| SVU |
CZECHOSLOVAK SOCIETY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES |
CZECHOSLOVAK AMERICAN ARCHIVALIA
Miloslav Rechcigl Jr.
A few
years ago the Czechoslovak Society of Arts and Sciences (SVU), in cooperation with major
Czech-American organizations associated in the National Heritage Commission, initiated a
comprehensive long-term survey of historic sites and archival material bearing on the
Czech presence in the United States. The undertaking is a part of the overall SVU efforts
towards preservation of the Czech and Slovak cultural heritage abroad. The survey, which
has full endorsement by the Commission for Preserving America's
Heritage Abroad, has received partial funding from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the
Czech Republic.
The first part of the survey was completed in 1999, with the preparation of a Special
Report, entitled Czech-American Historic Sites, Monuments, and Memorabilia, compiled and
edited by Miloslav Rechcigl, Jr. (Rockville, MD: SVU, 1999). 112 pp.
Mila Rechcigl has now completed a draft of another report, entitled Czechoslovak American
Archivalia (Rockville, MD: SVU, 2000; 294 pp.), constituting the second half of the
survey. It comprises the US-based archival material and library holdings relating to
emigres and exiles from the territory of former Czechoslovakia and relevant holdings
bearing on their ancestral land. Although our initial focus was exclusively on the Czech
element, we soon discovered the difficulty of differentiating archival material into Czech
or Slovak, considering that many an individual played a role in Czechoslovakia, as a
whole, irrespective of his or her ethnic background. Consequently, it was decided to cover
in our survey all emigrant and exile groups from the territory of former Czechoslovakia,
irrespective of their ethnicity.
The present listing is divided into seven major categories, i.e., government repositories,
university-based collections, collections maintained by public museums and libraries,
collections of ethnic organizations, personal papers and collections, repositories abroad
bearing on the subject, and finally the virtual archives on the Internet. Rules governing
each of these categories are quite different; some allowing an easy access, while other
require specific permission. Holdings at government institutions are usually maintained
exceptionally well and this is also true about most of the university-based collections.
The largest category in our listing is entitled "Personal Papers and
Collections" These are personal papers and other documents of prominent personalities
maintained in various repositories, usually under individual's name. The compilation is
based strictly on compiler's familiarity with the individuals' names and their
accomplishments. As a rule, these are distinct collections and you wouldn't find them
under Czech or Slovak collections. For a researcher these collections may be of greater
value than general Czech and Slovak collections.
Since a number of archivalia and library holdings bearing on the subject are also kept in
selected institutions in the Czech and Slovak Republics, as well as in other European
countries, we thought it appropriate to include such major repositories in our listing.
Some of these repositories have already inventoried their stock and actually published
catalogs of their holdings.
Now that computers are gaining momentum in practically every walk of life, we deemed it
necessary to also include in our listing the virtual archives on the Internet. So far,
only one reputable archive exists bearing on thing Czech or Slovak. With time, more such
archives will be in evidence.
Just as in the case of Czech-American historic sites, one should consider the present listing as tentative. The user should realize that this is the first effort of its kind. and that no compilations of Czech or Slovak materials heretofore existed. It has taken the compiler an enormous effort, including correspondence, personal or telephone contact, and above all, a systematic and painstaking research to find relevant collections, based on compiler's intimate knowledge of Czech and Slovak ethnic immigration history. The compiler is well aware that this is only a beginning and that the work will have to continue.
Nevertheless, the listing represents an important step forward. It is a firm foundation to which more information can be added. Frankly, one cannot but be impressed with the information that has already been gathered. There is plenty of information on hand for many years of scholars' intensive work.
With the
increased interest in preserving America's ethnic heritage, there is an effort a foot to
save as many historical buildings and other monuments as possible. We should be equally,
if not more so, concerned with preserving our spiritual legacy, i.e., archival material
and other precious documents bearing on the life and contributions of our ancestors. It is
not so much the material that is already being maintained in some government or university
archives, but it is the material about which we don't know which is hidden in some box or
stashed away in an old file in the basement or cellar of a former officer of some ethnic
organization. It is a challenge for anyone to find these lost treasures!
The editor would welcome any comments or suggestions, additions or corrections. Our
comprehensive survey is still continuing and your late information is better to come late
than never.
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