Hungarian Refugee Students at Georgetown University Collection

Collection

Identifier: GTA-000534

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Scope and Contents

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Organized in chronological order from 1956-1966, with most documents falling within the years of 1956-57, this collection includes correspondence, pamphlets, newspaper clippings, photographs, and financial records regarding the arrival of Hungarian refugee students at Georgetown University.

Materials present document the processes by which a small number of Hungarian refugee students came to Georgetown University amidst the thousands that sought education throughout the United States. The experiences of these students once on the Hilltop are chronicled through various newspaper articles illustrating their social and political lives. Additional highlights include approximately twenty original applications of Hungarian refugee students for higher education in the U.S., financial records of the funding and contributions to Hungarian students expenses at Georgetown, and assorted correspondence regarding financial, social, and academic support for the new Hungarian refugee students.

Dates

Creation: 1956-1966

Biographical / Historical

In 1956, the country of Hungary was in the midst of political strife. The Soviet occupation of Hungary sparked the rise of the Hungarian revolutionary movement which was crushed by the Soviet Union within five weeks, leaving tens of thousands Hungarian citizens killed, wounded, or detained. In response to this conflict, even more thousands of Hungarians fled the country. Of the 200,000 total, approximately 80,000 Hungarian refugees made their way to the United States, a significant percentage of which were students. Within the United States, these Hungarian refugees found many levels of support from a wide range of institutions including government agencies, advocacy groups, and universities.