Archive: Czechs abroad | Czechs in the USA Czechs in the USA
Antonín Čermák: from Czech miner to Chicago mayor
You might not recognise the name straight away, but Antonín Josef Čermák
- a miner’s son from Kladno, Central Bohemia - is one of the most famous
Czech-Americans to have ever lived. Anton (or Tony) Cermak became mayor of
Chicago at the height of prohibition, overhauled Democratic Party politics
in the city, and was then assassinated in the most mysterious of
surroundings. All quite dramatic for someone who started his career selling
firewood… More
Ryba’s Czech Christmas Mass premieres in Chicago
It has taken more than 200 years for Jakub Jan Ryba’s Czech Christmas
Mass to come to Chicago, but it seems that good things come to those who
wait. The Ryba Mass was premiered in the Windy City on Saturday and Rosie
Johnston was there. More
Introducing the Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center in La Grange
The city of La Grange in Texas, historically a major site of Czech
settlement, remains to this day a hub of Czech culture. Those who want to
stay in touch with the local Czech community or would like to trace their
roots can visit the Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center located in
city. Besides offering research facilities, the center also organizes
various events – most recently a gala where old Czech bands were honored
earlier this month or an exhibition of nativity art which has just opened. More
Laureates of Gratias Agit award on the significance of their Czech heritage
Every year in October the Czech Republic honours those who have contributed
significantly to promoting the country’s good name abroad. This year,
Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg bestowed the annual Gratias Agit
awards on thirteen personalities from around the world to thank them for
their work. On occasion of the country’s national holiday we bring you
the thoughts and experiences of three Czechs who live abroad, but who never
severed ties with their homeland and are proud of their Czech roots and
national heritage. More
Freddie Botur – Retired NY tennis entrepreneur with deep Czech roots
Freddie Botur, who was born Vratislav Botur, fled Czechoslovakia in 1948,
shortly after taking part in a student march to Prague Castle aimed at
preventing the Communists from seizing power. The ambitious young émigré
eventually ended up in New York, where he became a successful developer and
owner of tennis clubs, including the well-known Tennisport on the banks of
the East River. More
Foreign Ministry honours promoters of good name of Czech Republic
Since 1997, the Czech Foreign Ministry has been honouring those who promote
the good name of the Czech Republic abroad with the annual Gratias Agit
awards. Last Friday, October 14, Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg
handed out the awards to thirteen personalities from around the globe to
thank them for their outstanding work. More
Eva Eislerová – Czech designer who reached top of jewellery world in NYC
The Czech artist and designer Eva Eislerová originally wanted to be an
architect. Instead, she became one of the most highly regarded makers of
art jewellery in the world, after emigrating to New York in the 1980s with
her half-Czech, half-English husband, John Eisler. Today Eva Eisler, as she
is known to her collectors, spends most of her time back home in Prague,
where she teaches at the metals department at the Academy of Arts,
Architecture and Design. More
Gail Naughton and the Czech books of Iowa
If you want to find out more about the long history of Czechs and Slovaks
in the United States, the place to start is The National Czech and Slovak
Museum and Library in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The museum was devastated by
floods in 2008 and some 6,000 flood-damaged volumes from the library are
still being painstakingly restored. But the pace of recovery has been
remarkably fast, and within the next couple of years, an ambitious project
to rebuild and expand the museum should be complete. With it the library
will also be up and running once again. In Czech Books this week, David
Vaughan finds out more about the library’s rich collections. More
Gail Naughton and the Czech books of Iowa
If you want to find out more about the long history of Czechs and Slovaks
in the United States, the place to start is The National Czech and Slovak
Museum and Library in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The museum was devastated by
floods in 2008 and some 6,000 flood-damaged volumes from the library are
still being painstakingly restored. But the pace of recovery has been
remarkably fast, and within the next couple of years, an ambitious project
to rebuild and expand the museum should be complete. With it the library
will also be up and running once again. In Czech Books this week, David
Vaughan finds out more about the library’s rich collections.
More
Publisher calls time on leading Czech-language newspaper in US
An era has come to an end with the demise of Americké listy, the leading
Czech-language newspaper in the United States. Its publishers Petr and Vera
Bísek have decided to call time on the bi-monthly publication, which
succeeded a paper started in the mid 1960s by another Czech émigré, Frank
Švehla. The couple, who are in their late 60s, live in New York state but
are currently visiting family at a village near Plzeň. On the phone from
there, Petr Bísek explained why they had taken the decision to close
Americké listy.
More
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