Identity Statement

Reference Code

HU OSA 398-0-4

Title

Photographs

Date(s)

1914 - 1992

Description Level

Series

Extent and medium (processed)

1 Archival photo box, 0.33 linear meters

Context

Archival history

The photo collection arrived to Blinken OSA Archivum directly from Claire de Héderváry. In 2024, the photographs were digitized, processed and physically rearranged for long term preservation in acid free photo sleeves.

Content and Structure

Scope and Content (Abstract)

The collection consist of 85 documents, mostly black and white photographs, but also color photo prints, newspaper clippings, small printed items, a polaroid and an original watercolor painting as well. The most important and interesting part of the archival series are the photographs of Claire de Héderváry, portraying her private and profesional lives.

Scope and Content (Narrative)

Some of the photographs were taken by professional photographers, including the iconic portrait of Héderváry, a young Economist and UN diplomat working in her Manhattan office.

The images from the 1950s portray de Héderváry as a young Belgian diplomat at the United Nations in New York, at meetings and on missions all around the world. These missions involved meetings at negotitiating tables, but also cocktail and dance parties. The ladies and gentlemen in these pictures depict the Cold War era diplomacy familiar to us from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's early photographs (HU OSA 300-1-8).

The most touching part of the collection are the images portraying the young family, the mother and father of de Héderváry, with the child Klára (Claire de Héderváry's Hungarian first name) - most probably in Hungary.

Accruals

Not Expected

System of arrangement

The order of the photographs and other items in the series was established in 2004 by Gabriella Ivacs. In 2024, the archivists kept this original order. Hence the items in the series are not in chronological order.

Conditions of Access and Use

Languages

English, Hungarian

Description Control

Archivist's note

The photos were digitized by Lenke Szilágyi. Processed and described by Zsuzsanna Zádori in October 2024.