AZ ORSZÁGOS SZÉCHÉNYI KÖNYVTÁR ÉVKÖNYVE 1978. Budapest (1980)

IV. Könyvtörténeti és művelődéstörténeti tanulmányok - Kovács Ilona: Adatok az amerikai magyar könyvtári gyűjteményekről - Some data on American Hungarian Library collections

University of Illinois, Urbana, 111. University of Iowa Library, Iowa City, Iowa University of Michigan Library, Ann Arbor, Mich. University of Missouri Library University of Minnesota Library University of North Carolina Libraries University of Oregon Library University of Pittsburgh Library University of Texas Library University of Washington Library, Seatle, Wash. University of Wisconsin Library, Madison, Wis. U.S. Air Force Cambridge Research Center Library U.S. Army Map Service Library U.S. National Institutes of Health U.S. National Library of Medicine, Beltsville, Md. U.S. Department of State Library, Washington D.C. Washington State Library, Temple of Justice, Olympia, Wash. Wayne State University Library, Detroit, Mich. West Virginia University Library, Morgantown, W. Va. Western Reserve Historical Society Library Western Reserve University Libraries, Cleveland William E. Morgan Library, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colo. Yale University Library, New Haven, Conn. YIVO Institute for Jewish Research, New York SOME DATA ON AMERICAN HUNGARIAN LIBRARY COLLECTIONS I. KOVÁCS Introduction Ethnic studies have gained new importance in both Hungary and in the US. No attempt has been made in Hungary to summarize the available data concerning Hungarian library collections in the US. The present study is a first attempt in this field in Hungary and strives to publish the results of the research conducted up to now and of that to be continued. The questions analysed are the factors and motives which played a role in the founding and further development of library collections concerning East Eauropean ethnic groups and American Hungarians. It compares the main features of Hungarian library collections with East Eauropean ones in the US. The study summarizes basic available data concerning the libraries of American Hungarians: their number, size, geographical distribution, distribution among types of libraries, and their place in the ranking of the East European library collections. Special attention has been paid to the trends of American library policy which affected the development of ethnic and particular Hungarian collections in the US and to activity of Hungarian ethnic community concerning the founding and development of Hungarian library collections in the US. History Since the turn of the century a great number of Hungarian immigrants have arrived to the States in four waves. They numbered 1.5 million in 1970. During the hundred year history of American Hungarians they have established schools, social and cultural organizations have published periodicals and books and built up library collections to meet their cultural needs. Factors plaing a role in the creation and development of library collections were as follows: to provide reading material in their mother tongue for Hungarians, to save and preserve and to pass traditions, to provide material for studies and research concerning the ethnic group and to provide the information needed in the US about 616