Advanced Search

Honoring the Mother Tongue: The Struggle to Establish and Maintain Czech Language Instruction from 1903-1919

Description

The struggle to establish a Czech language, literature, and cultural program at the University of Nebraska from 1903-1919. 

Credits

Project Editor Jennifer C Kroft

Sections

Komensky Club

 

Before there was a Slavic Department which eventually became the Czech Language Program their was the Komensky Club. The history of the two are inseparable. The club was instrumental in the fight for Czech language instruction. Without the dedicated membership of the early club, the racial biases of the University administration would have prevailed. This section is a history of the Komensky club at the University of Nebraska as told by images from the Cornhusker annuals of 1907-1920. Included are the texts that accompanied some of the club descriptions which further flesh out the club and its accomplishments. This study does not include the years of 1908 and 1915 where either their were no entries for the club or they eluded this researcher. 

Battle to Establish the Program


WW I & Program Demise

A look at the activities of Šárka Hrbková, the chairman of the Slavonic Department during World War I. After the war the Slavonic Program came under attack. Hrbková fought to keep it in the University. Despite her efforts it was suspended at the end of the 1918-1919 school year.  

 

Czech Language Program

Department Chairmen

The first two chairmen of the Czech Language Program at the University of Nebraska.

Sources

Sources used for this project.