Code,801001
Subject,"Lel Somogyi, Hungarian Cultural Garden"
Date,2/20/2009
Interviewer,Michael Rotman
Abstract,"Lel Somogyi of the Hungarian Cultural Garden discusses the garden's history and his involvment with the Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation.  Somogyi describes the garden's development within the historical context of Cleveland's Hungarian community, as well as within the context of American history and culture, and global political events.  Somogyi's father was a member of the Hungarian Parliament prior to World War II, and came to the United States as a political refugee as the war heightened.  Somogyi remains involved in Hungarian ethnic activities in the Cleveland area and maintains a website dedicated to the Hungarian Garden (http://www.hungarianculturalgarden.org)."
Special Notes,
minutes:,
0,introduction; role at Gardens
1,Hungarian Cultural Garden: Rededication
2,_____involvement of community and ethnic organizations
3,_____description of ceremony
4,"_____fundraising, reconstruction and restoration"
5,"_____restoration, fundraising, planning"
6,Hungarian Cultural Garden: History
7,"_____planning and building, rededication (1938)"
8,_____Hungarian community in Cleveland (early 20th c.)
9,_____WPA and Depression era
10,
11,_____cost (comparing contemporary and current cost in equivalent dollars)
12,"_____Verhovey Kapu (gate): cost, design, history"
13,
14,
15,
16,"_____representing Hungarian culture, flowers"
17,"_____form and architecture, view of landscape"
18,"_____walkways and stonework,"
19,"_____Harold Atkinson (architect): design by committee, Hungarian Cultural Court, Sabochak (sp): Hungarian Newspaper"
20,_____1934 dedication
21,Hungarian Cultural Garden (WWII era)
22,"_____geopolitical context, Hungarians as domestic enemy"
23,"_____erection of flagpole, American flag"
24,Hungarian Cultural Garden (Post-war era): return to normal activity
25,"_____Hungary under communist control, Remenyi"
26,_____Remenyi
27,Hungarian Garden: Description
28,_____plans not realized
29,_____revisiting old plans
30,"Lel Somogyi, family history: father was member of Hungarian Parliament and political refugee"
31,_____involvement with local Hungarian community
32,Hungarian ethnic identity: survival of distinct identity vs assimilation
33,_____generational change (meaning and motivation)
34,_____not just food and music but also cultural and literary legacy
35,_____other Hungarian org.s in Cleveland
36,
37,_____Hungarian-American scouting troupes
38,_____Hungarian war veterans and police
39,_____Benevolent Societies
40,
41,_____ethnic identity in modern US
42,Hungarian Cultural Gardens: new development vs maintenance of original plan
43,
44,Cleveland Cultural Gardens: impact of urban depression and racial tensions
,_____Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation (1990s): driving force for renewal
45,"_____favorite gardens, Hungarian Garden within CCG as a whole"
46,
47,_____impact of urban renewal and highway development
48,_____earliest memories of Gardens
49,
50,
51,
52,
53,_____impact of highway development
54,
55,"Website development as a ""virtual commemoration"""
56,end