Naše rodina “Our Famil y”
Quarterly of the Czechoslovak Genealogical Society International December 2017
Volume 29 Number 4
Among the Gravestones: My Quest for Family in Prague By Carol Jean Smetana The middle-aged woman sets her watering can on the cement path, then straightens up to consider the graves in front of her. Monuments rise on either side, columns and monoliths of stone and concrete
bearing witness to the deceased. The sound of a familiar voice disrupts her reminiscing: “Josefka!” She turns her head to look over her left shoulder and smiles at her brother as he presses the shutter release on his Kodak camera. Almost 40 years later, I am standing on a busy street corner in Prague holding that photo in my hand, studying it. Although I can’t make out any of the names on the tombstones in the picture, I am sure one of them marks the graves of my greatgrandparents, for the photographer was my paternal grandfather, Frank Charles Smetana, and the woman in the photograph, Josefka, was his only sibling, my great-aunt. The slide from 1948 marked simply “hřbitov.”
When I first started researching my genealogy in the late 1970s, I didn’t have much information about my paternal grandfather. I knew that he was born in Ústí nad Labem in 1890 to Josef and Františka Smetana, that his sister Josefka was born in 1895 in Kolín, and that he immigrated to the U.S. when he was a young man. I knew too that he returned only once to his birth land, in Continued on page 147
Theme Theme of of This This Issue: Issue: Czech and Slovak Cemeteries 145 – Among the Gravestones: My
Quest for Family in Prague 146 – President’s Message 153 – The Living Celebrate the Dead in Slovakia’s Cemeteries 158 – The Final Resting Place of the Nation’s Finest 162 – Czech Cemeteries, Now and Before 166 – How to Search On-Line Cem eteries in Slovakia 169 – 2016 CGSI Financial Statements 170 – Call for Papers – 2019 Conference 171 – Unique hand-drawn Family Trees from Slovakia 176 – Following the Kansas Czech Trail: Research Resources for the His toric Kansas Czech Settlements 187 – Mother of Nations (Maria Theresa) 191 – 2017 Pittsburgh Conference Recap 192 – The Librarian’s Shelf 197 – Library Donations/Sponsor Members 198 – Sales Order Form 199 – Calendar of Events
Naše rodina Quarterly Newsletter for the Czechoslovak Genealogical Society International (CGSI) members CGSI Board of Directors (at large) Ed Vavra (Iowa) Polly Walker (Minnesota) Claude Duchon (Oklahoma) Kathy Jorgenson (Minnesota) Mike Kudlac (Ohio) Carol Smetana (New Mexico) Michael Kopanic (Pennsylvania) Melda Boyd (Virginia) Sharon Valasek (Missouri) CGSI Officers President 1st Vice President 2nd Vice President Treasurer Recording Secretary Corresponding Secretary
Suzette Steppe Kevin Hurbanis Jean Peterka Hall Dave Miller Nancy Blume Mike Wolesky
CGSI Committee Chairs Education Jerry Martinek Hospitality Pam Peltier Library and Archives Kevin Kittilson Marketing Vacant Membership Jolene Kass Newsletter Paul Makousky Product Sales Jerry Parupsky Publicity Nancy Grech Volunteer Coordinator Barb Douvier Internet (Webmaster) Tony Kadlec Naše rodina promotes genealogy of the ethnic groups that comprise Czechoslovakia as it was formed in 1918. We accept articles of historical and cultural information, but they must have genealogical significance and all are subject to editing. The deadlines for submitting articles to Naše rodina are: January 1 March issue April 1 June issue July 1 September issue October 1 December issue Naše rodina (Our Family) (ISSN 1045-8190) is published quarterly by the Czechoslovak Genealogical Society International, P.O. Box 16225, St. Paul, MN 55116-0225, a non-profit organization. Copyright 2017 by Czechoslovak Genealogical Society International. The publication is not responsible for the return of lost or unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or any other material not submitted with a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Advertisements, manuscripts, articles, and photographs for the Naše rodina may be submitted to Czechoslovak Genealogical Society International, Attn: Paul Makousky, P.O. Box 16225, St. Paul, MN 55116-0225. Permission to copy, without fee, all or part of the material is granted, provided that the copies are not made or distributed for direct commercial advantage. The CGSI copyright notice and the title of the publication must appear together with the date of the publication. Also, indicate that the copying is with permission by CGSI. Abstracting with credit is permitted. To copy otherwise or to republish, requires a fee and/or permission from CGSI. The Czechoslovak Genealogical Society International does not endorse the products that we sell nor the items or services, including translators that are advertised in this publication. Neither does CGSI guarantee the quality or results of any services provided by advertisers.
President’s Message by Suzette Steppe 2017 was a busy year for CGSI! We are back from a successful Pittsburgh Conference and settling in to our new library location. In late October we returned to Pittsburgh for our 16th conference and it proved to be one of our best conferences yet. For those of you who attended, you can attest to all of the great events whether it is the tours, presentations or entertainment. For those of you who missed out – you need to start planning right now for Lincoln in October 2019. Wherever we hold our conferences we always find excellent speakers who are passionate about their presentations and want to share their knowledge with everyone who attend. This conference was no different. We had local Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania specific presentations as well as historical presentations that covered the Czecho-Slovak Legion, the Cleveland Agreement and the Pittsburgh Pact. Those that were beginning their genealogy could attend a beginning Slovak genealogy class, learn how to organize their research, or how to create a family archive. There were presentations on how to research the archives, search for Austro-Hungarian military records, research estate records or how to read Kurrent script and cultural presentations that covered historical cuisine and life in the villages. You cannot attend one of our conferences and not find presentations that interest you on some level. We recorded many of the presentations and are now reviewing them to determine the quality of the recording. We will be placing those recordings on our website in the coming weeks so check back to see if there is a presentation that you missed. Our networking session was back for this conference and it was well attended. People were looking to connect with those researching the same surnames or to get ideas from others on how to break through their brick-walls. I know a lot of good ideas were shared and many went home after the conference and put those ideas into use right away. I haven’t heard yet if any long-lost cousins connected, if so, email me at president@cgsi.org. I am interested in hearing your story. It has been said that genealogy is a retiree’s hobby or that caring about your ethnic heritage isn’t popular anymore, not so at this conference. We witnessed the next generation taking over their parents’ research and wanting to learn more, whether it is how to cross the pond and further their research or learning why their ancestors came to America. We also watched the next generation carrying on their ethnic heritage in both music and dance with the Slavjane Folk Ensemble and the Pittsburgh Area Slovak Folk Ensemble providing wonderful entertainment on the last night of our conference. To accomplish a conference like this takes a village… of volunteers. I want to thank Paul Makousky, who served as Conference Chair as continued on page 147
Page 146
Naše rodina
December 2017 Vol. 29 No. 4
well as all of the volunteers (the list is endless) who assisted Paul in some way over the last three years. Whether it was early publicity, manning a sales table at festivals, choosing the presentations, or assembling bags for conference attendees – EVERY VOLUNTEER counts toward the success of our conference. In this issue you will notice that we are “full steam ahead” in planning for the Lincoln Conference with a call for presentation submissions. We are also calling out to all volunteers who can help in any number of ways for the conference. If you think you have the time please email <info@cgsi.org> and let us know your name, contact information and how you would like to volunteer or what skill you have that we can use in preparation for Lincoln. We are looking to you, our members, to help make our Lincoln conference a success! We did not have any down time between the conference and moving into our new library location. The lease ran out on our old location and the Minnesota Genealogical Society (we are an affiliate of MGS) chose to move to a new location. The physical move happened while we were in Pittsburgh and since returning we have been organizing our collection and new office. The location is across the river from the Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport in Mendota Heights, Minnesota. This new space will contain both the library and classrooms together in one space and will be on the ground level with easy access to the parking lot. A big thank you goes out to everyone who came in on a few Saturday mornings to help clean out and box up everything that had to move. In the new year we are turning our attention to several anniversaries both large and small. 2018 will celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the creation of Czechoslovakia, the 50-year anniversary of the Prague Spring, and the 25-year anniversary of the formation of the Czech Republic and Slovakia. These are monumental anniversaries that have impacted our ancestors and any distant relations that currently reside in either country. For CGSI, next year will be our 30th anniversary as an organization. Look for information in a future issue of the Naše rodina about our fall symposium and 30th anniversary celebration. For now, I leave you with wishes for a wonderful holiday season and a happy new year!
“25 Years of Accomplishments...” cont. from
front cover
1948, to visit Josefka and her husband Jan Klacek, who at the time were living in Prague. A year after that trip (and a year before my birth), my grandfather died. The condolence letter from Josefka was the last communication with the Smetana family in “the old country.” In 1979 I took my first trip to my grandfather’s native land, called then Czechoslovakia. All around me—among the waiters bringing me plates of pork and dumplings to sate my appetite, the workingmen laughing and smoking as they relished their afternoon beers at the neighborhood pub, the old women sitting across from me on the tram clutching their purchases, the children in their Pioneer uniforms heading to school, the young men and women strolling along the River Vltava—I see familiar faces. The old woman’s face crinkled by her smile mirrors my aunt’s, that man’s eyes and hairline are my father’s, those high cheekbones belong to my cousins. I feel like I have returned home. In 1981 I made a second visit to Czechoslovakia, traveling with a childhood friend. After spending a week with her relatives who lived in a town north of Prague, I returned to the United States longing to find my own tangible connections to my ancestral homeland. I studied the color 35mm slides from my grandfather’s 1948 trip. There was one of my grandfather sitting in a chair, a young boy on his knee, with more than 20 people gathered around, smiling for the camera. I was especially intrigued by the young adults and children in the photo: were any of them Josefka and Jan Klacek’s children or grandchildren? Perhaps I too had living relatives in Czechoslovakia. Another 35mm slide caught my attention: it showed a middle-aged lady standing in front of a row of graves, a watering can by her feet. On the cardboard mounting my grandfather had written only one word, “hřbitov” – cemetery. But which cemetery? Where? I assumed the woman was his sister Josefka. And it seemed likely that they would have visited their parents’ graves. I had a print made from the slide, and on my next trip to Europe in spring 1986, I took the photo with me. I would have one free day in Prague to search for my Czech heritage, and I hoped this photograph could lead me to the graves of my great-grandparents. The desk clerk at the Hotel Evropa on Václavské Náměstí (Wenceslas Square) lets me look in the Prague phone book, but there is no listing for a Jan or Josefka continued on page 148
December 2017 Vol. 29 No. 4
Naše rodina
Page 147
Klacek. Since I know that, in 1986, a lot of Czechs do not have telephones, I get directions to their last known address, the return address on that 1949 condolence letter. This is a remote possibility: if they are still alive, Josefka and Jan would be in their 80s or 90s. So when I arrive at the building, I am disappointed though hardly surprised: there is no “Klacek” among the bank of names listed by the apartment doorbells. Now the photograph is my last hope. If I can find the grave where Josefka stood, it might lead me to my Czech relatives. But was the cemetery in Prague or in Kolín, 35 miles 1948 photo: František Smetana is man seated second from left. The man first from away, where Josefka had lived left (on František’s right) is his brother-in-law Jan Klacek. Standing directly behind with her parents before her František is his sister Josefka. marriage? Did my grandfather and his sister travel to Kolín to visit the graves of their parents? line. I decide to start my search there. But I am in Prague, so Prague is where I will look. Once I emerge aboveground from the subway, it What clues are in the photo to guide my search? takes only a moment to orient myself. I walk about 400 The path on which Josefka stands is lined on one side feet east along Vinohradská ulice (street) to enter the by a variety of monuments, some at least five or even six feet tall. I note three prominent grave markers: from nearest and largest of the three cemeteries, Olšanské hřbitovy. Later I would find out that this cemetery left to right, a white cylindrical column topped by a (actually comprised of several cemeteries: the proper sculpted black bird, an even taller rectangular black translation of its name is Olšany Cemeteries) is also the granite pillar, and another, squatter white cylindrical largest cemetery in Prague, covering almost 125 acres. column topped by a black male bust. The path is wide, Started in 1680 for plague victims, the cemetery has possibly a main path, and intersected by a narrower over 112,000 burials (this figure is based on informapath. Both paths appear to be paved and are edged with tion from the extant tombstones; some experts say if the low concrete curbs. There is a row of tall trees behind victims from the plague epidemics of 1679 and 1715-6 the monuments paralleling the main path, suggesting a are included, the number would be about two million). border, perhaps the outside perimeter of the cemetery. Although there are some shadows in the foreground, the As I approach the cemetery I note that its boundary scene is otherwise bathed in bright sunshine, suggesting walls are lined with old trees, suggesting the setting of the photograph. I enter expectantly. that this section of the cemetery is planted mainly with bushes and similar low-growing vegetation. I know I need to be methodical in my search or I I unfold my map and am dismayed to discover there could easily miss what I’m looking for. But once inside the cemetery, my analytical mien goes by the wayside, are more than a dozen cemeteries in Prague. What did and surging adrenaline propels me haphazardly from I expect for a capital city with over a million residents? grave to grave. Surrounded by hundreds of graves, I’m Nevertheless, I persist. I notice that four miles to the fighting mounting apprehension: given the number of east of Václavské Náměstí are three large cemeteries within walking distance of the Flora metro stop on the A cemeteries in Prague, in Kolín—in Czechoslovakia!— Page 148
Naše rodina
December 2017 Vol. 29 No. 4
walls enclose 25 acres of burial grounds holding thousands of graves, reportedly the second largest cemetery in Prague in terms of number of burials. I come first to a side entrance, an unremarkable opening in the wall: I turn and go in. Unaccountably, this time I do not flounder. Focusing on the monuments, I settle into a methodical search, progressing along the cemetery’s perimeter, keeping a wall nearby as I recall the tall trees in the background of the photograph. I am looking for those three conspicuous monuments, all more than five feet tall—the white column with the black stone bird, the rectangular black obelisk, and the shorter, stouter white column with the black bust. I create a mantra: “Black bird on white column, black rectangle, black head on white column…” The greenery in this section is somehow suggestive of the photo and heartens me. I try not to be discouraged by the dirt paths beneath my feet. As I pass gravestones of every description I refer frequently to the photo I’m clutching in my hand. Plain rectangular monuments are common, and occasionally I see a column topped with a sculpted head or bird. But I can’t find the three monuments arrayed together in the order of the photograph. “Black bird on white column, black rectangle, black head on white column…” Sporadically I pause to read a marker, hoping to find a familiar name. Františka Smetanová and Josefka Klacková roz. Smetanová gravemarker found on March 18, 1986.
this quest might be impossible. And barely ten minutes later I leave Olšanské. I’ve only made a cursory exploration of a tiny corner section of the cemetery, but inexplicably I feel this is not the right place. Crossing a side street, I stop in front of the main gate of the next cemetery, Nový židovský hřbitov. My reasoning may be weak—vague doubts about the look of the cemetery—but my intuition is strong: this is not the right place either. I turn away without even entering. (Later I will learn that “židovský” means Jewish, and that this is the New Jewish Cemetery of Prague, one of the Olšanské cemeteries. Since my grandfather’s family was Catholic, I could have logically eliminated this cemetery on that basis.) A quarter-mile farther east along Vinohradská ulice is the last of my target cemeteries. Vinohradský hřbitov is smaller than Olšanské hřbitovy, but still its cement December 2017 Vol. 29 No. 4
I have kept the tree-lined wall as a guide, searching graves a row or two in front of it, and when the wall makes a right angle turn, I turn too, stepping carefully along the muddy path. After a few yards, a break in the wall opens to stone stairs. Impulsively I take the three steps down and enter another section of the cemetery. “Black bird, black rectangle, black head…” I resume my mantra with greater optimism: I am walking on a paved path! But am I straying too far from the wall? Or indeed, is my conclusion that the trees and bushes in the background of the photo are hiding a wall even valid? “Black bird, black rectangle, black head … bird, rectangle, head…” At least my feet are still on cement. I have been searching in the cemetery for 30 minutes, when I notice another stone bird perched on a white column several yards ahead of me, a chiseled black bird with outspread wings. I compare it to the photo and rush to the monument: the pillar in the photo and the one in front of me appear to be identical! “Bird, rectangle, head…” I look farther up the path for
Naše rodina
Page 149
the rectangular obelisk and the sculpted head. But they aren’t there. Disappointed, I turn and look behind me. There’s the obelisk! And I only have to retrace my steps a few yards to locate the head. I step back to try to take in all three monuments at once and discover that overgrown bushes obscure the wider view captured in the photograph. “Bird, rectangle, head…” but I had come upon them in the opposite direction, “Head, rectangle, bird…” and had already walked past the spot where Josefka had stood. Heart pounding, I line up each monument and move to the exact position where my great-aunt had been captured in a photograph 38 years earlier. Eagerly I read the marker in front of me: “KOSTRAKIEWICZ.” I do not know the name. I look at the markers on either side. “FAIXOVA.” “HEJDUK.” Neither is a family name. Disappointment washes away my elation. Have I, against all odds, found the location of the photo, only to discover that my basic assumption was wrong? Was it possible Josefka hadn’t been standing by the family grave after all? Had my grandfather just snapped a random photo in the cemetery? I panic. Can it be that this photo holds no clue to the location of my greatgrandparents’ grave? I study the photo once more. That watering can at Josefka’s feet—it only makes sense that brother and sister had come here to tend a family grave, the Smetana family grave. It must be somewhere in this cemetery, somewhere nearby. Renewing my quest, I walk slowly down the row, past where my grandfather stood to take the photo. I have no idea what kind of memorial to look for, so I examine every grave marker, trying to will the appearance of a familiar name. For the next 15 minutes, I painstakingly search the area. This section of the cemetery is laid out in a grid. (I would learn later that only ashes are interred here, which is why the plots are so compact and yet contain cremains of several people.) Many of the plots are overgrown, some totally obscured by unkempt bushes, and I feel like I’m making my way through a labyrinth. I almost miss an entrance to a secondary row near the location of the photo because it is so choked with shrubbery and evergreens. I move deliberately down that row: the thick foliage makes it difficult to find and read each gravestone, and I don’t want to miss any. Suddenly one marker’s bold inscription jolts me: “FRANTIŠKA SMETANOVÁ” and below that “JOSEFKA KLACKOVÁ.” Is this it? I read the smaller lines below the names: “Roz. MICHALKOVÁ,” “Roz. SMETANOVÁ.” Page 150
Tears stream down my face. I have found my greatgrandmother and my great-aunt! I can hardly breathe as I absorb the memorial before me. The polished, black stone monolith has a slender white cross mounted on the left side. The names and dates are carved to the right of the cross. I kneel down and examine a small heartshaped tin box sitting on the base of the monolith. It shelters a glowing votive candle behind its glass door. On the right, a white vase holds a bouquet of dried flowers. Orange and yellow marigolds bloom in front of the base. I smile at the marigolds: my dad’s only living sister Vlasta trims her yard every year with orange and yellow marigolds. I think of my grandfather and his sister, and of their mother, my great-grandmother. I had not expected to find Josefka here, although I can’t be surprised that she has died. But she only died in 1980—the first time I came to Prague, Josefka was still alive. I wish I could have found her then. I wish my father were still alive so I could share this discovery of his ancestors with him. (Years later, I will be able to bring his sister, my Aunt Vlasta, to this gravesite.) Then the condition of this grave breaks through my reverie. Unlike so many I have seen today, this plot is well-tended, the votive candle burning, the marigolds flourishing. Who comes here? Josefka’s descendants? Do I have relatives still living here? I pull out my Czech-English dictionary. “Grandfather” is “dědeček.” “Sister” is “sestra.” “Great-grandmother” is “prababička.” I write a note explaining who I am. Since I am leaving Prague for the countryside the next morning, I can only include my U.S. address. I fold the note and tuck it in the frame of the tin heart. It begins to rain as I walk back to the metro stop. I wonder if whoever is visiting the grave will return in time to rescue my note before the water makes it illegible? The rain continues that evening and in the days that follow. I have little hope that my note will be discovered intact I have been home in the United States for only a week when I receive an airmail letter in unfamiliar handwriting. The return address astonishes me: “Jan Klacek”—Josefka’s husband? I tear open the envelope and pull out three pages handwritten in Czech. “Milá Carol,” the letter begins, “měl jsem velkou radost…” “Dear Carol, I was very glad when I found your note on our grave. I am Jan Klacek, husband of Josefka…” And so begins my correspondence with my 94-yearold great-uncle in Prague. After almost four decades of silence, the families are in touch once again.
Naše rodina
December 2017 Vol. 29 No. 4
I again made a pilgrimage to Vinohradský hřbitov. The In his letter, great-uncle Jan reminisces about my family plot showed signs of recent tending. Curious as grandfather’s 1948 visit to Prague. I was a bit disapto who was caring for the grave of my great-aunt and pointed to learn they had no children. I write Jan back, great-grandmother, I left another note (in Czech) in the telling him about our family in America. In reply, Jan door of the tin heart with my name and email address. tells me more about his life with Josefka and explains Six months later I received an email: “Hallo pani Carol, that my great-grandparents divorced and my greatgrandmother Františka moved to Prague to live with Jan dnes jsme zcela nahodou pri navsteve hrobu teticky and Josefka. Jan closes by writing that he hopes to live a Josefky a strycka Jana…[sic]” “Today, quite by accident while visiting the grave few more years, but sadly, of our Auntie Josefka and the next letter I receive Uncle Jan, we discovered from Prague is an anyour communication nouncement that Jan died deposited on the bottom on May 24, 1987. of the old lantern, part of I tried to recreate my which was already soaked, odyssey in the cemetery when we were lighting when I returned to Prague candles, but hopefully I in 1993. But the monumanaged to correctly read ments that led me to the the email address. It’s gravesite—the white amazing that you have column with the sculpted your ancestors still firmly black stone bird, the rectimbedded in your heart! angular black stone obeAuntie Josefka Klackova, lisk, and the white column your great-aunt, who with the sculpted black also rests there with her stone male head—were no husband Jan, took care of longer standing. In seven me during my childhood years, they had disapfor about two years, when peared without a trace. we moved from our native That was when I learned Vrchlab to Prague, and my that in the Czech Repubparents lived with other lic a cemetery plot is not relatives until we got an owned but rather is rentapartment in Prague. Auned, usually for ten years at tie Josefka was one of the a time (the current fee is most wonderful women 120 Czech crowns—about I’ve met in my life, and $5.50—per square meter Wedding photo of Josefka Smetanová and Jan Klacek. she often reminisced per year). If a family stops about her mother, your paying rent on the plot or great-grandmother, and doesn’t renew the conshe talked about her tract, or if the grave is not “properly maintained,” the very nicely, so you can be sure that you come from good cemetery can rent the gravesite to someone else. Bones roots. My wife and I like to occasionally return to this or ashes can be exhumed and moved to an unmarked place, always at All Souls’ Day, Christmas and Easter. public burial ground, and monuments on the gravesites We tidy the grave, and as long as I am alive (I was born can be removed or reused. Apparently the monuments in 1952) I will do so, because I owe much to my aunt I had used as guideposts to identify the location of the and uncle and they will never fade from my heart. Keep photograph had been removed. I tried to find out who was paying the rent for the family plot, but the cemetery well across the big pond, and if you should journey to the ‘land of origin,’ let us know, we would be happy to office staff would not give me any information, except meet you, Pavel and Milena.” to say that the rent was paid. I was able to find a tangible connection to my During my most recent trip to Prague in April 2014, December 2017 Vol. 29 No. 4
Naše rodina
Page 151
family roots and to learn more about my grandfather’s family because of a photograph my grandfather took in 1948. Was it genetic memory, or did my grandfather reach down to me through the years and guide me to his family—our family—in the old country? Now each trip I make to Prague is highlighted by a pilgrimage to Vinohradský hřbitov to lay flowers at the graves of my great-aunt and great-grandmother. Each time I return to the Czech Republic, I am returning home.
Online Class
Beginner’s Czech Language & Culture Perfect for starting from the very beginning!
Join language instructor, Anna Cookova, for these 15 hour, 10 week classes Czech Language Easy Computer Access 10 Student Limit Travel Tips Culture Fun!
About the Author:
Carol Jean Smetana is a genealogist and a member of the CGSI Board of Directors and has been a speaker at several CGSI conferences. She also volunteers with Friends of Bohemian National Cemetery (Chicago) and edits Heritage Happenings, its quarterly newsletter (www.friendsofbnc.org). She edited and co-wrote A Dear and Precious Heritage: Bohemian National Cemetery, Chicago, Illinois, a book about the history, buildings, monuments and personalities of the cemetery. Carol first started researching her family history when she was working as a second assistant director on the television miniseries Roots: The Next Generations, based on the book by Alex Haley.
$200 CGSI members/$225 non-members Select either: Wednesdays 10-11:30 am CST, Jan 17-Mar 21, 2018 Thursdays 7-8:30 pm CST, Jan 18-Mar 22, 2018 For more information & to register:
Annacookova@gmail.com 715-651-7044
---- Brought to you by CGSI ----
Six-week Online Class
Endnotes
1. http://www.praguecityline.com/prague-monuments/ olsany-cemeteries-%E2%80%93-the-final-restingplace-of-noted-persons 2. https://www.turistika.cz/mista/vinohradsky-hrbitov/ detail 3. “Smetanová” is the Czech feminine variant of Smetana, “Klacková is the feminine variant of Klacek. 4. “Roz.” is often found on Czech gravestones. It is an abbreviation for the Czech word “rozená,” which means “née” or “born,” used to indicate a woman’s maiden name. 5. The current law governing public cemeteries in Prague can be found at http://www.hrbitovy.cz/ wp-content/uploads/rad.pdf (in Czech only). Exceptions are made for graves that are of “cultural value or importance or are listed as a cultural monument (Article 7).” 6. Two years ago I learned that Jan’s great-niece is paying the rental fee: her father, Jan’s nephew, is also inurned in the plot. 7. Pavel’s grandmother was Jan Klacek’s sister. Page 152
Ready, Set, Write! Writing Workshop With author, Lisa Alzo Learn key steps for producing a “can’t put down” family history and keep the pages turning for future generations.
Interesting, engaging, and collaborative writing assignments
Videos, group discussions, Instructor coaching, and private Facebook page Jan 8 – Feb 12, 2018 $99 CGSI members/$129 non-members For information and to register-- discount code: write18
Naše rodina
www.lisaalzo.com/seminars/ready-setwrite-writing-workshop/ ---- Brought to you by CGSI ----
December 2017 Vol. 29 No. 4
Left: An old engraving of the cemetery in Detva where carved, colorful crosses are a long-held tradition. Courtesy of Helene Cincebeaux.
The Living Celebrate the Dead in Slovakia’s Cemeteries By Helene Baine Cincebeaux Slovak village cemeteries are a kaleidoscope of color, graves laden with an explosion of flowers, wreaths, plants, statues and votive lights creating a joyous melding of the living and dead. A Sunday tradition finds Slovak cemeteries filled with families saying prayers and tending the graves. Grave markers range from small wooden crosses with name and date scratched and soon obliterated to century old elaborate iron filigreed crosses, sadly too often with names worn off. Some grave stones have photos of the deceased, these are especially precious. And elaborate grave markers of carved stone angels, sculptures and crosses exist. Many have the inscription odpočívaj v pokoji (translates to: rest in peace). December 2017 Vol. 29 No. 4
As families became more affluent it became the style several decades ago to take the family plot and erect a grand stone monument, all well and good but the inscription only mentions the most recent persons buried there. And in some places the grave markers are all identical and pretty generic, lined up row upon row. So in your ancestral village while the names on the graves may be familiar, ones you knew from your childhood as family and church friends in America, you can be assured your ancestors are buried there, but not know in which grave. And some villages have both a new and an old cemetery, good to know if you are looking for older graves. There are various kinds of cemeteries: Roman Catholic, Greek Catholic, Orthodox, Lutheran termed there Evangelical, Jewish cemeteries and military cemeteries. Endless rows of crosses can be seen in the cemeteries near the Dukla pass – one cemetery for German soldiers and one for Russians - they incite pity for all the young men who fell in those monumental battles and the families who mourned them. There is also a large cemetery for Russians on a hill in Bratislava called Slavin, a main tourist attraction during the communist era. The National Cemetery in Martin, central Slovakia, is the final resting place of many of the “greats” in Slovak history. This Slovak Hall of Fame is said to be patterned after the Panthéon in Paris. The picturesque, shady-pathed burial ground provides a peaceful internment for authors, poets, artists, playwrights, professors, doctors and those who contributed to the preservation of Slovak culture. To name just a few: famed photographer and cinematographer Karol Plicka; botany expert Izabela Textorisová; painters Martin Benka and Cypián Majerník; poets Janko Kráľ and Martin Kukučín; singer, folk song collector Janka Guzová-Becková, and organizer of the fire brigade movement Jozef Kohut. The cemeteries I love the most are the older village ones spilling across a hillside with no particular order and wild lupines growing everywhere as in Nižné Repaše, Spiš County or the elaborate iron crosses around the church in Kúty. The Rusyn cemetery in Kamienka is ablaze with flowers and wreaths, a spectacular sight! Detva cemetery is famed for its carved, wooden and painted folk crosses. The burial ground around the
Naše rodina
Page 153
Old style iron crosses next to the church in Kuty. Photo courtesy of Helene Cincebeaux.
UNESCO treasure church in Žehra is a wonderful place to browse the graves with glimpses of Spiš castle in the distance. Vrbov has a large Jewish cemetery near the Catholic and Lutheran ones. Another treasure is the ancient wooden church of Jedlinka with the graves nestled around the church under the three mini-onion domes, a most peaceful place. At one point it was deemed “unhealthy” to bury around the church and cemeteries were created apart from the church yard with only esteemed clergy buried by the church, however many villages still cling to the old style. There is a grand cemetery in Kežmarok a wealthy town that had many residents of German heritage. It has huge mausoleums and gorgeous carved stone monuPage 154
ments all behind stone walls. I recall the day I met a young American, a Dartmouth college girl, at Východná folk festival. She was there with no Slovak language, no place to stay, sleeping in a hayloft with only crusts of bread to eat– I brought her to my friend’s home, she was so grateful for a bed and a meal and she told me of her longing to find her ancestral family grave in Kežmarok. We traveled there the next day and with the help of local friends found not only the grave in that historic enclosed cemetery, we learned her ancestor had been a popular mayor of the town! This summer I discovered a cemetery in Banská Bystrica, an old city cemetery located up behind the cathedral/castle with hills and mature trees and families hauling buckets of water to water the flowers and tend
Naše rodina
December 2017 Vol. 29 No. 4
Placing the deceased’s photo on the grave was a custom at one time. Here is a grave in Veľká Lesná, Spiš County. It states, here lies Štefan Bordiga and shows his birth in 1913 and death in 1972. Photo courtesy of Helene Cincebeaux.
the graves. An incredible sense of peace pervaded the golden light, it was hard to leave. I have noticed in most Slovak cemeteries graves face the east for the rising sun and to commemorate Christ’s rising from the dead. The combining of the living and dead is most striking on November 1, All Saints Day, a national holiday in Slovakia. People travel great distances to be at home and take part in a ceremony of remembrance. Cemeteries are filled with families lovingly placing lit candles and flowers by the graves of friends and loved ones. In some places families bring food to share near the grave after saying a prayer. After dusk the combination of flickering candles on the grave markers is an incredible sight, such a feeling of spirituality and peace. To quote American Peace Corps worker Margarete Hurn, “There is something beautiful in the sea of flowers that have been lovingly placed on the many graves,
December 2017 Vol. 29 No. 4
or seeing the flicker of numerous candles as warm proof of memories, and of those present who have not forgotten.” “Cemeteries have a memorial cross where it is possible to leave a candle and a prayer for someone who rests in another town or on the other side of the world. The keeping of this custom on All Saints’ Day is a wonderful way of participating in the celebration of life present and past.” Death customs prior to burial are interesting - to this day when you pass through a village and see many people are wearing black, it signifies a funeral. Over the years countless village women opened their wardrobes to show us their finest folk dress ready and awaiting their burial - so they can meet their maker in their best. Many rituals took place upon a death. Ethnographer Monika Pavelčíková, head of the Stará Ľubovňa Skansen (Open Air) Museum, depicted death customs in one of the village homes at the museum. She told how when
Naše rodina
Page 155
A funeral procession in Lendak…the wooden cross has the deceased’s name, František Budzák. Many villagers take part in funerals and the accompanying rituals. Photo courtesy of Helene Cincebeaux.
a family member was ill for a long time, he or she was placed under the main beam of the home (the beam being a source of power and energy) to ease their pain and to allow them to gather strength for an easier passing. The villagers felt the good spirit there would care for the person. When a person died under the main beam, it was believed he or she went without pain. When a death occurred, the clock was stopped to symbolize the end of life. All the mirrors in the home were covered and the windows opened so that the soul could fly away. The deceased was placed on a narrow bier with a large pan of water underneath to cool the corpse which was never left alone, a member of the family was always present. Mourners came to weep and wail; it appears the “wake” we attend in the US is connected to being sure the deceased doesn’t suddenly awake. The custom in some villages was to bury the deceased with a memento or a piece of clothing from their wedding day, such as a scarf or ritual cloth, or else the spirit would return to haunt. Many women were wrapped in treasured embroidered and lace trimmed linen cloths created for their dowry. The kútna plachta (corner cloth) hung from the house beam to secrete the mother and babe from the family for six weeks. Then it was strewn with dried herbs and lovingly folded and placed in the decorated dower chest awaiting her burial. Page 156
When the plain wooden coffin was taken from the home, feet first, it was banged on the door frame three times, supposedly to be sure the person inside was really dead. I also heard that this was done so the deceased could say farewell to the spirits in the home. Often there was a band at the funeral and sad songs were played. Usually the entire village, wearing black, attended. The priest and altar boys would lead the way to the cemetery carrying the coffin and processional banners with everyone following behind. The first night after the funeral a bottle of palenka and a glass were placed on the windowsill to welcome all the spirits who came to say goodbye. This brings up the custom of mourning. A Slovak once asked me, “How long do you mourn in America?” According to Alžbeta Kaufmann of Pezinok, there was a prescribed period for mourn-
The sign signifying the National Cultural Monument at the entrance to the Matica Slovenská National Slovak Cemetery in Martin, Slovakia. Photo courtesy of Paul Makousky, 1997.
Naše rodina
December 2017 Vol. 29 No. 4
ing the death of a beloved member of the family. When a parent, spouse or child died, the mourning period was a full year, for a grandparent a half year, with lesser time for aunts, uncles and cousins. Traditionally mourners dressed totally in black, including black stockings for women, with a black veil for church. Men wore black hats and neckties. People in mourning didn’t go to parties, dances, movies or the theater for the entire mourning period! When an unmarried person died, the funeral resembled a wedding. For a young girl, there would be bridesmaids and young men all dressed in white. A bridal wreath of green leaves or rosemary was placed on the bier. When a young man died, he also had bridesmaids and groomsmen; blessed candles would be laid on his shroud to light his way to heaven. Many families in America were sent photos over the years of deceased relatives in their coffins prior to burial. This custom often resulted in the only existing photo of that ancestor. “We are walking on my grandparent’s graves,” a Slovak friend startled me as we strolled in Piešťany, it looked like a small city park to me. Sometimes cemeteries are retired, even relocated. And if no one tends a grave for 25 years, it is given to someone else. Cremation is a common practice there. Traveling though the Slovak countryside is always a joy and then to come across these remote and utterly
charming flower-bedecked cemeteries lifts the heart. Taking time to walk in them makes for never-to-be-forgotten memories as the lives and spirits of the villagers past and present surround you and whisper of the long ago.
Sources on the internet
- Virtual cemeteries of Slovakia - Find a Grave, www.findagrave.com - Slovak Cemeteries in the US – Catholic and Lutheran – this site has many links to census, city directories, births, marriages and death records, newspaper records, war records, etc. most are connected to Ancestry.com Checking this site I found my grandfather Paul Zemek and great grandfather Paul Zemek listed there, resting in the Slovak Catholic Sts. Cyril & Method Cemetery in Binghamton NY. - Cyndi’s List – Czech Republic and Slovakia – Cemeteries - Billion Graves – Slovakia Cemeteries - Family Search.org - Košice Cemeteries - Jakubany, Slovakia Church Records 1772-2004+; American Ron Cieslak did a monumental listing of village births and marriages. The list happened to have some records from neighboring Nová Ľubovňa. Friends researching Varitek/ Warytek ancestors that were told by residents they didn’t know the name but early records revealed a number of records dating back to 1709 – what a treasure! The site also contains the 1869 Austro-Hungarian Census.
About the Author:
Unique oval gravestone for Karol Plicka, Slovak photographer, film director, cinematographer, folklorist, and pedagogue. Slovak National Cemetery in Martin. Photo courtesy of Paul Makousky, 1997.
December 2017 Vol. 29 No. 4
Helene Cincebeaux, co-founded the Slovak Heritage & Folklore Society International (SH&FSI) in 1986 and has served as Director of the Society and Editor of the “Slovakia” quarterly. She served on the CGSI Board of Directors twice and was a frequent presenter at CGSI Conferences. Helene has led 86 tours to Eastern Europe in the past 28 years. She has produced 24 exhibits of the Baine/Cincebeaux Collection of Slovak & Czech Folk Dress. Helene is author of 4 books and 42 magazine articles.
Naše rodina
Page 157
The Final Resting Place of the Nation’s Finest By Marie & Tom Zahn of P.A.T.H. FINDERS Intl.
On November 2 the cemeteries throughout the country are glowing with lighted candles. On the day of All Dear Deceased, people travel sometime great distances to visit the graves of their loved ones and remember them. They light candles and place flowers on the graves. Let us take you on a visit to a cemetery that the Czech people, as well as people from many other countries visit often, even though most visitors are not related to those who are buried there. Some names they will remember from their childhood school lessons, some from films, while other names may not be familiar at all, but each deserves a bit of time, as they are considered to be among the finest of the Czech nation. The Czech National Cemetery in Vyšehrad is located on an elevated area above the River Vltava, South of Prague’s New Town. It can be found at the foot of the twin neogothic spires of the church of St. Peter and Paul. The cemetery is not the largest one in Prague, and certainly it is not the only final resting place of well know Czechs. Let us start from the beginning though.
Genius loci and the Importance of This Place
The first proposal to change the parish cemetery that already existed at Vyšehrad was both ideological as well as architectonical. It came from two Czech provosts of the Vyšehrad chapter, Václav Štulc and Mikuláš Karlach, during the second half of the 19th century. The idea was to create a burial place of important Czech personalities from all walks of human activity. It came in the final stage of the Czech National Revival. Czechs at that time, still without their own state, had come through a difficult period of self awareness, as an independent and long existing Slavic nation, with its own language, culture and history, predating the time of Austrian rule. Looking back at this period from the 21st century can make us feel a bit uneasy about how exulted and nationalistic the time was, and how many mistakes were made. At the same time, though, we can admire the personalities of the time and their efforts to turn dreams into reality. The National Cemetery at Vyšehrad is a lasting witness of their time, a place that Czechs Page 158
look to for inspiration and support and a bridge that connects the struggles of the past with the more recent fight for democracy.
Architects and Artists
Architectural changes to the cemetery were begun by two well respected Czech architects, Viktor Barvitius and Antonín Wiehl. Barvitius was inspired by his visits to Italy and used the cemetery style of so called Campo Santo, very unique in the Czech lands. The greater impact on the character and layout of the cemetery belongs to Wiehl, however, as the founder of the Czech Modern Renaissance. Individual graves are masterpieces of some of the greatest Czech artists spanning the 19th to 21st centuries. Of the many we should at least mention Václav Levý – author of the Devils Heads near Mělník, Josef Václav Myslbek – author of the statue of St. Václav on Václav’s Square, Jan Štursa – Hlávka’s bridge in Prague, Otakar Španiel – statue of T.G. Masaryk in Prague, and Olbram Zoubek - Memorial of Victims of Communism in Prague. Together they represent several generations of master sculptors of the 19th through 21st century.
Slavín
Antonín Wiehl is an author of the Czech National Grave called “Slavín” (slavit = celebrate) the most characteristic grave in the cemetery. This monumental grave belonging to “the most deserving men and women of the Czech Nation” also called as “Czech Pantheon” was built between the years 1889 – 1893. The top is adorned by three statues from Josef Maudr. The very top represents the Genius of the Home Country embracing sarcophagus. Under this is written “Although they died, they are still speaking to us.” On each side are the Country Mourning and the Country Victorious. Under these is another poetic inscription ,“The ashes of its great sons, country mourning, returning to earth – Their acts, rejoicing, for times to come humanity proclaiming.” This is a text written by Julius Zeyer, Czech writer and poet who died in 1901 and who was the first person buried in Slavín. The last person buried in Slavin was Czech conductor Raffael Kubelík in 2006. The tomb contains 44 coffins.
Personalities
“Where is the grave of Dvořák” is one of the most commonly asked questions by tourists walking through
Naše rodina
December 2017 Vol. 29 No. 4
the cemetery. Indeed, you can find the grave of this most well known Czech composer in America, Antonín Dvořák, who was buried here in May 1904. Also, here is the recently renovated grave of Bedřich Smetana, who is arguably the second most recognized Czech composer, known mainly for his opera the Bartered Bride and the Symphonic Poems “My Homeland” from which Vltava is a piece that almost every Czech, even those with no musical education, can recognize these melodies. Smetana was buried in Vyšehrad in May 1884. Several years ago, the Czechs as well as other nations in the world voted for the greatest persons of their nations. In the Czech Republic people picked the 10 greatest Czechs, amongst which were only two writers, and one of them a woman. It was Božena Němcová – the mother of Czech prose and author of the novel “Babička – The Grandmother,” as well as a collector and writer of Czech and Slovak fairy tales and legends. She died in 1862 and is buried in Vyšehrad. The second writer whose grave can easily be found is Karel Čapek. A writer, but also playwright, dramatist, and publisher, whose work was quite early translated to English. He was seven times nominated for a Nobel Prize in Literature that he never won, and the key influence for the creation of the Czechoslovak PEN Club. He tried until his death, at the start of the Second World War in 1938, to fight with words against the rising tide of fascism. His most recognized titles are RUR, The war with the Newts, Krakatit, Tales from Two Pockets, Hordubal, Meteor, and An Ordinary Life. In his play RUR he first used the word robot, which was supposed to have been coined by his brother Josef. Karel Čapek’s gravestone is in the form of an opened book. His brother Josef has a cenotaph in Vyšehrad. He was a respected painter and also writer and translator who died in the concentration camp at Bergan – Belsan before its liberation in 1945. His marker bears an inscription in stone “Here would rest Josef Čapek, whose grave is faraway.” The grave of Jan Evangelista Purkyně has on its top the inscription in Latin “Omne vivum ex ovo” / Every living thing from an egg. An anatomist and physiologist who invented the term protoplasm, he described the liquid part of a cell. He was considered December 2017 Vol. 29 No. 4
Above: The grave site of Antonín Dvořák, the best known of all Czech composers. Photo courtesy of Tom Zahn. Below: The three white obelisk shaped markers represent the grave site of Bedřich Smetana, the second-most popular Czech composer in history. Photo courtesy of Tom Zahn.
Naše rodina
Page 159
This area of the Vyšehrad cemetery called Slavín is the burial place of 44 coffins. Photo courtesy of Tom Zahn.
to be one of the great scientists of his time. He died in Prague in 1869. While the Czech language in many respects was recreated in the 1800s, it was also enriched by the work of two brothers, Jan and Karl Presl. Both men were scientists who described the fascinating world of biology and botanical nomenclature in the Czech language. They are buried here, side by side. The simple grave of Karel Hynek Mácha, author of the lyrical epic and romantic poem called May, recently translated to English, is in the center of the cemetery. The man who is considered to be the Poet of those in love, he did not live a long life nor did he write many poems, but May is one of the most remembered poets among Czechs. He died and was buried in the town of Litoměřice in 1836. His grave was an important place for the minority of Czechs who lived in that town, which at that time was inhabited mostly by Germans. After the Munich agreement in 1938, Litoměřice was annexed into Germany. Czechs who fled this town organized an exhumation of Mácha’s remains, moments before the German tanks arrived. Thus Macha’s reburial in Vyšehrad became a symbol of revolt against the Page 160
totalitarian regime. This same burial place was an important stop during an evening march of students on the 17th of November, 1989, on their way to the National street in the center of Prague. This was the beginning of the so-called Velvet Revolution that brought to an end to yet another form of totality in the Czech lands. Jaroslav Heyrovský’s burial place is in a family grave. He is the first Czech to win a Nobel Prize in the year 1959. The Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to him for his discovery and development of the polarographic method of analysis. He lived through the difficult times of fascism and communism and died in 1967 in Prague. Finally, the symbolic grave of Milada Horáková is another important stop on this journey through the cemetery. In 2010 this cenotaph was placed at the wall of the church of St. Peter and Paul with the name of this very brave woman who became one of the most recognized victims of the communist regime in Czechoslovakia. Her criticism of the post second world war communist regime made her a target of the Secret Police, who put her in prison on trumped up charges of conspiring to overthrow the republic. She received
Naše rodina
December 2017 Vol. 29 No. 4
people as this place where the dearest deceased have been laid to rest.
About the Author:
Marie Procházková (Zahn) was born in Prague in 1972. She studied at the agricultural middle school in Rakovník, and later at Charles’ University where she studied languages in the Philosophical Faculty. Her introduction to family history was in 1992 when she met her future husband Tom Zahn, who had come to Czechoslovakia to research his genealogy. She lived for a brief time in the U.S. after their marriage in 1993. Together they returned to Prague in 1994 and started P.A.T.H. FINDERS Intl., to help the descendants of Czechs and Slovaks research their family histories and visit ancestral places. Besides being a co-founder, correspondent, translator and guide for P.A.T.H. Finders Intl., Marie has also raised 3 children during the past 23 years.
Genealogical Research Search in Archives Creating Family Trees Contacting Living Relatives
The gravesite for Karel Hynek Mácha, a Czech romantic poet of the early 1800s who died at age 25. Photo courtesy of Tom Zahn.
the death penalty which communist president Klement Gottwald did not pardon, despite protests of influential persons such as Albert Einstein, Winston Churchill and Eleanor Roosevelt. Milada Horáková was killed on 27 June, 1950. Her remains were never found. The cenotaph is dedicated to all victims of totalitarian regimes in the years 1939 – 1945 and 1948 – 1989 who do not have graves, or they could not be buried in their home country because they were forced to emigrate during these difficult times. In summary, a visit to the National Cemetery at Vyšehrad in Prague is like a pilgrimage to discover the heart and soul of this nation. Its beauty exceeds that of a mere sculpture garden. It is symbolic of a root that has been replanted, and continues to be cared for. And while the Czech capital city has many interesting sites, none are so precious and close to the hearts of the Czech December 2017 Vol. 29 No. 4
Rev. Jan’s Services
rev.jan.services@gmail.com
“He is very trustworthy and kind, always ready to help...” customer’s note
Guiding Services Visits of Ancestral Villages Guiding; Interpreting; Driving Personal Trips anywhere in Europe Guiding Individuals as well as Groups (Deeper experience than an average visitor ever gets.)
Naše rodina
Page 161
The cemetery at Chýnov just east of Tábor with a large wooden representation of Christ. Photo courtesy of Martin Pytr.
Czech Cemeteries, Now and Before By Martin Pytr When you visit the Czech Republic at the beginning of November, you will perhaps be surprised at the number of cars parked in the front of cemeteries. Czechs like to
Page 162
visit cemeteries, to care for and decorate graves of their ancestors several times per year, but on November 2, everybody went to the cemeteries. This day is called Památka zesnulých (colloquially Dušičky) i.e. All Souls Day. If you visit the Czech cemeteries, you can find some differences, compared to American graveyards. To understand all of the differences, it is necessary to look back into history. The first Christian cemeteries were established surrounding the churches – at the sacral land. The churchyard was surrounded by a wall, or by a fence at least. The reason was not only to prevent animals from entering, but also to symbolically create a border between the world of the living and the dead. The most prestigious place for a grave was a crypt in the church, where members of local nobility or clergy were buried. Very prestigious also were graves located by the wall of the church and by the main street leading from the gate to the church. Married couples were usually buried in the same grave, because matrimony is eternal. Nonbaptized babies, suicide victims, persons charged with witchcraft or heresy, etc., were buried outside the sacral land of the churchyard. Because the area for a churchyard was limited, several generations of local people were buried in the same grave. Therefore, the older bones were exhumed and kept in an ossuary, located at the graveyard. The largest ossuary in the Czech Republic is located at the Cemetery Church of All Saints in Sedlec near the town of Kutná Hora. During periods of epidemics, such as plague, cholera, etc., many of the dead were buried in mass graves. Because of an increasing population and the unconsoled hygienic situation at the churchyards, especially during the period of the epidemics, the countries of Europe began to solve it, at the end of the 18th Century. Because the area of the Czech lands belonged to the Hapsburg Empire, in the times, all the cemetery reforms are associated with Emperor Joseph II. This ruler was one of the greatest reformers of the times. He tried to reform not only the administrations, but almost all sectors of the Empire. But some of his reforms were realized only in part. He tried to abolish burials at old cemeteries located near the churches and supported establishing new, larger cemeteries on the outskirts of the towns. This idea came into use very slowly. Many towns began to establish new cemeteries later, in the 19th and 20th centuries. It is also the case of towns like Rožnov pod Radhoštěm, or Frýdek-Místek, its old cemeteries were
Naše rodina
December 2017 Vol. 29 No. 4
abolished and changed into parks and gardens, and new cemeteries were established in another vicinity. But you can still find, especially in smaller towns and villages, burials at churchyards, still today. Josephinist reforms also allowed burying suicide victims, etc., at cemeteries (usually in a special section of them). Speaking about Emperor Joseph II., I cannot forget his Patent of Tolerance (1781), that extended limited The countryside cemetery of Crhov near Šumperk, Moravia. Photo courtesy of Martin Pytr. religious freedom, for non-catholic Christians living within the Habsburg Monarchy, including Bohemia and Moravia. In the areas where people confessed themselves as protestants, they were allowed to build a church for themselves. The newly established protestant congregations, had to solve the situation that their catholic neighbors refused protestants to be buried in catholic cemeteries. Therefore, new protestant cemeteries were established. Most of the cemeteries in the Czech Republic are not segregated The churchyard at Nový Hrozenkov, Moravia (Czech Republic). Photo courtesy of Martin Pytr. confessionally, today. But because of historical reasons, in some towns and villages (including to bury people not in wooden coffins, but in bags. He my home village) you can find two separate cemeteries wished to support the local weavers by this proceeding, – one for catholic and one for protestant families. One but he was met with very strong resistance among the very strange reform that Joseph II tried to introduce was people, therefore he vacated this idea.
December 2017 Vol. 29 No. 4
Naše rodina
Page 163
The next changes were brought about at the outbreak of the 20th century, when cremation was introduced. In the years 1917-1937 nine crematories were built in the Czech area. Seven of them were built in Bohemia, while in the more conservative Moravia only two were built. The next 17 crematories were built in the years 1954-1999. Popularity of cremation is increasing but there exists differences between urban areas and countryside, between western part of the country (Bohemia) and the more traditional and religious east part (Moravia). Nevertheless, Czech Republic has the highest percentage of cremation in all of Europe – 80%. Funeral urns containing the ashes of the deceased person, can be buried in the usual grave (or inside a box, near the tombstone), but it is also possible to be stored in a columbarium, that appear in many cemeteries, now. One of the reasons why people frequently chose cremation, is the fact that the urn does not need so much space, unlike a coffin. One of the main differences between the Czech and American cemeteries is the lack of the space, there. In one grave can be buried several generations of one family. A grave plot is rented by a family for several years. A frequent wish of Czech-American visitors is to see tombstones with the name of their ancestors. Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to find a tombstone, older than 100 years in our country. Because
in the grave are buried bodies of several generations, tombstones are changed, and there are recorded only the names of recent deceased. Some families, chose to engrave on the tombstone only their surname. Therefore, you can read in the cemetery inscriptions like RODINA SVOBODOVA, RODINA HOLUBOVA (Svoboda family, Holub family), etc. Dates of birth and death are written a different way than in the USA, because format of the date is day-month-year, here: 4.12.1971 does not mean April 12, but December 4. An asterisk is the sign signifying a birth, while a cross signifies a death date: * 28.10.1946 + 5.1.1998
Together with the names and dates, sometimes you might find on the tombstone another inscription like NEZAPOMENEME (We will never forget), BUĎ VŮLE TVÁ (Your will be done), quotations of psalms, etc. Very often you can see a picture of a cross (on tombstones of protestant families, you may instead find a picture of a chalice). On some tombstones you may find a vitrine, where photos of the deceased are affixed. The plot at the front of an upright tombstone could be covered by lying stoneboard, or by a small bed of flowers. There is a place for candles and vases with flowers, brought and changed by family members, several times per year. When the next family member passes away, the tomb is opened and the deceased will be buried, there. The funeral is attended by the relatives and friends of the deceased. In smaller villages it is common for the funeral to be attended by the entire community. The coffin is usually carried by the family members. But some exceptions apply there, too. If the deceased man was a fireman, his coffin could be surrounded by the uniformed members of the local fire squad. Cemeteries are an important part of the countryside. Some are witnesses to the history, but are also changing over time. Towns with increasing populations, had to solve problems with space not only for its A tombstone for the Valenta family that has two urns for Josef Pospíšil and Amálie living dwellers, but also for the Pospíšilová. Photo courtesy of Martin Pytr.
Page 164
Naše rodina
December 2017 Vol. 29 No. 4
A tombstone with a vitrine containing artifacts of Josef Dustor and Božena Dustorová. Photo courtesy of Martin Pytr.
deceased at the local cemeteries. Deserted cemeteries, with old graves, that nobody cares about, appear in the remote areas with a declining population. The world of the dead, seem to mirror the world of the living.
About the Author:
Martin Pytr, resides in Mořkov, located in the Moravian-Silesian region of the Czech Republic. He has worked full-time in genealogy research for 18 years. Martin has conducted research for many clients, mostly from the USA, but also from Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, Poland, New Zealand etc. His main area of research is Moravia and Silesia, but sometimes he also searches in the Bohemian archives. Martin’s business is not only the research of old documents. Many of his American clients wish to visit the homes of their ancestors and Martin serves as a tour-guide, driver and interpreter. If you have ancestors
from what is now the Czech Republic, Martin can help you to locate information about them, and later (if possible) personally show you the area they originated. Martin was a speaker at the CGSI’s 2003 Houston, TX Conference and has contributed articles to the quarterly, Naše rodina. You can visit Martin’s website at <www.CzechKin.com>.
Membership Form On the back page of this issue, your membership number and expiration date is printed on the top of the address label. If your membership is due within the next three months, fill out the following form and return to CGSI.
Renewal New Membership No. (on top of mailing label)_________________________ Name_________________________________________________ Address_______________________________________________ City/State_____________________________________________ Zip Code__________ Telephone (
Circle Choice:
Term Student Individual Household Sponsor 1 Year $15.00* $35.00 $40.00 $55.00 2 Year N/A $65.00 $70.00 $95.00 3 Year N/A $90.00 $95.00 $125.00
)______________________
Membership Fee 1st Class Postage Library Donation Total Payment
$ ______________ $ ______________ $ ______________ $ ______________
Email________________________________________________
USA Funds Only
*Students must enroll online at www.cgsi.org so that required information can be captured. Students and foreign members will receive their publications in electronic format only.
USA 1st Class Mail add $10 for 1 year; add $20 for 2 years; add $30 for 3 years
Make checks payable to and mail to: CGSI, P.O. Box 16225 St. Paul, MN 55116-0225
December 2017 Vol. 29 No. 4
Naše rodina
- Copy this form as necessary -
Page 165
How to Search On-Line Cemeteries in Slovakia Instruction provided by Barb Golias
Enter the website url of www.pohrebiska.sk and then click on the top left tab called Vyhľadanie zosnulých.
Scroll your cursor over the sections of the map to find the identity of each county and select the county that your ancestors lived in. You do not see the county name until you scroll your cursor over a shaded area. In the example the county selected is Prešovský kraj. When you click on the section representing the county of choice, a list of cemeteries in that county appear.
The list of cemeteries is those that have been photographed and compiled. Choose the village cemetery that you want to visit. In this case the choice was Sarišské Dravce (SB).
Page 166
Naše rodina
December 2017 Vol. 29 No. 4
The three fields below with boxes are labeled as Pohrebiská (cemetery), Priezvisko (surname), and Rodné (maiden name). Below, I used the Rodné box to enter the first letter of the family names I want. This will give you only the females because as mentioned it is the maiden name. You can use this to find the women’s married name.
I entered ‘g’ because I want all the Goliaš’s. Type in g and hit the enter button. You will get a list to choose from. If you are looking for both males and females use the Priezvisko field to enter the first letter of the last name.
December 2017 Vol. 29 No. 4
Naše rodina
Page 167
Since I just want to get into the cemetery I click on any “mapa” in the list. I chose Margit Hurtuková – Goliašová. If you choose “info,” you go directly to the tombstone picture.
Here is the cemetery map. You can then click on # 13 for the resulting picture of this tombstone. Once you get into the cemetery, you can click on any of the gray boxes and get a picture of that tombstone (at right).
If you have a screen scraper program or (Microsoft Windows “Accessories” has their Snipping Tool), you can then capture the picture and save to your computer in your family folder. When you are done reviewing this information with the photo you can click on the underlined word zatvoriť and that takes you back to the previous screen. Page 168
Naše rodina
December 2017 Vol. 29 No. 4
CZECHOSLOVAK GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY INTERNATIONAL STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION DECEMBER 31, 2016
BALANCE SHEET ASSETS Cash – Checking $ 53,799 Cash – Savings $ 70,693 Cash – Petty (for sales) $ 210 Certificates of Deposit $ 58,255 Total Cash/Investments
$ 182,957
Merchandise Inventory $ 70,198 Library Collection $ 23,783 Czech Immigration Display $ 4,599 Czech Genealogy Exhibit $ 1,231 Office Equipment $ 0 Prepaid Bulk Mail Postage $ 109 Total Current Assets Total Assets
$ 99,920 $ 282,877
LIABILITIES AND CAPITAL Deferred Membership Fees $ 17,935 Accounts Payable (newsltr) $ 8,878 Sales Tax Payable $ 52 Future Int’l Conference $ 150 Traveling Library/Education $ 11,901 Total Liabilities Retained Earnings $ 245,734 Current Earnings (Loss) ($ 1,773) Total Capital (Equity) Total Liabilities and Capital
$ 38,916 $ 243,961 $ 282,877
INCOME STATEMENT 1/1/16 THRU 12/31/16 INCOME EXPENSES Membership Fees $ 66,290 Naše rodina Sales of Merchandise $ 12,198 Cost of Goods Sold Library Donations $ 11,496 Library Expense Conference/Symposia Fees $ 3,150 Wire Scam (spear-phishing) Library Research Fees $ 1,726 Sales Expenses Interest Income $ 666 Membership Expenses Postage Handling Fees $ 1,700 Quarterly Meeting Expenses Quarterly Program Fees $ 1,020 Website Pioneer Certificate $ 50 Insurance Other Income (Grants/Contr) $ 1,225 Bookkeeping Advertising $ 200 Other Expenses Total Income $ 99,721 Total Expenses Current Earnings (Loss) ($ 1,773)
$ 37,676 $ 8,087 $ 7,775 $ 22,500 $ 6,444 $ 2,468 $ 494 $ 1,788 $ 2,782 $ 1,800 $ 9,680 $ 101,494
Notes to Profit/Loss Statement: A spear-phishing scam resulted in a loss of $22,500 in CGSI cash in 2016, but through due diligence in contacting authorities and working with the bank $11,886.43 of the money was recouped during 2017.
December 2017 Vol. 29 No. 4
Naše rodina
Page 169
Call for Papers – 2019 Lincoln Conference
Theme: PIONEERS ON THE PRAIRIE The Czechoslovak Genealogical Society International (CGSI) will hold its 17th Genealogical and Cultural Conference at the Marriott Cornhusker Hotel in Lincoln, NE, Wednesday October 15 Saturday October 19, 2019. Topics appropriate to this conference are numerous. Shown below is a list of potential subject matter: • Computers in Genealogy (family tree programs, family web sites, etc.) • Genealogy (Beginning, ethnic specific, US, European, traditional, on-line) • History of ethnic settlements, religious groups, churches, free-thinkers, fraternal organizations • Immigration history, Emigration history (push-pull factors), Military history • Austro-Hungarian Empire history, 20th century history, prehistoric history • Language (conversational, meanings / origins of surnames and place names, script reading) • Folk art, Architecture, Folk music, Folklore, Folk dance (lecture or hands-on training) • Modes of Transportation (in homeland, passenger ships, trains, steam boats, etc.) • Ethnic press, newspapers, periodicals, newsletters (Hospodář, Bratrský Věstník, Hlas, Amerikán Národní Kalendář, etc.) • Famous personalities (Jan Rosický, Rose Rosický, Willa Cather, Margie Sobotka, Vladimir Kucera) • Research institutions, Collections, museums (Clarkson Museum, Wilber Museum, Czech and Slovak Educational Center and Museum – Omaha, National Willa Cather Center, Red Cloud, NE) • Geography • Land (Homestead Act, Land Agents, Title Searches) • DNA studies • Traditions (cooking, baking, holidays, life-cycle, etc.) The information required from speaker candidates includes: a title, a half to one-page summary for each presentation, and a speaker bio of no more than one page. We encourage speaker candidates located outside of the Lincoln / Omaha metropolitan district to submit more than one paper, because of the costs of travel and lodging to bring in speakers to give only one presentation. Speakers selected for the conference will receive a complimentary admission that includes Thursday, Friday, and Saturday lunches, syllabus, and a free vendor table. A travel allowance of 35 cents per mile or airfare, whichever is less, and lodging at the Marriott Cornhusker hotel will be provided to out of area speakers for three or more days based on their individual speaking schedule. CGSI will ask speakers for permission to record their presentation(s) so that we can share some or all of the presentation on the Members Only section of our website. If you require a speaking honorarium, please clearly state your requirements. The CGSI puts on a very high quality program, while attempting to maintain a reasonable registration rate for the public. A request for honoraria may impact a candidate’s selection. If you have an interest in speaking or know someone who would be an appropriate speaker in Lincoln, please forward this information to them or contact Paul Makousky, Conference Chair at: pmakousky@ cgsi.org or by US mail at 8582 Timberwood Road, Woodbury, MN 55125-7620. A copy of this Call for Papers will also be posted on the CGSI website at: www.cgsi.org and cgsievents.com. Submissions are due by May 25, 2018 and shall be mailed or e-mailed to Paul Makousky at the address above. Selections will be made by August of 2018. (Yes, 14 months prior to the Conference!) Page 170
Naše rodina
December 2017 Vol. 29 No. 4
Unique hand-drawn Family Trees from Slovakia By Martin Cubjak, M.A., President of The Andy Warhol Society
is not possible to say a bad word about their famous “creative red sofa” that is situated in their studio where, together with Michal, they meet, discuss problems of life history and therefore they inspire one another by the stories from the history of mankind.
Every individual has his roots and so has the country where he belongs.
“Every family is unique and specific and so each of our predecessors is an original work project. It is fascinating In the heart of central Europe, in the Slovakian picturto uncover those stories and physically record them for esque historical town of Prešov, there are two young future generations,” says Martina Blaščáková and furpeople who give their time to drawing family trees. Their work is famous not only in their home country but thermore “for the depiction of a family story, we don’t use only the data (names, dates, places) from research, even abroad. Martin Kudla and Martina Blaščáková are but we also often use different documents or photos two current visual artists and at the same time, cultural found in the archives. Further, we try to create an overall composition and fine hand – processing.” Primarily, the most interesting photos are from family albums found somewhere in an attic or basement or old period photos and even postcards with beautiful natural scenery from the place of the predecessors’ origin. “Our hand-drawn family trees include even so-called visual research. If we imagine the family tree as a certain web of life stories of common people and so their historical connotations in the context of time, it is unbelievable how the destiny of the individual meets in individual points of history with the destiny of humankind. It is possible to say that Artists Martin Kudla and Martina Blaščáková in their studio in Prešov, Slovakia. we are all interconnected by the invisible threat of earth’s destiny,” Martin Kudla explains. activists whose love for current art history brought them Martin and Martina look for specific and interestto the visualization of genealogical research. Together ing artifacts which symbolize the certain ethnic group, with Professional genealogist Michal Rázus, they make region, religious beliefs which are part of your history, a team for more than 2 years. as a time ball of wool weaved into your roots. Usually, it is an important historical site from the place of They try to create an original picture from each georigin, a small village or church where the wedding of nealogical research, where the form goes hand in hand your great-grandparents took place. If the photo of the with the content. While Michal is skillfully searching birth house still exists, the place where your ancestors for the predecessors, they work on the visual research worked in their piece of field, they incorporate it into and create an original design. Their pictures keep the the family tree. information in the family and its future generations. It December 2017 Vol. 29 No. 4
Naše rodina
Page 171
They are mainly being inspired by folk costumes and folk culture, guilds that were present in the past and are maintained in some memories, or may be taken from interviewing your predecessors (e.g. a grandparent). Those artifacts complete the picture of your family line and the stories of your predecessors.
The smell of coffee and old paper in their studio
tree. Of great importance is the use of neat writing and calligraphy and also the proper choice of a font so it is nice and easily readable.
Linden tree as the symbol of Slavs
Their work has two phases. The first, the design phase, they need to clarify the number of members in the family tree, they set the ideal dimensions – size, they choose the motif of tree – it can be for example oak, beech, grapevine or linden, which is the symbol of Slavs. The overall design of decorations is proposed, made specifically to each client’s taste. This phase is very important for clarification of all the details. After confirmation of the proposal, when both sides are happy with it, the hand drawing starts. “We love this part; we enjoy our work with the
“We have experience with classical art materials and techniques from drawing, graphics, and painting up to restoring. The honest handwork is a vital part of our work,” mentions the artist. They use time-honored materials, such as quality handmade paper from Italy, which has perfect characteristics for keeping in the archive and for patina coating by coffee because they want to add some historical patina to the family tree. Further, it is quality ink, 24-carat sheets of gold and special aquarelle colours used for the restoration of art pieces. Everything is drawn, painted and written by hand so, in the end, the family tree seems very lively and as a true historical document, i.e. historical apograph which could be seen in galleries or museums. But they also insert their own personal touch to those pieces. “We finish the family story also by including the historical coat of arms of regions, towns, villages, churches or old noble Martina and Martin at work, simultaneously creating a Family Tree. families or guilds. If your grandpa was, for example, material. It is possible to say, that we live with art every a miller, we use the historical coat of arms of miller’s day.” The inspiration is taken from the old masters from guild,“ adds Martin. old books, by visiting the museums, studying of old hisThe overall design is supplemented by decorations, torical maps and pictures. “Very often we feel as ancient some prefer easier shapes, and others heavily decoscriveners or monks who did the illuminations and rerated in baroque or Art Nouveau style. The typical folk writing the books. When we are creating, we are trying ornaments from Slovakia inspired by traditional folk to imagine the lives of those people and what they had costumes from the end of the 19th century is getting to overcome. When we want to feel happier during the more and more popular. Usually, the main ribbon with work, we listen to a lot of good music, but mainly audio the family name is situated at the top part of the family Page 172
Naše rodina
December 2017 Vol. 29 No. 4
books and we have to say that we have a decent collection” Martina adds with a smile. A hand processed family tree has the advantage over normally printed pieces because when it is well cared for, it can maintain its full beauty much longer, even many decades, as the message for future generations,” Martin advises. Of course, the tasks are divided between them, Martin is an experienced restoration specialist in the technique of gold plating and Martina has the close relationship with ink drawing. Maintaining great focus is important while they are creating, an attention to detail and huge patience are part of the process. The realization of the family tree is very specific because the time for preparation is individual, it takes from 2 to 8 weeks and it depends on the number of family tree members
forward. In the present global world, it is very important to know one’s own identity which reflects the approach of our local history” said the author. The great part is that their family trees are ordered as a gift for relatives to celebrate different anniversaries, birthdays or jubilees and weddings. “It is an original present which you cannot buy at the shop, a present with an added value of family heritage,” said the artists and he continued: “Yes, our work is not typical and it is very interesting and so we love it. It allows us to meet with interesting people and deal with their life stories.”
Unique project
They have even created non-traditional family trees as a part of their portfolio. One of those is, for example, the family tree created for the town of Prešov, which was prepared on the occasion of the 770th anniversary of the town’s establishment. It shows the most important milestones of the town. The most interesting thing is that it is more than 2 meters long and 45 grams of gold was used on it. Currently, the family tree is situated at the town hall where visitors can see it.
Andy Warhol’s family tree shows the milestones of his life
“We tinkered with the idea of producing the family tree of this world known artist for some time. We wanted to commemorate this pop-art Detailed work being performed on the Andy Warhol Family Tree. icon in a non-traditional family spirit. The unique heritage remained after Andy’s and on the complexity of the decorations. They have death through his work and well-preserved artifacts, already created some dozens of products, whether it documents proving his roots.” Artists uncover “and that was small with 30 family members, or bigger with more was only one step towards the creation of this family than 300 members. Their family trees are in private tree.” collections in Switzerland, Slovenia, Great Britain, the “We were preparing this family tree for nearly one USA and of course Slovakia. year. Its realization included consultations with the “Positive words and references from clients lead us professional team from the museum, but mainly with December 2017 Vol. 29 No. 4
Naše rodina
Page 173
The completed Andy Warhol Family Tree.
Mr. Michal Bycko, Ph.D. who is the founder of the Museum of modern art of Andy Warhol in Medzilaborce in Slovakia.” It was inaugurated with honors on Monday August 7, 2017. “This date of inauguration was not chosen by accident, but as the symbolic commemoration of the 89th anniversary of his birth, which the artist would have been on August 6, 2017,” Martin says. The main conception of the handmade family tree is to introduce the historical genesis of Andy Warhol in a visual way. For the first look, a few predecessors in the family tree are connected to the history of the Ruthenian ethnic group which was tried by never-ending relocating. Searching for documentation in the Register offices was demanding but it helped the family tree to be richer in visual reminiscences and infostetical visualization.
Where is he from?
The famous artist used to answer the question about his origin as follows: I come from nowhere. “It was speculated that Andy Warhol is Polish, Czech, Jewish, Swedish, Ukrainian, Russian. He is Ruthenian. I don’t consider it to be important because it doesn’t play a large role in what he became. Some people understand this quote in a matter that he did not want to avow to his Page 174
roots. It is absolute nonsense,” said the curator and cofounder of the museum, Michal Bycko at the honorable inauguration of the family tree.
The region of “beautiful” people
Warhol’s parents left their birth village of Miková during the time of the Austro–Hungarian Empire. After that Masaryk’s First Czecho-Slovak Republic was established, then the Slovak State (occupied by Germany) and later after WWII, Czechoslovak Socialist Republic (CSSR). “There were many of these state formations. Andy did not care about the changes. He was interested in people from the region which his parents came from. When his brother John was getting ready for his journey here, Andy told him to take as many pictures as possible. Our mother used to say that there are beautiful people there, he said. His connection to the region was emotional. People did not accept him as Andy the artist, but as Andrej, the son of Júlia Varcholová, born Závacká,” explained Bycko about why the artist made his origin unclear. There is also the visible connection with Christian – Byzantine tradition. “Warhol is a world important artist, cosmopolite.
Naše rodina
December 2017 Vol. 29 No. 4
He belongs among the trinity of the greatest artists who made the revolution in philosophy, in approach to the perception of the creative art of the 20th century: Duchamp with Scrivener, Picasso with the Young Ladies of Avignon and Warhol with Campbell’s Soup can,” Bycko pointed out.
The number of Warhol’s relatives was growing
The thought to create Warhol’s family supported even the prosaic event. “We had enough of the thought that his relatives were making the fuss around visiting him in the USA. The family tree was professionally researched, it does not go into wide branches of the family tree, and there are only his most important predecessors. It is the evidence about two people who brought into the world a person who influenced the world of the second half of the 20th century,” concluded curator Bycko. As it was proposed, Andy Warhol’s family tree presents some informative-artistic – aesthetic and visual map which shows the most important moments of Andy Warhol’s life via photos, as for example: the scene from the birth village Miková, where his parents are from, Warhol’s family house in Pittsburgh where Andy spent his childhood and the artist’s studio, so-called Factory in New York.
Inspired by his mother Júlia Závacká
Andy was growing up under the strong influence of the ethnic culture of his origin – Ruthenians, that to a certain extent even influenced his work. Authentic silver decorations included in the family tree come from his work “Christmas Tree” and reflect the embroidery and handiwork of his mother Júlia. The reference to his work is even in his individual ornamental features where details are from his famous Campbell Soup can or golden bananas from the album cover of The Velvet Underground on the main bow of the family tree. The overall composition of the family tree is complete by more coats of arms, for example coat of arms of village Miková – birth village of Andy’s parents, the coat of arms of the city of Pittsburgh, the coat of arms of Ruthenians or historical stamp of New York. “We didn’t want it to have a pop-art style but to have an intimate family characteristic. We depicted the family tree as it was drawn by Andy’s mom. The most important thing was to point out the message that his mother’s influence was felt by the artist,” adds the December 2017 Vol. 29 No. 4
author Martin Kudla. They used to pray together in Ruthenian language and she took exemplary care of him.
They used gold and silver
“We used the technique of gold leafing with 24-carat gold in the parts with coats of arms. And we also have used silver leafing method. We performed drawing with ink, pencil, spray print, aquarelle, and painting in acryl colour” clarified Martina Blaščáková. The historical genesis maintained in Andy Warhol’s family tree reflects also the approach to our own history that is becoming more and more precious in this globalized time. In the family tree is a quote containing Andy’s message for us all: “They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself.” (AW)
About the Author:
Martin Cubjak, M.A., serves as President of The Andy Warhol Society in Medzilaborce, Slovakia and curator of the Andy Warhol Museum of Modern Art. Prior to this position he was external lector and museum educator at the same facility. He is the author of a monograph entitled “Mail Art as a Communication Tool and Expression.” He is also author of special almanacs and books about art and museum education, including: Warhol Fest, Museum Education, 15 Years of Fame, Application Strategies and Work Models of a Museum Educator. Martin did his studies at the University of Prešov in Prešov, Slovakia. He was born in Bardejov and is married.
ADVERTISING RATES We will accept limited advertising. We generally do not accept ads for products, only services. The rates for the following ad sizes are:
▪ Full Page (7"x 9") ▪ Half Page (7"x 4½") ▪ Half Column (3⅜"x 4½") ▪ Column Width (3⅜"x 2")
$ 150 $ 90 $ 50 $ 35
Prices are per issue. All submitted advertisements must be camera-ready. Queries are free to members.
Naše rodina
Ads must be approved by publications committee
Page 175
Following the Kansas Czech Trail: Research Resources for the Historic Kansas Czech Settlements Part I – Sources with a Broad Stroke By Steve Parke
In 2009 I made three long trips crisscrossing Kansas researching the historic Kansas Czech settlements. With over 20 such sites to see, I initially missed a few. The goal was to put together a presentation for the 2010 CGSI Symposium in Lincoln, NE. Gene Aksamit, a past CGSI President, asked me to do so, believing that I knew a lot about such matters as I had written a 2008 Naše Rodina article about the Czechs in my native Trego County. I had more to learn than he suspected.
sources became more than a hobby. I had a plan, notebook, camera, computer, and a 1989 Ford F-150 with a Northstar camper ready to roll. Not many people travel rural Kansas to visit museums and cemeteries but I got hooked on the journey. In 2010 and through 2014, I made more trips to various locations, rechecking sites of interest and following up on new leads. A 2012 travel memory includes standing on a gravel road midst rolling hillside pastures south of Lucas with the Craven family while viewing a huge concrete stair step midst a dwindling grove, all that was left of Vyšehrad Sokol. Meanwhile, my presentations continued through 2015 to include CGSI’s Cedar Rapids Conference. Now it is time to put the story in writing. In this article I will broadly outline research resources for the historic Kansas Czech settlements and their families. In later, regional articles for Northeast Kansas, Central Kansas, and Western Kansas I will name unique local resources alongside brief historical sketches and comparative data for each community. I will leave the task of writing fuller community histories
World’s Largest Czech Egg, 15’ wide & 20’ tall, Dedicated in 2016, Wilson, KS.
These trips were accompanied by internet searches, contacts with community historians, and reading Czech history. The gathering of information from many Page 176
as needed to the descendants of particular locations but for all I will lay out a guide from local, statewide and national perspectives. There are national Czech-Ameri-
Naše rodina
December 2017 Vol. 29 No. 4
sources, having missed at least a few and then some. And I hope that new material is being created as this article is presented. But I am amazed at just how much I have found near and far. Since the historic Czech lands, Bohemia and Moravia, were attached to Slovakia from 1918-1992, why does this article not address Slovaks as well? With the exception of urban Kansas City, Kansas, Slovaks did not settle in Kansas. I will address the Wyandotte County, Kansas City Slovak group briefly in the Northeast Kansas regional article. But I’ve left the Slovak reference out of Cuba Community Hall, Formerly Bohemian National Hall, Built 1930, Cuba, KS. the title because to do so Photo courtesy of Steve Parke. would be misleading in regards to the contents of can sources that speak of small, almost forgotten places this article and the larger writing project. in Kansas. Meanwhile there are recognized statewide I will focus on over 20 rural Czech settlements aids as well as standard and not so typical local assets. across the State of Kansas. The Kansas Nebraska Act All is helpful. passed in 1854, outlined the region. Several westward trails then went through the area, the Santa Fe and the The deciding impetus to write these articles came Oregon Trails. Early Kansas Territory was primarily Infrom CGSI’s 2016 Genealogical Symposium, “Beyond Names, Dates, & Photos: Inspirations to Create a Fami- dian Territory with over 20 relocated tribes in the eastly Legacy.” Writing guidance was also received through ern part of the state and the High Plains migratory tribes moving across the west. Lisa Alzo’s online workshop, “Genealogy Intensive The Write Stuff – Spring 2017.” After the Missouri Compromise in 1820 and admitting Missouri as a state in 1821, the nation was in a Who might gain from this study? Certainly, anyone standoff in regards to the status of the next state, free interested in the history of a particular settlement. If or slave state. Bordering Kansas Territory and Missouri you are researching a particular family, you would also state residents battled over this issue. It became a free want to know more about their community. I also hope state on 29 Jan 1861 and on April 12th the Civil War bethat genealogists from other states find some possibilities here that prompt them to look in similar directions gan at Ft. Sumter, South Carolina. Kansas participated in their home state. And for those interested in Czechin the war as a Northern, Free State. Moravian immiAmerican and Western American history, I hope that grants, Franz Marak, John Stach, and George Stach, this writing highlights recognizable themes as well as served in the Kansas State Militia in October 1864.1 the special characteristics of the historic Kansas Czech Kansas’ 1861 statehood changed the course of the communities, their people, and descendants. nation and the complexion of the state. Two 1862 FedAs this journey begins, several qualifications are eral bills opened the way for Kansas settlement, the necessary. First, I certainly won’t cover all available re- Pacific Railway Act and the Homestead Act but entreDecember 2017 Vol. 29 No. 4
Naše rodina
Page 177
preneur and settler response to these opportunities was Family members who once lived or still live in the slowed by the Civil War. But by 1869 the Union Pacific area may be the next best resource. A few years ago Railroad was completed from Kansas City to Denver, while puzzled by the proliferation of dance halls in Native Americans were pushed into the Northern Plains Trego County in the early 1900s, I asked my uncle, Curor Oklahoma Territory, and European and American set- tis Parke, why so many. He remembers asking the same tlers continued to arrive. Czechs seeking land and farm- question of Czech descendants at Big Creek Hall when ing opportunities were in the mix. he returned from the Korean War in the early 1950s. AcSpur railroad lines developed. Town developers and cording to Curtis, they could not explain it in a manner that made sense to him. Today I think it had something land salesmen flourished while Texas cattle drives fed to do with the Voda group being Moravian and the Big into Kansas railheads. Czech immigrants were moving into Northeast Kansas counties, homesteading and buy- Creek group, Southern Bohemian. There may have been ing land as available. In many settings they were wagon some early language, religion, and/or lifestyle differences. But still, they all loved to dance at whoever’s hall. train pioneers. Dance halls in ongoing manifestations are great reThe early movement of Czech settlers into Kansources. The Bohemian Cultural Center in Alton once sas was highest from 1869 in the northeast thru 1886 stood 10 miles north as Z.Č.B.J. Lodge Western View in the northwest. In the 1900 Federal Census I found #246 near Claudel before it was moved to Alton in rural Kansas townships showing about 9,200 Czech2002. When built in the 1890s, it stood near Zurich 35 Americans. This includes American born children and miles to the southwest before it was moved near Claudel grandchildren in the household and the German speakin 1934. In 2009 I joined the Velharticky, Dansa, and ers from Olmütz (Olomouc), Moravia, that moved to 2 Rehor family reunion at the Center. Lodge artifacts were Olmitz in Barton County. This count does not include displayed midst festive decorations. Anna Rehor-Poore, isolated households in cities and urban areas like Topeka and Kansas City, numbers difficult to discern. By the age 99, was the guest of honor. early decades of the 1900s Kansas was the 11th most populous Czech state in the nation.3 We appropriately begin the search for resources in rural Kansas. And as we begin, let’s not forget, our first resource is ourselves. Our personal connection to people and places should not be underestimated. We remember the sights, sounds, even the smells of the setting, whether it is evoked from memory or available with prompts. From these stimuli flow our research and creative responses. As a youngster I wondered why names like Hladek, Krhut, and Nejdl had run-on consonants, why were there so many dance halls, three, within 10 miles of each other, and why my Catholic parents would not reveal the nature of landlord Elmer Kvasnicka’s meetings at Voda Hall? Later, through cultural studies I learned that these questions in my young mind, pointed to aspects of Czech-American heritage, i.e. the language, the dance hall culture, and my extended family’s Lodge oriented, no longer Catholic members. This raw data later helped me find my place in the evolution of Czech-American Czech Memorial Museum, Organized in 1970, Jennings, KS. cultural history. Photo courtesy of Steve Parke.
Page 178
Naše rodina
December 2017 Vol. 29 No. 4
Another typical source Another enduring loof information is the county cal asset is the historical court house. Its records society and Kansas has would include land, natuplenty. They may not be as ralization, marriage records, well staffed as years ago and court and tax records. or they may have found As for the land books, since new life through a grant or so many of the immigrant bequest. Societies are presKansas Czechs if not the ent in most county seats if second and third generanot in neighboring towns tions were farmers, family as well. At the Marshall and community histories County Historical Society could probably be written in Marysville in Northusing court house land reeast Kansas I found Opal cords alone. Skalla’s 1982 publication, “Early Czech Families in At the Trego County Marshall County,” an effort Register of Deeds Office, that tells the stories of about Evea Rumpel, the Registrar, 40 families. Opal’s compihad compiled a list of the lation is a standout! county’s homestead grants received, complete with Most historical societlegal descriptions. Therein, ies have museums. But I learned that the Spena many times a community St. John Nepomucene Church, Dedicated 1915, Pilsen, and Zeman families, both will have museums outside KS. Photo courtesy of Steve Parke. large, took advantage of the domain of the historical their numbers by having society and it is worth seeking them out. Two such examples are in Decatur County the older boys as well as the father apply for homestead grants in the 1880s. They were successful and 20 years in Northwest Kansas. At the Last Indian Raid Museum later those families not only survived the tumultuous in Oberlin sits the refurbished “Bohemian Hall” built 1890s but by having more land, they were steps ahead in 1906. Lodge Cesti Vlastenci #153 once sat southeast of smaller, neighboring families. Large farming families of Oberlin before it was moved in 2000 to the museum grounds in Oberlin and is now used for social functions. had economic advantages in early, rural Kansas. Further southeast in the town of Jennings midst the Good surprises can be found at the town library, county’s historic Czech settlement region, sits the Czech too. At the public libraries in Minneapolis and RossMemorial Museum which displays family tree books, ville, I found family and community history not found laminated newspapers, cemetery records, cultural artielsewhere, even at the Kansas Historical Society, for the facts, and farm life items. Bob and Naomi Tacha lead settlements of Bohemian Hills and Cross Creek, respecmy 2009 Jennings tour. tively. Practically speaking, there is no required repository for community and ethnic history in Kansas. It is When visiting small Kansas towns, I found more scattered in various places and the town’s public library than a few that are withering, some are almost ghost towns. Yet once upon a time, these villages were the fo- is sure to have some materials on hand. cal point for rural commerce. I sometimes made contact For the Catholic Czech colonies, a key resource is with government employees because as these towns the parish; its people, church history, sacramental rehave diminished in size, their public services have concords, and the cemetery. For the predominantly Catholic solidated and become the domain of unexpected depart- communities, the church might be the only place with ments. For instance, while searching for information their recorded history. A good example of this was about the Bednasek’s in Wilson I learned that I needed Pilsen in Marion County. Two parish histories have been to contact Wilson City Hall for City Cemetery burial written for St. John Nepomucene, one in 1941 and the records. The City Clerk provided the information in a other in 1963. And through parish members, Raymond helpful manner. and Denise Bina, I met community historians Bill BenDecember 2017 Vol. 29 No. 4
Naše rodina
Page 179
“show and tell” their history in old photos. I met Paul Nather through my cousin, Louise RourkeSeltmann. Paul sent me a photo of the “Bohemian Mercantile Company” built by John Pivonka and John Vesecky circa 1900. Then he referred me to a collection of online photos by Roger and Steve Schrater of the “Farmer’s Meeting Hall,” est. 1901, and its “Old Honorable” stone. This overhead doorway stone had script in 3 languages, Czech, German, and English, saying “Let us be honorable to all men.” These immigrants lived, married, danced, and died with people of several ancestries, religions, and tongues. While not every community has a Czech Czech-Moravian Presbyterian Historical Marker, Dedicated 1997 on N.W. Capper Road Festival, there are between Rossville and Delia, KS. The inscription reads “The site of the original Olive Branch enough to mention sevUnited Brethren Church built in 1877. It was sold to the Czech-Moravian Presbyterian Comeral. The Wilson After munity in 1920, who worshipped here until the mid-forties.” Photo courtesy of Steve Parke. Harvest Czech Festival is held annually on the last weekend of July along with the Kansas Czech-Slovak da, Paul Meysing, and Millie Vinduska who shared stoQueen Pageant. In the 3rd week of March the weeklong ries and artifacts. The parish community as evidenced Cuba Rock-Thon is held celebrating rural and Czech by on-site tributes is proud of its favorite son, Chaplain culture alongside a chair rocking marathon! And further Fr. Emil Kapaun, a Catholic sainthood candidate. Records for the historic Czech Presbyterian commu- east the Czech and Slovak Club of Kansas City annually nities in Kansas also require a town visit. Good material celebrates the Sugar Creek Slavic Festival in June. At such events you can find historians, artists, genealogists, resides with the contemporary Presbyterian Churches musicians, bakers, and etc., celebrating their cultural that inherited earlier records. An example of this would heritage. be the Presbyterian Church in Blue Rapids. At the 2014 In the internet age I would be remiss if I did not Blue Rapids Museum Czech Fest I was surprised to see mention family websites. The earlier mentioned Pivhow many church records they had on display from the church that was organized in 1893 and closed in 1973, a onka family of Timken has one at <www.pivonka.net>. And Kevin Vap, descendent of the Rawlins County well-preserved history. Czechs, has a site at <www.vap.org>. Kevin’s site has Local community historians are a “must see.” Kanlinks for Rawlins County ancestral histories. I particusans love their history and there is always someone on larly enjoyed John Prochazka’s “Old Timer” stories, a hand to spin a yarn, lead a tour, or share a particular detailed, inside look at this farmer’s life. artifact. In Timken I experienced people who could Page 180
Naše rodina
December 2017 Vol. 29 No. 4
The historic Czech related cemeteries through the state are fascinating resources. I can say this after visiting about fifty-two including the Catholic, Bohemian National, and Czech influenced town cemeteries. Gravestones sometimes have Czech language inscriptions and stand in eye catching sizes and shapes. Republic County’s Czech Cemeteries and Wilson’s City Cemetery have many large stones, but Kansas’s tallest Czech gravestone is probably the Sklenar family stone in Pilsen. The Vopat family stone in Wilson is probably the largest by volume. Additionally, many of these cemeteries have unique names, signage, and history. Between Olmitz and Otis is Svatopluk Cemetery, so named for a 9th Century Moravian King. The Esbon City Cemetery, once the Kindler Cemetery, has a kiosk with brief histories of some of the town’s early settlers, some Czech. And near Caldwell is a large Bohemian Cemetery Association monument etched with two dozen founder’s names when established in 1881. Puzzlingly, several names were clearly removed later in time. Now let’s look to broader, statewide resources, those that address the whole state. A key asset in Kansas is the Kansas Historical Society headquartered in Topeka. It was founded in 1875 to preserve the state’s newspapers and manuscripts from the Territorial Period. It now serves as a trustee of the state for maintaining the state’s history. Since 1875 its purposes and activities have expanded in many directions. Activities and attractions now include a museum, archives, library, publications, state historic sites, educational programs, a non-current government record repository, research assistance, and a website. Relevant services accessible from long distance, i.e. for most readers of this article, would be the KHS’s website and research assistance. The website at <www.kshs.org> is a labyrinth of materials. To get an overview of the site, go to the home page where you will see a “file folder” image. Across the top of the “file folder” you will see the headings “About, Visit, Research, Educate, Preserve, Public Records, Rentals, Foundation, and Shop.” As you hold your pointer over each heading, a drop-down menu will appear to indicate the various categories to explore. Click on the category heading of your interest. You might be interested in the items under the “Research” tab. Under that heading I’ve spent a lot of time in the “Places” section. There I’ve looked at post offices, cemeteries, townships, and counties while exploring Czech communities. As one digs (clicks) further into pages of interest more related topics will appear. In a later section covering census records, I will further December 2017 Vol. 29 No. 4
explore the “Places” section. Use the website search box on the top right side of the homepage to find particular items. A helpful item is the “Czech Bibliography” complied by KHS staff. In the search box type “Czech Bibliography” to get a link to the “Bohemians, Czechs, and Moravians Bibliography.” On this page I found Russ Hyatt’s “Bohemians on Border Overlooked by Historians” as published by the Wichita Beacon in 1959, the only written community history for the Caldwell group. In total KHS’s Czech bibliography covers 9 settlements with Republic (Cuba) and Ellsworth (Wilson) Counties most frequently referenced. In regards to out-of-state residents accessing the newspapers listed under “Research” there’s a caveat. There is no out-of-state interlibrary loan program for newspaper microfilms. In 2012 under the leadership of Governor Brownback the Kansas legislature cut individual taxes and eliminated significant corporate taxes. This led to cuts in various state services. The KHS felt some of the pain and correspondingly cut services. Fortunately, as a Colorado resident I finished my native county history article, “The Voda Road People,” before the non-resident loan program ceased.4 But since ceasing the out-of-state interlibrary loan program for microfilm, the KHS has worked with Chronicling America through a National Endowment of the Arts grant to digitize some of KHS’s vast newspaper collection, an archive that covers nearly all of Kansas’ newspapers since Territorial Days. Here I’ve found that the reels used to write my community history are now available online as digital images. KHS is now working with Newspapers.com to digitize all of their pre-1923 newspapers, over 12 million pages of content. At the start of 2017 they had about 3.5 million pages digitized so they have a way to go! Currently non-residents will need a subscription to Newspapers.com to access this growing database while residents have access with a Kansas driver’s license. To find a particular Kansas newspaper, search both Chronicling America and Newspapers.com for current available listings. Newspapers can be used to search for obituaries, community stories, and information about your ancestor. My longstanding home town paper, the Western Kansas World, has folksy, neighborhood reports. In the 1880s editions I zoomed in on columns like Banner Bugling’s, Colonia Culling’s, & Collyer Cawing’s, having an affinity for that period’s propensity for lyrical alliteration as well as its history.
Naše rodina
Page 181
Library assistance is available. Find it under the “Research” tab under the “Help” section or under “Ask a Research Question.” Simple requests can be made for free, a newspaper search with known date and place costs $15, and all other requests are $25. Request fees are due upfront. Private research referrals can be made. I have found the staff helpful even though stretched thin since 2012. The Kansas Agricultural census from 1865 to 1925, conducted every ten years, is another statewide resource. It is available through genealogy subscription services like Ancesty.com but you may be able to get free access through your library. The 1885 and 1895 state censuses are very helpful since we don’t have the 1890 federal record. In particular I reviewed the 1905 Kansas Ag Census while studying the Ellis and Trego County German-Bohemians from Bukovina, Austria. Therein I learned that my 1898 immigrant ancestor, Ferdinand Nemechek, had one of the highest “Poultry & Eggs Sold” valuations, $120, in 1905 among the 69 Bukovina-American farmsteads listed.5 I already knew that one of his sons, my grandfather, Stephen, had a whiskey still under his Graham County chicken house in the 1930s. I now wonder if Ferdinand’s family in Ellis County was selling more than chickens and eggs in 1905. The Kansas Census lists people’s prior residence and since the Czechs often moved for better opportunities, the census gives evidence of this dynamic. To learn more about such movements, I studied the 1885 census and the Column #12 question, “Where from to KS.”6 Of the 915 Czech “head of household” individuals found in all 1885 settlements, 40% were directly from Bohemia, Austria or Moravia. The communities with the highest stated prior foreign residence were Moravian: Olmitz in Barton County (94%), Cross Creek in Shawnee County (92%), and Marak (Everest) in Brown County (80%). The Kansas Moravians tended to be direct immigrants more so than the Bohemians. Meanwhile, sixty percent of the 1885 Kansas Czech heads of household were directly from other states. Kansas was one of the “end of the line” rural states to be settled by the mobile Czechs. The top three “where from to KS” states were Iowa (15%), Illinois (10%), and Wisconsin (9%). The following seven in descending order were Nebraska, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Missouri, Maryland and Michigan. All totaled, they came from at least 18 states, an indication of how many traveled so widely. Many had been in one or two states prior to the one they listed. There is a possibility that since they came through so many states, some of your Page 182
ancestors may have also traveled “to or from” Kansas. While we are covering census records, let’s look to the Federal Census. Again, you can access this through a genealogy subscription service or maybe see it for free at your local library. If you are reading the census for a particular settlement, one of the challenges is finding the right township(s) to search. Township names and boundaries sometimes changed over time, especially as one moves from the late 1800s into the early 1900s. For example, in the 1885 census Jan Pecenka, living near Hanover in Washington County, is listed in the Marysville Township of Marshall County. He doesn’t move but in the 1900 he’s in Logan Township. How does one identify which townships to review in the census records? Townships can be identified by using maps available on KHS’s website. At <www.kshs.org> click on “Research,” “Genealogy Indexes,” “Places,” and finally, “Counties” where you can view a particular county’s township map. Once on that county page, also view the “Early Kansas Maps” link at the bottom of the page, a link to William Cutler’s 1883 county maps. His maps will identify the earliest townships and their boundary lines, sometimes different than the current township names and lines. Census records have a raft of information often overlooked. When searching the 1900 federal census for Czechs in Kansas, I casually noted that sometimes the head of the household, most often the man, was recorded as speaking English while the wife was recorded as speaking Czech. As a farm wife, she worked at home and communicated with her rural neighbors, many who also spoke Czech. She had no immediate need to learn English. The Kansas Czechs had immigrated to America primarily from the 1850s and into the 1880s but they did not quickly drop their native tongue and use English. A significant but relatively unknown statewide resource for Kansas immigrant settlements is J. (Justice) Neale Carman’s 3 volume work, Foreign Language Units of Kansas. I discovered it through contacts with Dr. William Keel of Kansas University’s Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures. Carman’s work comes in three volumes; Volume 1 was published in 1962 and Volumes 2 and 3 were released posthumously in 1974 as microfiche. In 2011 digital images of all three volumes were posted as downloadable PDF’s at KU ScholarWorks website, <http://hdl.handle. net/1808/7160>. The 3-volume work is massive but worth exploring, being of the greatest scope and detail of any source here mentioned. Kansas might be the only
Naše rodina
December 2017 Vol. 29 No. 4
state to have such a linguistic and ethnic community history asset. Carman was a Professor of Romance Languages at KU from 1918-1966. From 1948-1958 he led a team of associates investigating and documenting foreign language usage in Kansas, visiting around 500 locations. They visited every foreign language speaking community since Kansas’s beginnings, places with European immigrants as well as Spanish speaking immigrants from Mexico. For Czech family historians Carman’s Volume 1, “Historical Atlas and Statistics,” and Volume 2, “Account of Settlement and Settlements” would be most informative. I initially found the community history accounts in Volume 2 helpful but later grew to appreciate Volume 1’s statistical summaries. Surprising detail is noted in Volume II’s community histories. For instance, in the section “History of Czech Settlements in Kansas” he recounts the Marak and Irsik families arriving in Brown County from the Mistek and Frydek areas of Moravia.7 With more recent work I’ve fine-tuned some details, i.e. the Irsik and Marak families immigrated through New York, not New Orleans as Carman suggested. Some of Carman’s family details may need to be tested in light of evolving family history awareness today. The monumental nature of this work revolves around the foreign language study conducted. Carman developed the concept of “critical year,” an approximate date at which half of the families with household children in a given community are speaking their foreign language in the home. His staff gathered information to create “critical year” estimations now listed in Volume 1 alongside other data summaries. Thus, for example the Rawlins County Czechs are listed as first arriving in 1884 and having a “Critical Year” of 1944.8 This group had the latest “Critical Year” of any Kansas Czech speaking community but it was also the last to be settled and in sparsely populated NW Kansas. Carman found 10 Kansas, Czech speaking communities with “critical years” of 1930 or later starting with Marshall (Blue Rapids) and Sumner (Caldwell) in 1930, Marion (Pilsen) and Ellsworth (Wilson) in 1935, Barton (Olmitz) in 1936, Rush (Timken) in 1938, Trego (Collyer) in 1940, Republic (Cuba & Munden) and Shawnee (Delia & Rossville) in 1942, and Rawlins (Atwood) in 1944.9 These are interview based estimates but consistent evidence of the persistence of Kansas Czech language speakers. One suggestion for using Carman’s books, don’t get overwhelmed by the sheer number of pages and details. December 2017 Vol. 29 No. 4
Figure out the structure of each volume and then zoom in on the topics and communities of interest. You will receive both perspective and detail and appreciate the work of Prof. J. Neale Carman. Carman’s work was preceded by another Kansas University linguistics professor, William H. Carruth. His two, linked articles, “Foreign Settlements in Kansas” appeared in 1892 and 1894 editions of the Kansas University Quarterly.10 Carruth’s foundational material is summarized by Carman in county by county data compilations in Part III of Foreign Language Units of Kansas, Volume 1. Finally, let’s move to resources with a national scope but with Kansas coverage as well. We’ve already looked at the Federal Census. CGSI readers are familiar with Jan Habenicht’s History of Czechs in America published in Czech 1910 and translated to English by Miroslav Koudelka for CGSI in 1996. The English translation, over 600 pages long, is a wealth of material covering many states and themes. The Kansas section covers 12 pages. As a native Kansan I can attest to Habenicht’s revealing coverage of local detail, much of which has long been forgotten but now appears in the English translation. Habenicht worked in collaboration with the Hlas (Voice) Publishing Company, which published in St. Louis, Missouri. He covers well the Catholic oriented settlements, parish histories of sorts because Hlas and Habenicht worked from a Catholic perspective. But while Habenicht tried to get broad coverage across the country with over 25 years of research, he encountered resistance, some unresponsiveness. He writes of this saying “I was forced to write again and again . . . Even so, many times my requests were not satisfied.”11 In the Forward as well as other sections of the book, he also writes of conflicts between the Catholics and the Freethinkers, philosophical and religious differences that saddened and angered him. These conflicts probably fed the resistance he encountered which in turn affected his Kansas coverage. Some smaller Kansas colonies are not listed. Maybe they were too small or no one told him of them. But most of these communities were either not Catholic or Lodge dominated and include Cross Creek (Delia and Rossville), Esbon, Alton, Zurich, Little Bohemia (south of Ellis), and Trego (Collyer and Voda). Most are in the Northwest. All had 100 or more people by 1900, Cross Creek had several hundred. I suspect that Habenicht experienced some resistance if not non-cooperation in these places.
Naše rodina
Page 183
Receiving the most coverage were the settlements of Rawlins County, the Wilson area, and Republic County. The predominantly Catholic communities of Olmitz, Pilsen, and Marak (Everest) also received good coverage. The longest, almost 2 page coverage of Rawlins County, is somewhat surprising since it was only a medium sized group. Possibly Habenicht had multiple contacts in Rawlins County as he delved into local church politics, i.e. the “east” and “west” groups struggling for the placement of a new church circa 1910.12 For a few years after World War I this rural community had three Catholic Churches within 8 miles of each other, a church building feat not matched elsewhere in Kansas. A precursor to Habenicht’s book was Česke kat. osady v Americe by Rev. Petr Houšť, published in St. Louis in 1890. Written in Czech and not widely available, it was completed while Habenicht continued to gather information. Using Google Translate I was able to make rough translations but it begs to be translated into English by a professional. For a number of states, it lists Catholic Czech-American colonies and gives very brief community histories. In twenty-five well-spaced pages the Kansas colonies and their priests receive coverage. Again, some of the smaller and not so Catholic communities were missed. Some of the colonies noted by Houšť were later not covered by Habenicht. Republic County and the Wilson area settlements, the two largest in Kansas, receive the best coverage. The pencil sketching’s of the churches and priests are most interesting. The churches sketched were primarily wooden and include structures in Cuba, Everest, Hanover, Irving, Holyrood, Kansas City, Marak, Pittsburg, New Tabor, Otis, and Wilson. The images and historical accounts are solid, striking evidence of what existed in Kansas by 1890. The Catholics were not the only denomination to have nationwide historical accounts; Protestants did the same. Památník Českých Evanjelických Církví v Sev. Americe was compiled by Vilém Šiller, Václav Průcha and R. M. De Castello and published by Křesťanský Posel of Chicago in 1900. CGSI with the help of translators Jan and Anna Dus created an English translation, Memorial of Czech Protestant Congregations in the United States in 2012. The book as a whole helps one understand the trials and joys of Czech Protestant ministers and congregations across the nation. Twelve pages cover the Czech Presbyterian groups in Northeast Kansas, situated in a crescent shaped line from Rossville to Cleburne (Blue Rapids) to Republic County. Early Page 184
details are recounted about these congregations and their leaders. Cleburne and Cuba get the most coverage; Rossville and Munden get brief notes, the Munden group having split from the Cuba group. While faith group gatherings began in the 1870s, they all had disagreements and dwindling of numbers and energy and it was not until the 1890s that churches were organized in an enduring manner. Helping them on a firm path were seminary students and young ministers J.A. Kohout, F. Kún, and F. Rundus, as well as Vilém Šiller, one of the book’s compilers. Another national Czech-American publication covering Kansas was Thomas Čapek’s The Czechs in America: A Study of their National, Cultural, Political, Social, Economic and Religious Life, published in 1920 in New York. His introduction references both Habenicht and Památník (Memorial) but he casts a caustic tone towards Habenicht, an echo of the Catholic and Free Thinker conflict of that era. After surveying early immigration to America, he focuses on post-1848 Czech immigrants. Per the book’s subtitle he covers broad aspects of Czech-American life in an informative, easy to read survey. There is little elaboration on specific colonies other than a state by state listing of settlements in Chapter IV, “The Distribution of the Stock.” For Kansas he uses two contacts, Dr. Joseph Percival, a Chicago physician who once practiced in Kansas and W. R. Sekavac, the Ellsworth County Clerk. His 1920 Kansas list is thorough, more complete than Habenicht’s in 1910.13 Čapek makes notable errors re Kansas. First, the narrative says “In Kansas the oldest settlement took root ten years after the Civil War . . . The founding of the settlement in Palacky Township occurred in June 1876.”14 His 1876 starting point glosses over the Northeast Kansas counties with initial Czech settlers from 1857 to 1869. And Palacky Township, just south of Wilson, was an extension of the Wilson colony started by Francis J. Swehla in 1874. Writing from New York, Čapek references Swehla’s 1915 article, “Bohemians in Central Kansas,” but unfortunately, he misinterprets the material.15 Čapek then makes an odd reference in his Kansas settlement list by including Ogallah which lies in my home county. There was no Czech settlement in or around Ogallah. He could be referring to the Kutina family group 10 miles south and 10 miles east of Ogallah or he could be referring to the Collyer Township group 15 miles to the west. A better question might be ‘How did the Trego County, Collyer Township, Czechs not get mentioned in Čapek’s 1920 list?’ Trego
Naše rodina
December 2017 Vol. 29 No. 4
is also missing from Habenicht’s list while it is listed in Houšť’s book. The dynamics of “who’s in and who’s out” in these lists is puzzling. Another resource is the Z.Č.B.J., the Western Bohemian Fraternal Association, known today as Western Fraternal Life. The presence of Z.Č.B.J. lodges in Kansas is etched in gravestones and cornerstones and recorded in community histories. According to Joan Sedlacek, Kansas had twenty Z.Č.B.J. lodge starts from 1897-1917 as listed in the 1972 and 1990 Fraternal Herald anniversary issues that she reviewed.16 Republic County starts included Cuba and Narka. In the Wilson area were Wilson, Lucas, Holyrood, and Kannapolis. In Trego County was Voda and Collyer. Other sites were Timken, Caldwell, Rossville, Jennings, Irving, Plainville, Glasco, Claudel, Esbon, and Oberlin. According to the June 2015 Fraternal Herald, seven Kansas lodges are still active; Timken, Munden, Caldwell, Rossville, Alton, Jennings, & Glasco. Lodge Kansaský Vyšehrad #203 in the Bohemian Hills south of Glasco celebrated its 100th Anniversary at its Bohemian Hall in 2009, evidence of contemporary Kansas lodge activity. Kansas had a larger Č.S.P.S., Czecho-Slovak Protective Society, presence than you might expect according to One Hundred Years of the CSA, The History of the Czechoslovak Society of America. The publication is quite an effort, reflecting the work of multiple people, disparate files collected, and listings of lodges formed, closed, and merged over the years even though some of the earliest records were lost. A review of Č.S.P.S. lodge starts listed from 1883 through 1908 surfaces ten Kansas lodges. In Republic County was New Tabor (Munden) and Cuba. Washington County had Hanover and Haddam. Ellsworth County had Wilson, Holyrood, and Ellsworth. Also listed were Caldwell, Rush Center, and Oberlin. In 1904 Oberlin’s Lodge Antonín Dvořák #135, near Jennings, was the most westerly in the nation except for San Francisco. By 1933 only five C.S.A. lodges remained in Kansas.17 Today there are none with the last, Wilson’s Lodge Vesmir #273 closing in 2009. Kansas Sokols per the annual March listings in American Sokol as researched by Joan Sedlacek, numbered five; Black Wolf, Wilson, Lucas, Cuba, Timken, and Caldwell with the first three being in and around Wilson. Some opened around 1900, others in the 1920s. The last to close was Wilson in 1992. The Wilson Opera House built in 1901 housed the Sokol downstairs. That space was later converted to a Museum. Tragically the building and all perishable items burned to the ground in 2009. December 2017 Vol. 29 No. 4
Catholic Workman, had five chapters in Kansas; Wilson, Atwood, Munden, Pilsen, and Timken as listed in Catholic Workman History Book 1891-1991, their starting dates spanning from 1897 to 1922.18 The July 2004 Special Edition of the Catholic Workman Voice, described the fraternal benefit society’s 2004 merger with the First Catholic Slovak Ladies Association (FCSLA). Now part of FCSLA, the one remaining Kansas Catholic Workman branch, St. Joseph CW #74 of Atwood, formed in 1903, continues to provide spiritual, service, and social programs according to members Jeremy Sis and Jim Faimon. Last but not least, you never know what might result from a CGSI facilitated contact. When I wrote “Traces of the Bednasek Family Lodge Trail,” published in the March 2013 Naše rodina, a question posed and left unanswered was the family of origin of Fannie Peterka who married Joseph Bednasek in Kansas City, Missouri, on 2 July 1887. Tragically, Fannie died of Bright’s disease on 20 April 1894, leaving Joseph, who worked in the Kansas City meat packing industry, a widower with young son, Charles. I suspected that Fannie was of the Wilson area as she was listed in the 1885 Kansas census, living with the Frank Felcman family just north of Wilson. Frank’s wife, Anna, was a Peterka and living nearby was the Vaclav Peterka family. Possibly, this 1885 Ellsworth County Fannie Peterka was Joseph’s 1887 Kansas City wife even though they had lived 200 miles apart prior to marriage. Cherilee Ward of suburban Kansas City helped solve the problem. After receiving a copy of my CGSI article from relatives in Yukon, Oklahoma, she mailed me obituaries for Frank Felcman and his wife, Anna Peterka. And sure enough, in Frank’s 1925 obit, Charles Bednasek was listed as a nephew. Frank’s wife, Anna, was apparently Fannie’s sister and thus Frank, Anna, and Fannie lived in the same household in 1885. Cherilee’s obit mailing, prompted by the Oklahoma CGSI member who forwarded my article to her was a fortunate, roundabout, chain of events in this research process, stimulated by CGSI. I’ve thus covered Kansas’ research resources in broad strokes looking at local, statewide and national aids. And along the way, I’ve shared some tantalizing details about each settlement. Our next task will be looking at these settlements one by one in a regional manner for their unique assets. Northeast Kansas as the earliest settled region will be first. There are many more surprises to come.
Naše rodina
Page 185
Endnotes
1. See the Kansas Civil War Militia Index searchable at Kansas Historical Society website <www.kshs. org> for a detailing of their service. Note that John and George Stach are listed under “Stock,” a misspelling. 2. The Kansas town contemporarily known as “Olmitz” was first called “Olmutz” with an umlaut, the German spelling for the Moravian village of “Olomouc” but this was anglicized to “Olmitz” rather quickly by the English-speaking newspapers and government authorities. 3. The 11th ranking is based on a comparative tally of Habenicht’s state by state totals in History of Czechs in America published in 1910 and Thomas Čapek’s History of Czechs in America published in 1920, page 60. 4. Since this article was drafted in early 2017 the Kansas Legislature rescinded the tax cuts of 2012. 5. Kansas State Census Collection (1855-1925). 1905 Census, Ellis County, Ellis Township, pg. 19, Line 25, Column 60, as found on <www.Ancestry.com>. 6. Kansas State Census Collection (1855-1925), 1885 Census at <www.ancestry.com> for selected county townships. 7. J. Neale Carman, Foreign Language Units of Kansas, Vol. 2, Lawrence, KS, University Press of Kansas, 1974, 187. 8. J. Neale Carman, Foreign Language Units of Kansas, Vol. 1, Lawrence, KS, University Press of Kansas, 1962, 241.
9. Ibid, iii. (See “Contents” on page iii to find county specific pages with “Critical Year” data.) 10. William H. Carruth, “Foreign Settlements in Kansas,” Kansas University Quarterly, Vol. 1, No. 2, October 1892 and Vol. III, No. 2, October 1894. 11. Jan Habenicht, History of Czechs in America, Translated by Miroslav Koudelka, Minneapolis, MN, Czechoslovak Genealogical Society International, 1996, 3. 12. Ibid, 209. 13. Thomas Čapek, History of Czechs in America, New York, NY, Houghton Mifflin Co., 1920, 64-65. 14. Ibid, 50-51. 15. Francis J. Swehla, “Bohemians in Central Kansas,” in Collections of the Kansas State Historical Society, 1913-1914, ed. William E. Connelley (Topeka: Kansas State Publishing Plant, 1915), 469-512. 16. Joan Sedlacek of St. Paul, Minnesota, and I corresponded by letter in 2012 re Z.Č.B.J, and Sokol organizations. 17. Joseph Martinek, One Hundred Years of the CSA: The History of the Czechoslovak Society of America, English Version by R.R. Gorman, Cicero: Executive Committee of the CSA, 1985, See 353-362 for relevant lodge listings. 18. Diane Hrabe, Catholic Workman History Book, 1891-1991, New Prague: Suel Printing Company, 1991, 86-87.
Future Themes for Naše rodina: March 2018 . . . Meanings and Sources for Czech and Slovak Surnames June 2018 . . . Czechs in South Dakota September 2018 . . . Unexpected Communities of Slovak Settlement in the US December 2018 . . . CGSI’s 30 Years of Service to Genealogists Your articles are welcome, although not all can be published E-Mail articles or inquiries to Paul Makousky at pmakousky@cgsi.org or send by U.S. Mail: 8582 Timberwood Rd., Woodbury, MN 55125-7620
Page 186
Naše rodina
December 2017 Vol. 29 No. 4
ascended the throne was made possible by her father, Emperor Charles VI who, having no male offspring, issued the so-called Pragmatic Sanction in 1713 which ensured that the Habsburg hereditary possessions could be inherited by a daughter. The document was recognized by many foreign sovereigns, e.g. those of England, France, Spain, Saxony and Prussia. Nevertheless, when her father died and Maria Theresa succeeded the throne, the Prussians invaded Silesia, the most prosperous section of the Habsburg monarchy, and made claims to this territory. The Habsburg army, weakened by the previous fights with Turks, lost the war and Maria Theresa had to acknowledge the loss of a majority of Silesian territory. Moreover, in 1741, she had to fight with Bavaria which, supported by France, invaded Upper Austria and then Bohemia and the Prince-Elector of Bavaria, Charles Albert, had him even proclaimed King of Bohemia by Czech nobility in Prague. Saxony that also supported him was meant to gain Moravia. That would mean a division and factual extinction of the Czech Lands. Fortunately, with the support by the Hungarian army, Maria Theresa won Maria Theresa’s family in the mid-1760s. Painting by Martin van the territory back which preserved the integrity of Meytens. the Czech Lands, and indirectly, the future creation of an independent country. To consolidate her power in the monarchy, Maria Theresa implemented reforms leading to larger centralization. One of them was the merging of the Boheby Hana Koudelková mian Court Chamber, the main administrative authority of the Czech Lands with the Austrian Court Chamber. Thus, the center of power was formally transferred from Prague to Vienna. It might be considered as a kind of Maria Theresa Walburga Amalia Christina were all five revenge for the previous unfaithfulness of the Bohemian names of the last sovereign of the House of Habsburg nobility in the Wars of the Austrian Succession. Buand the co-founder of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine. reaucratization of life in the Empire was connected with The whole cultural world has recently commemorated increasing national oppression which was very danthe 300th anniversary of her birth. Known under her gerous for the future of Czechs as well as other ethnic first two names, she was the Empress consort of the then Holy Roman Empire, Queen of Bohemia, Hungary, groups living in the Empire. German was established as the official language. It means that all documents in Croatia, Galicia and Lodomeria, Archduchess of Ausour country were for about a century – from the midtria, Duchess of Piacenza, Parma, Brabant, Limburg, 1700’s to the mid-1800’s – written in German and even Lothier, Luxembourg and Milan, Margravine of Moravia, Countess of Flanders, Hainaut and Namur, etc. And personal names were Germanized. One who wants to research parish registers, land records or census sheets by the way, she was the mother of five sons and eleven from that period has to master that language to at least a daughters. A remarkable mother of children and we certain degree. could say, a remarkable “mother of nations.” On the other hand, Maria Theresa, as an enlightened Maria Theresa was the only woman on the Czech absolutist, introduced many useful reforms, too. One of throne and also the only female ruler of the Habsburg monarchy in history. The fact that she, “only” a woman, the most important steps was the introduction of manda-
Mother of Nations
December 2017 Vol. 29 No. 4
Naše rodina
Page 187
Maria Theresa's crypt in the Imperial Crypt in Vienna, Austria. Photo by Hana Koudelková.
tory school education for children of both sexes aged six to twelve. In every town and village with a parish office, a so-called trivial school was established where children were taught reading, writing and arithmetic. This created conditions for the development of education of the lower layers of society. Anyway, there was no sanction for the parents who would not send their children to school. Many of country children then had to help their parents with farm work, so school attendance originally was not very high. That was why a sizable portion of the population remained illiterate for decades which can be seen in genealogical research too. For example, some of those serving as godparents at baptisms or witnesses at marriages still in the mid-1800’s were unable to place their real signatures to the events’ records. Instead, the priests wrote their names and the party only added the sign of three crosses. An easier and more efficient administration was the goal of another novelty that applied to everyone – house numbering. Until then, houses in the country were referred to by the names of their owners, and in cities, Page 188
by house signs. In 1771, houses in our country were numbered and the numbers were supposed to be used in official documents. For us, engaged in genealogy, it is a big step forward. If we come across, for example, two families with the same names living in one village after that year, their house numbers are a good way to distinguish them from one another, while it may be more difficult in the earlier period. Other reforms referred to land and its use. A part of nobility’s ground was divided among farmers who then had it in hereditary lease and so they did not have to perform mandatory labor for it, only to pay the rent. It was a reaction to the fact that the population was decimated by the War of the Austrian Succession and common farmers rebelled against extensive mandatory labor. The reform was successful because it led to an increase in both the birth rate and the agricultural production. Furthermore, registers of land, houses and residents were established. The “Theresian Land Registry” demarcated the land for tax purposes. Its great asset was the fact that it included nobility’s land, too. Thus,
Naše rodina
December 2017 Vol. 29 No. 4
Memorial to Maria Theresa in Vienna, Austria. Photo courtesy of Hana Koudelková.
nobility was newly obliged to pay taxes like others which divided the tax burden of the society in a more equitable fashion. Further, Maria Theresa introduced measures to improve personal safety, lives and health. The Fire Patent established provisions to prevent spreading fires, e. g. it set the obligation that future buildings would not be built of wood but (baked or unbaked) bricks and they should be provided with chimneys built of non-flammable material. In addition, sentries were to be appointed to sound an alarm bell if a fire started at night. That was why so many bell towers were built at that time and many of them have been preserved so far. Lives of many women were saved when basic training and certification of midwives was introduced. Also, Maria Theresa banned establishing new cemeteries without a previous governmental approval which was supposed to prevent unsanitary burying. This regulation was later on specified with an order to establish new cemeteries only outside towns and villages instead of the then church yards often located right downtown. December 2017 Vol. 29 No. 4
On the economic front, Maria Theresa supported establishing manufactories which led to the development of industrial production. Also, she introduced a single currency (1 tolar = 2 Guldens), issued the first paper money and unified weights and measures. An important legal achievement was the issuance of the Criminal Code and the Criminal Procedure that were meant to prevent the legal chaos of the Middle Ages by listing the types of crimes and regulating the procedure of hearing criminal cases. However, in some ways, it was not very progressive because it did not respect the legal principals “nullum crimen sine lege” (no crime without law) and “nulla poena sine lege” (no punishment without law). Neither crimes nor penalties were listed exhaustively, thus one could be found guilty of an act that was not listed in the code or could receive a penalty that was not mentioned there. It undetermined the legal certainty and enabled arbitrariness of the court system. Nevertheless, it was a crucial step in the abolition of Medieval aspects of law, such as using torture or recognizing the crime of witchcraft, and to appropriately
Naše rodina
Page 189
fitting the crime with the punishment. The private life of the Empress is remarkable, too. As one of few women of those times, she was lucky to get married out of love, although her husband had been pre-chosen by her father. Theoretically, as the heiress of the Habsburg realms, Maria Theresa could have married a more powerful sovereign than Francis Steven of Lorraine, however, the representatives of the main European countries were afraid of upsetting the balance of powers in Europe. That was why her father, Charles VI, had to make a promise to England that she would marry a minor Prince so that England acknowledged the Pragmatic Sanction. France even stipulated that Francis Stephen would give up his hereditary dominion, Lorraine, in exchange for Tuscany; otherwise, France would have not acknowledged the Pragmatic Sanction and Maria Theresa’s succession to the throne would have been endangered. Despite these harsh stipulations, Francis Stephen decided to marry Maria Theresa although it meant that he would have almost no political power. He accepted that and rather focused on his business activities in which he was successful. Maria Theresa at least ensured him the title of the Holy Roman Emperor which was not easy because he did not have enough territory and political power. Besides, Maria Theresa – although being the Archduchess of Austria, the Queen of Bohemia, etc. – as a woman, had no right to elect (and be elected) the Holy Roman Emperor. That was why she appointed her husband as the co-ruler of Austria and Bohemia in 1745 which enabled him to gain the active as well as passive voting right in the Holy Roman Emperor Elections. In the same year, he was elected and Maria Theresa gained the derived title of the Holy Roman Empress (as the wife of the Emperor). However, the title was not connected with real political power at that time anymore. Their marriage was happy indeed which can be illustrated by the fact that the couple gave birth to 16 children during two decades, 5 boys and 11 girls. Quite typical of those times was that only nine of them reached adulthood. Most of the surviving daughters were married profitably – the best known of them is the youngest one, known as Marie Antoinette, the Queen of France (who was guillotined during the French Revolution close after her husband, King Louis XVI). Maria Theresa was also the mother of two Emperors. The eldest of her sons, Josef II died without descendants and was on the throne succeeded by his younger brother, Leopold II. After the death of her beloved husband in 1765, Maria Theresa grieved a lot, she had her hair cut Page 190
short, gave all her jewelry to her daughters and dressed in black for the rest of her life. In the same year, she made her first-born son, Joseph II her co-ruler. They had many disputes because he wanted to introduce more radical reforms for which he had to wait until she died 15 years later on. Joseph II became the sole ruler after the death of his mother in 1780. So, Maria Theresa was a remarkable ruler whose greatest merits were the introduction of mandatory school education and the enlightened reforms which helped to improve the living conditions of common people. However, she was unable to jump over her own shadow and remained very conservative in some other areas, such as criminal law or religious tolerance. That was why more radical reforms were to be made by her son Joseph II after her death when he became the independent ruler of the Habsburg Empire.
A 1780 era photo of Maria Theresa on this 10 schilling silver proof coin from Vienna, Austria. Image courtesy of Paul Makousky.
About the Author:
Hana Koudelková earned a master’s degree in Law from Palacký University in Olomouc, Czech Republic. Working as a professional genealogist, she forms a team with her father, long-time CGSI member, Dr. Miroslav Koudelka. She has written a few articles for genealogical newsletters and attended, as a special guest, three genealogical conferences in the US. Her hobby is photography. The family website is found at: <www. czechfamily.com>.
Naše rodina
December 2017 Vol. 29 No. 4
2017 Pittsburgh Conference Recap By Paul Makousky, Conference Chair
The 2017 Conference held at the Hyatt Regency Pittsburgh International Airport Hotel was another very successful event thanks to the support of the 16 sponsors, 29 speakers / tour guides, our many volunteers and the 400+ members and non-members who registered. The attendees came from 35 states, Washington, DC, Canada and the Czech and Slovak Republics. The largest numbers came from Pennsylvania 103, Ohio 60, Minnesota 27, Virginia 26, Illinois 18 and Maryland 16. It was nice to have younger generation speakers and attendees from Europe, including speakers Michal Rázus of Prešov, Slovakia and newcomers Blanka Lednická of Havlíčkův Brod, Gabriela Jiskrová and Albert Ksinan of Brno all of the Czech Republic, and tour operators Peter Blazicek and Jana Blazicková from Pezinok, Slovakia. The 134 page Conference Syllabus contained lots of great information from the Conference speakers. Also published in this issue was a special section entitled “Remembering our Departed Conference Contributors” which included references to Deb Makousky, Evelyn Fergle, Agnes Johannsen, Russ Helwig, Sharon Holliday, Marjorie Sobotka, Rosie Bodien, Joseph Hornack, Evelyn Schleis-Roesler, Karen Hobbs, Frank Soural, Marcy Vasko Bigaouette, Helen Zemek Baine, and Barry Malac. Besides the above people we also missed two scheduled speakers, John Schweich who was diagnosed with cancer sometime late in 2016 and was too ill to participate, and Miroslav Koudelka of Olomouc, Czech Republic whose wife Libuše “Liba” had cancer and Miroslav decided to cancel two weeks before the Conference. It was the right thing to do, and unfortunately Libuše passed away on the first day of the Conference (October 17). Special thanks to the people who agreed to fill in for our two speakers, Elaine Rusinko for John, and Blanka Lednická, Jim Hudec, Cathy Dailey-Culver, and Greg Nelson for Miroslav. Our Tuesday “Industries of Our Immigrant Ancestors” tour and Wednesday’s “Pittsburgh with a Slovak
December 2017 Vol. 29 No. 4
Touch” tour both sold out and Wednesday’s Pittsburgh Rusyn Neighborhood Tour was only a few people short of full. The Thursday and Saturday “Kurrent Script Reading” Workshops given by Blanka Lednická both sold out quickly as they were limited. The CGSI Traveling Library that was limited to ten attendees per 75-minute session was as popular as ever. More of the assistance was with helping locate records on the internet, particularly the digitized vital records from Czech and Slovak archives. The volunteers did yeoman work, but like many volunteer efforts, there is often a shortage of qualified assistants. We apologize to anyone we were unable to assist. Our silent auction was the most successful of any yet held. Receipts were $5,400. The largest priced items were a Moravian men’s kroj for $666, a Slovak men’s vest for $315. Thanks again goes to Garnet and Bob Bina and Ginger Simek for organizing the event and for all those who donated or helped to solicit items, and those who worked on other aspects of the event. The entertainment including the “Parade of Kroje” and singers Jozef and “Dodo” Ivaska on Friday and the Slavjane and Pittsburgh Area Slovak Folk Ensembles led by Dean Poloka and Angela Lipchick on Saturday were very athletic and outstanding in their colorful kroje. Although we had a lot of volunteer effort, I want to thank the following people who did outstanding work in preparing for the Conference and working full-time throughout the Conference. First thanks to Jerry Martinek for handling a variety of duties, including coordinating the audio-visual assistants to enable speaker presentations to be recorded, acquiring equipment, printing nametags and meal tickets and assembling them, acquiring and making flag poles for our ethnic flags, creating a task list with volunteers, etc. Thanks to Marlene Martinek for her organizational skills in handling the registration duties and working with hotel staff as needed to solve problems. To John Sabol for great desktop publishing and editing work on the Conference Program and Registration booklet, the Conference Syllabi and for coordinating the Regional Networking Sessions, which are always a challenge with late submissions of village locations. As President Steppe said in her Message, every volunteer counts towards pulling off a successful conference, and I thank all of you who helped. Some extra copies of the Conference Syllabi are available for sale on a first-come first-serve basis at $18. Please make your check payable to CGSI and mail to Paul Makousky, Conference Chair at: 8582 Timberwood Rd, Woodbury, MN 55125-7620.
Naše rodina
Page 191
The Librarian’s Shelf
at the same time as our Pittsburgh conference, with unpacking and reorganization in the new location running through November. The new library location is 1385 Mendota Heights Rd, Mendota Heights, Minnesota, near interstate 494 and Pilot Knob Road. The new location offers significant improvements over the prior building, and we are looking forward to the library collections reopening to the public in December.
By Kevin Kittilson
Theme of This Issue: Cemeteries
Pittsburgh Conference Traveling Library CGSI held its 16th Genealogical/Cultural Conference in Pittsburgh this October. With the help of several volunteers, we packed our laptops and a selection of our most used library reference books and maps into boxes and brought them to the conference to set up our traveling library. We had 12 sessions over the three days to help attendees and answer their questions. Help we were able to provide included locating immigration or census records, identifying villages of origin, fnding the correct parish for their village, or locating and reading a church record in the online archives. We also provided guidance and advice on steps that researchers might try on their own to solve a variety of genealogical problems. I want to thank everyone who helped us to get the library set up to those who volunteered to help field questions. First I would like particularly to thank Karen Cerveny-Cermak, whose skilful organizational work and diligence in staffing every session were vital to the success of the traveling library at the conference. Special thanks are due to John Adam, Karen Melis, Karen Helwig, Polly Walker, Pavel Tyrpak, Cathy Dailey-Culver, Gabriela Jiskrova, Albert Ksinan, Suzette Steppe, Kathy Jorgenson and Kevin Hurbanis, each of whom so kindly volunteered to help visitors with their research questions. Thanks also to Jerry Parupsky, Jerry Martinek and Kevin Hurbanis for their help in packing, loading and transporting the library materials. (My apologies if I’ve missed anyone, it was a very hectic time.) CGSI Library Move As though organizing for the Pittsburgh conference and the traveling library were not enough to keep our library volunteers busy, the Minnesota Genealogy Society (MGS), which physically houses our CGSI library collection along with its own and those of several other affiliated organizations, decided to move the library to another location, with the move to start in mid-October, Page 192
The CGSI library collection includes a variety of books dealing with Czech and Slovak cemeteries and cemetery records in the Czech and Slovak Republics and in the United States. Among them are: 1. Czech and Slovak Republics
mFrgn Cze J010 Old Bohemian and Moravian Jewish Cemeteries. By Petr Ehl, Arno Pařík, and Jiří Fiedler. Translation by Greta Sylvia Matoušková and Zoja Joachimová. Kynšperk nad Ohří: Paseka Prague, 1991. Provides many photographs of Jewish Cemeteries in Bohemia and Moravia. Also includes historical information and an alphabetical listing of the Jewish communities in which the cemeteries are found. mFrgn Cze R052
Nový Hrozenkov Cemetery, Moravia, Czech Republic, Tombstone Inscriptions. By Robert H. Roesner. Katy, TX: Robert H. Roesner, 1995. Gravestone inscriptions from the cemetery, with name index and locations.
mFrgn Cze R053 Tichá Cemetery, Moravia, Czech Republic, Tombstone Inscriptions. By Robert H. Roesner. Katy, TX: Robert H. Roesner, 1995. Gravestone inscriptions from the cemetery, with name index and locations. mFrgn Cze R059 Names from Cemetery in Toporec, Czechoslovakia. No author. Npl: Npubl, 1988. Lists the most common names from the cemetery in Toporec, Slovakia. mFrgn Cze V214
Vyšehrad. By Jan Tachezy. Praha: CTH Pressfoto, 1985. The Vyšehrad cemetery in Prague is one of the most significant Czech cemeteries, and the resting place of hundreds of famous Czech cultural and political figures. This book includes photographs of tombstones and cemetery art from that cemetery.
mInternet Resource: StonePics - Cemeteries of the Czech Republic. This website contains the names of more than 118,000 people buried at either the Czech Na-
Naše rodina
December 2017 Vol. 29 No. 4
tional Cemetery at Vyšehrad or the Prague city cemetery at Olšany. The listings for Vyšehrad were completed in 2003, while the indexing for Olšany, Prague’s largest cemetery, remains incomplete and ongoing. The website was last updated in 2014, so it is not clear whether further names will be added in the future. The website is apparently funded by the sale of CDs containing high quality photographs of the gravestones indexed, but the names can be searched without charge. In addition to the name list, there are interesting and informative short articles on Czech burial traditions including family plots, tombs and vaults, mausoleums and crypts and urn banks, as well as information on how to read dates on Czech gravestones. http://czech.stonepics.com/ 2. United States - Here are some state by state resources held by CGSI or MGS for ethnic Czech and Slovak cemeteries. A. Illinois
mFrgn Cze U019 Bohemian National Cemetery Chicago, Illinois Vol. I: Burials 1877-1887. Transcribed, compiled and edited by The Czech and Slovak National Group. Chicago: Chicago Genealogical Society, 1995. mUS IL 090 Chi Abstracts From Cemetery Deed Book I, Bohemian National Cemetery. Chicago Genealogist, no date. mFrgn Cze U013
Dějiny česko-národního hřbitova v Chicagu, Illinois, od jeho založení 1877 do jeho 25 leté jubilejní slavností 1902 / History of the Bohemian National Cemetery in Chicago, Illinois, From its Founding in 1877 to its 25th Jubilee Celebration in 1902. By František Boleslav Zdrůbek. Chicago, IL: August Geringer, 1902. This book includes a detailed map of the cemetery, photographs of the cemetery, and an alphabetical listing of cemetery officials.
mFrgn Cze U049 Bohemian National Cemetery Association of Chicago, Illinois 100 Years; 18771977. By the Bohemian National Cemetery Association. Berwyn, IL: Cicero-Berwyn Press, 1977. This is a detailed history (including photographs, index, and a picture index) of the Bohemian National Cemetery. In Czech and English.
mUS IN 032 Kei St. John Cemetery 1904-1938, Hammond, Indiana. By Ann Habzansky Keightley. Hammond, IN: A.H. Keightley, 1986. Contains chronological and alphabetical listings of names, date of death and grave location. mUS IN 033 Kei St. Mary’s Cemetery of Hammond, Indiana. By Ann Habzansky Keightley. Hammond, IN: A.H. Keightley, 1981. Identifies graves by location and provides an alphabetical listing which also includes dates of birth and death and grave location. C. Iowa
mUS IA 017 Lin Linn County, Iowa Cemeteries. No author, privately published, n.d. Includes indexes for the Czech National Cemetery in Cedar Rapids, the Prairiesburg Cemetery in Boulder Township, the St. Joseph Cemetery in Prairiesburg, the Davis Cemetery in Grant Township, and the Walker Cemetery and the Sacred Heart Cemetery in Walker. mUS IA 032 Cem Cemeteries - Flint River Township, Des Moines County, Iowa. By the Iowa Genealogical Society. n.d. Provides names from the cemeteries in Flint River Township, Des Moines County, Iowa. This material was assembled in 1918-1919. mUS IA 033 Des
Index to Aspen Grove Cemetery, Des Moines County, Iowa. By the Des Moines County Genealogical Society. Des Moines, Iowa: Iowa Genealogical Society, 1982. D. Kansas
mUS KS 008 Shi Big Timber 1873-1976 Altory Township Decatur County, Kansas: A history of Big Timber Cemetery (Czech National Cemetery). By Lillian Shimmick, et al. Publ. by Harwood G. Kolsky, 1976. E. Minnesota The MGS library has a larges series of mostly unpublished cemetery transcriptions for Minnesota, which include the following ethnic Czech and Slovak cemeteries:
mMN CEM B-6 NB
B. Indiana
mUS IN 030 Kei Holy Ghost Orthodox, Holy Ghost Byzantine, and St. Nicholas Catholic Cemeteries of Hammond, Indiana. By Ann Habzansky KeightDecember 2017 Vol. 29 No. 4
ley. Hammond, IN: A.H. Keightley, 1982. Identifies graves and provides an alphabetical listing with dates of birth and death and grave location.
Moravian Cemetery, Bradshaw Township, Brown County.
mMN CEM C-2 NB Lake Auburn Moravian Church Cemetery, Chaska Twp., Carver County.
Naše rodina
Page 193
mMN CEM D-3 NB
Robert Janak. Npubl.: Npl. 1983. Early tombstones of Bohemian immigrants to Texas.
mMN CEM H-1 VA
mUS TX 017 TIS
Bohemian Independent Cemetery, Lake Mary Township, Douglas County. St. Margaret’s Cemetery, Minnetonka, Hennepin County.
mMN CEM J-1 NB Slovak Cemetery, Kimball Township, Jackson County. mMN CEM L-4
Saint Wenceslaus Cemetery and Czech National Cemetery Inventory. New Prague Area Historical Society. New Prague, Minnesota: Npubl, nd.
mMN CEM L-4 NB Czech National Cemetery, Montgomery Township, LeSueur County. mMN CEM L-5 NB
Bohemian Cemetery, Hansonville Township, Lincoln County.
mMN CEM R-4 NB
Elim Moravian Chuch Cemetery, Melville Township, Renville County. Twp., Roseau County.
mUS NE 003 Ros A History of Czechs (Bohemians) in Nebraska. By Rose Rosicky. Evansville, Indiana: Whipporwill Publications, 1987. This book includes a chapter which describes the Czech cemeteries in each county of Nebraska. It also includes a brief history of the first cemetery in Nebraska established by Czechs (Jindra Cemetery near Crete) and of the first wholly Czech Cemetery in Nebraska (the Bohemian National Cemetery, also called Big Blue, located between Wilber and Crete). mUS NE 084
Bohemian Cemetery Omaha, Nebraska: 5201 Center Street / Formerly known as Bohemian National Cemetery. By Margie Sobotka. Omaha, NE: Unpublished. 166 p. G. North Dakota
mUS ND 025 Jac Transcriptions of St. Johns Cemetery Morton County, North Dakota by Dorothy Jackman. Npbl., n.d. mUS ND 055 Bau
St. John’s Cemetery Morton County, ND By Beth Hughes Bauman and Katherine Alice Bauman. Npbl., 1988. H. Texas
Page 194
mUS WI 051 Duc St. Martin’s Cemetery, aka Cherma or Korna Cemetery, River Falls Township, Pierce County, Wisconsin. By Willis Duckow, et al. Npl: Author, 1984. Alphabetical listing also includes dates of birth and deaths. Information from other sources on occupation, military service, marriage dates, etc. is also included for some people.
The CGSI Library is Looking for Family Histories
Bohemian Cemetery, Barnett
F. Nebraska
mUS TX 055
I. Wisconsin
mUS WI 052 Old St. Francis Cemetery, Douglas County, Superior, Wisconsin. Includes map, grave location, birth and death dates. June 1982.
mMN CEM P-2 NB Czech Cemetery, Pine City Township, Pine County. mMN CEM R-7 V.1
Lavaca County, Texas Cemetery Records. Volume 1. By Sammy Tise. Hallettsville, TX: Tise Genealogical Research, 1983.
v1 Old Bohemian Tombstones. By
If you have a family history and would like both to preserve it and share it with others who are conducting genealogical research, we would be pleased to add it to our collection. It must be submitted to us in a shelfready format, either as a bound volume or as punched papers in a sturdy three-ring notebook. We cannot accept looseleaf items. Family histories may be sent to: CGSI – Librarian PO Box 16225 St Paul, MN 55116
Library Volunteers Needed
We are always looking for volunteers to serve on the Library Committee and to assist library patrons with research questions and with the use of the collection. The committee generally meets on the first Saturday afternoon of each month at the library. We also need shortterm volunteers to assist from time to time with various library projects. Such projects may include: ● Evaluating donations ● Updating holdings in the online card catalog ● Reviewing the usefulness of current holdings ● Create a CGSI library guide ● Reviewing books for surname and village indices Time commitments may vary depending on the project and number of volunteers involved. Some projects can be worked on independently on the volunteer’s own time schedule.
Naše rodina
December 2017 Vol. 29 No. 4
If you are interested in volunteering or would like more information, please contact us by email at <Library@cgsi.org> or stop by the CGSI library during a CGSI library shift (currently held on the first Saturday of each month between 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.).
Periodicals We have issues of various periodicals that have been donated but are not on the shelves due to space limitations. These are stored in the CGSI office and if you have an interest in examining them, please contact library@cgsi. org. The periodicals include Hospodář, Ženské Listy, Jednota, Hlás Národa, Česká Žena and Přítel.
Library Collection Research Policy CGSI will do research on selected books and reference material in our library collection. Mostly, these are books with name indexes or are indexes themselves, such as Leo Baca’s Czech Passenger Arrival Lists, the ZČBJ (Fraternal Herald) Death Index, the Nebraska/ Kansas Czech Settlers book, and the telephone directories of the Czech and Slovak Republics. A nearly complete list of the CGSI’s book, microfilm/fiche, and map collection is available on the website, www.cgsi.org. The collection is searchable by part or all of the title by using any of the following parameters: “Is equal to,” “Contains,” “Starts with,” and “Ends with.” The books can also be sorted by title and author. Another feature of the on-line library collection is the special notation of those searchable for a fee under the research policy (discussed later). The notation is identified with a capital letter “S” in the far right margin of the book record. Books may also be searched according to the following categories: “Any,” “Family History,” “Foreign,” “Maps and Atlases,” “Microfilm/Microfiche,” “Minnesota and United States,” “Tapes,” and “Telephone Directories.” We cannot accept open-ended research requests such as “tell me what you have on the Jan Dvořák family of Minnetonka, Minnesota.” When making a research request you must specify which book you want researched and what family, castle, town, etc, for which you want information. The fees for various research are as follows: Telephone Directories of Czech and Slovak Republics $5.00 for each surname provided (per directory) per member, or $10 for each surname provided (per directory) per non-member, plus 25 cents for each address we find and extract from the book.
December 2017 Vol. 29 No. 4
Other Sources/Books - $10.00 per half hour of research for members or $20.00 per half hour of research for non-members. Expenses for photocopies and additional postage will be billed. The minimum charge of $10.00/member or $20.00/non-member must accompany the request for information. Deposit can be made under Products on the CGSI website. Copies of St. Paul Archdiocese Church Records from our on-line database (up to 1934) ● The church name, microfilm number, page number and surname are required ● Members - $5.00 for the first copy and $2.00 for each additional copy on the same roll of microfilm ● Non-members - $10.00 for the first copy and $3.00 for each additional copy on the same roll of microfilm Copies of St. Paul Archdiocese Church Records Post 1934 (from Films owned by CGSI) ● The church name, person’s full name, type of record (baptism, marriage or death), and date or approximate timeframe +/- five years are required ● Members - $10.00 per ½ hour of research ● Non-members - $20.00 per ½ hour of research Copies of Leo Baca’s Czech Immigration Passenger Lists from the online database (volumes I-IX) and unpublished Baltimore 1900-1903: ● The volume number and surname are required ● Members - $5.00 for the first copy and $2.00 for each additional copy ● Non-members - $10.00 for the first copy and $3.00 for each additional copy We will continue to provide at NO charge for members, help on deciphering town names on documents, locating town or villages, providing postal codes, and advising on correspondence to those in the Czech and Slovak Republics. Research is conducted by CGSI volunteers. They will not be able to interpret any information for you that is found in a foreign language.
CGSI Library The CGSI Library holdings are housed within the William J. Hoffman Library and Research Center (LRC) of the Minnesota Genealogical Society (MGS). The LRC is located at 1385 Mendota Heights Rd (NE Corner of Pilot Knob Road and Mendota Heights Road). Located
Naše rodina
Page 195
about one-quarter mile north of Highway 494. MGS Library telephone number: (651) 330-9312 (call to verify library is open) MGS Library hours: 2017 hours Wednesdays 10 am - 4 pm Thursdays 10 am - 8 pm Saturdays 10 am - 4 pm Check out www.mngs.org for more information on the library and to check the volunteer calendar. The library is closed if no volunteer is available. The CGSI collection is accessible to MGS library
CGSI volunteers, Kevin Kittilson (L), Karen Cerveny Cermak (facing camera) packing the Library office materials in South St. Paul. Photo courtesy of Kevin Hurbanis.
patrons on a self-directed basis at any time the MGS library is open, MGS staff can direct you to the collection, but may not be able to advise you about how to use its books and other resources. The first Saturday of the month from 1 to 4 pm is designated as a CGSI research day. On that day, the library is staffed by CGSI volunteers who can assist you in locating and using CGSI resources for your research. Assistance by CGSI volunteers at other times can sometimes be arranged in advance by visiting researchers on a special needs basis, subject to the availability of individual volunteers. To request such assistance, researchers should contact <Library@CGSI.org> well in advance of an intended visit. *Please do not send mail to this address, instead continue to send it to the P.O. Box.
The CGSI Library collection at the new location, 1385 Mendota Heights Rd. Photo courtesy of Kelly Frost.
Page 196
Naše rodina
December 2017 Vol. 29 No. 4
Library Donations
Our special thanks to the following people whose cash donations and sponsor memberships help us build for the future. Barker, Mitchell Bren, Cheryl Brown, John Bryant, Jacqueline Campbell, Sarah Christensen, Susan Collier, Patricia Foley Dewitt, Victoria Jirovsky Everton, Connie Fridrich, Kenneth Flynn, Virginia Frost, Veronica Gileczek, Richard Green, Roger Gyurina, Susan Hamner, Polly Benesch Havelka, Marian Hemmendinger, Mary Hessman, Paul Hochman, Carol Hrach, R. Joseph and Peggy Kouten Jr., Joseph Kozak, Stefan Kucera, Marit Kundtz, Janice Lee Kuruc, Thomas Macek, Alice Musil, Dennis Neydl, Russ Olson, Phyllis Pipal, Vauna Robinson, Agnes Romack, Jane Stehlik Schroeder, Karen Simek, Ginger Studnicka, Georgett Swanson, Mrs. Arleen Vogel, Judith Wachtel, Steven Walston, Dennis Wasko, Michael Werner, Honal Zabokrtsky, Gary Zimmer, Beth
Las Vegas, NM St. Louis Park, MN San Francisco, CA Paso Robles, CA Spartanburg, SC Quincy, CA Bremerton, WA San Rafael, CA Rapid City, SD Omaha, NE Millis, MA Enon, OH Bloomington, MN Woodbury, MN Pittsburgh, PA Marshall, WI Cleveland, OH Mendham, NJ Annapolis, MD Pittsburgh, PA Dublin, OH Wadmalaw Island, SC Springfield, IL St. Paul, MN Westlake, OH Marietta, GA Wilson, KS Mason, WI Camp Hill, PA Minnetonka, MN Reno, NV Liberty Hill, TX Wilber, NE Wausau, WI St. Paul, MN Chatsworth, CA Mapleton, MN Huntington Beach, CA Melvin, IA Stillwater, MN Athens, GA UnterschleiĂ&#x;, Germany Fairbury, NE Mankato, MN
Erickson, Ava Fridrich, Kenneth Lincoln, Susan McAdam, Kevin and Sandra Muggli, Shirley Bodner Pavlovec, Janelle Piatak, Pete Smith, Don Soukeras, Nicholas Starman, Frank Tenney, Lynn and John Uhler, John Vogel, Judith Vrtis, Richard Vyskocil, James Wedll, Amy
Sponsor Members Boldis, Steven Boltik, Louis
December 2017 Vol. 29 No. 4
Port Charlotte, FL Medina, OH
NaĹĄe rodina
Granger, IA Omaha, NE Carmichael, CA Stevens Point, WI Lakewood, CO Decorah, IA Wilson, TX Fremont, CA East Elmhurst, NY Lafayette, NJ Inver Grove, MN Verona, WI Huntington Beach, CA Detroit, MI St. Louis, MI Fergus Falls, MN
MAKE A DONATION OR BECOME A SPONSOR MEMBER AND SEE YOUR NAME HERE!
Charitable Giving Founded in 1988, the goal of the Czechoslovak GenealogicalSociety International is to promote genealogical research and interest in ancestry for those tracing their family to the geographic area encompassing the Czech and Slovak Republics. Help continue this legacy by including CGSI in your will or estate plan. Contact your legal advisor for more information.
Page 197
Sales Order Form
(All Items Include Shipping Costs) 1
Czech Dictionary and Phrasebook by M. Burilkova, 223 pages
$ 15.00
Czechs Forever, A Biographical Guide, 139 pgs
$ 19.00
2
Beginners Czech by Iva Cerna & Johann Machalek, 167 pgs and 2 audio CDs
$ 30.00
22
Folklore in the Czech Republic, a 39 page booklet including 36 photos of costumes, and a 1:500000 scale map.
$ 22.00
3
Czech/Eng & Eng/Czech Dictionary by Nina Trnka, 594 pgs
$ 14.50
23
Folk Tales by Erben and Nemcova, color illust by Josef Lada, 118 pp.
$ 21.00
4
Czech/English & English/Czech Dictionary by FIN, Olomouc, CR 1102 pp, hardcover
$ 34.50
5
Slavic Specialties from Pierogis to Kolaches all of Eastern Europe.
$ 9.00
24
Bohemian Decorated Porcelain by Dr. James $ 15.00 Henderson, 192 pp. hardcover with over 400 color photos. (DISCOUNTED)
6
My Slovakia, My Family by John Palko. $ 25.00 Part genealogy, part historical analysis, and part immigrant story. 416 pages, 6" x 9.”
25
Gateway to a New World – Czech/Slovak community in St. Paul, Minnesota’s West End district
7
49.50 History of Slovaks in America $ by Konstantin Culen, 411 pgs.
26
New Prague, MN Cemetery Inventory (St. $ 12.00 Wenceslaus and Bohemian National)
Slovakia! Traditions Old and New by Helene Cincebeaux. Color photos, 172 pp.
$ 26.00
27
Pioneer Stories of Minnesota Czech Residents (1906-1930)
$ 14.00
8
Slovak-English & English/Slovak Dictionary and Phrasebook by S. & J. Lorinc, 155 pgs
$ 15.00
28
Prague, Saints and Heroes of the Charles Bridge, 110 pp.
$ 15.00
9
Slovak/Eng & Eng/Slovak Dictionary by Nina Trnka, 359 pgs
$ 14.50
29
History of Slovakia – A Struggle for Survival by Kirschbaum
$ 25.00
10
Česká Republika Auto map, 1:500000 scale
$ 8.00
30
History of the Slovaks of Cleveland and Lakewood, OH, 301 pgs
$ 25.00
11
Czech Republic Hiking maps (97 maps in series) 1:50000 scale
$ 8.00
31
Slovakia in Pictures, Lerner Publications, 64 pgs
$ 23.00
12
32
Slovakia – The Heart of Europe, 55 pgs hardcover
$ 30.00
Czech Republic Auto Atlas, 1:200000 scale Published by Marco Polo
$ 27.00
33
Cleveland Slovaks by John T. Sabol and Lisa A. Alzo. Arcadia Publishing, 128 pp
$ 22.00
14
Slovak-American Touches by Toni Brendel 150 Slovak recipes, dance groups, etc. 192 pgs.
$ 19.50
34
Slovak Recipes By Sidonka Wadina and Toni Brendel
$ 9.00
15 16
Moravia, Gem of the Czech Republic, 116 pp. glossy color photos by R. Tomanek
$ 39.00
17
Slovak Republic Hiking maps (58 in series) 1:50000 scale
18
13
NEW!
!
21
Delicious Memories by Mary Stretton, 103 pp.
$ 11.50
Cherished Czech Recipes by Pat Martin, 143 pgs
$ 9.00
$ 8.00
Czech and Slovak Touches by Pat Martin
$ 14.50
We Lack for Nothing Now, Czechs in Steele Co, MN by Mike Wolesky
$ 23.00
38
Changing Homelands by Thomas O. Kajer, $ 20.00 !! NEW 1860s and 70s Diary of Czech immigrant woman to MN. Paperback, 138 pp., 2015.
19
Slovak Republic Auto Atlas, 1:100000 scale w/postal codes, 176 pp.
$ 27.00
20
History of Czechs in America by Jan Habenicht, 595 pgs, paperback
$ 35.00
39
Pamatnik, Czech Protestant Churches in North $ 41.00 America, 1900 by Vilem Siller, Vaclav Prucha and R.M. De Castello, 312 pp.
40
Dreams of a Great Small Nation by Kevin $ 30.00 McNamara, 2016, 395 pp. .
41
Cleveland Czechs by John T. Sabol and Lisa A. $ 22.00 Alzo, Arcadia Publishing, 128 pp.
42
Images of the Greater Mahoning Valley, by Susan Summers and Loretta Ekoniak, 127 pp.
$ 22.00
43
Call of Dudy (52 minute DVD on ethnically diverse bagpipe traditions in Bohemia)
$ 19.00
44
Christmas in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, Coloring and Activity book by Daniela Mahoney and others.
$ 8.50
45
Czech and Slovak Family Tree, Fun Introduction to Genealogy (same authors above)
$ 8.50
46
Castles and Palaces (Hrady a Zamky) Coloring and Activity Book by Daniela Mahoney and others.
$ 8.50
Name_____________________________________________________________
47
Czech Republic Coloring and Activity Book by Daniela and Teresa Mahoney and others.
$ 8.50
48
Finding Your Slovak Ancestors by Lisa Alzo, 385 pgs.
$ 24.00
Address___________________________________________________________
49
Handy Czech-English Genealogical Dictionary by Jan Parez, Rev. 2nd Ed., 2016, Paperback
$ 22.00
50
A Treasury of Slovak Folk Dress by Helene Baine Cincebeaux, 140 pp., all color photos.
$ 28.00
Qty.
Each Price
Totals
Total Amount Paid 12/17
City________________________ St _____________ Zip___________________ Make check payable to CGSI, and mail to Czechoslovak Genealogical Society Int’l., P.O. Box 16225, St. Paul, MN 55116-0225. Prices subject to change without notice. Items may not always be available on demand. Refunds will be made for items which are not available. Orders shipped outside the U.S. require higher postage charges.
35
$ 11.50
36
Item No.
!!
NEW
37
To see photos of these items and some additional information please visit our website: <www.cgsi.org>
Please e-mail sales@cgsi.org to obtain price.
Page 198
Naše rodina
December 2017 Vol. 29 No. 4
!!
NEW
!!
NEW
!!
NEW
Calendar of Events -Mark Yours If you have a question write the webmaster at info@cgsi.org or call our number (651) 964-2322 to leave a voice mail message. Your call will be returned. Now – December 31, 2017 Illustrations by Josef Lada Josef Lada (1887-1957) is best known as the illustrator of Jaroslav Hašek’s novel The Good Soldier Švejk, and as an illustrator and author of children’s books. National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library 1400 Inspirational Place SW, Cedar Rapids Info: www.ncsml.org/exhibits/ January 27, 2018 (Saturday) Texas Czech Genealogical Society (TCGS) Annual Meeting and Speaker Event Caldwell Civic / Visitor Center, Caldwell, TX Further info: https://txczgs.org/ February 10, 2018 (Saturday) 12th Annual Masopust (Czech Mardi Gras) Protivin Community Center, Protivin, IA Music by Malek’s Fishermen Band Info: http://czechheritagepartnership.org/ February 28 – March 3, 2018 (Wed – Sat) Experience RootsTech Over 200 breakout sessions for all levels of experience, including by Lisa Alzo. Salt Palace Convention Center Salt Lake City, UT Further info: https://www.rootstech.org March 26, 2018 (Monday) 30th Anniversary of the CGSI No formal celebration until Fall of 2018 Think of all our accomplishments!! April 7 – December 31, 2018 Guts and Glory: The War Train that Shaped a Nation The year 2018 marks the 100th anniversary of the formation of Czechoslovakia. This multimedia exhibit tells the story of Czech and Slovak Legions National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library 1400 Inspirational Place SW, Cedar Rapids Info: www.ncsml.org/exhibits/ December 2017 Vol. 29 No. 4
April 11-14, 2018 (Wednesday – Saturday) 57th Annual Ohio Genealogical Society Conference Theme: Blazing New Trails Hyatt Regency, 350 N High St, Columbus, OH Info: http://www.ogsconference.org/ April 13-14, 2018 (Friday, Saturday) 2018 WSGS Gene-A-Rama Wisconsin State Genealogical Society Best Western Premier Waterfront Hotel 1 N Main St, Oshkosh, Wisconsin https://wsgs.org/eventListings.php?nm=174 April 29, 2018 (Sunday) 10:30 a.m – 4:30 p.m. Czech/Slovak Folklore Festival Omaha Czech Cultural Club Location to be determined as of 12/1/2017 Omaha, Nebraska Omaha Czech Queen Coronation / Talent Info: www.omahaczechclub.com May 2 -5, 2018 (Wednesday – Saturday) 2018 Family History Conference National Genealogical Society (NGS) Explore Your Ancestors’ Paths to the Past The DeVos Place Convention Center 303 Monroe Avenue NW, Grand Rapids, MI Info: http://conference.ngsgenealogy.org/ May 31 – June 2, 2018 (Thursday – Saturday) Forty-Ninth Annual Jamboree of the Southern California Genealogical Society Los Angeles Marriott, Burbank Airport Hotel 2500 Hollywood Way, Burbank, California Further info: genealogyjamboree.com August 22 – 25, 2018 (Wednesday – Saturday) FGS 2018 National Conference – Fort Wayne Federation of Genealogical Societies Venue: The Grand Wayne Convention Center Easy access to the Allen County Public Library Lodging: Hilton Fort Wayne and Courtyard Fort Wayne Downtown, Fort Wayne, Indiana Info: http://www.fgs.org/cpage.php?pt=43 Naše rodina
Page 199
Czechoslovak Genealogical Society International P.O. Box 16225 St. Paul, MN 55116-0225
NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION US POSTAGE PAID TWIN CITIES MN PERMIT NO. 7985
Address Service Requested
ISSN 1045-8190
Coming in the March 2018 issue
Frequent Slovak surnames: their meaning and origin
Žiška or Křenek - Household surnames in the Czech past
Following the Kansas Czech Trail: Research Resources for the Historic Kansas Czech Settlements - Part II – Northeast Kansas
Names of the Czech Villages and Towns They Came from
Collecting Rusyn Church Histories, a 30-Year Passion
Czech Villages/Towns
M Ondrejko
o
Ivanc
Im
áč
Luk
Janoš
Mikuš
Mihalik
Surnames found in Slovakia
alek Kováč
Magyar
Marcinko
Klimek
th rvá No
Ho
rich
Kalafut
Mich
CGSI website: www.cgsi.org
Molnár
os Balog
ár ész
vák Macko
Tóth Szabó
Nagy Baláž
Varg a