Published by the STATE mSTORICAL SOCIETY nebraska

Director: Fall/Winter 1993 Lawrence 1. Sommer HIsroRr Vol. 74, Nos.3&4

Guest Editor: Bruce M. Garver Editor : l ames E. Potter 102 Foreword Assistant Editor: Patricia C. Gaster By Lawrence 1. Sommer Illustrations Editor: David Murphy 103 Introduction Design a nd Layout: Debra Brownson By Bruce M. Garver Design Consultant: Steve Ryan Photogr aphy: R. Bruhn, Larry Ferguson 109 Czech-: The Love of Liberty By Joseph G. Svoboda Maps: Dell Darli ng 120 Problems in the History of Czech Immigration to America in the Second Half of the Nineteenth Century By Josef Opatmy ON THE COVERS: The painting on the front cover is a detail from the Slovak Immigration to the in Light of proscenium curtain in the National Hall buill by 130 ZeBJ lodge Slavin 11 2 near Ord, Nebraska. II American, Czech, and Slovak History shows the Hradcany or Castle in the capital By Gregory C. Ference of the . as seen from Ihe Mala Strana or Lesser Town below. The curtain is one ofmany in 136 German and Czech Immigration to : The Bremen Czech theatres throughout Nebraska thaI depict to Galveston Route, 1880-1886 symbolic scenes important in Czech history and By Lawrence H. Konecny and. Clinton Machann culture. (P. Michael Whye. NSHS C998.1-428) Czech Political Refugees in the United States during the The recruiling poster Oil the back cover encouraged 142 Czech-Americans to serve in the armed forces of Nineteenth Century their ancestral homeland during World War I 10 help By Zdenek Solle free it from Austro-Hungarian rule. Designed by Vojla Preissig ofthe Wentworth Institute in Boston. 150 Czech-American Protestants: A Minority within a Minority the postel' carries an imprint ofthe Czechoslovak By Bruce M. Garver Recruiting Office in Omaha at the bottom (nol visible). (Courtesy University ofNebraska-Lincoln. 168 Dramatic Expressions: Czech Theatre Curtains in Nebraska Archives & Special Collections; NSHS C998.1-417) By David Murphy 183 Evidence of Assimilation in Pavel Albieri's Nevesta za padesat do//anl (Bride For Fifty Dollars) Nebraska Hislory (publication number ISSN-0028- 1859) is published quarterl y by the Nebraska State Historical Society, By Clinton Machann 1500 R St., Lincoln. Nebraska 68508. and distributed to members as part of their dues. Single issues, $6. 00. For rates 189 Relationships between and in the on microfilmed copies of Nebraska History. write University Microfilms, 300 N. Zeeb Rd., An n Arbor, Michigan 48106. United States during the First World War Nebraska His/Dry quarterly publishes well researched articles. By Karel Pichlik edited documents. and other annotated primary materials relating to the and the Great Pl ai ns. 195 Czech-Americans: An Ethnic Dilemma Submissions may focus on political, economic, social. and By Ivan Dubovickj ethnic themes, as well as on institutional and architectural history and biography. Man uscripts should reflect research in primary sources. Family histories or personal reminiscences. 209 Czech-Language Maintenance in Nebraska unless of exceptional historical value or statewide interest, are By Mila Saskowi-Pierce rarely published. More detailed recommendations will be sent upon req uest. Czech-American Immigration: Some Historiographical Communications should be addressed to the editor. The 218 Society does not assume responsibility for statements made by Observations its contributors. Second-class postage paid at Lincoln . Ne­ By Frederick C. Luebke braska. Postmaster: Send address changes to the Nebraska State Historical Society. Box 82554, Lincoln. Nebraska 68501; telephone 402147 1-3270. Copyright 1993 by the Nebraska 223 Acknowledgments State Historical Society. Magazines returned to the Society by the post office because 224 Index to Volume 74 of incorrect addresses will be forwarded on ly on receipt of $2.00 to cover remai ling costs. FOREWORD

The rich history of Nebraska owes much to the many immigrants who have made the state their home. Among the most numerous were the Czechs, who in the nineteenth century left the heart of one continent to begin life anew in the heart of another. Lured by land and freedom, Czechs brought a distinct culture to the Great Plains, where they settled by the thousands. Pride in their Old World heritage was equalled only by devotion to their new country. Today this legacy enriches us all in the form of Czech festivals, foodways, museums, library and archival collections, and historic buildings. In celebration of the Czech contribution to Nebraska life, the Nebraska State Historical Society is proud to present a new exhibit at the Museum of Nebraska History entitled "The Heart of Two Continents: Czechs and Nebraska." Accompanying the exhibit is this special double issue ofNebraska History, "The Czech-American Experience." The issue offers new perspectives on immigration, and on Czech life in Nebraska and the United States. Many of the illustrations are drawn from the exhibit, and several illuminate themes in more than one article. They can be enjoyed by referring to the figure numbers in the text, or they can be viewed throughout the issue as a kind of catalogue for the exhibit. Special thanks are due Bruce M. Garver, professor of history at the Univer­ sity of Nebraska at Omaha and guest editor of "The Czech-American Experi­ ence," whose expertise was crucial in assembling this issue. The Society is also grateful to the authors, whose thorough scholarship and thoughtfUl insights have helped illuminate "The Czech-American Experience."

LawrenceJ.Sonuner Director Nebraska State Historical Society

102 INTRODUCTION

by Bruce M. Garver

In conjunction with its mounting of a farms or in small towns and by a and Saskova-Pierce) conclude by ex­ special new exhibit, "The Heart of Two slightly larger number of freethinkers amining twentieth century develop­ Continents: Czechs and Nebraska," the than Catholics. In the first instance, ments. The last (by Luebke) is Nebraska State Historical Society Nebraska did not differ much from historiographical and suggests subjects authorized the publication of this ex­ Texas, , , and the Dako­ for future scholarly research and traordinarily large issue of Nebraska tas; in the second, Nebraska resembled publication. History in order to survey important , Iowa, and . Since Various disciplinary approaches are topics in Czech-American history and 1920 the inexorable advance of accul­ presented. Eight of the twelve articles indicate how they may be interpreted turation and urbanization has rendered are primarily works of history. somewhat differently by several aca­ these and other late nineteenth-century Machann's is a study in literary criti­ demic disciplines. Twelve articles distinctions much less important. But cism and cultural ethnicity. Murphy testify to the richness and diversity of visitors to Nebraska are still struck by makes a contribution to the new and the Czech-American experience past its ethnic diversity and the strong sense growing scholarly field of detailed and present and to the difficulties one of ethnicity to be found in many small studies of material culture. Dubovicky encoun,ters in trying to distinguish what towns founded by continental European employs ethnological and anthropol­ is typical from what is not in that expe­ immigrants and still inhabited by their ogical methods; and Saskova-Pierce rience. These articles and the new descendants. Representative of those uses those of historical and compara­ exhibit at the Museum of Nebraska communities with a lively sense of tive linguistics. History aim to facilitate popular under­ their Czech heritage are Abie, Brainard, Joseph Svoboda, creator of the standing of the Czech-American expe­ Bruno, Clarkson, Dwight, Lodgepole, Czech Heritage Collection of the UNL rience and, incidentally, to dispel the Milligan, Prague, Verdigre and Archives and until July 1993 the archi­ notion that Nebraska Czech culture Wilber.4 vist of UNL, writes about the "love of consists entirely of (koltice), Seven of the twelve articles appear­ liberty" that persuaded so many Czech beer, and polka music. I ing in this issue of Nebraska History immigrapts to come to the United Czechs came to the United States for are revisions of papers presented at the States and that conditioned their estab­ economic, political, and personal rea­ September 1992 Symposium on Czech lishment of benevolent and fraternal sons and voluntarily embraced the Immigration sponsored by the Univer­ institutions and their participation in values and institutions of their adopted sity of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) and American politics. Svoboda examines country without losing interest in the organized by Joseph Svoboda and the historical roots of this "love of welfare of their relatives and friends in Bruce Garver. One is a revision of an liberty" and cites many Nebraska the of and Mora­ article first published in 1976, and four Czech examples in discussing its con-· via. 2 The Czech-American experience were prepared especially for this issue. 5 sequences for the development of in Nebraska closely resembles and has The twelve articles are arranged chron­ Czech-American society. He con­ always been conditioned by the larger ologically and within that framework cludes by assessing the ongoing accul­ Czech-American experience in the move from the general to the particular. turation of Czech-Americans and what United States. For a century, Nebraska The first three (by Svoboda, Opatmy, this may mean for the future. has ranked fourth or fifth among and Ference) treat broad historical Josef Opatrny, a specialist in U.S. American states in the number of its topics, beginning with the mid­ and Latin American history at the citizens of Czech ancestry and first in nineteenth century. The next five (by Charles University and head of the the percentage of all citizens of Czech Konecny, SolIe, Garver, Murphy, and Ibero-American Institute of the Czech descent.3 Up to 1920 the Czech­ Machann) address more specific sub­ Academy of Sciences, addresses some American community in Nebraska was jects, only two of which exclusively "Problems in the History of Czech distinguished primarily by the large discuss the period before 1914. Three Immigration to America" from 1865 to majority of its members who lived on of the last four (by Pichlfk, Dubovicky, 1914. One problem is how to uncover

103 Nebraska History . FaUlWinter 1993 and interpret the abundant information be done for other routes and ports used visiting Czech-Americans in Prague. to be found in official Habsburg gov­ by American immigrants, granted that Bruce Garver addresses the history ernment documents and other primary Galveston is well suited for such ex­ of Czech-American Protestants, a manuscript or printed sources. Another amination given its modest size and the small, little known, and denomination­ is how to distinguish between and relatively short time it served immi­ ally diverse "minority within a minor­ reconcile political, economic, and grants as a port of entry. This study ity." He identifies five distinct types of personal motives for emigration. reaffirms the many close connections Czech-American and Opatrny further delineates many of the between Czech and German immigra­ delineates their different relationships social and ideological differences tion from points of departure at Ham­ to mainline American Protestant de­ among nineteenth-century Czech immi­ burg and Bremen to places of nominations. For the period of mass grants and indicates how these differ­ settlement in the United States. It also immigration, he devotes some attention ences conditioned the development of a clearly illustrates the very large part to conflict and cooperation within Czech-American community. He is played by American railroad systems Czech-American communities among most original and explicit in discussing and by trans-Atlantic steamship lines in the many freethinkers, the ~lmost the different responses of Czech­ encouraging immigration as well as in equally numerous Catholics, and the Americans toward the Cuban insurrec­ transporting immigrants. Finally, it very tiny Protestant minority. He also tion and the subsequent Spanish­ helps explain the timing as well as examines some ways in which the American War. describing the means of mass German Czech-American Protestant experience "Slovak Immigration to the United and Czech immigration into Texas and differed in Europe and America from States in light of American, Czech, and the southern Great Plains. that of other immigrant Protestants. In Slovak History" is the ambitious topic Zdenek Solie, director of the Ar­ discussing the pre-1914 organization chosen by Gregory Ference of chives of the Czechoslovak Academy and the post-1920 acculturation of Salisb~ry State University. He concen­ of Sciences during 1990 and 1991, Czech-American Protestants, he cites trates on the four decades before 1914 surveys "Czech Political Refugees in many examples from Nebraska and when one in every five Slovaks emi­ the United States During the Nine­ other Midwestern states. grated to the United States. In doing teenth Century." This article is the David Murphy of the Nebraska State so, he emphasizes differences and fruit of his four-and-one-half decades Historical Society ventures into the similarities between the motives, expe­ of scholarly research and publication fascinatif\g new field of material cul­ riences, and achievements of Slovak devoted to understanding the develop­ ture studies in meticulously describing and Czech immigrants, with a view to ment of the Czech Social Democratic and interpreting the remarkably distinc­ advancing scholarly and popular under­ movement at home and abroad and the tive theatre curtains created in Ne­ standing of both immigrant groups. extraordinary career of Vojta Naprstek bras ka by Czech immigrants and their Among the distinctive qualities of the in public service and journalism on descendants. Murphy also relates the industrious and nationally conscious both sides of the Atlantic.6 Many Czech-American promotion of Czech­ Slovak immigrants were their poverty Czech socialists fled to America to language drama to contemporary devel­ and their having recently experienced escape Habsburg persecution and opments in Anglo-American theatre severe national and political repression became simultaneously active in the and to the Old World Czech tradition­ by the Hungarian authorities. Three American labor movement, in interna­ dating from the early nineteenth-cen­ other central themes are the religious tional socialism, and in the politics of tury National Revival--of using life of Slovak immigrants, their under­ Social Democracy in the Czech lands popular theatre to stimulate national standing of themselves as an overseas of Bohemia and . An apprecia­ consciousness and advance national branch of the Slovak nation, and their tion of Naprstek is essential to any political and cultural objectives. sense of responsibility for the welfare understanding of the nineteenth-century Clinton Machann of Texas A&M of fellow Slovaks in northern Hungary. Czech immigrant experience and the University summarizes and analyzes Lawrence Konecny and Clinton advent of American political and cul­ one of the best-selling Czech-language Machann have teamed up to produce a tural influence in the Czech lands. This American novels written by one of the thorough study of the Bremen to advocate of democracy and women's most popular turn of the century Galveston route as a conduit for Czech rights was the father of Czech-American Czech-American novelists, Jan Mucek, and German immigrants into Texas journalism during the 1850s and there­ who wrote under the pen name of Pavel during the years 1880-86. Their study after for three decades the unofficial Albeiri for audiences in Europe and is in some ways a model for what can American consul and generous host of North America. Machann shows how

104 Introduction

Bride for Fifty Dollars, written in History of the Czech (through 1992 tee nth and eighteenth centuries. Codi­ and published in Prague in Czechoslovak) Army. fication and clarification of the Czech 1897, not only reveals certain problems In "Czech-Americans: An Ethnic language and its reintroduction as a and expectations of Czech-American Dilemma," Ivan Dubovick)1, professor means of sophisticated communication society but reflects many typical inter­ of ethnology at the Charles University in literature, science, and the arts were ests and themes of American "ethnic in Prague, examines four broad themes: among the great achievements of the literature." His discussion of the the gradual and partial "proletarianiza­ nineteenth-century Czech National novel's content and structure indicates tion" of Czech emigrants during the Revival. In discussing "Czech­ why it appears to have been composed third quarter of the nineteenth century, Language Maintenance in Nebraska," primarily for a Czech audience in the the origins and consequences of the Saskova-Pierce emphasizes not only Czech lands. Machann also assesses ideological disputes that further divided the work of individuals and ethnic the extent to which a careful reading of the Czech immigrant community, the organizations but that of the University Bride for Fifty Dollars facilitates our changing nature and rate of Czech­ of Nebraska-Lincoln, the only Ne­ understanding of the aspirations and American acculturation, and the con­ braska institution of hi;gher learning to acculturation of Czech immigrants. tinuing involvement of some have had a long commitment to the Karel Pichlfk discusses one of the Czech-Americans in the politics of teaching of Czech and related courses central and most controversial experi­ their ancestral homeland. Subtopics in Czech studies. ences in the history of Czechs and based on archival research include the The authors and editors of this issue Slovaks and of Czech-Americans and class structure and material assets of of Nebraska History are well aware Slovak-Americans-their successful emigrants from Tabor, Bohemia, dur­ that their articles touch on only a few struggle for an independent Czecho­ ing the 1850s and 1860s; the develop­ of the many important aspects of the slovak state during the First World ment of Czech-American Catholicism Czech-American experience. Frederick War. He clearly delineates how they before and during World War I; fac­ Luebke's concluding essay clearly overcame many differences of opinion tionalism among Czech-American delineates many large topics in Czech­ in mobilizing the popular support and socialists from the tum of the century American history that still await schol­ ac hieving the unity necessary to win through the First World War; and arly exploration. One is a study of the Allied support for Czechoslovak inde­ efforts of the Czechoslovak govern­ detailed as opposed to the broad pattern pendence. He also indicates how later ment to support and influence Czech­ of immigr'!tion from points of depar­ conflicts between Czechs and Slovaks American organizations during the ture to places of settlement. Another is grew out of compromises or misunder­ 1920s and 1930s. Dubovicky con­ a systematic study of the primary standings dating from this wartime cludes by explaining how Czech­ sources of Czech immigration and their cooperation of necessity. His article is Americans have gradually "identified selective 'publication in translation. based in part upon his own extensive themselves with American attitudes, Professor Luebke further urges students scholarly research and publication, values, and historical experience." of Czech immigration to apply to their including what has been for twenty-five Mfla Saskova-Pierce of UNL indi­ research and writing the methods and years the best Czech-language book on cates why efforts to perpetuate use of concepts recently and successfully the subject, Zahranicni odboj bez the have been so cen­ employed by historians of other immi­ legend (The Resistance Movement tral to the experience of Czech immi­ grant groups including the English, Abroad without any Legends). Karel grants and their descendants in the , Italians, Norwegians, and Pichlfk has also helped make modem United States. This is primarily to be Swedes. Thanks to the demise of Czech and Slovak history. For having explained by historical developments communism in the Czech and Slovak been an honest and outspoken historian beginning with the Habsburgs' oblit­ republics in 1989, abundant opportuni­ during and after the "Prague Spring," eration of Czech political independence ties to undertake ambitious research he was in 1969 expelled by "normal­ in 1621 and by their replacement of projects are at last available in the izers" from all academic employment. Czech with German as the administra­ recently reopened Czech and Slovak After eight years of persecution, he tive language of Bohemia and Moravia archives on modern history generally became one of the original signers and in 1627. Later generations of Czechs and on emigration in particular.1 steadfast members of Charter 77. Since attributed the survival of the Czech Four papers at-the fall 1992 UNL the "velvet revolution" of 1989, he has nation primarily to the maintenance of Symposium on Czech Immigration been director of the Memorial of Na­ the Czech language by peasant farmers surveyed the vast holdings of manu­ tional Liberation, Institute for the and townspeople during the seven- script and published materials available

105 Nebraska History . FalllWinter 1993 in leading American and Czech ar­ the United States, 1938-1945." And rate of suicide among Czech-American chives. It is hoped that a revision and Bruce Garver takes a broad view of the immigrants and their descendants, combination of these papers may soon important part played by "Americans of especially among freethinkers, is al­ be made available to readers of Ne­ Czech and Slovak Ancestry in the luded to but not explicitly explained in braska History. Jakub Karffk dis­ History of ."9 Other contemporary newspaper reports and cussed the creation and growth of the fascinating aspects of the Czech­ belles lettres. II Second, no one has yet largest of all repositories of informa­ American experience not explicitly thoroughly examined the activities or tion on Czech emigration, the Naprstek covered in this issue of Nebraska His­ motives of the few Czech-American Museum in Prague. Joel Wurl re­ tory include the second struggle for apologists for Czechoslovak Commu­ viewed the materials on Czech immi­ Czechoslovak independence during nism or precisely ascertained how the gration in the comprehensive World War II, the much longer third Czech-American community was Immigration Archives of the University struggle against communism, and divided by the question of how to deal of Minnesota. The enormous extent of detailed studies of fraternal organiza­ with Communist Czechoslovakia. valuable private papers, newspapers, tions, journalism, poetry, fine arts, and Finally, further study should be made and periodicals in the University of folk arts. of the complicated relationship be­ Chicago's Archive of Czechs and A large part of Czech-American tween Slovak-Americans and the Slo­ Slovaks Abroad was indicated by that history involves the development of vak Republic of 1939-45, considering archive's fo under and curator, Zdenek Czech-American Catholicism, a topic both opponents of and apologists for Hruban. Joseph Svoboda, the archivist whose thorough discussion would have that wartime ally of Nazi Germany. of UNL, surveyed the principal manu­ required several additional articles. In The fall of communism in November scripts and publications in the Czech this issue of Nebraska History, that 1989 and the division of Czecho­ Heritage Collection of the UNL Ar­ topic is treated tangentially by Bruce in January 1993 into indepen­ chives. Especially the latter two ar­ Garver and Joseph Svoboda and more dent Czech and Slovak Republics have chives have preserved and organized directly by Ivan DubovickY. These occasioned, as Karel Pichlfk points out materials relating to the three struggles authors are well aware of the extent to in this issue, both a critical and an for Czechoslovak independence waged w.hich the principal early twentieth­ emotional reevaluation of all recent abroad by Czech and Slovak emigres century English-language works on Czech and Slovak history. 12 Inevitably and by Americans of Czech and Slovak Czech-American history have been the histo~y of Czechs and Slovaks descent (1914-18,1939-45, and 1948­ strongly colored by Czech freethought. abroad and their participation in the 89). Particularly for the third struggle They also recognize that Czech Catho­ making and remaking of Czecho­ (odboj), these archives have preserved lics played a larger part in the early slovakia will be an important element private papers and publications avail­ nineteenth-century Czech National in all fJture reassessments of what it able nowhere else which contain infor­ Revival (Ceskci narodnl obrozenl) and means to be a Czech or a Slovak and of mation and opinion essential to in Czech-American support for what interests and aspirations Czechs understanding not only recent Czech Czechoslovak independence than and Slovaks have had or should have in and Slovak immigration but most contemporary freethinkers chose to common. Similarly the history of contemporary Czech and Slovak acknowledge. With the exception of Czech and Slovak immigrants in the history.s Jan Habenicht's encyclopedic pioneer­ United States is bound to attract many Three important topics in Czech­ ing study and a shorter survey by Jo­ more students on both sides of the American history are addressed by seph Cada, no one has yet attempted to Atlantic as the Czech Republic and the articles developed from other UNL write a thorough and synthetic schol­ Slovak Republic continue to develop symposium papers and recently pub­ arly study of Czech Catholics in the closer economic and cultural ties to the lished by the Czechoslovak and Central United States. 10 United States. European Journal. There, Claire E. All articles in this issue accentuate All of this argues for the continued Nolte explicitly examines the develop­ positive features of Czech-American need on both sides of the Atlantic to ment of Sokol, the best-known of all and Slovak-American history without maintain appropriate archives, libraries, Czech-American organizations, in her glossing over problems and shortcom­ and scholarly publications. If in the account of "Our Brothers Across the ings. Known to many readers are three future, the Czech-American heritage is Ocean: The Czech Sokol in America to examples of controversial issues not to be preserved and understood in the 1914." Nancy M. Wingfield discusses directly addressed here and little stud­ United States, some of those charged "Czechoslovak Jewish Immigration to ied elsewhere. First, the relatively high with this task will have to know the

106 Introduction

Czech language. This will in tum Czech literary and material culture­ mately 2/3 of the population of Bohemia, 3/4 require at least a few American col­ one in part cultivated by Czech exiles in Moravia, and about 1/3 in Austrian Silesia. In this issue of Nebraska History, "the Czech leges and universities to continue the of 1968, some of whom have returned lands" is synonymous with the three crown­ teaching of Czech as a second lan­ to their homeland. 15 lands above or with "the Old Country." guage. If Czech studies are to prosper In interpreting the Czech-American Crown lands are also mentioned individually. in American colleges and universities, experience, many areas of agreement On the history of the Czech lands during the period of mass emigration to the United they must be taught by professors who have emerged among the authors of States, see Bruce M. Garver, The Young read and speak Czech and who have articles in this issue of Nebraska His­ Czech Party, 1874-1901 , and the Emergence demonstrated through scholarly or tory. One is an appreciation for the of a Multi-Party System (New Haven: Yale literary publication their understanding enormous diversity of opinions ex­ University Press, 1978). of and enthusiasm for what they pressed and occupations chosen by 3 Since the 1860s Illinois has been in first teach. J3 Czech-Americans past and present. place followed distantly by , New York, Ne~raska, and Texas, usually in that order. The recent development of close ties A second is an understanding of the No other state comes close to Nebraska in the between the United States and the origins and outcome of many of the percentage of its citizens of Czech origin. ideological disputes that have divided Czech Republic has already increased 4 On Czechs in Nebraska, see Bruce travel abroad and interest in genealogy the Czech-American community. A Garver, "Czechs in Nebraska as reflected in and family history on the part of third is recognition of the continued their History, Arts and Letters," a published Czech-Americans and seems likely to interest shown by Czech-Americans in lecture and bibliography of eleven pages in the series of ten titled The Frontier Heritage stimulate among their children a greater the welfare of their friends and rela­ in Nebraska Arts and Letters (Lincoln: appreciation of the European Czech tives in the Czech lands, an interest Nebraska Literary Heritage Assn. and Lin­ heritage. But acculturation has simul­ most evident during the three struggles coln City Library Foundation, 1985). Ne­ taneously proceeded apace; and a for Czechoslovak independence (1914­ braska is the only state in which I have lived where people have asked "What is your generation or more has passed since 18, 1939-45, and 1948-89). Fourth is nationality?" and been surprised when I most Czech-Americans last learned an understanding that acculturation has responded "American" and thereby appeared Czech at home, with the consequent varied in speed and intensity, has been not to understand what they wanted to know. loss of a Czech-language literary and voluntarily chosen, and is in any case I soon discovered that such Nebraskans use the word "nationality" in the sense of "ethnic journalistic heritage. Also, as Mfla neither objectionable nor to be halted. origin." Saskova-Pierce points out, if the Czech Finally, all authors applaud the reopen­ 5 Joseph Syoboda's 1976 article titled language is to survive in the United ing after 1989 of direct personal, com­ "Czechs: A I"ove of Liberty," has long been States, it will be as a second language mercial, cultural, and political contacts out of print and in much demand. Gregory learned through formal instruction at a between Americans and Czechs, con­ Ference, Bruce Garver, Frederick Luebke, college or university. Therefore in the tacts that should inaugurate a new and and David Murphy prepared new articles for this issue. The Conference on Czech Immi­ long run, Czech-American ethnic perhaps happier chapter in the history gration was sponsored by the UNL Depart­ festivals and cultivation of folk arts, of relations between Czechs and ment of History and was funded by the Frank however instructive and entertaining, Americans and in the process of Czech­ Belousek Fund of the University of Nebraska appear to be insufficient means with American acculturation. Foundation. which to maintain an ethnic heritage. 6 Dr. Zdenek Solie belongs to the genera­ As the Czech Republic and the Notes tion of Czechoslovak scholars who began research and publication in the early 1950s. United States continue to reestablish 1 Nebraska, of course, is noted for its many For his honest appraisal of such controversial close economic, cultural, and political fine Czech-American orchestras (or polka subjects as Czech Social Democracy and the ties, the already large dissimilarity bands). In English, kolaches are always politics of T. G. Masaryk, he was, after the between Czech and Czech-American spoken of in the plural, perhaps because they advent of "normalization" in 1969, dismissed are so tasty. Identification of Cz~chs with from the Historical Institute of the Czecho­ popular cultures is likely to increase, beer drinking sometimes crosses the fine line slovak Academy of Sciences and obliged to particularly as the former becomes ever between sociological generalization and earn his living as an archivist. After the more international in style and con­ ethnic stereotyping or prejudice, as in refer­ "velvet revolution" of 1989, he served as the head archivist of the Academy of Sciences tent. 14 Already one may contrast a ences to predominantly Czech-American "Saline County" as "Saloon County." until his retirement early in 1992. fossilized, but nonetheless attractive, Czech-American popular culture-the 2 The Czech (or Bohemian) crownlands of 7 I encountered typical difficulties in doing Bohemia, Moravia, and (after 1740) Austrian research in Czechoslovak archives for ten remnant of the folk culture of nine­ Silesia were within the Habsburg Monarchy months in 1967, one month in 1971, and five teenth-century Czech immigrants­ from 1526 to 1918 and were the European months in 1973 . All materials on history · with the vibrant and modem European homeland of the Czech people. From the after 1914 and most materials on emigration 1700s until 1945, Czechs comprised approxi­ to the United States were for "technical"

107 Nebraska History· FalllWinter 1993

reasons inaccessible. I very well remember a 10 Jan Habenicht, Dejiny Cechu americkjch on the grounds that it did not sound at all like conversation in February 1973 with the late (A History of American Czechs) (St. Louis: the tunes passed down through the genera­ Vaclav Kral, who informed me that my Hlas, 1910); Joseph Cada, Czech-American tions from immigrant forebears. In August projected study of the Czechoslavonic Social Catholics, 1850-1920 (Lisle, III.: Benedictine 1992 I heard a few such comments when Democratic party from 1878 to 1914 would Abbey Press, 1964). appearing on a KFAB talk show with Zora not be possible because the pertinent archive Jandova and both before and after the Zdenek I I An absence of religious faith and an exag­ was "closed for technical reasons (podle and Zora Concert at Sokol Omaha. With gerated sense of individualism among free­ technickjch duvodu)." I remember having these few exceptions, all comments from thinkers were the causes of Czech suicide ticket holders and reviewers were very been rather miffed and having responded: most often identified by Czech-American "Please, pane doktore, don't you mean 'for laudatory. Thanks to James Keene of the Catholics and Protestants. But these at best political reasons (podle poJitickjch Keene Foundation, Zdenek Merta and Zora only partially explain what must have been Jandova will again perform in Omaha and duvodu)?'" At that he became angry and complex motives for behavior with unhappy replied: "But you must understand, Professor Lincoln in 1994. and often tragic consequences. The author is . Garver, that some of our historians misused working on a study of suicide among Czech­ those archives." I ran into similar difficulties Americans and would be very pleased to at that time when I tried to gain access to the receive any information on specific cases. Naprstek Museum. If confidentiality is requested, it will be 8 Jakub Karffk (director of the Library of respected. the Naprstek Museum),"The Development of 12 On the current debate over the meaning the Naprstek Museum as a Repository for of modern Czech history, see Milos Hajek, et Materials on the History of Czech Emigra­ aI., Kfizovatky 20. stoleti: Svetlo na bila tion"; Joel Wurl, "Documenting the History mista v nejnovej,Hch dejinach (Crossroads of of Czech and Slovak Immigration from the 20th Century: Shedding Light on the Materials in the Immigration Archives of the Blank Areas in Our Most Recent History) University of Minnesota"; Zdenek Hruban (Prague: Nase vojsko, 1990); Jan Kfen, Bila (Professor Emeritus of Pathology, U. of mista v nasich dejinach (Blank Areas in Our Chicago Medical School), "Documenting the History) (Prague: Knihovna Lidovych novin, History of Czech and Slovak Immigration in 1990); Josef Kroutvor, Potize s dejinami: the Collections of the Archive of Czechs and eseje (Difficulties with History: Essays); Jan Slovaks Abroad"; and Joseph Svoboda, Obrman, "Havel Challenges Czech Historical "Documenting the History of Czech Immigra­ Taboos," RFEIRL Research Report, 2:24 tion in the Czech Heritage Collection of the (June II, 1993): 44-51; Jan Patocka, Co Jsou Archives of the University of Nebraska­ Cdi? (What are the Czechs?) (Prague: Lincoln." In addition to these scholars, those Panorama, 1992); Petr Pithart, Dejiny a who presented papers included Professors politika (History and Politics) (Prague: Claire Nolte, Nancy Wingfield, and Bruce Prostor, 1990); and Tomas Stanek, Odsun Garver, whose contributions are cited in note Nemcu z Ceskoslovenska, 1945-47 (The 9, and all of the authors of articles in this Expulsion of the Germans from Czecho­ issue of Nebraska History except Professors slovakia, 1945-47) (Prague: Academia & Ference and Luebke, who served as commen­ Nase vojsko, 1991). tators. Also helping to make the conference a success were other commentators and session 13 In the future in the United States, Czech­ chairpersons: Prof. Jana Bischofova of the language instruction and Czech cultural and Agriculture University in Prague; Prof. C. political studies seem most likely to thrive in Winston Chrislock of the College of St. large, prestigious, and well-endowed private Thomas; Prof. Robert Fiala of Concordia and state universities with comprehensive College; Prof. William Gleason of Doane Slavic studies programs and international College; Prof. Dennis Mihelich of Creighton reputations for scholarly excellence and University; Professors Walter Bacon, Oliver public service. Pollak, Roger Sharpe, and Andris Skreija of 14 I have developed this theme at greater UNO; and Professors Lloyd Ambrosius, length in Garver, "Americans of Czech and David Forsythe, Edward Homze, James Slovak Ancestry," 8-10,13-14. McClelland, and Dean Rugg of UNL. Sena­ tor and Mrs. Roman Hruska were among the 15 This dissimilarity was well illustrated in many observers who attended every session. Nebraska in August 1992 when the talented Czech musicians, composer and pianist 9 Czechoslovak and Central European Zdenek Merta and vocalist Zora Jandova, Journal 11 (Winter 1993): 1-14 (Garver); 15­ presented three concerts of contemporary, 37 (Nolte); and 38-48 (Wingfield). Informa­ cabaret, and traditional Czech music. A very tion on the sale of back issues or few Nebraska Czechs claimed that this subscriptions may be obtained from the modern music composed by Czechs and sung editor, Dr. Paul I. Trensky, 2 Fordham Hill by Czechs in Czech was "not Czech music" Oval, Apt. 9G , New York, NY 10468.

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