Among the very first industrial-era immigrants to the United States were citizens of Austria-Hungary, who were recruited to work the coal fields of Pennsylvania and certain other states. An absolute necessity for both industry and homes, coal was king. In this talk, John Righetti will outline what coal communities were like at the beginning of...
NCSML Members can now sign up to join the virtual Author Talk for free. Richard Askwith – author of the award-winning book, UNBREAKABLE – tells the story of Lata Brandisová, who caused a scandal in 1927 by insisting on a woman’s right to ride in the Grand Pardubice steeplechase – and went on to humiliate...
The National Museum of American History has launched an engaging series of virtual talks through March 2021 that combine questions raised by the current pandemics and historic objects in the national collections. Curators and historians will virtually share objects, using them as a springboard for a lively discussion that explores how the past can help us better...
Join Dr. Pavol Demeš, foreign policy analyst, civil society expert, and TV anchor based in Bratislava, Slovakia, for a webinar focused on Slovakia after the assassination attempt on Prime Minister Robert Fico while paying specific attention to the domestic and international implications. Prior to the “Velvet Revolution” in November 1989, Dr. Demeš was a bio-medical...
James and Marge Henderson have spent a lifetime collecting Bohemian painted porcelain. Their collection is now on exhibit at NCSML through May 26. James was so captivated by the beauty and quality that he wrote two books detailing the production, exportation, and decoration methods utilized to produce this vast array of decorative objects, household wares,...
Join us on May 1 for a book talk with Dr. Miriam Potocky Rafaidus, author of a powerful exploration of childhood forced migration. Her work offers insight into how the lived experiences of Czechoslovak Cold War refugee children shape their identities and memories well into mid- and late life. Using primary sources and archival oral...
Join us on May 3 for a book talk with Anne Marie Kenny, author of A Song for Bohemia, a memoir. The story chronicles a girl from Omaha, Nebraska, as she follows her heart and becomes a singer in France and then a business owner in Czechoslovakia. Kenny's first-hand account of the historic changes during...
Veselička Children's Ensemble, based in Chicago, will perform at NCSML May 3 at 10:30 a.m. in Rozek Grand Hall. About the Group: Veselička Children’s Ensemble offers a unique opportunity for children in Chicago to connect with their Slovak heritage through dance, music, and cultural education. As part of the Slovak Academy of Chicago, which currently has...
Join author Randall Reyman as he discusses his new book, From the Bohemian Hills, on Saturday, May 10 at 1 p.m. Reyman’s historical fiction novel, From the Bohemian Hills, offers a fresh take on early Czech immigration, depicting the journey of two desperate families seeking a better life as they settle near Cedar Rapids, Iowa,...