Czech Society of Oregon records, 1916-2019

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Czech Society of Oregon
Title
Czech Society of Oregon records
Dates
1916-2019 (inclusive)
Quantity
1.15 cubic feet, (1 record carton)
Collection Number
Coll 818
Summary
Records, dating from 1916 to 2019, of the Czech Society of Oregon and preceding or related organizations such as the Czech National Alliance, Telocvincny Jednota Sokol, the Czech Ladies Society, and National Czechoslovak Conference of America. The Czech Society was based in Portland, Oregon.
Repository
Oregon Historical Society Research Library
1200 SW Park Avenue
Portland, OR
97205
Telephone: 503-306-5240
Fax: 503-219-2040
libreference@ohs.org
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Languages
English

Historical NoteReturn to Top

The Czech Society of Oregon was initially formed in Portland, Oregon, as the Czech National Alliance in 1916. The organization was founded by members of the Telocvincny Jednota Sokol (Gymnastic Organization Sokol), with the goal of supporting the cause of Czech independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The Alliance was dissolved in 1920, then reformed in 1938 when the German-majority Sudeten region of Czechoslovakia was ceded to Nazi Germany. The Alliance and the related Czech Ladies Society raised funds to support Czechs affected by World War II and Czech refugees fleeing post-war Soviet occupation.

The National Czechoslovak Conference of America, Oregon Chapter was formed in 1964. It changed its name to the Czech and Slovak Society of Oregon in 2000, and again to the Czech Society of Oregon in 2003. Among other activities, it raised funds for flood relief efforts in Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic. The Czech Society of Oregon disbanded in 2019.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection consists of the records of the Czech Society of Oregon and its previous incarnations: the Czech National Alliance; the Czechoslovak National Conference of America, Oregon Chapter; and the Czech and Slovak Society of Oregon. The collection also contains some records of the Telocvincny Jednota Sokol (Gymnastic Organization Sokol), whose members initially formed the Czech National Alliance. The records consist of meeting minutes, correspondence, and photographs and flyers relating to social gatherings and events. Most of the collection's materials prior to 1980 are photocopies. Many of the collection's folders include historical notes and chronological synopses of the records.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Preferred Citation

Czech Society of Oregon records, Coll 818, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.

Restrictions on Use

The Oregon Historical Society owns the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from copyright owners.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Materials were kept in original order.

Acquisition Information

Gift of the Czech Society of Oregon, care of John Velehradsky, May 1, 2019 (RL2019-077).

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
1 1 Czech National Alliance 1916 June - 1920 September
1 2-3 Czech National Alliance 1938 September - 1946 May
1 4 Women's organization, Vcelky (Busy Bees) 1940 March -1946 January
1 5-6 Czech Ladies Society 1946 January - 1951 February
1 7-9 Telocvicny Jednota Sokol (Gymnastic Organization Sokol) 1948-1964
1 10-17 Czechoslovak National Conference of America, Oregon Chapter 1964-1998
1 18-19 Czechoslovak National Conference of America, Oregon Chapter; Czech and Slovak Society of Oregon 1999-2001
1 20-21 Czech and Slovak Society of Oregon; Czech Society of Oregon 2002-2005
1 22-27 Czech Society of Oregon 2006-2019

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Czech Americans--Oregon
  • Czech Americans--Oregon--Societies, etc.

Corporate Names

  • Czech Society of Oregon

Form or Genre Terms

  • Administrative records
  • Correspondence
  • Minutes (administrative records)