Czech-Slovak Protective Society

Last updated

The Czech-Slovak Protective Society (CSPS), which became the Czecho Slovakian Association, was an organization supporting the welfare of Czech and Slovak immigrants to the United States. The Czech-Slovak Protective Society started as an insurance services organization. [1] It was once the largest Czech-American freethought fraternity in the United States. [2]

Contents

History

The CSPS was founded in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1854, and, like other immigrant societies, began by offering a kind of insurance program, which provided for members when they were ill and covered funeral expenses. [3] It was the "largest Bohemian fraternal organization". [4] :182

The Czecho-Slovak Protective Society, headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, joined in organizing the Czechoslovak Society of America in 1933. That organization, based in Lombard, Illinois changed its name to CSA Fraternal Life in 1982. [5]

Č.S.P.S. stands for "Česko-Slovenský Podporující Spolek" (Czech-Slovak Protective Society). These lodges were the forerunner of the (Západní Česko-Bratrská Jednota, or Western Bohemian Fraternal Association). Both associations offered a type of insurance for the Czech people. The association later became known as the Western Fraternal Life Association. [6]

In the C.S.P.S., the initial deposit was twenty-five cents to the dollar, and monthly fees of fifty cents provided financial support to members in the event of illness, including serious childhood illnesses, injury, disability, or death. In 1897, due to contradictions (he did not agree that a 20-year-old should pay the same death fees as a 60-year-old), John Rosicky [7] became one of the founders of the West Czech-Bratrské Jednota (Z.Č.B.J.).

Local lodges

C.S.P.S. Hall (Saint Paul, Minnesota) CSPS Hall.jpg
C.S.P.S. Hall (Saint Paul, Minnesota)

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">C.S.P.S. Hall (Saint Paul, Minnesota)</span> United States historic place

The C.S.P.S. Hall, also known as Czech Hall or as CSPS Sokol Hall, is the home of the Czech-Slovak Protective Society Hall — a recreation center and meeting house used for social events, including Sokol events; important to the cultural preservation of Czech and Slovak immigrants in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Zapadni Cesko-Bratrska Jednota or Západní Česko-Bratrská Jednota, also known as ZCBJ or ZČBJ, was a Czech-language newspaper in the United States. It was founded and published by Jan Rosický (1845–1910).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">C.S.P.S. Hall (Cedar Rapids, Iowa)</span> United States historic place

The C.S.P.S. Hall in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, USA was built during 1890-91 and expanded twice in the next two decades. It was a social and cultural center of the local Czech-Slovak Protective Society (C.S.P.S.). The building was individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. In 2002 it was included as a contributing property in the Bohemian Commercial Historic District.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Czecho Slovakian Association Hall (Iowa City, Iowa)</span> United States historic place

The Czecho Slovakian Association Hall, also known as Preucil School of Music, is a building in Iowa City, Iowa that was built in 1900, as a community center and meeting place for the Czechoslovakian Protective Society (C.S.P.S.), which later became the Czecho Slovakian Association. The C.S.P.S., like other fraternal organizations, began by offering a kind of insurance. The local chapter was organized in Iowa City in 1882. It served the Czech community that was concentrated in the north and northeast areas of the city. Like other C.S.P.S. halls, it hosted social, cultural, and educational activities, and this one also hosted gymnastics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ZCBJ Hall (Haugen, Wisconsin)</span> United States historic place

The ZCBJ Hall, also known as Community Hall, is a building in Haugen, Wisconsin, United States, that was built in 1910. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. It historically served as a meeting hall for the Czech community.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Z.C.B.J. Tolstoj Lodge No. 224</span> United States historic place

The Z.C.B.J. Tolstoj Lodge No. 224, also known as Bohemian Hall or Tolstoj Sokol Lodge, is a historic building in rural Linn County southeast of Scio, Oregon, United States, that was built in 1911. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 14, 1995. It historically served as a meeting hall for the Czech community. The lodge organized a Czech school, in addition to hosting concerts, dances, Sokol events and Fourth of July celebrations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rad Saline Center cis. 389 Z.C.B.J.</span> United States historic place

The Rad Saline Center cis. 389 Z.C.B.J., also known as Saline Center Lodge Hall, is an historic building in rural Nebraska located about 9 miles north of Western, Nebraska that was built in 1939. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on January 4, 1996. It historically served as a meeting hall for the Czech community.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rad Plzen cis. 9 Z.C.B.J. (SD10-6)</span> United States historic place

The Rad Plzen cis. 9 ZCBJ (SD10-6) is a building located in Morse Bluff, Nebraska that was built in 1911. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 20, 1986. The building historically served as a meeting hall for the Czech community. It was the meeting hall for the ZCBJ Lodge Plzen, a branch of the Zapadni Ceska Bratrska Jednota. The ZCBJ Lodge Plzen was originally organized on June 6, 1880 as a branch of the Czech-Slovak Protective Society, but was incorporated into ZCBJ in 1897.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ZCBJ Lodge No. 46</span> United States historic place

The ZCBJ Lodge No. 46, also known as Bohemian Hall, is an historic building located in Prague, Oklahoma that was built in 1917. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 8, 1984. The building historically served as a meeting hall for the Czech community, hosting a Zapadni Ceska Bratrska Jednota lodge that was the oldest Czech fraternal order in Oklahoma. The lodge was originally organized in 1891 as a branch of the Czech-Slovak Protective Society, but was incorporated into Zapadni Ceska Bratrska Jednota in 1897.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Z.C.B.J. Hall (Arthur, Wisconsin)</span> United States historic place

The Z. C. B. J. Hall, also known as Bohemian Hall or Zapadni Cesko Bratrske Jednota Hall, is an historic building located near Arthur, Wisconsin that was built in 1907. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 25, 1992. It historically served as a meeting hall for the Czech community.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cesko-narodni sin-Milligan Auditorium</span> United States historic place

Cesko-narodni sin-Milligan Auditorium, also known as Milligan Auditorium, is a historic building in Milligan, Nebraska, USA, that was built in 1929. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on February 29, 1996. The building is a meeting hall for the Czech community. It historically hosted dances, Sokol events, films and Czech theater.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Z.C.B.J. Opera House (Clarkson, Nebraska)</span> United States historic place

Z.C.B.J. Opera House is an historic building located in Clarkson, Nebraska, United States, that was built in 1913 by the Zapadni Ceska Bratrska Jednota, or Western Bohemian Fraternal Association. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 28, 1988. The building serves as a meeting hall for the Czech community. It has hosted operas, dances, lectures, films and Czech heritage events.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rad Sladkovsky</span> United States historic place

The Rad Sladkovsky lodge, also known as Pishelville Hall, is a building located near Verdigre, Nebraska that was built in 1884. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 29, 1982. The building historically served as a meeting hall for the Czech community, hosting a Zapadni Ceska Bratrska Jednota (ZCBJ) lodge that was the oldest Czech fraternal order in Nebraska. The lodge was originally organized as a branch of the Czech-Slovak Protective Society, but was incorporated into the ZCBJ in 1897.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bohemian National Cemetery (Baltimore, Maryland)</span> United States historic place

Bohemian National Cemetery, also known as Oak Hill Cemetery, is a cemetery located at 1300 Horners Lane, Armistead Gardens in East Baltimore, Maryland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western Fraternal Life Association</span> United States friendly society

The Western Fraternal Life Association, previously known as Zapadni Ceska Bratrska Jednota is a fraternal benefit society and financial services organization in the United States. The association has its roots in the Czechoslovak immigrant community of the 19th century. It was once the second largest Czech-American freethought fraternity in the United States.

The Grand Lodge Č.S.P.S. of Baltimore is the Baltimore, Maryland chapter of the Czech-Slovak Protective Society. The C.S.P.S. is a benevolent society that was founded to help Czech and Slovak immigrants integrate into American society. The chapter was founded in 1880 by Vaclav Joseph Shimek, who was also the publisher of the Telegraf, the owner of Bohemian Hall, and a six-time president of Sokol Baltimore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western Bohemian Fraternal Union Hall</span> United States historic place

The Western Bohemian Fraternal Union Hall is a historic clubhouse in Meadowlands Township, Minnesota, United States. It was built in 1925 as a meeting hall for a lodge of the Western Bohemian Fraternal Union, a society of Czech Americans. The hall also served as a host for Sokol gymnastics events. The hall was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986 for its local significance in the themes of European ethnic heritage and social history. It was nominated for being a long-serving rural venue for the preservation of Czech American culture and heritage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lodge Zare Zapadu</span> United States historic place

Lodge Zare Zapadu#44, known locally as Yellow Brick Hall and also known as Bohemian Brick Hall and Z.G.B.J. Council Hall #44, is a historic clubhouse of the Zapadni Ceska Bratrska Jednota serving the Czech-American community in rural Freeborn County, Minnesota, United States.

Lodge Boleslav Jablonsky No. 219 is the meeting hall of a Czech American fraternal society in Poplar Grove Township, Minnesota, United States. The hall was built in 1916 and remains in use as of 2016. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002 for having local significance in the themes of European ethnic heritage and social history. It was nominated for being a representative of ethnic history in the last part of Minnesota to be settled by Euro-Americans.

References

  1. William Wilcoxen (April 2, 2008). "Sokol keeps Czech-Slovak heritage alive". Minnesota Public Radio.
  2. "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form" (PDF). National Register of Historic Places. Retrieved 2019-05-10.
  3. 1 2 Marlin L. Heise (July 16, 1976). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: C.S.P.S. Hall / Czech Hall". National Park Service . Retrieved 2016-06-25. with three photos
  4. Melvin G. Holli, Peter d'Alroy Jones (1995). Ethnic Chicago: a multicultural portrait. Wm. B. Eerdmans. ISBN   9780802870537.
  5. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-02-15. Retrieved 2010-08-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. "Our Czech Heritage". Archived from the original on 2010-09-16. Retrieved 2010-10-06.
  7. A Memorial to John Rosicky, Omaha 1911 Online archive.org
  8. 1 2 3 4 "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  9. Steve Altheide (1978). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: C.S.P.S. Hall". National Park Service . Retrieved 2016-06-25. with photo from 1977
  10. William Preucil (August 1975). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Czecho Slovakian Association Hall / The Preucil School of Music". National Park Service . Retrieved 2016-06-25. with photo from 1975