Long Island Historical Society Ethnicity Culture Nassau Suffolk New York

- American Hungarian Foundation - Fosters understanding of Hungarian cultural traditions in U.S. Hungarian Heritage Center includes Museum and Library of Hungarian art and archives. Founded in 1954, the American Hungarian Foundation is devoted to furthering the understanding and appreciation of the Hungarian cultural and historical heritage in the United States. The Foundation serves as a bridge between Hungarian and American cultural traditions in an effort to enhance a better understanding of the contributions of each. The Foundation's founders and the three generations of Hungarians and American Hungarians that volunteer their assistance have illustrated through their dedication to the Foundation that the sense of Hungarian heritage can indeed be preserved in the United States.

Through grants, special events, lectures, educational scholarships, and exhibitions, the American Hungarian Foundation supports students and educational institutions. During the past four decades, the Foundation has promoted fellowships, scholarships, publications, research, and educational programs. It has been instrumental in establishing several academic programs focusing on Hungarian studies, such as the Institute for Hungarian Studies at Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey.

The Foundation's dream has long been to communicate the story of American Hungarians through the Hungarian Heritage Center, which is the only Hungarian center of its type in the United States. The traditions and contributions of American Hungarians are documented and preserved as important collections and shared with the general public. The Center's location in the Northeast region of the United States places it not only in an historically important area for American Hungarians, but is also in close reach of nearly forty percent of the current American Hungarian population. The Hungarian Heritage Center represents an important facet of American and ethnic history because the role of Hungarians in this country is a significant ingredient in the fabric of American history.

The American Hungarian Heritage Center presents a unique and dynamic portrayal of the cultural and historical heritage of American Hungarians. As a premier institution for Hungarians in the United States, the Heritage Center provides space and equipment for the proper display and use of the Foundation's rich and diverse collections. The Center's main areas are: the Museum; the Library of more than 50,000 volumes, archives; and The Museum Gift and Craft Shop. Additional space within the facility provides for meetings and small conferences, research and reading, special exhibits, and community service groups.