Hungarian American Coalition News, 2002 (11. évfolyam, 1-2. szám)
2002 / 1. szám
At the ceremony there were local, county and state representatives, including the Governor of Iowa Tom Vilsack and distinguished guests such as the Ambassador of Hungary to the U.S. Géza Jeszenszky. The governor mentioned his recollection of the Hungarian fight for freedom against totalitarianism in 1956 and the parallel traditions of the Kossuth and American ideals of freedom and democracy. Besides the general public, participants to the festivities were the Combéit Chorus, the Minnesota Hungarian Society singers, the 34th National Guard Army Band and Air Guard Flyover. A SELECTION OF BOOKS RELATED TO KOSSUTH AND HUNGARIANS IN AMERICA Gracza, Rezső Ralph. HOW AND WHY IOWANS NAMED KOSSUTH COUNTY IN 1851. Edina, MN: Beavers Pond Press, 2001. Pp. vii + 78. ISBN 1-931646-03-1 Rezső Gracza is an active member of HAC and an important Hungarian- American activist in Minnesota. His book on "How and Why Iowans Named Kossuth County in 1851" is an excellent English language introduction to Louis Kossuth and his significance for Hungarian and American History. In an effectively organized text he sets the stage for the Hungarian Revolution of 1848-49, describes Kossuth's role as leader and inspiration, and the consequences of the revolution both for Hungary and the first Hungarian emigration to the United States. He presents the "Kossuth craze" which preceded and followed his tour of the states east of the Mississippi, including the naming of Kossuth County in Iowa. The book is lavish in pictures and documentation. We highly recommend it to all members of the Coalition. You can order this book for $10.00 from: Mr. Ralph Gracza, 15151 Victor Lane, Minnetonka, MN 55345 Puskás, Julianna. TIES THAT BIND, TIES THAT DIVIDE: ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF HUNGARIAN EXPERIENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. Translated by Zora Ludwig. New York/London: Holmes & Meier, Ellis Island Series, 2000. 444 Pp., with photos, maps, notes and extensive bibliography, ISBN 0-8419-1320-X Julianna Puskás is the foremost expert in Hungary on the migration history of Hungarians to the USA. This English language study is aimed at American readers and provides an excellent summary of Hungarian immigrant history from the second half of the 19th to the end of the 20th century. The book provides a profile of the Hungarian society from which the various waves of Hungarian immigrants broke out to emigrate to the USA: Her presentation is an excellent summary particularly of the first two waves of immigrants, but also an important contribution to the understanding of the waves that followed World War II and the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. Order the book for $39.95 from the American Hungarian Foundation, 300 Somerset Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08903 Várdy, Steven Béa MAGYAROK AZ ÚJVILÁGBAN: AZ ÉSZAK-AMERIKAI MAGYARSÁG RENDHAGYÓ TÖRTÉNETE [Hungarians in the New World: An Unorthodox History of Hungarian-Americans] (Budapest: A Magyar Nyelv és Kultúra Nemzetkközi Társasága, 2000. Pp. 840. ISBN 963 00 5063 3 Steven Bela Várdy is one of the most prolific Hungarian American historians in the United States. His massive study on Hungarians in the "New World" just appeared a year ago. It is intended for the general public rather than the scholarly world. It is in Hungarian. This means that it will receive more attention among readers in Hungary than in the USA. The anecdotal content and rich supplement of photographs can provide teachers in week-end schools and Hungarian Scout troops with excellent material for linking the American and Hungarian past. Also highly recommended reading for HAC activists, particularly as it relates to the description of the immigrant waves following World War II and 1956. Submitted by Professor András Ludanyi CELEBRATIONS OF MARCH 15 All across the United States, indeed around the world, Hungarian communities celebrated March 15th. We would like to highlight the celebration in Washington, DC. This year it was held at the Hungarian Embassy in a joint program with the American Hungarian Federation of Washington, DC and with the participation of the Hungarian Scout Troop 4, József Báthory. The keynote speaker was Frank Koszorús, Jr., President of the Federation who spoke of the historical significance of Hungary's quest for freedom. Highlights of the program included a music recital by pianist Judit Bach with pieces by Chopin, Bethoveen, Bartók and Liszt. The Hungarian scouts recited poems by Petőfi and Vörösmarty. The Táncház Orchestra played dance folk music arrangements, and songs of the of the Kossuth era with participation of the numerous audience. 6 • Hungarian American Coalition • Spring 2002
