View XML QR Code

Croatian Fraternal Union Of America Records, 1904-1989

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Croatian Fraternal Union of America
Title
Croatian Fraternal Union Of America Records
Dates
1904-1989 (inclusive)
Quantity
2 linear feet of shelf space
Collection Number
MC 218
Summary
The Croatian Fraternal Union of America was a Croatian-American fraternal insurance benefit society formed to provide sickness and death benefits. This collection (1904-1989) consists of financial records, minutes, and miscellany for lodges in Roundup and Lewistown, Montana, as well as statewide convention materials (1915-1989).
Repository
Montana Historical Society, Library & Archives
Montana Historical Society Research Center Archives
225 North Roberts
PO Box 201201
Helena MT
59620-1201
Telephone: 4064442681
Fax: 4064445297
mhslibrary@mt.gov
Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Return to Top

Historical Note

The Croatian Fraternal Union of America was established as the Croatian Association in 1894 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as a fraternal insurance benefit society to provide relief to Croatians in event of sickness or death. The organization changed its name in 1897 to the National Croatian Society, and adopted its present name in 1926. The Union began publishing a newspaper in 1904, issued monthly until 1909, when it began weekly publication. Membership totaled over 8,000 by 1900, over 100,000 in the 1940s, and continued to increase until the 1970s. In addition to providing members with sickness and death benefits, the Union also helped organize labor unions in the 1930s, provided relief to disaster victims worldwide, gave scholarships to students, and sponsored Croatian cultural events. "Junior nest lodges" are the youth organizations of the Union that accept members up to eighteen years old.

Six lodges of the Union are active in Montana today, and nineteen were formerly active (three as members of the Croatian League of Illinois), mainly in western Montana. Sv. Srce Isusovo Lodge 384 was organized in Roundup, Montana, in 1909, changed its name to Napredak in 1930, and was transferred into Lodge 775 in Roundup in 1952. Montana Stars Lodge 775 was organized in Roundup, Montana, in 1931, and was transferred into Lodge 84 in Anaconda, Montana, in 1981. King Tomislav Lodge 272 was organized in Lewistown, Montana, in 1904. In 1914 it was designated Lodge 4, and in 1956 Lodge 987. Junior Nest 43 was located in Roundup, Montana. The first state convention in Montana was held in Great Falls in 1914.

Return to Top

Content Description

These records of the Croatian Fraternal Union of America include records of the statewide organization and of lodges in Roundup and Lewistown, Montana, and one junior nest in Roundup. The statewide records include minutes and proceedings (1915-1954) of state conventions, and rules and bylaws (1917-1932) of the organization. The Lewistown Lodge [King Tomislav #272 and #4] records include correspondence (1924-1955); financial records (1907-1956), including dues ledgers and journals, and a treasurer's book; minutes (1910-1928, 1950-1955); and membership books (1904-1930, n.d.). The Roundup Junior Order, Nest #43 records include dues journals (1951-1980) and a financial ledger (1932-1975). The records of the Roundup Lodges [Sv. Srce Isusovo #384, Napredak #384, and Stars #775] consist of financial records including an insurance book (1925-1952), a sick benefits account ledger (1925-1980), and treasurer's day books (1931-1973); minutes (1931-1959); and a membership list (n.d.).

Return to Top

Administrative Information

Arrangement

by series

Acquisition Information

Acquisition Information:

available upon request

Return to Top

Detailed Description of the Collection

Detailed Description of the Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Croatian-Americans
  • Friendly societies
  • Insurance companies

Geographical Names

  • Lewistown (Mont.)--Commerce
  • Lewistown (Mont.)--Social life and customs
  • Roundup (Mont.)--Commerce
  • Roundup (Mont.)--Social life and customs


2004

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

About Creative Commons Licenses in Archives West

Loading...
Loading...