Finding Aid of the Laszlo Ivanyi Diary Coll2012.131

Finding aid prepared by Michael C. Oliveira
ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
909 West Adams Boulevard
Los Angeles, California, 90007
(213) 741-0094
askone@ONEarchives.org
© 2012


Title: Ivanyi, Laszlo diary
Identifier/Call Number: Coll2012.131
Contributing Institution: ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
Language of Material: English
Physical Description: 0.4 linear foot. 1 archive carton.
Date (inclusive): 1963-2008
Abstract: Typescripts of Ivanyi Laszlo's diary, one in the original French and one English translation. The diary documents his life and reflections on his past, 1963-1967. Additional comments were added and included in the typescripts through 2008. Laszlo, an accomplished artist and pianist, escaped Hungary after the fall of the 1956 revolution. He relocated to Paris, France, where he was introduced into Parisian high society.
Language of Materials: A typescript of the diary is the orginal French along with a typescript translation to English.
creator: Ivanyi, Laszlo, 1934-

Scope and Content

Typescripts of Ivanyi Laszlo's diary, one in the original French and one English translation. The diary documents his life and reflections on his past, 1963-1967. Additional comments were added and included in the typescripts through 2008. The collection also includes 36 5"x7" prints of his art works.

Processing Information

Collection processed by Michael C. Oliveira, July 20, 2011.

Acquisition Information

The diaries were received December 22, 2010.

Preferred Citation

Laszlo Ivanyi Diary, Coll2012-131, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, Los Angeles, California.

Publication Rights

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the ONE Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives at USC Libraries as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.

Access Note

The collection is open to researchers. There are no access restrictions.

Bigraphical note

Laszlo Ivanyi was born in Budapest, Hungary, on May 24, 1934. His father was a tax inspector, with the official title of conseiller des finances publiques. In 1944 German troops occupied their village. The army requisitioned the family home for the billeting of a counter-espionage officer. Weeks later in the course of the Russians advance, a Soviet rocket destroyed their home. In what was left of the house, the Russian army set up a kitchen, during this period the family lived in constant fear of the soldiers. In 1945 the family relocated to his paternal grandfather's home in Soviet occupied Szekesfehervar, Hungary.
Ivanyi returned to school in 1946. His father enrolled him in a secondary school taught by Cistercian monks; he spent much of his time in the monastery's library. In 1948 when the Communist Party nationalized religious schools, he was called upon to denounce Cardinal Mindszenthy. After refusing to denounce the cardinal, Ivanyi was effectively banished from the school. During this time, he continued his piano lessons and won a national arts competition. Jeno Barcsay recommended that he enroll in Academy of Visual Arts in Hungary. Ivanyi's father insisted that he focus on his academic studies. By the time he completed his secondary education the opportunity to attend the Academy of Visual Arts had passed. He went onto the Budapest Conservatory to study piano for a year, winning the Bartok Prize.The following year he enrolled in the Franz Liszt Academy, where Paul Kadosa decided to take Ivanyi under his wing. Later Ivanyi returned to academic studies enrolling in the architecture division of the Polytechnique.
During the 1956 Hungarian revolution, he took part in the events surrounding the Kilián barracks. Fearing reprisals after the Russian army re-established control of the country, he fled across the Austrian border and headed to Paris.
Once in Paris, he enrolled in the Ecole des Beaux-Arts for about a month; the lack of formal classes led him to go out on his own. He did remain enrolled for three or four years in order to satisfy the requirements of his scholarship. Through friends he became acquainted with Alix de Rothschild, and a great friendship developed. Rothschild brought Ivanyi into the world of Parisian high society which allowed him to earn a living providing piano lessons. At her estate in Normandy, he met Isaac Stern, Leonard Rose, Eugene lstomin, and Rudolph Serkin and his pianist son Peter.
Ivanyi took part in several group art exhibitions, and had a number of solo art shows. His works are in a number of private collections, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives as well as the Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris.
Source:
Laszlo Ivanyi Diary, Coll2012-131, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, Los Angeles, California.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Diaries, French
Gay men’s writings, French
Hungarians--France--diaries

Box 1, Folder 1

Diary [French typescript] 1963-1967

Language of Material: French
Box 1, Folder 2-4

Diary [English typescript] 1963-1967

Language of Material: English
Physical Description: [3 folders]
Box 1, Folder 5

Biographical sketch circa 2008

Box 1, Folder 6

Inkjet prints of art works undated

Physical Description: [36 color inkjet prints]
Box 1, Folder 7

Jpegs of 222 works undated

Physical Description: [2 DVDs]