Identity Statement

Reference Code

HU OSA 408

Title

László Varga Collection

Date(s)

1901 - 2011

Description Level

Fonds

Extent and medium (processed)

90 Archival boxes, 11.25 linear meters

Context

Name of creator(s)

Varga, László

Archival history

'The collection was donated to OSA between 2004 and 2014 by historian László Varga in several instalments. The order of the donations reflect the changes in Varga’s research focus rather than the time that the documents were created or the chronological arrangement of the collection. A minor part of the collection includes Varga’s own manuscripts and writing, while the major part consists of copies of documents of the following archives: Historical Archives of the Hungarian State Security (earlier Historical Office), Budapest City Archives, National Archives of Hungary, Political History and Trade Union Archives (earlier Archives of the Party History Institute), and Bundesbeauftragter für die Stasi-Unterlagen (BStU) in Berlin, also known as the Gauck Office. László Varga worked on several international and Hungarian committees set up to investigate the operations of state security organizations. The documents of these committees were also donated to OSA by Varga. Oral history interviews conducted by Varga make up part of this thematic unit too.

Content and Structure

Scope and Content (Abstract)

During the 1980s, historian László Varga started to research Hungary’s post-1945 history focusing on the operation of state security organizations. The reproduction of archival material and creation of a series collection, however, only became possible in the early 1990s.

The main topic of the fonds is the history of the secret police between 1945 and 1990. The first three subfonds include the documents from the various periods of this era.

The first subfond consists of documents from the period between 1945 and 1956, inlcuding the regulations of the operation of state security organizations, the records of the top bodies of the Hungarian Communist Party, later Hungarian Working People's Party, documents of trials, investigations and show-trials, as well as periodicals published in 1945.

The second subfond is made up of press clippings, bibliographies and papers about the 1956 Revolution and the subsequent reprisals.

The third subfond includes documents on the operations and daily practices of the state security organization during the Kádár regime, including specific trials and the democratic changes.

The fourth subfond consists of the records of various committees working on publicizing past documents of the state security organizations, the relevant legislation, and the full parliamentary debate of some of the bills.

The fifth subfond includes records of the legislation on state security agents and its application.

The sixth subfond includes the records of cooperation between Stasi (Ministry of State Security in the GDR) and Hungary.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information

The documents in the collection are copies of originals and are not the equivalent of the full original collections. The overwhelming majority of original documents are available by creators in Hungarian and German public archives; documents pertaining to one case may be found in several archives. As a general rule, the records of political trials in the László Varga collection are kept in the Budapest City Archives, while related documents of investigation in the Historical Archives of the Hungarian State Security. The collection is arranged thematically: documents from the various archives together with press clippings and papers collected by Varga were brought together by topic, disregarding their original place of preservation.

Accruals

Not Expected

Conditions of Access and Use

Conditions governing access

The general research restrictions apply. The documents can be researched in OSA Research Room.

Conditions governing reproduction

Az OSA kutatótermében oktatási és kutatási célra digitálisan másolható.

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

The collection consists of phisicaly documents, mostly copies of original, in good condition.

Description Control

Archivist's note

Processed by László Varga and Örs Lehel Tari, February 16, 2015.