Student Petition for a Czech Language Program
Title
Student Petition for a Czech Language Program
Subject
Bohemian-American students, Chancellor Andrews, The Board of Regents, Czech Language program
Description
A letter to the Chancellor and Board of Regents asking for a Czech Language program to be established.
Source
Special Collections Love Library
Date
June 5 1915
Language
eng
Original Format
Letter
Text
June 5 1905
To the Chancellor & Regents of the University of Nebraska:-
The undersigned students of the University of Nebraska would respectfully represent that there were at the last census in the United States 156,999 persons of Bohemian birth and that the children of such parentage born in this country number 356,865 constituting nearly twice as large a portion of this country’s population as do those of French birth and parentage.
That there were at the last census in the state of Nebraska 16,138 such persons of Bohemian birth and children of such parentage to the number of 38,471, to whom the Bohemian language is their mother tongue. Being something more ten times the number of such persons of French birth and parentage in this state.
That there are in surrounding states similar though not so great proportions of Bohemian people. So far as we have learned there is no regular instruction in the Bohemian language given at the present time at any state University or well known college in this country. Of the undersigned students in this institution are of either Bohemian birth or parentage to whom Bohemian is the mother tongue.
For all such, the study of that national language would have all the cultural advantages pertaining to the literary command of a second form of speech for comparison with English and for assistance in furnishing exercises, tending towards the latter’s full mastery.
At the present time of especial interest in Slavonic culture and civilization, it would be especially available and likely to be successfully used as a typical form of the Slavonic language.
Page 2
The undersigned are all desirous of obtaining instruction in the Bohemian language for both practical and cultural reasons and would respectfully urge upon your attention at this time the claims of that language to a share of the attention in the curriculum of our great University, and would earnestly request that steps be taken at once to secure a competent instructor for the coming year. Pledging ourselves and our best efforts as members of his class should the request be granted. A brief statement of relative numbers of Bohemians and other nationalities in our population is attached.
Respectfully submitted,
Signed, F. J. Pipal
James E. Bedeear
Adolph A. Tenoper
S. Krayicek
Stanley Bartos
Joseph Bavodsky
Leo S. Legro
J. S. Melcer
J. A. Barta
J. B. Pospisil
Mollie Aldrich
John F. Kreyčik
F. R. Vosacek
Page3
Attached population statistics from students
1. United States
Foreign born population.
Bohemian French Italian
156,999 104,341 484,207
Entire population
1.5% 1% 4.7%
Foreign Parentage.
Bohemian French Italian
356,861 267,257 732,421
Nebraska
Foreign born:
Bohemian French Italian Spanish
16,138 876 752 182
Foreign Parentage.
Bohemian French Italian
38,471 2,897 1,278
Lancaster county.
Foreign born.
Bohemian French Italian Spanish
312 67 110 163
Twelfth census vol. I. part I.
To the Chancellor & Regents of the University of Nebraska:-
The undersigned students of the University of Nebraska would respectfully represent that there were at the last census in the United States 156,999 persons of Bohemian birth and that the children of such parentage born in this country number 356,865 constituting nearly twice as large a portion of this country’s population as do those of French birth and parentage.
That there were at the last census in the state of Nebraska 16,138 such persons of Bohemian birth and children of such parentage to the number of 38,471, to whom the Bohemian language is their mother tongue. Being something more ten times the number of such persons of French birth and parentage in this state.
That there are in surrounding states similar though not so great proportions of Bohemian people. So far as we have learned there is no regular instruction in the Bohemian language given at the present time at any state University or well known college in this country. Of the undersigned students in this institution are of either Bohemian birth or parentage to whom Bohemian is the mother tongue.
For all such, the study of that national language would have all the cultural advantages pertaining to the literary command of a second form of speech for comparison with English and for assistance in furnishing exercises, tending towards the latter’s full mastery.
At the present time of especial interest in Slavonic culture and civilization, it would be especially available and likely to be successfully used as a typical form of the Slavonic language.
Page 2
The undersigned are all desirous of obtaining instruction in the Bohemian language for both practical and cultural reasons and would respectfully urge upon your attention at this time the claims of that language to a share of the attention in the curriculum of our great University, and would earnestly request that steps be taken at once to secure a competent instructor for the coming year. Pledging ourselves and our best efforts as members of his class should the request be granted. A brief statement of relative numbers of Bohemians and other nationalities in our population is attached.
Respectfully submitted,
Signed, F. J. Pipal
James E. Bedeear
Adolph A. Tenoper
S. Krayicek
Stanley Bartos
Joseph Bavodsky
Leo S. Legro
J. S. Melcer
J. A. Barta
J. B. Pospisil
Mollie Aldrich
John F. Kreyčik
F. R. Vosacek
Page3
Attached population statistics from students
1. United States
Foreign born population.
Bohemian French Italian
156,999 104,341 484,207
Entire population
1.5% 1% 4.7%
Foreign Parentage.
Bohemian French Italian
356,861 267,257 732,421
Nebraska
Foreign born:
Bohemian French Italian Spanish
16,138 876 752 182
Foreign Parentage.
Bohemian French Italian
38,471 2,897 1,278
Lancaster county.
Foreign born.
Bohemian French Italian Spanish
312 67 110 163
Twelfth census vol. I. part I.
