Would You Like to Preserve Your Family’s Historical Documents for Future Generations?

The family archives stored in our homes—even if they consist of just a few folders of documents—can be seen as reservoirs of collective memory and genealogical heritage. They preserve the shared memories of several generations. What ultimately becomes worthy of remembrance, and what is incorporated into a family’s documentary legacy, is the result of centuries of careful collecting, selection, and transmission—reflecting how families relate to their past.

In the devastation of 1944–1945, the aftermath of war swept across Hungary. Marching armies left behind destruction—noble manors and townhouses alike were ravaged, and with them, the historical, artistic, literary, and scholarly values accumulated by the nobility and bourgeoisie were often lost. Fearing punishment, revenge, or simple defeat, many fled—leaving behind their homes and belongings. In the chaos that followed, countless irreplaceable items were lost within weeks: castles turned to stables, libraries to kindling, archives to trash. Medieval charters became packing material, carved doors became firewood. Archives were converted into military canteens, libraries into children’s shelters—and in better cases, manor houses into offices. Paintings, porcelain, and crystal changed hands unjustly, eventually turning up in flea markets—until some measure of order slowly returned.

To today’s generations, all of this is history. Yet medieval charters, armorial patents, inventories of long-lost family libraries and archives, yellowed 19th–20th century photographs, and letters exchanged between now-forgotten relatives still survive. For younger generations, however, preserving them grows increasingly difficult. Many do not know what to do with these items—after the passing of their original caretakers and the sale of family homes, such documents often end up in second-hand markets through intermediaries.

Few realize that private documents can carry real scientific and historical value.

Our Foundation serves as the voice of cultural and scholarly conscience. We believe: whatever can be saved, must be saved—the values of the past should not be lost.

If you wish to ensure the long-term safety of family materials preserved through generations, the best solution is to entrust them to a public institution, where professionals care for them with expert attention and archival preservation. Our Foundation assists those who cannot bear to see their family legacy destroyed. We support public archives by providing flexible services—such as onsite evaluation—or, if the donation is not offered as a gift, we may also assist in securing the financial resources archives often cannot readily provide.

For those who do not wish to part with their family documents permanently, we offer a solution as well. For example, if the owner prefers to keep their family’s heraldic patent at home, but would like to prevent its loss, we can create high-quality digital images of the document free of charge. These digital copies are added to a public archive’s database, making them accessible to researchers and ensuring that a valuable historical source is preserved for scholarship.