Andor Kraszna-Krausz Archive

KRA

1920 - 1989

This archive is composed of personal papers, travel documents, correspondence, photography and cameras owned by Andor Kraszna-Krausz as well as files, books, and designs relating to Focal Press, the publishing house established by Kraszna-Krausz in 1938. Correspondence in this archive covers personal letters from Andor Kraszna-Krausz over the period of the Second World War with institutions such as the British Intelligence Naval Division and the BBC concerning, for example, National Service Enrolment, photography, food rations and translations of German text. There is also correspondence relating to the establishment of Focal Press, company correspondence, and for numerous Focal Press publications. There are a number of items relating to publications at Focal Press, including designs for book covers, typescripts, synopses and the Focal Press library catalogue. There are also books published by Focal Press including guides to Photography. Another significant Focal Press holding is a number of Focal Press corporate Christmas cards, many incorporating the Focal Press colophon, from the 1939-1950s. There are also a significant number of designs for personal Christmas cards made my Andor and Irma Kraszna-Krausz depicting their Hertforshire home “Old Thatch”. These Christmas designs range from standard greeting cards to puzzle greeting cards, gift tags, and stamps. There are also textiles printed with motifs relating to Old Thatch and some which were filled with dried flowers as Christmas gifts. Alongside these fabrics, the archive also includes a foldable Deutsche Industrie top hat. The archive also contains Kraszna-Krausz's personal notebook and notes written in English and Hungarian as well as copies of publications and journals relating to photography and also a number of copies of "Mult es Jovo" Monthly. There are a number of cameras and other photographic equipment and photographic aids such as exposure meters. These are accompanied by Kraszna-Krausz’s personal slide collection which includes slides of Kraszna-Krausz’s travels, home life, and work and prints of these photographs in photograph albums. There are also a few photographic prints, both personal and relating to publications such as "Nature and my Miniature" by Oliver G. Pike. There are also materials relating to travel in Europe, including guides to motoring, tourist brochures, conference schedules, and guides to food and culture, such as Portuguese Wine and Hotel Menus. The archive also contains a number of Kraszna-Krausz’s membership cards, certificates and medals as well as his ID badges. This archive is part of a larger donation to the National Media Museum made in Kraszna-Krausz's will and also included his personal library which contains rare books and early photography books as well as a number of Focal Press books.

34 boxes

This collection is in good to fair condition.

English, Hungarian, German

This archive was bequeathed to the National Media Museum in 1990 in the will of Andor Kraszna-Krausz.

National Science and Media Museum, Bradford

Access is given in accordance with the NMeM access policy. Material from this collection is available to researchers through the museum’s Insight facility.

Copies may be supplied of items in the collection, provided that the copying process used does not damage the item or is not detrimental to its preservation. Copies will be supplied in accordance with the NMeM’s terms and conditions for the supply and reproduction of copies, and the provisions of any relevant copyright legislation.

This archive is currently undergoing processing and this field will be updated when a system of arrangement has been established.