Overview of the Radomír Luža papers

Finding aid prepared by Hoover Institution Library and Archives Staff

Hoover Institution Library and Archives

434 Galvez Mall

Stanford University

Stanford, CA 94305-6003

hoover-library-archives@stanford.edu

URL: http://www.hoover.org/library-and-archives

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

Access

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.

Use

For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Acquisition Information

Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library & Archives in 1985.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Radomír Luža papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Biographical Note

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