A Hajdú-Bihar Megyei Levéltár évkönyve 29. 2002-2003 (Debrecen, 2003)
Tanulmányok - Major Zoltán László: Adatok a Rákóczi megemlékezésekhez Hajdú megyében a 20. század elején
300 Major Zoltán László: Adatok a Rákóczi megemlékezésekhez... Details on the Rákóczi Commemorations in Hajdú County in the Early 20th Century Zoltán László Major The introduction mentions that the Independence Party was trying to exploit the two hundredth anniversary, as the celebrations and exhibitions symbolizing the revival of the wars of independence served as a spectacular background for the public. The reminiscence of the past and the idealization of Kuruc times was also revived in Hajdú County, like in other areas of the country. The author remarks that the source materials are not abundant, and the archival documents are also conspicuously scarce, while monographs of local history do not even mention the anniversary. The essay first provides a brief overview of the events in Hajdú County and Debrecen. In the latter, Kálmán Thaly himself delivered a speech on May 22, 1903. Subsequently, a brief summary of the celebrations in Hajdúböszörmény and Hajdúnánás is given, followed by data from Hajdúszoboszló, Hajdúdorog and some villages. The bigger commemorations actually took place in 1906, after the return of the remains of Rákóczi. After describing the events of the county and the towns, the celebrations held in the village of Földes are described in more detail. The various commemorations and the fundraising continued for several years, and the county received requests from other towns and cities as well. In connection with the commemorations, reference is also made to the role of some still continuing traditions, as the essay also discusses these effects in relation to Gyula Szekfű’s monograph on Rákóczi, followed by some additional material on the historical writings from the period between the two world wars. Finally, the closing section of the essays discusses some ideological facts between the 1920s to 1935, the date of the publication of the Rákóczi commemorative volume and also a sad anniversary.
