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	HU OSA 355
Fonds 355:	Samizdat Collection of János Kis [Kis János szamizdatgyűjteménye]

Date(s) 1981-1989

Extent and medium

Estimated total:
0.75 linear meters, 6 archival boxes

Mostly textual, some posters and stickers
Currently processed:
6 Archival boxes, 0.75 linear meters

Name of creator(s)

János Kis, Professor, Central European University

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

János Kis, Professor, Central European University
Nádor u. 9., 1051 Budapest

Scope and content

Contains samizdat periodicals and publications.

János Kis, a philosopher and professor of political science at the Central European University and s founding member of the Alliance of Free Democrats (SZDSZ), was one of the most prominent members of the democratic opposition in Hungary. He was also a founding editor of the first Hungarian samizdat periodical called Beszélő (The Speaker.)

This collection includes an almost complete set of Beszélő from 1981 to 1989, as well as some of its special issues and offsprings, including Külön Beszélő and Máshonnan Beszélő. Other relevant samizdat periodicals of the period, such as A Hírmondó (The Messenger), Demokrata or Magyar Zsidó (Hungarian Jew) are also included.

The rest consists of essays and books from both Hungarian and foreign authors, mostly published and translated into Hungarian in samizdat. Titles include Vaclav Havel's Audience and E. P. Thompson's Beyond the Cold War.

Some political documents, such as the minutes of the 1985 Monor debate and internal programs and manifestos of the SZDSZ complete this small, but unique collection.

Accruals Not expected

System of arrangement

• HU OSA 355-0-1 Subject files

Conditions governing access Open for research

Language/scripts of material Hungarian

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Good physical condition

Related materials

• HU OSA 302-0-2 Magyar Samizdat Periodikak = Hungarian Samizdat Periodicals, 1981-1989
• HU OSA 356-2-8 Ellenzék, szamizdat
• HU OSA 383 Collection of Géza Sáska, 1978-1988

Note

Keywords: samizdat, democratic opposition, SZDSZ (Alliance of Free Democrats), AB Independent Publisher, Beszélő

Date(s) of descriptions

Described by Csaba Szilagyi, March 2007
Online version updated 18 December 2008