When our grandparents and great grandparents came to Texas they occasionally sent their life stories to Czech-American periodicals. Today these stories are in invaluable source of family and community history. The best thing about them was that they were authentic. They were told in the first person by the immigrants themselves.
On the occasion of our twentieth anniversary in October of 2002, the Czech Heritage Society will publish the life stories of its members. These will also be recollections told in the first person.
This is important because our members have taken part in the renaissance of Czech culture in Texas and have witnessed the transition from a communist regime to a democratic system in the Czech lands.
The following are some of the topics that can be addressed in the life stories:
growing up in a Texas Czech community
observing Czech Heritage at home
participating in Texas-Czech festivals
participating in the Czech Heritage Society
Participating in CHS county chapter activities
participating in other Czech-oriented organizations
taking part in Czech singing groups
hosting visiting groups from the Czech Lands
traveling to Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic
studying in Prague and Brno language courses
working with sister cities programs
meeting important people from the Czech Lands
Guidelines for submitting life stories follow:
1. Who may submit: Any CHS member may submit his or her recollections. Only current CHS members are eligible.
2. Cost to the member: There is no charge to submit one's recollections; however, a copy of the resulting publication may be purchased.
3. Focus of the book: CHS members will talk about their Czech heritage, tell how they participated in Czech-related activities in Texas and relate what they experienced in Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic.
4. Information to be included: The recollections should include one's place and date of birth; the names of one's parents and grandparents, brothers and sisters, and spouse and children. Then they should discuss activities related to Czech heritage and events (CHS, county chapters, other Czech-oriented organizations, Czech festivals, travel to Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic, contact with people from the Old Country, etc.)
5. Title to be used: Include only the member's full name (maiden name in parentheses) and place of residence. The title should be written all in capital letters, and one line should be skipped after the title. Example: ROBERT LOUIS JANAK OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS
6. Format to be used: The submission should be camera ready. It should be single-spaced with 1/2 inch indentation for paragraphs. Do not skip lines between paragraphs. One inch margins on all sides should be observed. Use Times New Roman size fourteen font.
7. Style to be used: The submission should be written as one writes a letter to a friend. It should be written in the first person, using the words "I" and "we". Example: I was born in .... My parents were ... We lived in ... Events should be tied down to dates and places.
8. Computer or typewriter: A typewriter using a dark black ribbon may be used, but a computer is preferred. If a computer is used, both a paper copy and a diskette should be submitted.
9. Length of submission: The submissions may be up to five pages in length. If more pages are needed to tell one's story, the member may contact the CHS Historian. We want to include all historically valuable information.
10. Photographs: Photographs will not be used. This will greatly simplify and speed up publication. We want the resulting book to be ready for the October 2002 CHS state meeting.
11. Deadline: Submission should be postmarked no later than July 1, 2002, and sent to:
Robert Janak, CHS Historian
545 Threadneedle
Beaumont, TX 77705