of the Jewish people as God’s Chosen People. In this regard, the Faith Church has been highly active in promoting its beliefs in Hungary, including a deep connection to the Hungarian Jewish community and social and political activism to combat anti-Semitism in Hungary and to encourage good relations with Israel. This activism is not restricted to the domestic scene but has included linkages with Christian Zionist groups internationally and has numerous direct and indirect activities in Israel. This paper focuses on the church’s domestic and transnational activism.
The Hungarian Home Front during the Great War
History/Political ScienceOn June 28, 1914, Gavrilo Princip assassinated the Austro-Hungarian heir to the throne Francis Ferdinand and his wife, Sophia while they were on a ceremonial visit to the Bosnian Capital Sarajevo. The nineteen year old Bosnian Serb youth was a member of a group of conspirators whose weapons were supplied by officials of the Serb state who were also members of the nationalist Black Hand (otherwise called Union or Death) organization. A month later Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, but within days the local war developed into a World War due to the bipolar nature of the alliance. Though the belligerents expected the war to end by winter, it lasted for four years. The conflict evolved into total war with the successful mobilization of the home front was crucial for sustaining the fighting at the war front. The history of the Hungarian war front indicates that although prewar problems came into sharper focus, the home front was able to hold; it collapsed into revolution only following military defeat at the war front.
