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Title: Radomír Luža papers
Date (inclusive): 1907-2000
Collection Number: 85038
Contributing Institution: Hoover Institution Library and Archives
Language of Material: In Czech, English and German
Physical Description:
200 manuscript boxes, 6 oversize boxes
(90.2 Linear Feet)
Abstract: Speeches and writings, correspondence, reports, memoranda, notes, radio broadcast transcripts, interview transcripts, and
printed matter, relating to twentieth-century Czechoslovak history, resistance movements in Czechoslovakia and Austria during
World War II, socialism in Czechoslovakia, the International Union of Socialist Youth, the postwar communist régime in Czechoslovakia,
economic conditions in Austria, and Czech émigré affairs. Includes reports and radio broadcast transcripts prepared by Radio
Free Europe.
Creator:
Radio Free Europe
Creator:
Luža, Radomír
Physical Location: Hoover Institution Library & Archives
The collection is open for research; materials must be requested in advance via our reservation system. If there are audiovisual
or digital media material in the collection, they must be reformatted before providing access.
For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library & Archives in 1985.
[Identification of item], Radomír Luža papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
Radomir Luza was a Czech-American historian and poet, as well as a member of the anti-Nazi resistance in Czechoslovakia.
Luza was born on October 17, 1922 in Prague. Like his father, Vojtech Luza, Radmoir was a member of the partisan movement.
At the end of World War II, Luza began to study law at Masaryk University in Brno. Due to his political beliefs, he was forced
to go into exile and spent much of his life living in France and the United States.
During his exile in France, Luza continue his education at the Sorbonne and fully dedicated his life to academics, with a
specific focus on the history of the Czech and German people. During his time in the United States, he worked in New Orleans
at Tulane University, while also being heavily involved in the International Union of Socialist Youth.
Post Velvet Revolution, Luza dedicated himself to the effort of restoring the Czechoslovak Social Democratic Party and was
widely recognized for his patriotic involvement in attaining party goals. As a result, in the late 1990s he was awarded the
Order of Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk, which is presented to persons who have made outstanding contributions to the development
of democracy and human rights.
Radomir Luza died on November 26, 2009.
Scope and Content of Collection
The collection covers two broad categories: family background and the Home Resistance during the World War II German occupation,
and the period of Luza's exile in France and the United States between March 1948 and 1990.
The family documents are of particular interest and include the World War I diaries of Vojtech Luza, Radomir Luza's father.
The diaries begin in 1914 and focus mainly on Vojtech Luza's stay in Siberia, where he was a member of the Czechoslovak legion
in the fight against the Bolsheviks. The diaries also describe some of his activities at the head of the Operation Section
of the Czechoslovak General Staff between 1925 and 1926.
The majority of the material in the second category relates to twentieth-century Czechoslovak history, resistance movements
in Czechoslovakia and Austria during World War II, socialism in Czechoslovakia, the International Union of Socialist Youth,
the post-war communist regime in Czechoslovakia, economic conditions in Austria, and Czech émigré affairs.
The collection also includes unique written communications that were exchanged in the underground; correspondence, including
personal letters of prominent Czechoslovak exile politicians; speeches and writings; reports; memoranda; notes; transcripts
of radio broadcasts prepared by Radio Free Europe; interview transcripts; and printed matter.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Audiotapes
World War, 1939-1945 -- Underground movements
Czechoslovakia -- History -- 1945-1992
Czechoslovakia -- Emigration and immigration
World War, 1939-1945 -- Austria
World War, 1939-1945 -- Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia -- History
Communism -- Czechoslovakia
Radio broadcasting -- Czechoslovakia
Socialism -- Czechoslovakia
Slovakia
Austria -- Economic conditions -- 1945-
Komunistická strana Československa
Komunistická strana Slovenska
International Union of Socialist Youth