Register of the First Aid For Hungary

Finding aid prepared by Hoover Institution Library and Archives Staff
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Title: First Aid For Hungary
Date (inclusive): 1956-1958
Collection Number: 57014
Contributing Institution: Hoover Institution Library and Archives
Language of Material: English
Physical Description: 3 manuscript boxes (1.3 Linear Feet)
Abstract: Correspondence, reports, contribution lists, clippings, and printed matter, relating to relief and resettlement of Hungarian refugees.
Creator: Hoover, Herbert, 1874-1964
Creator: First Aid for Hungary
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 1957.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], First Aid For Hungary, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Alternative Form Available

Also available on microfilm (3 reels).

Historical Note

I was again called into service at the time of the Hungarian uprisings in the last months of 1956. I accepted the honorary chairmanship of an organization called "First Aid for Hungary, Inc.," which had been formed as the result of a meeting of several prominent Americans of Hungarian descent called by Dr. Tibor Eckhardt on October 29, 1956; it was organized to render vital services in a sudden emergency. Our immediate objective was to bring aid to the hundreds of Hungarian Freedom Fighters who had been forced to seek refuge in neighboring Austria and had thus cast an enormous burden upon that country. We were one of only two foreign charities actually operating at the Hungarian border during those first frenzied weeks. Immediate aid was rendered through seventeen first-aid stations, four field kitchens,and three mobile pharmacies set up in the border zone to distribute clothing and medical supplies. We were also able to send food and medical supplies into Hungary itself -at first by direct shipment, then through the International Red Cross, and finally by direct shipment again. During the latter part of this organization's life, as Russian tanks halted the flow of Hungarians across the border, we turned our attention to aiding the refugees in camps in Austria and for several months provided a number of them with supplies, especially for children, and also with care for the sick, wounded, and maternity cases. In February 1957, we determined upon a specific program to deal with the emergency created by the interruptions of studies, particulary of high-school age children. We supported programs in Austria, Belgium, Germany, and United States by providing funds and textbooks. Later, our efforts were extended to the problem of higher education for refugee students. Aid to the education of these young people took some of our work out of the temporary and gave it an added significance of future and permanent value. My personal feelings on the matter were conveyed in a message of mine which was read at the Protest Meeting for the Hungarians in Madison Square Garden on November 8, 1956:
Every people striving for freedom has over our whole national life appealed to the American heart. But seldom in these hundred and sixty years has any people shown such magnificent courage and sacrifice as we have seen in these past few weeks in Hungary. Whatever we can do to alleviate their suffering and to protest this wickedness must lie on the American conscience.
Among the officers of the organization, in addition to myself as Honorary Chairman, were Dr. Tibor Eckhardt, President, and Mr. Tibor Jahoda, Treasurer. Through October 31, 1957, the funds raised amounted to $1,143,055.43.
(from Herbert Hoover, An American Epic, Volume IV)

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Hungary -- History -- Revolution, 1956
Refugees
International relief

 

Office File 1956-1958

Scope and Contents

Correspondence, fact sheet, lists, press releases, publicity material, clippings, and other printed matter, arranged alphabetically by physical form
 

Contributions file

 

Letters

box 1, folder 1

General

 

Thank you letters, arranged alphabetically by name of donor

box 1, folder 2

A-K

box 1, folder 3

L-Y

 

Lists

 

General

 

1956 December

box 1, folder 4

10-15

box 1, folder 5

15-24

box 2, folder 1

24-28

box 2, folder 2

1956 December 29-1957 February 21

box 2, folder 3

Miscellaneous

 

Correspondence

 

General

box 2, folder 4

1956 November 6-1957 March 1

box 2, folder 5

1957 February 25-1958 March 15

box 2, folder 6

American Red Cross

box 2, folder 7

International Rescue Committee

box 2, folder 8

Miscellaneous

box 2, folder 9

Fact sheet

box 2, folder 10

Press releases. Includes press release announcing dissolution of the organization 1957 March 5

 

Publicity material

box 2, folder 11

General

box 2, folder 12

Clippings

box 2, folder 13

Report. "Report on First Aid for Hungary, " 1956-1958

box 2, folder 14

Miscellaneous

 

Individuals' Files 1956-1957

Scope and Contents

Correspondence, list, reports, statements, and clipping, arranged alphabetically by name of member or other individual working on behalf of the organization
 

Eckhardt, Tibor (President)

 

Correspondence

box 2, folder 15

Galpin, Perrin

box 2, folder 16

Hoover, Herbert

box 2, folder 17

Report. "Organization and First Month Activities," 1956 December 7

 

Galpin, Perrin

 

Correspondence

box 2, folder 18

Alverson, Gabriele

box 2, folder 19

Beal, Gerald

box 2, folder 20

Belen, Jaques

box 2, folder 21

Bondy, Heinz

box 2, folder 22

Hartigan, John

box 2, folder 23

Hoover, Herbert

box 3, folder 1

Hughes, John Chambers

box 3, folder 2

Leach, Charles N.

box 3, folder 3

Tuck, Hallam W.

box 3, folder 4

Vegh, Jeno

box 3, folder 5

Report on trip to Vienna 1957 January

 

Hoover, Herbert (Honorary Chairman)

 

Correspondence

box 3, folder 6

Eisenhower, Dwight. Includes correspondence with Richard Nixon

box 3, folder 7

Hoover, Herbert, Jr.

box 3, folder 8

Statements

box 3, folder 9

Hoover, Herbert, Jr. Clipping

 

Shouse, Jouett (Chairman of Washington Branch)

 

Correspondence

box 3, folder 10

Adams, Phelps D.

box 3, folder 11

Bruguiere, Margaret L.

box 3, folder 12

Eckhardt, Tibor

box 3, folder 13

Eisenhower, Dwight D.

box 3, folder 14

Galpin, Perrin

box 3, folder 15

Hoover, Herbert

box 3, folder 16

Japan. Ambassador to the United States

box 3, folder 17

Troxler, Paul D.

box 3, folder 18

List of companies contacted for contributions

box 3, folder 19

Thank you letters for contributions

 

Tuck, Hallam. Correspondence

box 3, folder 20

Galpin, Perrin

box 3, folder 21

Hoover, Herbert

 

Voorhees, Tracy S.

 

Correspondence

box 3, folder 22

Eisenhower, Dwight D.

box 3, folder 23

French, Paul C.

box 3, folder 24

Galpin, Perrin

box 3, folder 25

Hoover, Herbert

box 3, folder 26

Tuck, Hallam

box 3, folder 27

Reports. See also Correspondence/Hoover, Herbert

 

Subject File 1947-1957

Scope and Contents

Letter, reports, statistics, and printed matter, relating mainly to Hungary and in particular the revolt of 1956, arranged alphabetically by subject
box 3, folder 28

Freedom Fighters of Hungary. Printed matter

 

Hungary - History - Revolution 1956

box 3, folder 29

The Revolt in Hungary: A Documantary Chronology of Events, 1956 October 23 - November 4. Printed copy

box 3, folder 30

A Magyar forradalom es szabadsagharc, 1956 October 23 - November 9. Printed copy issued by Free Europe Press (in Hungarian)

box 3, folder 31

International Confederation of Free Trade Unions. Printed matter

 

President's Committee for Hungarian Refugee Relief. See INDIVIDUALS' FILES/Voorhees, Tracy S. (chairman)

box 3, folder 32

Radio Free Europe. Typescript letter of Willis D. Crittenberger (Free Europe Committee) to Eugene Holman (Crusade for Freedom) 1956 December 3

 

Refugees - Hungary. Reports

box 3, folder 33

General

box 3, folder 34

Austria

box 3, folder 35

United States. Includes statistics

box 3, folder 36

United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration. Printed matter