The present article explores, through the correspondence of the officials of the Hungarian Learned Society, who was involved in the Society’s affairs during its early years, in what manner, and to what extent they participated in addressing and resolving emerging issues. As vice-president, István Széchenyi corresponded regularly with his colleagues and employees in the Society about academic matters. In most cases, he expressed his dilemmas regarding a particular issue or his arguments in favor of a particular decision at length in his private correspondence, thus his letters to Antal Tasner further nuance the positions expressed in his (semi-)official letters. In the early years of the Society, there were several issues in which almost all of the actors mentioned in the article were involved, as documented by the correspondence: the start of the institution's operations, the publication of the dictionary and the Tudománytár (Encyclopedia of Science), and the 1835 election of officers. For a more detailed account of the latter situation, Ferenc Kölcsey's private correspondence is also available, which reveals why it was a difficult decision for him to accept or reject the position of secretary.

Rozália Csáky's correspondence with scholars and her support contributed to the public dissemination of Transylvanian archaeological and botanical research, which is also reflected in the enrichment of her library. Beyond serving her own interests, her Herbarium aimed at the exploration and documentation of Transylvanian flora, the practical benefits of which were also perceived and appreciated by her entourage. Following the founding of the Transylvanian Museum Society, members of the Jósika family contributed to the enrichment of its collections through donations. These included not only their numismatic collection but also their library and the entail archive, which – through marriage – was expanded with documents from the Transylvanian Csáky family and other noble families. Presumably, the Herbarium also formed part of the collection of the Transylvanian National Museum.

The present article reviews the history of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences during the era of Dualism. Rather than focusing merely on institutional history, however it outlines the most significant organizational reforms, it seeks to shed light on the values, concepts of science and the sense of mission which defined the operation of the Academy through studying how its leaders interpreted their roles. During this period, the Academy was also led mainly by politicians, albeit such politicians well versed in the world of science. Although the presidents themselves did not determine the science policy of the era, they played a major role in deciding whether the Academy should prefer linguistic and literary tasks or represent the interests of more narrowly defined scientific disciplines. They also faced the challenge that an institution oriented more toward specialized sciences no longer attracted the same level of public interest as it had when it was still striving for national goals, and they had to shape the institution's relationship with the dynamically developing university sphere.

The study at hand examines the role of the Hungarian scientific elite during World War I, paying particular attention to the challenges associated with the reintegration of war veterans. First, it reviews the impact of the Great War on the functioning of science and the transformation of international scientific relations, then it demonstrates that reintegration was a complex challenge that engaged several disciplines. Special attention is devoted to the public lectures held by members of the scientific elite of the time, which were significant not only in that they created an independent professional discourse, but also in that they contributed to raising awareness of the traumas experienced by war veterans, thereby strengthening social sensitivity and solidarity. The main argument of the article is that the scientific elite actively sought to contribute to the processing of war experiences and to facilitate the reintegration of veterans, but the impact of these efforts remained limited due to institutional constraints.

By 1920, the Hungarian Academy of Sciences was in a critical financial situation. The solution lay in increasing state subsidies, but the possibilities were limited due to the economic crisis that had lasted for years. Finally, in 1925, the institution received a one-time allocation, followed by regular, larger subsidies from the 1926/27 fiscal year onwards. The state subsidy was supported by all parties in parliament, but a debate arose among them about the role of the Academy and its relationship with the state. In the early 1930s, the amount of aid was significantly reduced, but due to the generous bequest of Count Ferenc Vigyázó, this had no significant negative impact.