Cultural Studies paper by Kovács, Ilona
The Importance of a Cultural Mediator at the Cultural Crossroads: Augusta Markowitz’s Activity in New York Through the First Half of the 20th Century. (Accepted)
Type of Abstract (select):Abstract (max. 250 words):
Augusta Markowitz was devoted disseminator of cultural and especially Hungarian cultural information in New York. From 1897 until 1944 she served the New York Public Library system first as a young Assistant, later promoted to Branch Librarian. Most of her carrier she was the head of the Woodstock Branch Library in an area of large Hungarian population. She was responsible not only for her branch service, but for the Hungarian material of the whole NPL system. Above all she maintained a non commercial Hungarian Book Service in New York. Her Hungarian book lists helped with book selection other libraries and Hungarians in the US. She was a great integrator. As professional American librarian was aware of and joined the Library service for foreigners (immigrants) program of America, as Hungarian built up stable contacts with leading Hungarian editors, libraries and the contemporary literary world and press in Hungary by visits and correspondence. For decades her library in Woodstock with a large Hungarian collection served as Hungarian cultural center of events, exhibitions and became the source of information. Circle of intellectuals, artists, politicians and the general readers all enjoyed her service. In 1934 the Hungarian government awarded her its Red Cross Award of Merit for her valuable activity. This research is based on archival material and also on contemporary publications and press identified in New York and in Hungary.
Brief Professional Bio (max. 100 words):
Ilona Kovács, librarian, retired department head of the National Széchényi Library, Budapest. She gained her diplomas at the Budapest University (ELTE, 1961) and at Kent State University, Ohio (MLS, 1975), and her doctoral degree at the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA 1993). Her research area is Hungarians abroad focusing on American Hungarians. As head of the Hungarica Documentation she was director of grants for collecting information and documentation and build up Hungarica databases and also conducting surveys to publish a series of publications on Hungarica material of libraries in Europe, Australia and Canada. She attended several international conferences in Europe, USA, Canada and Hungary and published over 100 articles, studies and books. She was a Fulbright scholar at the American Hungarian Foundation in the AYs 1995 and 2001/03.