Browsing 75 items in the 1956 Hungarian Memorial Oral History Project
Item 1
Collection: 1956 Hungarian Memorial Oral History Project
Title: Hungarian interview - John Ehl
Creator: MHSO; Anne Schooley
Subject: Ehl, John - Hungarian Canadian - Oral history
Description: John Ehl describes, in detail, his personal history beginning with his emigration from Hungary to Canada, up to the time of the interview. He first settled in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and worked on the railroad for thirty cents per hour. Mr. Ehl moved to Ontario and was able to buy his first farm (50 acres) in 1943 for $2,800. He converted it to a tobacco farm. He had never done any share growing or worked with tobacco before this time. Mr. Henry Gehring sponsored Mr. Ehl's wife's immigration to Canada around 1938. To immigrate at this time, you needed either $1,000 in the bank or a sponsor. Mr. Ehl speaks very lucidly in this interview and has an excellent memory for dates, names, and places.
Item 2
Collection: 1956 Hungarian Memorial Oral History Project
Title: Hungarian interview - Marta Hidy
Creator: MHSO; Monika Berenyi
Date: 1956-02-08
Subject: Hidy, Marta - Hungarian Canadian - Oral history
Description: Marta Hidy began playing the violin at the age of 4, in her native Hungary. She describes Russian activity during World War II. She had a husband and two children in Debrecen at time of revolution. She recalls the starvation and plight of Hungarians during and after World War II. She also talks about seeing Russian tanks passing through Debrecen. During the war there was no food and no light in Budapest. With the outbreak of the Revolution in 1956 Ms. Hidy and her family fled Hungary into Austria and then took a boat to Canada, arriving in Halifax. Her first perspectives of Canada where that it had clean air, and felt free. At first they lived in Winnipeg, and then moved to Hamilton, Ontario where she taught at McMaster University and has had a prolific career as a performer and instructor. Ms. Hidy says that Canada gave her a new life, but she is Hungarian, proud to be Canadian.
Item 3
Collection: 1956 Hungarian Memorial Oral History Project
Title: Hungarian interview - Mrs. Csok
Creator: MHSO; Carmela Patrias
Date: 1976-11-29
Subject: Csok, Mrs. - Hungarian Canadian - Oral history
Description: Mrs. Csók was born in 1905, in Tiszaszàlka, Bereg County, Hungary. Her father had previously been to the U.S. three times. Her family had been hurt by Hungary's losses following World War I. Mrs. Csók and her husband (then fiancé) came to Canada in part because their families did not approve of their proposed marriage, as she was Roman Catholic and he was Presbyterian. . Mr. Csók came to Canada (Winnipeg) first and was joined by Mrs. Csók in 1928. They then moved to Toronto in 1937, and opened one of the first Hungarian restaurants in the city—the Beverly Restaurant. They later sold restaurant, and Mr. Csók went to work for the TTC and later a paint factory. Mrs. Csók worked in a chocolate factory and also a seamstress. She talks about the beginnings of the Hungarian Roman Catholic congregation, and the Hungarian House. Mrs. Csók also mentions problems between Hungarians from different regions of Hungary, and her impressions of Post WWII Hungarian immigrants. The interview ends with her memories of the anti-Hungarian attitude in Canada during World War II— they were labeled 'Nazis,' and found it difficult to get jobs.
Item 4
Collection: 1956 Hungarian Memorial Oral History Project
Title: Hungarian interview - Julia Bayer
Creator: MHSO; Carmela Patrias
Date: 1976-11-30
Subject: Bayer, Julia - Hungarian Canadian - Oral history
Description: Julia Bayer was born in Debrecen, Hungary, in 1904. Her father owned a flourmill. He decided to leave Hungary because of the heavy taxation imposed after World War I. Her father came to Canada in 1925 with $4000 and bought a farm near Welland, Ontario. The rest of family followed in 1926. Mrs. Bayer left her family to enter domestic service in Hamilton. In 1931 she came to Toronto and worked as a seamstress for Eaton's until she was laid off in 1937. She then studied dress design for two years. Started a dressmaking business, first in her home, and later opening a salon on Avenue Road. She had five employees. In the 1960s, she married Mr. Bayer, who was a prominent member of the Hungarian Community, Roman Catholic congregation. Mrs. Bayer discusses the Hungarian congregation in the Church of All Nations (on Queen St.) and makes mention of Dr. Czako Ambro, a United Church Minister. In connection to her husband, she also discusses the purchase of the St. Elizabeth of Hungary Roman Catholic Church on Dundas and Spadina. She concludes by offering her insights on the relationship between earlier and later immigration groups.
Item 5
Collection: 1956 Hungarian Memorial Oral History Project
Title: Hungarian interview - Mrs. Gabura
Creator: MHSO; Carmela Patrias
Date: 1977
Subject: Gabura, Mrs. - Hungarian Canadian - Oral history
Description: Mrs. Gabura provides information on her background, including what life was like for her family in Hungary. She describes how she met her husband and their marriage. Mrs. Gabura shares the preconceived notions she had of 'America,' before immigrating to Toronto. Mrs. Gabura discusses the situation of Hungarian immigrants in Toronto.
Item 6
Collection: 1956 Hungarian Memorial Oral History Project
Title: Hungarian interview - Mrs. Wappel
Creator: MHSO; Carmela Patrias
Date: 1977-01-17
Subject: Wappel, Mrs. - Hungarian Canadian - Oral history
Description: Mrs. Wappel immigrated to Canada from Hungary with her family as a young girl. They came around 1930, and were among the last immigrants to be admitted to the country before the Depression forced the government to clamp down on immigration. Mrs. Wappel's family initially settled in Montreal, and she attended a Catholic school run by nuns. Because of this situation, she learned to speak English and French almost simultaneously. Mrs. Wappel talks about the social activities among the Hungarian community, especially theatre productions, which were very popular. She mentions some other Hungarian organizations, including a Hungarian Church called St. Stephen's.
Item 7
Collection: 1956 Hungarian Memorial Oral History Project
Title: Hungarian interview - Mrs. Blasko
Creator: MHSO; Carmela Patrias
Date: 1977-02
Subject: Blasko, Mrs. - Hungarian Canadian - Oral history
Description: Mrs. Blasko describes her childhood in Hungary. Her family had relatives in Canada, which influenced their decision to emigrate from Hungary to Canada. Mrs. Blasko talks about her initial disappointments upon arriving in Canada. Her first job in Toronto was working as a dressmaker for Buchanan & Sinclair, on Spadina Avenue. She eventually made the decision to work from home, because she was unable to find suitable care for son. Mrs. Blasko talks about the Independent Mutual Benefit Federation theatre group. Mrs. Blasko's husband was the General Secretary of the IMBF, although she was unwilling to discuss his involvement with the Federation. Mrs. Blasko also talks about the Hungarian immigrants who arrived following the 1956 Revolution.
Item 8
Collection: 1956 Hungarian Memorial Oral History Project
Title: Hungarian interview - Andrew Hertel
Creator: MHSO; Piri Pandy
Date: 1977-07-11
Subject: Hertel, Andrew
Description: Andrew Hertel discusses the founding of Hungarian Hall in Toronto and in Delhi, Ontario. He talks about losing money in oil speculation in Alberta, giving credit to refugees, and never getting it back. He also provides information about early social life in the Hungarian-Canadian community, and the reaction against communism.
Item 9
Collection: 1956 Hungarian Memorial Oral History Project
Title: Hungarian interview - Andrew More
Creator: MHSO; David Judd
Date: 1977-07-11
Subject: More, Andrew - Hungarian Canadian - Oral history
Description: Andrew More discusses his personal background, including the story of his father's emigration from Hungary to Canada. His father became a tobacco farmer in south-western Ontario, and was also involved in the fertilizer business. Mr. More talks about the history of early Hungarian settlers in the area, as well as his own family's history. He describes the situation of ethnic minorities in Ontario in the post-WWII period, and also the failure of the 1956 Hungarian refugees to adjust to farming. Mr. More also talks about the Ontario Tobacco Marketing Board and 'tobacco rights.' He provides information on the role of Communist party in the tobacco belt in 1930s and 1940s. The interview ends with Mr. More's opinions on his ethnic group's success in the area around Delhi, Ontario.
Item 10
Collection: 1956 Hungarian Memorial Oral History Project
Title: Hungarian interview - Alfred Kaman
Creator: MHSO; Piri Pandy and Rev. Pandy
Date: 1977-07-21
Subject: Kaman, Alfred - Hungarian Canadian - Oral history
Description: Alfred Kaman was born in Hungary, and as an adult there worked there as an agronomist. The Communist government, which took over the country following World War II, forced Mr. Kaman to lie about his work. He left Hungary after the 1956 Revolution, arriving in Canada in 1957. Mr. Kaman gives a detailed account of his first impressions of Canada. In Canada, Mr. Kaman entered the tobacco share growing industry, along with many other Hungarian immigrants, in south-western Ontario. He talks about the Hungarian Hall in Delhi, Ontario. Mr. Kaman shares his hopes for his children's future.
