[From the guide to the Helen and John F. Szablya Papers (Cage 728)]
Helen M. Bartha-Kovács was born in 1934 in Budapest, Hungary. She married John F. Szablya (1924-2005) in 1951. John had graduated from József Nádor University in 1948 and while being employed by the Ganz Electrical Works also worked as a lecturer and research associate at his alma mater.
After the failed Hungarian uprising of 1956, Helen and John escaped from Hungary to Vienna. They then moved to Vancouver, Canada, and in 1957 John became an associate professor of electrical engineering at the University of British Columbia. In 1963, the Szablyas moved to Pullman, WA, where John was employed as a professor of electrical engineering at Washington State University (WSU). Helen graduated from the University of British Columbia with a Diploma in Sales and Marketing Management, and in 1976 received a B.A. in Foreign Languages and Literatures from WSU.
Over the next three decades, Helen and John Szablya lived and taught in several different countries, including Germany and Trinidad, finally settling in a suburb of Seattle, WA. Helen wrote Flame of a Dream, co-authored a commemorative play titled Hungary Remembered for the 30th anniversary of the Hungarian uprising, and published extensively in special interest publications such as Our Family, Inland Register, and the Hungarian Business Weekly. She served as the President of the Washington Press Association and as the Consul of the Republic of Hungary in the Pacific Northwest.
John became a full professor in 1965. During his tenure at WSU he was involved with the Electrical Power Research and Development Center (EPRDC) project, and spent several years abroad as a visiting professor at the Technical University of Braunschweig in Germany and the University of the West Indies in Trinidad. After retiring from WSU, John went on to work in the electrical engineering field as a consultant, becoming the Manager of the Electrical, Instrumentation and Control Department for Ebasco in 1981.
MS.2009.03: Papers of Helen Szablya, with a small amount by John Szablya. Newspaper columns, papers related to oral history projects and workshops, and other professional papers.
MS.2009.06: Papers of Helen and John Szablya, including photographs (prints and slides), primarily from energy projects in Alaska circa 1987-1990 (John Szablya?); resumes, correspondence, writings of Helen Szablya; publisher catalogs.
MS.2010.07: Szablya family papers. Mostly Helen Szablya material: manuscripts (book drafts, speeches, correspondence), printed materials (Hungary International newsletter--possible duplicate; clippings); media. Subjects include: promotion of Helen Szablya's work, especially writing and speaking; project files for Flame of a Dream, "Troop with no number" (book), "Extra! Extra!" (Washington centennial project on journalists); oral history grant.
MS.2023.10: Helen Szablya papers. Includes Hungary history, Trinidad sabbatical, Hungary Remembered, Fall of the Red Star. Some a/v media included.
Preliminary inventory:
MS.2009.03:
Box 1. Helen Szablya writings and research files, circa 1970s-1990s.
Boxes 2-4. Issues of the Catholic News, and clippings and photocopies from the same title, with Helen Szablya columns, 1980-1991.
Box 5. Helen Szablya writings (newspapers and clippings), circa 1980s. John Szablya lectures (undated) on microfilm (1 reel). Hungary Remembered on videotape (VHS). Postcards and photographs.
Box 6. "Hungary Remembered" videotape (continued from Box 5). Helen Szablya oral history files.
Box 7. Helen Szablya writings; Washington Press Association files including award applications; National Federation of Press Women files; miscellaneous including correspondence files and files on Hungary; circa 1960s-1990s.
MS.2009.06:
Box 1. Photographs (prints and slides). Mostly from Alaska, related to energy projects; carton marked "APU Photos" and "Prudhoe." Includes typescript (possibly a narration for a presentation or slide show?); some loose unidentified photographs, and some from California.
Box 2. Photographs (continued from box 1); papers.
Boxes 3-4. Papers
MS.2010.07: no inventory available.
MS.2023.10: Helen Szablya writings and research files, circa 1950s-2010s.
Box 1. Received box 1: Publicity information relating to publications, Hungary International issues, manuscripts, correspondences, WSU course materials. Circa 1960s-2010s.
Box 2. End of received box 1-received box 2: Bellevue Hungary Council History. Correspondences, Hungary trip ephemera, Media materials, tourist pamphlets. Circa 1990s-2010s.
Box 3. End of received box 2- received box 3: Trinidad Sabbatical. Correspondences and articles. Circa 1980s-2010s.
Box 4. End of received box 3- received box 4: Pullman Era. Correspondences, articles, research notes, possible business letters, Bellevue Committee, and Grand Coulee (trip?) Planning. Circa 1960s-2000s.
Box 5. End of received box 4- received box 5: Hungary Remembered. Pullman era, Oral history (transcripts?), letters, articles, Hungary Remembered scripts. Circa 1960s-1990s.
Box 6. Received box 6: Braunsweig, a bit of Trinidad, more Pullman. Correspondences, research, articles, Pullman and WSU history, Hungary Remembered and interviews recorded on VHS, DVD, and CDs. Circa 1950s-2000s.
Box 7. End of received box 6- received box 7: HMS Writings Fall of the Red Star. Marked “Fall of the Red Star” book, articles, and letters. Circa 1960s-1990s.
Box 8. Received box 8: Hungary Remembered. VHSs, photographs, pamphlets, manuscript drafts. Circa 1960s-2000s.
Box 9. Received box 9: 50th Anniversary of 1956. Articles, letters, published journals, and books. Circa 1950s-2000s.
MS.2025.09. Full inventory available on request.
This is an unprocessed collection. Arrangement reflects a pre-existing order from the records’ creators or previous custodians.
This collection is open and available for research use.
Copyright restrictions may apply.
[Item description]
Preliminary Guide to the Szablya Family Papers, circa 1950s-2010s (MSSM.082)
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.
Helen Szablya donated these materials to the Washington State University Libraries in multiple installments beginning in 2009 (MS.2009.03, MS.2009.06, MS.2010.07). In March, 2023, Helen's daughter Rita Pool donated additional materials (MS.2023.10)
(MASC STAFF USE) MS.2023.10 needs evaluation.
Helen and John F. Szablya Papers, 1962-2004 (Cage 728)
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.