Hungarian Academy of Sciences on Lukács Archives

László Lovász, president of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA) met with Péter Agárdi, president of the supervising committee of the György Lukács Foundation on April 5^th 2016. Mr. Lovász confirmed MTA’s previous standpoint: according to the Hungarian Academy of Sciences it is important to preserve the Lukács Archives and its materials should be processed, organised and catalogued thoroughly based on strict professional regulations while the collection should also remain open to research. The most important scientific aim is to ensure that the materials of the Lukács Archives and Library are made available to professional circles both in Hungary and abroad.

As already stated in an earlier press release by MTA, the library of the Lukács Archives is to be relocated to the Institute of Philosophy within the MTA Research Centre for the Humanities. The manuscript archives are to be transferred to the Manuscript Archives of the Library and Information Centre of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences based on a schedule which makes it possible to digitize and catalogue the material in accordance with regulations.

At the 5^th April meeting Mr. Lovász made it clear that the Lukács Archives will not be split, since all books together with all the digitized/catalogued manuscripts will be taken to the Philosophy Institute of the MTA Research Centre for the Humanities. Hence the whole collection will remain in one place. President Lovász considers all the books, documents and manuscripts within the Lukács Archives to be integral parts of the collection.

The idea that certain pieces of furniture could also be transported to the Institute of Philosophy as long as the heirs provide their prior consent, was also proposed at the meeting.

Mr. Lovász declared that MTA does not maintain memorials for any of the Academy's outstanding scholars, as their legacy is best preserved by a systematic presentation of their scientific work. However, if the Lukács Foundation, private citizens or other organizations wish to maintain the archive, the Academy is ready to assist them with the organisation and technical implementation in partnership with the local government of the 5^th district of Budapest.

President Lovász will take part in further negotiations regarding the above issues with eminent scholars within the field of philosophy.