A History of Czechs (Bohemians) in Nebraska
Book documents all important Czech oragnizations, publications, schools, artists, religion, settlement of counties and other important things, in which Czechs in Nebraska have participated.
Compiled by Rose Rosicky, Omaha 1929
Find the table of contents with all original text under the following link.
History of Nebraska Czechs - Incorporated
After the success of and in
On May 11, 1963, at a public business meeting in Wilber the state organization was formed. The local Wilber group became the "Nebraska Czechs of Wilber" and superimposed over that a state organization called the "Nebraska Czechs Incorporated."
The first officers and directors of the Nebraska Czechs Inc., were: Eugene Zajicek, Wilber, president; George Barnas, Wilber, vice-president; Helene Novak Baer, Wilber, secretary; and Frank Kohel, Wilber, treasurer; and directors were Alfred Novacek, Dwight; Lloyd Ourecky, Wilber; Vladimir Kucera, Lincoln; Will Janecek, Wilber; Ann Libor, Omaha; Ray Houska, Wilber; Elsa Skocpol, Crete; and Hugo Srb, Lincoln.
The general nature of the Corporation is to develop and encourage interest, research, and inquiry into the culture, traditions, and history of the Czechs immigrants to the
Dwight was the first Czech community to be granted a charter under the Nebraska Czechs Inc., and it became "The Nebraska Czechs of Dwight." Each added chapter retains the name "Nebraska Czechs" and adds the name of its own town or community. Dwight became Chapter One in 1963 with Alfred Novacek as president. Wilber became a chapter member in: 1963 with Eugene Zajicek, president. Thethird charter was granted to President Edward Varejcka for the Czech Club in Schuyler. The Omaha Czech Club, one of the oldest Czech organizations in
The Nebraska Czechs Inc., meets eight times a year at a central place or is hosted by a chapter member in its own community.
One of the requirements of the Organization is that each chapter sponsors some Czech entertainment at least once a year. Sponsoring annual Czech Festivals are The Nebraska Czechs of Dwight and The Nebraska Czechs of Wilber. The Nebraska Czechs of Schuyler conduct an annual Czech Music Festival each June. The Nebraska Czechs of Omaha and The Nebraska Czechs of Lincoln present annual spectaculars each spring and winter. Additional events may be featured by each chapter.
The wearing of the Nebraska Czech costume is encouraged by each chapter at its event. Although the Nebraska Czechs, Inc., uses the general idea of the Czech national costume, it discourages the imported costume and encourages individually designed and locally made costumes. In the competitive contests where the costume might carry weight with the judges, all imported costumes are disqualified.
A Nebraska Czech Seal was adopted by the state organization for its use by all chapters as a guarantee to the buyer that all Czech handcraft is of high standard, is bona-fide, and is made by local Czech handcrafters, that it is not imported or made by other non-Nebraska Czech groups. The Seal in its various media is controlled by the State Organization and is sold to each chapter for a small fee. In addition to annual chapter dues of $10.00, the sale of these seals is the only source of income for the Nebraska Czechs Inc.
The Nebraska Czech Seal was designed by Walter A. Baer as an emblem for the Czechs of Nebraska. It is a seal depicting a prairie scene with a plow and a sheaf of wheat with the slogan "Pioneer of the Prairie" across the front of it. The Prairie is the land where the Czechs settled and which they conquered The plow depicts the soil which they broke to make productive, and the sheaf of golden wheat indicates the wealth which they helped to produce in our great state. The seal is reproduced in various media and it is used as a trademark on all souvenirs. Because of the Czechoslovakian political situation we do not sanction or permit the sale of any imported Czech articles and we discourage any other import as a Czech souvenir.
Each chapter holds a local Czech Queen contest annually. The winner of these local contests then compete for the Miss Nebraska Czech Queen title at Wilber during its annual festival. The