The Eighth Tribe, 1975 (2. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1975-10-01 / 10. szám
October, 1975 THE EIGHTH TRIBE Page 7 and because of World War I he was not able to send for the family for many years. Finally they became united in 1925. I asked bow immigrant life was in the 1920’s in St. Paul and finally inquired if the father ever talked about how life was at the turn of the century. I expressed concern about bow unfortunate it is that we can no longer interview the real old timers. “I don’t know what you mean,” he replied. “My father is still around. As a matter of fact he is outside shoveling snow.” The old young man was 94 at that time and he was still going strong. After the Second World War, in 1950 the so called D.P.’s, displaced persons, started arriving from the refugee camps of Europe. These immigrants were mostly well educated in comparison with the earlier co-patriots. Many were middle aged, in their late forties or fifties. Due to their age, it was difficult for them to learn the English language well and to assimilate into the American culture. Although many had professional skills, only a few were able to continue to work in their chosen fields. We have many families in the Twin Cities of this vintage. The largest wave of recent Hungarian emigrants were the consequence of the abortive Hungarian revolution of 1956. At that time more than 50,000 refugees were admitted to the U.S. Several hundred were destined for Minnesota. The first planeload of refugees arriving in St. Paul were met by the Governor of Minnesota, who expressed concern and sympathy to the group. Simultaneously there were orderly demonstrations before the Capitol by concerned citizens who reacted to the plea of help that reverberated around the world. The Hungarians of that wave were either professionals with families or single individuals, mostly men who were involved in the revolution and exposed themselves politically. Many of the 1956 emigrants were able to achieve prominent positions in the Twin City area. The latest immigrants from the land of Magyars arrived rather recently. There are several families in the St. Paul area who left the country just a few years ago. They have come from the refugee camps in Italy and were subsequently brought to the U. S. The interesting fact about these people is that they are conclusively of the labor class, mostly skilled tradesmen who left for economical as well as for political reasons. The first formal record we have of an organized Hungarian association is that of the Baross Gabor Social and Mutual Aid Society. This group was founded in 1892 and the purpose stated in their by-laws was to provide aid to members in time of sickness and death, to promote friendship among Hungarians in the St. Paul area through cultural gatherings, to assist with general information regarding American cultural customs and institutions. The Society was non-political and non-denominational. This organization has provided the social life for many Magyars. It had been very active throughout the fifties. However, the old faithful members grew old and departed and the organization finally was dissolved in 1970. The St. Paul Roman Catholic Holy Trinity Mutual Aid Society was founded in May 1904. We have very little data about its activities. It was an affiliate group of St. Andrew’s Church on 1051 Como Avenue. There were a large number of Hungarians living in that area at one time, and it was known as Honkitown. We have no information as to when this organization officially ceased to exist. The third known organization was the Hungarian Catholic League organized by Father Turmezei, a professor at St. Thomas College, in 1958. Approximately 50 families were members in this organization. It enjoyed a very active participation from the members, particularly from the immigrants of 1956, hut because of the religious nature of the organization, dissention grew within the group concerning an umbrella organization that would include all Hungarians without religious consideration. The Minnesota Hungarians were officially chartered in 1965. This date also signifies the end of the Catholic League. The Minnesota Hungarians lacked strong leadership and the moral commitment of its members. It never became the strong cultural organization that its founding members envisioned. It ceased to exist in 1970. Simultaneously with the exodus of the 1956 immigrants, there was a Hungarian soccer league in St. Paul that was very instrumental in introducing this sport to the Twin Cities. There was also a short lived student organization at the campus of the University of Minnesota. When the students of the 1956 revolt graduated, the organization ceased to exist. At the present time there is only one known Hungarian organization in the Twin City area. The Minnesota Hungarians were chartered in October 1975 as an affiliate group of the International Institute of Minnesota. They are a non-political, non-denominational group who meet once a month, mainly to provide a place where Hungarians can meet and chat in their own language. The group had undertaken with the encouragement of Joseph Széplaki, to try to collect material for the Hungarian collection of
