Hungarian Studies Newsletter, 1976 (4. évfolyam, 9-12. szám)
1976 / 10. szám
A HUNGARIAN STUDIES NEWSLETTER FIFTY YEARS AGO An item in the December 11, 1925 issue of SCIENCE was brought to our attention. It might interest especially those who are concerned with intellectual immigration history. Here is a somewhat abridged reprint of the article: THE AMERICAN-HUNG ARI AN FOUNDATION LIBRARY Three or four years ago the American-Hungarian Foundation was organized by a group of men, chiefly in Lansing and East Lansing, Michigan, but including others from Chicago, New York, Detroit, Cleveland and other parts of the country, for the purpose of furthering the mutual educational interests of Hungary and America. One of the objects accomplished was the exchange of professors between the two countries. In the fall of 1924, Professor Geza Doby, professor of biochemistry in the economic faculty of the University of Budapest, and Professor Alexander Kotlán, of the Royal Veterinary College of Budapest, were brought to Michigan State College as visiting professors for the college year. This current year Professor H.J. Stafseth, of the department of bacteriology, Michigan State College, is an exchange professor at Budapest at the Royal Veterinary College. One of the important things brought out by this exchange is the great interest expressed by the Hungarian scientists for American scientific work. Owing, however, to the very unfavorable rate of exchange for Hungarian money, it is practically impossible for Hungarian scientists to subscribe for American periodicals. An arrangement has been effected through the American-Hungarian Foundation for the establishment of a loan library at Budapest. From this library, under restrictions to prevent loss and too great a delay in the circulation of the material, any responsible scientist in Hungary may borrow such books, periodicals or separates as are available returning these at the earliest possible moment. It is urged that American scientists send to this library the copies of their separates. Particularly, it is urged that where possible four or five copies be sent, but if that is impossible, at least one copy. It is hoped that a generous response may be made to this appeal and that this library may be placed on the permanent mailing list of those who maintain mailing lists for their separates. Articles in the so-called pure sciences, as well as in the sciences that have more direct application to agriculture and the industries, are desired, as well as separates along the special industrial and agricultural lines. It is very fortunate that the international exchange of literature by the Smithsonian Institution can be made use of in forwarding these separates to Hungary. Each batch of separates should be addressed . . etc. MICHIGAN STATE COLLEGE ERNEST A. BESSEY The item does not require extensive comment. It could have been written today with only slight alterations. We have no information on the fate of the American-Hungarian Foundation of Michigan, however, we know, of course, that AHF RECEIVES ROCKEFELLER GRANT The American Hungarian Foundation received a $15,000 grant from the Rockefeller Foundation for the development of Hungarian immigration data based mainly on the Edmund Vasva'ry collection (for description see HSN no. 5). According to August J. Molnár, president of AHF, the grant will enable the Foundation to microfilm the over 400 volumes of notes, citations, and some 20,000 file cards of the collection, produce a critical evaluation and biblographical essay on the material, and develop the data for a subsequent research and writing of the history of Hungarian immigrants in America. The Foundation is now conducting a nation-wide search for historians and social scientists who eventually would undertake the writing or portions of it. Any suggestions in this regard should be addressed to A.J. Molnár, President, AHF. EDITOR’S CORNER We celebrated the third anniversary of the HSN quietly, but with satisfaction. With this enlarged issue, made possible by an anonymous donor, we enter into our fourth year of publication and are reconfirming our commitment to scientific truth. Truth alone can be the foundation of a better world, and the only way to establish truth is to acquire knowledge and collect information, Paul Teleki said some 50 years ago. We hope to continue to serve our readers with as much scientific information on Hungary and Hungarians as the perimeters of this modest newsletter permit. We thank you all for your sustained support, and appreciate your mentioning our efforts to potential subscribers. Special thanks are extended to Randolph Braham, Helen Conrad, Ruth Dyck, László Eszenyi, Joseph Held, Stephen Kertesz, Martin L. Kovács, Mihály Ilia, Tibor Kortvelyessy, Peter Pastor, Julia Puskas, Joseph StClair, Thomas Sakmyster, and Charles Wojatsek for data and encouragement. The Editor the present American Hungarian Foundation with national offices and a library at New Brunswick, N.J. is active in promoting the exchange of books and scholars, that the interest of Hungarian scholars in American science continues unabated, and that the exchange rate of the Hungarian money has not improved. Furthermore, the international exchange program of the Smithsonian Institution is still going strong, except that now its dealings are more with such central institutions as the Széchenyi Library than with individual colleges. Its budget for 1974 was $2.5 million. The address where more specific information can be obtained is: International Exchange Service, The Smithsonian Institution, 1111 North Capitol Street, Washington, D.C. 20002. T
