George A. Skrivanić photograph collection, 1891-1922

George A. Skrivanić (also known as Gjuro or Juraj) was a prominent figure in the Croatian immigrant population in the late 19th and early 20th century. Born in Dubrovnik, Croatia in 1861, in 1886 he sailed to America and settled in Hoboken, New Jersey. In 1887, he married Regina Falconi and they had two children, Andrew born in 1890 and Frank in 1892.

Although there were many communities of Croatians throughout America in the early 1890’s, Skrivanic was aware there were no Croatian newspapers or organizations representing and supporting these people. To address this, on November 21, 1891, Skrivanić edited and published the first issue of the newspaper “Napredak,” (Progress) issued in Hoboken, New Jersey, with the stated program "to awaken Croatian national consciousness and encourage brotherly harmony among Croats and Serbs in the United States."

In the early 1890’s, there were also many Croatian community groups working to support the well-being, health and stability of their members, but they were not effectively organized or supported to meet the needs of their communities. In 1893, Skrivanić issued a proposal in “Napredak,” that an organization be established bringing together the local Croatian community groups under one umbrella. Soon after, five Croatian organizations from western Pennsylvania and one from adjacent West Virginia assembled in a convention in September 1894 and formed the “Hrvatska Zajednicar” (Croatian Society, a fraternal benefit society). Then at the Third “Hrvatska Zajednicar” Convention in July 1896, delegates named “Napredak” as the new official voice. Immediately after that, Skrivanic moved his printing operation from Hoboken, New Jersey to Allegheny, Pennsylvania.

From August 1896 through November, 1904 “Napredak,” a monthly publication, was “Naroda Hrvatska Zajednicar’s” (National Croatian Society) official voice. Then in December 1904, the organization established “Zajednicar” (Fraternalist), their own monthly newspaper. Soon after, Skrivanic became the editor of “Zajednicar” as well as continuing to edit and publish “Napredak” as a private venture. He would continue to publish both papers through August 1908.

During his time in Allegheny, in addition to his publishing business, he opened a bank and travel agency, served on the “Narodna Hrvatska Zajednicar” Board of Trustees and was active in the Allegheny Croatian community.

Unfortunately, in 1907, the United States economy significantly slowed down, sliding the economic order into a depression and suddenly collapsing Skrivanić's entreprises. By September 1908, he had closed his bank and travel agency and ceased publishing the newspapers “Napredak” and “Zajednicar.” He then disappeared from Allegheny, Pennsylvania and moved to Seattle, Washington, leaving his bank customers angry, and his newspapers without an editor.

When he arrived in Seattle in 1908, he began writing a book and his memoirs about the history of Croatians in America and tried in vain for several years to find a publisher for the manuscript. After he died in 1922, his family continued unsuccessfully until 1931. This manuscript is now in the George A. Skrivanić papers, 1891-1931 (Collection no. 1310) in the University of Washington Libraries Special Collections in Seattle, Washington.

Although Skrivanić contributed to the development of Croatian newspapers and fraternal institutions and participated in many social and political events during his time in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, his positive influence on the history of Croatians in America has been essentially ignored by historians.

Biographical note created by Arlene Cohen, 2021