Register of the Béla Csejtey papers
Finding aid prepared by Kayla Anderson
Hoover Institution Library and Archives
© 2016
434 Galvez Mall
Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-6003
hoover-library-archives@stanford.edu
Title: Béla Csejtey papers
Date (bulk): 1914-1991
Collection Number: 2012C46
Contributing Institution: Hoover Institution Library and Archives
Language of Material: Mainly in Hungarian
Physical Description:
5 manuscript boxes, 1 oversize box
(2.5 Linear Feet)
Abstract: Writings, correspondence, genealogical materials, personal documents, printed matter, memorabilia, and maps relating to the
Csejtey family, military history, and Hungarian émigré affairs.
Creator:
Csejtey, Béla, 1934-
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 2012.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Béla Csejtey papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
Biographical Note
Béla Csejtey Jr., a Hungarian émigré to the United States, was a geologist and historian. A refugee from Hungary following
the revolution of 1956, Csejtey received his doctorate from Princeton University and spent most of his life working as a geologist,
first in Antarctica, and later at the Alaskan branch of the US Geological Survey in Menlo Park, California. The US Board on
Geographic Names recognized his distinguished service in Antarctica by naming a mountain in the Geologists' Range Mount Csejtey
in his honor.
Csejtey's other passion was history, both family history and the history of the Hungarian forces on the front lines of World
War I and the Kassa bombing of World War II. Csejtey's father, Béla Csejtey Sr., served in both World Wars and earned medals
of honor from the Kassa bombing and the battle of the Piave River in the north of Italy. Csejtey Jr. had a particular interest
in this battle, where the Austro-Hungarian offensive suffered a decisive defeat in the first days of the summer of 1918. Hungarian
regiments, which were disproportionately used in the fighting, lost tens of thousands of men. Csejtey Jr. spent years researching
the literature and archives on the Piave River battle and combed the fields along the Piave with a metal detector to discover
remains of the battle, some of which accompanied his papers into the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
Csejtey died in Palo Alto, California, in 2012.
Scope and Content of Collection
The Béla Csejtey papers are comprised of writings, correspondence, genealogical materials, personal documents, printed matter,
maps, and memorabilia relating to military history, Hungarian émigré affairs, and the Csejtey family, particularly Béla Csejtey
Jr. and his father, Béla Csejtey Sr.
Related Collection(s)
Vitéz Béla Csejtey interview transcript, Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Hungarians -- United States
Csejtey family
Biographical File,
1592-1978
Scope and Contents note
Comprised of documents related to the personal lives of Béla Csejtey Sr. and Jr., as well as the Csejtey family generally.
box 1, folder 1
Application for employment
1964
box 1, folder 7
Photograph of medals,
undated
box 1, folder 8
Proof of military service
1919
box 1, folder 9
Article, Mt. Csejtey,
1978
box 1, folder 12
Family research book
1592-1918
Scope and Contents note
Consists of Bela Csejtey Jr.'s research on the Csejtey family lineage dating back to 1592. Includes maps tracking family migration
and historical photographs of the family.
Correspondence
1960-1985
Scope and Contents note
Includes incoming and outgoing letters between Béla Csejtey Jr. and his relatives. Primarily in Hungarian; arranged chronologically
by date received.
Subject File
1914-2004
Scope and Contents note
Includes Béla Csejtey Jr.'s research and notes on the Piave battle in World War I and the Kassa bombing in World War II. There
are two hardbound books, which include a published version of Csejtey Jr.'s research pertaining to both battles. Also included
are World War I military handbooks and anti-communist books from World War II. The bulk of the documents are in Hungarian
and Italian.
box 2, folder 2
Battle notes and research
undated
box 2, folder 3
Military diary and translation
1918
box 2, folder 4
Piave battle research book
2004
box 2, folder 6
Felnagyitott terkep,
undated
box 2, folder 8
Ludovika Akademia,
1941-1991
box 2, folder 10-11
Military documents (copies),
1940-1945
Military materials
1914-1945
Language of Material: Hungarian.
Scope and Contents note
Comprised of military regiment histories, periodicals, memoirs, and handbooks. The handbooks include handwritten notes made
within the margins, as well as official military regiment letters sent between commanders.
box 3
Fegyelmi Szabalyzat,
1914
box 3
Hatalyos Jogszabalyai,
1934
box 3
Ideiglenes Szabalyzt,
1914
box 3
Ideiglenes Utasitas,
1914
box 3, folder 1
Military memoranda
1925-1945
box 3, folder 1
Szervi Hatarozvanyok,
1914
box 3, folder 1
Ugyviteli Szabalyzat
1914
box 4, folder 2
Book catalogues
1965-1980
box 4, folder 4
Magyar Katona a Karpatokban,
1930
box 4, folder 3
Honved Luvokia Akademia,
1930
Maps
circa 1914-1945
Scope and Contents note
The maps, organized alphabetically, cover a range of European countries during World War I and World War II and include handwritten
notes regarding the geographical locations of battle sites.
Newspaper clippings
1959-1997
Scope and Contents note
Includes clippings from
Nemzetor, DUMA, Magyarsag, and
The Eighth Tribe, among others. The clippings cover the experience of Hungarian immigrants following their escape from communism in 1956 and
their acclimation into American culture, political news from the Hungarian Parliament in Budapest, and achievements ofthe
Hungarian-American community. Arranged alphabetically by publication title. In Hungarian and English.
box 6
Oversize Material
1978
Scope and Contents note
Contains a framed case of artifacts, excavated by Béla Csejtey Jr. in 1978, from the Piave River Battle fought in Northern
Italy during World War I.
