90th Anniversary of Chicago’s contribution to an independent Czechoslovakia

90th Anniversary of Chicago’s contribution to an independent Czechoslovakia During the month of May, The Consulate General of the Czech Republic will present a series of events commemorating the extraordinary role that Chicago played in the creation of an independent Czechoslovakia in 1918 These events are made possible through the generous support of Czechoslovak Legion Project, University of Chicago, the Prague Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International Program and numerous Czech-American community and other organizations On May 5, 1918 more than 150,000 Chicagoans filled the streets to give a triumphant welcome to Professor Thomas Garrigue Masaryk, the future President of Czechoslovakia Masaryk was coming from Russia where he helped to organize the Czechoslovak Legion from former P.O.Ws to fight for an independent Czechoslovak State Chicago was then the center of Czech and Slovak immigration in the United States and gave Masaryk an enthusiastic reception, echoing Masaryk’s earlier visits to the city and his visiting professorship at the University of Chicago in 1902 From Chicago Masaryk continued his journey across the United States, raising support for an independent Czechoslovak State declared on October 28, 1918 The following events honor this important anniversary and highlight the importance of the Czech-American community in Chicago • Thursday May 1, p.m – World Premiere of a TV documentary “Accidental Army – The Amazing True Story of the Czechoslovak Legion” at the Chicago History Museum (1601 N Clark St.) Introduction by Judy Baar Topinka, former Illinois State Treasurer Free admission Reservation required Contact: 773-871-1179, e-mail czechlegion@mac.com, web: www.czechlegion.com The Czechoslovak Legion Project is a Chicago-based non-profit led by John Iltis and Bruce Bendinger with production from a number of Chicago-based communication professionals It tells an amazing but little-known story of how there came to be a Czechoslovakia: in the middle of World War One 40,000 Czech and Slovak P.O.Ws switch sides to become an Allied Army - The Czechoslovak Legion They get caught up in the Russian Revolution, capture half the Trans-Siberian Railroad, and then, a train carrying half the Czar’s gold shows up! Find out more May 1st For more information about the event please click HERE You can also visit a website of the Czechoslovak Legion project at www.czechlegion.com and find a movie trailer on YouTube (at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6N7_WO2P1YM) • Saturday, May 3, p.m – T G Masaryk Memorial Banquet at the traditional Czech Restaurant Klas (5734 West Cermak Road Cicero, IL 60804) Admission: $25 presale, $35 at door Contact: 708-612-5438, web: www.klasrestaurant.com Klas Restaurant opened in 1922 Many Czech and U.S dignitaries and artists have enjoyed Klas over the years, including Presidents T G Masaryk and George H W Bush For more information about the event please click HERE • Sunday, May 4, p.m – Guided tour of the Bohemian National Cemetery (5255 N Pulaski) Admission: $15, contact: 773-539-8442, e-mail: info@FriendsofBNC.org web: www.friendsofbnc.org BNC was chartered in 1877 by the State of Illinois as a not-for-profit organization Rich with genealogical information, the cemetery spanning 126 acres is the final home for over 116,000 people It became a Chicago landmark • Monday, May – release of a new book Czechs of Chicagoland by Malynne Sternstein (University of Chicago – Arcadia Press) As late as 1970, Chicago’s Czech community has been called the “most ethnically conscious and active city after Prague”, despite the fact that it holds few records of “firsts” for Czechs in the United States It is not the precedence of Czech churches, businesses, and schools that commends Chicagoland as a citadel of Czech ethnic consciousness and civic and social activity, but the quality of that consciousness The book is part of national publisher Arcadia Press’s series on ethnic communities throughout the United States It traces the first waves of emigration from the Czech lands to Chicagoland in the mid 19th century to the present day Using over 200 photographs culled from archives and private collections, the book hopes to show how complex, rich, and influential the life of Czechs in the Chicago area has been for the past 150 years • Tuesday, May 13, p.m - “T G Masaryk Lecture on Democracy” by Hon Madeleine K Albright, former U.S Secretary of State, at the University of Chicago, Rockefeller Memorial Chapel, 5850 S Woodlawn Avenue (at 59th Street) Free admission – registration required Contact: Consulate General of the Czech Republic, e-mail: chicago@embassy.mzv.cz, 312-861-1037, ext 100, web: www.mzv.cz/chicago Former U.S Secretary of State Madeleine K Albright, born in Czechoslovakia and recognized as a promoter of democracy in the world, has kindly accepted to be the keynote speaker at this historical commemoration The lecture is sponsored jointly by the Czech Consulate General, the Prague Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International Program and the University of Chicago and will be preceded by a wreath laying ceremony at the Masaryk Memorial (Midway Plaisance, University of Chicago) at 4:30 p.m Prior to 1918 T G Masaryk had lectured at the University of Chicago in 1902 and 1907 He also had strong personal links with the U.S since 1878 through his marriage with an American citizen Charlotte Garrigue and friendship with Charles Crane Thanks to Crane, a Chicago industrialist, Masaryk was invited to the University of Chicago and introduced into highest political circles, including to Woodrow Wilson The adoption of the Declaration of Independence of the Czechoslovak Nation on October 18, 1918, in Washington, presented by Masaryk to Wilson, preceded the proclamation of the Czechoslovak Republic ten days later For an invitation please click HERE Chicago has been the traditional center of Czech immigration to the United States since 1850s Chicago neighborhood Pilsen has its counterpart in the Czech Republic and since 1990 Chicago and Prague are officially Sister Cities Well-known Czech Chicagoans include late Chicago mayor Anton Cermak, Bears icon and football pioneer George Halas, former Illinois State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka, movie star Kim Novak and McDonald's founder Ray Kroc In the last census more than 130.000 people in Illinois (1.6 million in the United States) declared themselves to be of Czech ancestry In this respect, the opening of the Czech Consulate General in Chicago two years ago, came as a symbolic recognition of the importance of Chicago as a natural center of Midwest and as an attempt to revitalize the strong ties between the Czech Republic and Chicagoland founded on the sizeable CzechAmerican community The organizers would like to thank American Sokol, CSA Fraternal Life, Bohemian National Cemetery, World Sokol Federation, Czech & Slovak Genealogy Society of Illinois, Czechoslovak American Congress, Friends of Bohemian National Cemetery and Milan Hauner (University of Wisconsin-Madison) for their support For a one-page overview of the program please click HERE  ... Garrigue and friendship with Charles Crane Thanks to Crane, a Chicago industrialist, Masaryk was invited to the University of Chicago and introduced into highest political circles, including to Woodrow... waves of emigration from the Czech lands to Chicagoland in the mid 19th century to the present day Using over 200 photographs culled from archives and private collections, the book hopes to show... the opening of the Czech Consulate General in Chicago two years ago, came as a symbolic recognition of the importance of Chicago as a natural center of Midwest and as an attempt to revitalize