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German-Slavic Relations in Texas and the Midwest

100%

Kamphoefner W. D.

Studia Migracyjne - Przegląd Polonijny

2015

vol. 41

issue 4 (158)

27–53

A telling incident took place in a small Texas town in 1916: not the greatest year for German-Slavic relations on either side of the Atlantic, one might think. But even at this late date, the German language was still being taught in the public schools of Needville, Texas, about 60 km southwest of Houston, using a book originally published for the St. Louis public elementary schools. In the wartime anti-German hysteria, school authorities in Needville ordered all these textbooks to be gathered and burned, but one copy was rescued and preserved–ironically not by a German-American pupil, but by a Czech girl in the second grade, whose parents spoke German as well as Czech, and wanted her to learn the language. As my essay will demonstrate, this was only the tip of the iceberg. In Texas and much of the Midwest, especially in rural areas, relations between German immigrants and their Czech, Polish, and Sorbian neighbors was for the most part quite friendly. Much of this was based on their cultural affinities which set them apart from Anglo-Americans, and at times united them against a common enemy, one might say.

Slovesný folklor texaských čechů. K vypravěčskému repertoáru českých vystěhovaleckých skupin v první polovině 20. století

63%

Janecek P.

Národopisná revue (Journal of Ethnology)

2010

vol. 20

issue 1

30-37

Literary folklore, traditional, orally-transmitted level of expressive culture, is generally considered to be a important part of culture of all ethnic groups, including European immigration to the U.S.A. Presented paper examines folkloric level of everyday culture of Texas Czechs in the first half of the 20th century. Since immigration of first Czech families to Texas to the end of the Second World War, Texas Czechs represented vital ethnic oral culture with many specific folkloric characteristics. Although majority of oral narratives of Texas Czechs in this period were directly transferred from the Old Country, some of them were influenced by immigrant and pioneer experience, different social and cultural conditions in Texas, and contacts with other Texan ethnic communities. Only the most vital European traditions, which could be adapted to the new lifestyle, survived acculturation to specific American geographical, social and cultural setting. Presented first part of the paper, using mainly yet unpublished 1942 thesis 'Czech Folklore in Texas' by Olga Pazdral from Central Texas, tries to point out some general outlines of Texas Czech literary folklore of this period, focusing mainly on folk legends. Planned second and third part will outline other traditional narratives (folktales, short folklore genres like jokes and proverbs, children folklore and personal experience narratives). Folklore of Texas Czechs of the period can be characterized not only by its continuity with Old World traditions, but also by its incorporation of typically American folklore narratives, stemming from unique immigration experience.

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1 Národopisná revue (Journal of Ethnology)

1 Studia Migracyjne - Przegląd Polonijny

1 2015

1 2010

1 Janecek P.

1 Kamphoefner W. D.

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German-Slavic Relations in Texas and the Midwest

Slovesný folklor texaských čechů. K vypravěčskému repertoáru českých vystěhovaleckých skupin v první polovině 20. století