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Josef Falta, Czech Heritage Papers

Title: Josef Falta, Czech Heritage Papers

Creator: Falta, Josef, 1895-1973

Dates: 1941-1973

Quantity: 20 boxes (8.3 linear feet)

Collection Number: MS 0120

Language: English, Czech

Restrictions: None

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Historical Records Statement: Please see our statement on historical records and materials.

Preferred Citation: Josef Falta, Czech Heritage Papers (MS 0120). Archives & Special Collections, University of Nebraska–Lincoln Libraries.

Biography:

Josef Falta was born 17 October 1895 at Zelezny Brod (Czech Republic). In 1919 he volunteered to serve in the Czechoslovak Army during the invasion of the communist Béla Kun in Slovakia. When the fighting was over, Falta joined the Social Democratic Party and wrote for SDP newspapers.

From 1927 to 1931 he served as a chief editor of Ruch, published at Brno. Between 1921 and 1935 Falta worked as the parliamentary editor of the daily Pravo Lidu. From 1935 until 1939, he served as secretary to Frantisek Soukup, the president of the Czechoslovak Senate. In 1939, Falta fled to the U.S. and settled in Chicago, Illinois, in 1941. During WWII he did weekly broadcasts for the radio station WEDC. Falta also worked for the Czechoslovak Information Service and the Czechoslovak American National Council. From 1945 to 1948 he edited the monthly Svobodne Ceskoslovensko published by the Czech National Committee. From 1951 to 1970 he edited the Czech daily Denni Hlasatel published in Chicago. Josef Falta died on 9 June 1973.

Scope and Content:

The collection consists of the papers of Josef Falta, including correspondence, diaries and appointment books, manuscripts, and radio commentaries. The majority of the collection consists of scripts of radio commentaries broadcast at WEDC in Chicago between 1941 and 1973.

Subjects:

Benes, Vojta -- Correspondence

Falta, Josef, 1895-1973 -- Archives

Papanek, Jan, 1896-1991 -- Correspondence

Taborsky, Edvard -- Correspondence

Zenkl, Petr -- Correspondence

Czechoslovak-Americans -- Archives

Radio broadcasting -- Illinois -- Chicago -- History

Radio broadcasting -- Political aspects

WEDC (Radio station: Chicago, IL) -- History

Series Description: Series 1: Correspondence, Box 1-2

This series contains correspondence between Josef Falta and friends and family in Czechoslovakia and the U.S. The series also includes correspondence with Jan Papanek and Petr Zenkl, and with organizations such as Voice of America and the United Council of Czechoslovak Legionnaires.

Series 2: Diaries and Appointment Books, Box 3

This series consists of diaries, appointment books and desk calendars showing Falta's daily schedules and observations. This series covers the years 1940 to 1948 and 1952.

Series 3: Manuscripts, Box 3

There is one folder of manuscripts by various authors. Most of the items are in Czech and many have corrections and notes added to them, possibly by Falta.

Series 4: Radio Commentaries, Box 3-20

This series consists of Falta's radio commentary scripts. The commentaries cover the years 1941 to 1973 with some gaps between 1958 and 1971. The scripts are written almost exclusively in Czech.

Container List: Series 1: CorrespondenceBox 1. Folder 1. Correspondence, Ansorg, 1946-1948, 1971

Mainly personal correspondence to and from Falta about his son and requests for help and advice.

Box 1. Folder 2. Benes, K.J., Ervina Brokesova, 1945-1948

Apart from some personal matters, the correspondence covers reflections on the politcal situation in Czechoslovakia, Benes' experience in a concentration camp during WWII, and Benes's and Falta's literary works. Includes various information on Czechoslovak politics and on the Czechoslovak Socialist parties during the years 1945-1948.

Box 1. Folder 3. Benes, Vojta, 1949-1950

Subjects include quarrels among the U.S. emigrants and personal matters.

Box 1. Folder 4. Brod, Z., 1948-1949

Mostly personal correspondence, such as letters of congratulations on completing dissertation.

Box 1. Folder 5. Bruegel, J. W., 1970

Correspondence on social democrats and their publications.

Box 1. Folder 6. Bures, J. and M., 1970

Correspondence about the journey of Mrs. Buresova to Czechoslovakia

Box 1. Folder 7. Cada, Josef, 1950

Two letters on the publication of "Masarykuv Pamatnik."

Box 1. Folder 8. Department of State, Voice of America, 1944-1945, 1950

Various personal documents, curriculum, and resumes, an application for naturalization, and an application to Voice of America. There are articles on F. Soukup and about J. Falta on his 75th birthday in Denni Hlasatel. In English and in Czech.

Box 1. Folder 9. Digrinova, Dagmar, 1946-1950

Extensive personal correspondence mainly on Falta's son, including some reflections on political and cultural life in Czechoslovakia.

Box 1. Folder 10. Dundr, Vojtech, 1947-1948

Reflections on the political situation in Czechoslovakia and on Social Democrats, such as who was killed during WWII.

Box 1. Folder 11. Elk, 1946

Three letters between Falta and publishing company ELK on editing Falta's books.

Box 1. Folder 12. Falta, Stanislav, 1945-1950

Personal correspondance with Falta's son.

Box 1. Folder 13. Falta, Jirina

Personal correspondance.

Box 1. Folder 14. Falta, Eva a Lida, 1961-1973

Personal correspondance with family in Czechoslovakia.

Box 1. Folder 15. Fedar, A., 1946

Correspondence in German.

Box 1. Folder 16. Firt, Julius, 1949

On radio broadcasting.

Box 1. Folder 17. Holmerg, R., 1948

Correspondance with Holmerg, a Danish merchant who visited Prague. Topics include Falta's son, his plans after the communist putsch, and reflections on situation in Czechoslovakia.

Box 1. Folder 18. Hrachovska, 1946

Two letters on post-war Czechoslovakia and on Falta's son.

Box 1. Folder 19. Jirakova, J. and B., 1949-1950

Personal correspondence on political issues and quarrels in exile.

Box 1. Folder 20. Kerner, M., 1950

Correspondence on lectures and the Social Democrat Party.

Box 1. Folder 21. Klatil, M. F., 1950, 1970, 1972

Topics include internal quarrels between Czechoslovak exiles in the U.S.

Box 1. Folder 22. Klika, Bozena, 1947-1949

Topics include cultural and political life in Czechoslovakia, information on friends, and Falta's son.

Box 1. Folder 23. Kolaja, Jiri, 1947-1950

Personal issues and Falta's work.

Box 1. Folder 24. Kopecky, Alois, 1949-1950

Correspondence regarding emigrant activities in Chicago, such as meetings and clubs.

Box 1. Folder 25. Kralik, J. and L., 1970-1973

Correspondence on personal and family issues

Box 1. Folder 26. Kulka, Ervin, 1950

Information on the "Third Resistance," such as the "New Yorske listy" and Dr. Papanek.

Box 2. Folder 1. Libricka, Helena, 1969-1972

Correspondence on personal and family issues.

Box 2. Folder 2. Libricka, Marie, 1946-1966

Reflections on WWII and post-war political and social situation in Czechoslovakia and the U.S. and personal and family issues. Photographs.

Box 2. Folder 3. Libricky, Hynek and Olga, 1946-1949

Correspondence with members of Falta's family on personal issues.

Box 2. Folder 4. Libricka, Joska and Pavla, 1946-1972

Personal correspondence with family in Czechoslovakia.

Box 2. Folder 5. Mansfeld, Ludvik, 1968-1970

Correspondence on Falta's family and the Soviet occupation of Czechoslovakia.

Box 2. Folder 6. Mautnerova, M., 1968-1970

Topics include the assassination of Martin Luther King and problems of African Americans.

Box 2. Folder 7. Medilek, Arnost, 1968-1970

Personal information on friends and Falta's life. Photographs.

Box 2. Folder 8. Miller, Ludvik, 1948

Three letters between Miller, the director of "New Yorské listy."

Box 2. Folder 9. Myzet, Rudolph, 1947-1949

Correspondence on publishing Falta's book.

Box 2. Folder 10. Novotna, J., 1948-1949

Personal correspondence.

Box 2. Folder 11. Papanek, Jan, 1950-1971

Topics include Falta's professional career, his activities relating to exile institutions, and quarrels among emigrants in Chicago in the 1950s.

Box 2. Folder 12. Pejskar, Josef, 1957

Two letters on an article.

Box 2. Folder 13. Peroutka, Ferdinand, 1950

Correspondence on potential cooperation of Falta with Radio Free Europe and some personal information on Falta.

Box 2. Folder 14. Redlich family, 1947-1950

Several letters dealing with post-war society in Czechoslovakia, mostly in German, and information on people from the Social Democrat Party.

Box 2. Folder 15. Schimmerl, Martha, 1946-1950

Correspondence in German.

Box 2. Folder 16. Swarz, Johann, 1950

Three letters on the refugees in Innsbruck, regarding the supply of books and manuals.

Box 2. Folder 17. Sedlak, Mirko, 1949-1950

Correspondence about radio broadcasting in Chicago, lectures on Czechoslovak issues, quarrels in exile.

Box 2. Folder 18. Spackova, 1967-1971

Personal correspondence.

Box 2. Folder 19. Steinbach, K., 1967, 1970

Personal correspondence.

Box 2. Folder 20. Stolfa, L., 1950

Reflections on American courts and judical system.

Box 2. Folder 21. Taborsky, Edvard, 1949-1950, 1957

Correspondence on the American Fund For Czechoslovak refugees, an invitation to join the club, and Falta's activities in Chicago.

Box 2. Folder 22. Traub, George, 1971-1972

Correspondence on friends and Jews in Czechoslovakia and an article in "Leaflet of Jewish religious villages in Czechoslovakia" about journalist Max Poper.

Box 2. Folder 23. Tvrzicka, Anna, 1946-1950

Commentaries on exile periodicals such as Reflektor.

Box 2. Folder 24. United Council of Czechoslovak Legionnaires, 1951

Two letters on Falta and financing the publication of a book on the occasion of T.G. Masaryk's anniversary.

Box 2. Folder 25. Vares, G. and L., 1946-1971

Personal correspondence on exile experiences in the U.S., such as new jobs, housing, the first Czechoslovak pub in Los Angeles, and information about books dealing with Czech issues.

Box 2. Folder 26. Vogel, Richard, 1945-1950

Correspondence on Falta's works, social conditions, and letters of condolence.

Box 2. Folder 27. Zaruba, Quido and Vera, 1948, 1973

Personal correspondence covering the wedding of Falta's son.

Box 2. Folder 28. Zenkl, Petr, 1949-1964

Radio broadcasts on internal quarrels of Czechoslovak exiles, institutions, and organizations, Falta's jobs and financial troubles, and differences between emigrants after 1948 and old "country men."

Box 2. Folder 29. Correspondence, short letters, 1945-1972 Box 2. Folder 30. Correspondence, unidentified, 1942-1972
Series 2: Diaries and Appointment BooksBox 3. Folder 1. Diaries, 1940-1943

Expenses and short notes on daily plans, and descriptions of daily activities.

Box 3. Folder 2. Diaries, 1944-1945

Detailed description of expenses and activities.

Box 3. Folder 3. Diaries, 1946-1948

Descriptions of daily activities and expenses. One includes a photograph of Falta's wife.

Box 3. Folder 4. Diaries, 1952, undated

Contain few notes, some hard to read.

Series 3: ManuscriptsBox 3. Folder 5. Manuscripts, by various authors

Articles and essays on topics such as cultural exchange with Czechoslovakia by A. Salamoun, "Contribution of Czech Jews to Czech Cult and Political Life" by Dr. Kamil Neuman, and an article on Czech writer Karel Capek.

Series 4: Radio CommentariesBox 3. Folder 6. Radio commentaries, 1947-1950, 1964, 1965, 1967

Commentary on international politics, Vietnam, and Cuba.

Box 4. Folder 1. Radio commentaries, 1941

Day-to-day information on the war activities.

Box 4. Folder 2. Radio commentaries, 1941-1942

Information on repression and international issues.

Box 4. Folder 3. Radio commentaries, 1942

Day-to-day commentary on Bohemia, Moravia, and international issues.

Box 4. Folder 4. Radio commentaries, 1943

Radio commentaries on international issues.

Box 5. Folder 1. Radio commentaries, 1943

Information on international news, Czechoslovakia resistance, and political activities.

Box 5. Folder 2. Radio commentaries, 1944

Information on world events.

Box 5. Folder 3. Radio commentaries, 1944

Day-to-day international news, with a focus on Czechoslovakia.

Box 6. Folder 1. Radio commentaries, 1945

Commentaries on post-war Europe, war crime trials, Czechoslovakia, and East Asia.

Box 6. Folder 2. Radio commentaries, 1945

Commentaries on war criminals trials and post-war Czechoslovakia.

Box 6. Folder 3. Radio commentaries, 1946

Information on post-war Czechoslovakia and U.S., specifically on Czech economics, politics, and elections.

Box 7. Folder 1. Radio commentaries, news, 1946

Commentary on China, East Asia, Europe, and U.S. political and social issues, the Nuremberg trials, Czechoslovakia elections, economical troubles, the Yalta Conference, and the Peace Conference.

Box 7. Folder 2. Radio commentaries, news, 1947

Information on Nazi trials and collaborators, Czechoslovakia, U.S. domestic politics, and global political issues.

Box 7. Folder 3. Radio commentaries, "News on Parade," 1947

Information on Nazi trials, Czechoslovakia, U.S. domestic politics, and international political issues.

Box 8. Folder 1. Radio commentaries, news, 1948

Information on Czechoslovakia government and domestic politics, U.S. domestic affairs, the U.S.S.R., and the Coup d'Etat of 1948.

Box 8. Folder 2. Radio commentaries, "News on Parade," 1948

Information on attitudes toward Czechoslovakia.

Box 8. Folder 3. Radio commentaries, news, 1949

Topics related to Czechoslovakia political trials, political leaders, reforms, and U.S. domestic affairs.

Box 9. Folder 1. Radio commentaries, "News on Parade," 1949

Includes commentaries on communist Czechoslovakia, the Cold War, and international events related to the Near East, East Asia, and Germany.

Box 9. Folder 2. Radio commentaries, news, 1950

Information on Czechoslovakia, political trials, armament in Eastern and Western blocks, and Korea.

Box 9. Folder 3. Radio commentaries, " News on Parade," 1950, Sept-Dec.

News from Czechoslovakia and from Czechoslovak emigrant groups.

Box 10. Folder 1. Radio commentaries, "News on Parade," 1950

Information on U.S. domestic policy, espionage, Czechoslovakia, the U.S.S.R., the United Nations, and the Cold War.

Box 10. Folder 2. Radio commentaries, news, 1950

Day-to-day news on Czechoslovakia, the U.S., Korea, Nazi-related trials, and atomic bombs.

Box 10. Folder 3. Radio commentaries, "News on Parade," 1951

General commentaries.

Box 11. Folder 1. Radio commentaries, 1951, Jan.-June

Information on the District Committee of the Czechoslovakia National Council in America, Czech traditions, culture, life stories, and famous Czechs authors.

Box 11. Folder 2. Radio commentaries, 1951, July-Aug.

On Czechoslovak cutural issues.

Box 11. Folder 3. Radio commentaries,"News on Parade," 1952

Information on U.S. domestic politics, presidential election, and relations with the U.S.S.R.

Box 12. Folder 1. Radio commentaries, news, 1952

Topics include the armistice in Korea and the United Nations.

Box 12. Folder 2. Radio commentaries, 1952, Jan.-June

Information on Czechoslovakia, culture, activities of Czechoslovak emigrants, and the District Committee of the Czechoslovakia National Council in America.

Box 12. Folder 3. Radio commentaries, 1952, July-Dec.

Information on Czechoslovakia, culture, and activities of Czechoslovak emigrants.

Box 13. Folder 1. Radio commentaries, news, 1953

Topics include Korea, Czechoslovakia, domestic U.S. politics, and international espionage.

Box 13. Folder 2. Radio commentaries, 1953, Jan.-June

Includes political and cultural information on Czechoslovakia and Czechoslovak emigrants, schools, factories, economic, social and political issues, and the District Committee of the Czechoslovakia National Council in America.

Box 13. Folder 3. Radio commentaries, 1953, July-Dec.

Information on Czechoslovakia and Czechoslovak emigrants, including schools, factories, and economic and cultural issues.

Box 14. Folder 1. Radio commentaries, "News on Parade," 1945-1953

Commentaries on U.S. domestic politics, Czechoslovakia relations, the Soviet Union, and Stalin's death.

Box 14. Folder 2. Radio commentaries, news, 1945-1953

Handwritten volumes on international news, particularly related to Western Europe and Russia.

Box 14. Folder 3. Radio programs, 1954

Commentaries on emigrant groups, associations, and activities, and the District Committee of the Czechoslovak National Council in America.

Box 15. Folder 1. Radio commentaries, news, 1954

Commentary on Czechoslovak government, the Korean war, U.S. foreign policy, U.S.S.R. foreign and domestic policy, and other international political news.

Box 15. Folder 2. Radio commentaries, "News on Parade," 1954

Information on U.S. domestic policy and Czechoslovak emigrant life and events.

Box 15. Folder 3. Radio commentaries, news, 1955

News on U.S. domestic policy, China and East Asia, Vietnam, and Hungary.

Box 16. Folder 1. Radio commentaries, "News on Parade," 1955

Commentaries on the Geneva Conference, U.S. domestic policy, the Iron Curtain, particularly in Czechoslovakia, and the Czechoslovak position in the Soviet block.

Box 16. Folder 2. Radio commentaries, 1955

District Committee of the Czechoslovak National Council in America information, commentaries on the life of Czechoslovak emigrants and associations in the U.S., cultural events, and the U.S.S.R.

Box 16. Folder 3. Radio commentaries, "News on Parade," 1956

Commentaries on U.S.S.R. foreign policy and influence, quarrels in the Near East (Israel), and U.S. elections and foreign policy.

Box 17. Folder 1. Radio commentaries, news, 1956

Information on politics in East Asia, Egypt, Israel, U.S.S.R. internal and international affairs, and U.S. domestic and international affairs.

Box 17. Folder 2. Radio commentaries, 1956

District Committee of the Czechoslovak National Council in America information, weekly report on activities of emigrant associations, U.S. affairs, and Czechoslovakia.

Box 17. Folder 3. Radio commentaries, 1957

District Committee of the Czechoslovak National Council in America information, U.S. affairs, and Czechoslovakia.

Box 18. Folder 1. Radio commentaries, "News on Parade," 1957

Weekly news on U.S. domestic policy, and reflections on world politics.

Box 18. Folder 2. Radio commentaries, news, 1957

Day-to-day news on the Middle East, Asia, Czechoslovakia, and the U.S.

Box 18. Folder 3. Radio commentaries, 1958

District Committee of the Czechoslovak National Council in America information, news and commentaries on emigrants and their activities, and reflections on Czechoslovakia under the Communist regime.

Box 19. Folder 1. Radio commentaries, news, 1958

Day-to-day news focused on political events and international politics such as Near East, East Asia, and Czechoslovakia.

Box 19. Folder 2. Radio commentaries, "News on Parade," 1958

On various political issues.

Box 20. Folder 1. Radio commentaries, news, newspaper articles, 1971

Political news on the Near and Middle East, U.S. domestic politics, Vietnam, repression in Czechoslovakia, the U.S. and Soviet relations.

Box 20. Folder 2. Radio commentaries, news, 1972

Political issues relating to Pakistan, China, Northern Ireland, Vietnam, Israel and the Middle East, and U.S. domestic and foreign policy.

Box 20. Folder 3. Radio commentaries, news, newspaper articles, 1973

Commentaries titled "Free village" ("Svobodna obec") about the U.S.




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