Car for the transport of sick children donated by the Slovenian American National Council ( USA ) to the children ' s home in Ljubljana , 1950s . Photo : Slovenian Emigration Association .
Three thousand people showed up at the Leroy ( Ohio ) concert of the Lojze Slak Ensemble , held on 7 September 1970 . Photo : Tomo Jomišič , Slovenian Emigration Association .
nian national museum and many associations . It was also the headquarters of the American Mutual Life Association for some time . This kind of a community center with related commercial , social and cultural venues was a model for other national homes of the Slovenian immigrant community in the States . Today , it houses the Slovenian archives and museum , and the Slovenian International Genealogy Society . It is also the place where the United Americans for Slovenia was founded in 1991 . Through communication strategies and events , the organization appealed to the then administration for recognition of independent Slovenia .
Ethnic parishes were a distinctive form of immigrant organization . The Catholic Church supported their establishment in the late 19th century to prevent the immigrants ’ loss of faith . The first two Slovenian parishes were founded in
St . Stephen ’ s ( former Brockway ) and Tower ( Minnesota ) in 1871 . As many as thirty-two Slovenian parishes existed in the U . S . in 1924 , acting as the core of religious , cultural and social life of immigrants . Slovenian language was taught at the parochial schools to maintain national identity of the incomers and their descendants . Today , religious service and Saturday school in Slovenian are held in St . Vitus ( the largest Slovenian parish in the U . S .) and St . Mary parishes in Cleveland , and the Slovenian Catholic Mission in Lemont . Slovenian Protestant parish in Bethlehem ( Pennsylvania ) and St . Cyril Church in New York are still active as well .
Ethnic newspapers , periodicals and radio shows were instrumental in maintaining national identity of the immigrant community members . Some are still published / broadcast ; a few both in Slovenian and English , and a majority just in English to accommodate younger members of the community . Cleveland is also known for the National Cleveland-Style Polka Hall of Fame and Museum .
In addition to Slovenian organizations , we cannot forget sons and daughters of Slovenian immigrants who grew into successful entrepreneurs , politicians ( mayors , governors , members of the United States Congress and even presidential candidates ), scientists , culture professionals , innovators , artists , high-ranking military officers , astronauts , physicists , mathematicians , biologists and philosophers . With their achievements , they contributed to the progress and welfare of the U . S . Some are portrayed at the Us and Them without Frontiers exhibition by the Technical Museum of Slovenia .
Compared to the “ old times ”, modern migration of Slovenians to the U . S . ( mostly young entrepreneurs , scientists , researchers , artists , medical doctors and IT professionals ) is a completely different story . They settle in “ non-traditional ” parts of the USA ( California , New York , Florida ),
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