The Oral History Preservation Project initiated by the Ohio SGSI Chapter is progressing well. Through researching their own Slovenian heritage, the members realized how necessary it was to document the lives of individual Slovenians so that future generations would have a better understanding of how Slovenians’ lives and contributions shaped the culture of the greater Cleveland area. To date, more than 75 oral histories have been taken.
An unexpected outcome of this project is that Slovenians from around the country are asking to become involved in the Project. So, the Chapter developed an instructional kit that allows a person to do his/her own oral history. Once a history is recorded, it is sent to the transcriptionist who transcribes it to the computer. It is then printed, placed in a file, and will be archived for posterity in the SGSI Research Library located at the Slovenian Museum and Archives in Cleveland, Ohio. Archival paper lasting up to 300 years is used to preserve the document. And every contributor receives a free CD of his/her oral history!
You can obtain this kit by emailing Virginia Marenko Pinkava at vepinkava@aol.com. The Ohio Chapter would like all SGSI members to consider submitting their own oral histories and also taking oral histories of Slovenians in their area to be part of this very worthwhile project. The goal is to have thousands of oral histories on file for future generations. By the way, each oral history is indexed noting important events/activities to allow ease of research!
SGSI takes a gigantic step forward July 1, 2009 when we take occupancy of our space at the Slovenian Museum and Archives located at 6419 St. Clair Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio. Finally, SGSI will have a place for our collection of books, pamphlets, Koledars, church histories, family genealogy records, photos, microfilms, etc., that Al Peterlin, current SGSI CEO, has been collecting for the past 22 years! The goal is to have the SGSI Research Library open for research at designated times in the coming months. Contact Rose Marie Macek Jisa at sgsi.pres@ameritech.net for more information.
SGSI continues to support the Archbishopric Archives in Ljubljana with a monetary contribution that the Slovenian Genealogy Society of Slovenia matches each year. The Archives uses these monies to continue to digitally copy birth, marriage, death, and Status Animarum records from the many churches in the Ljubljana Diocese.
As SGSI has grown over the years, projects have been undertaken to assist our members. For example, the book, KOSTEL, was translated; we give financial support each year to the Archbishopric Archives in Ljubljana; we gave seed money to the Ohio Chapter to begin its Oral History Preservation Project; and we have added to our collection of books that involve genealogy including books from Slovenia to name a few. This year, two major expenses will be the redesign of our website and taking up residence at the Slovenian Museum and Archives in Cleveland, Ohio. As with all things, there is a price to pay. To help defray these costs, we will continue with fundraising efforts. Remember that SGSI is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization meaning that your contribution is tax deductible as it relates to your IRS deductions. Contact Al Peterlin at ab.peterlin@verizon.net for information to contribute to SGSI.
SGSI continually seeks family history books, other non-fiction books, magazines, newspapers, pamphlets, maps, historical documents--anything that relates to our Slovenian people for our library. We currently have over 400 of the above that will be catalogued and placed in the SGSI Research Library in Cleveland, Ohio.
If you have any of these types of items that you would like to contribute to our collection, please send them to Rose Marie Macek Jisa, SGSI President, 12185 Pheasant Run Circle, North Royalton, OH 44133-5678.
SGSI has translated one book thus far, KOSTEL, that is a treasure trove of information listing family surnames going back to the 1400s through the 1900s for families living in this region of Slovenia—south of Ljubljana very close to the Croatian border. It not only lists family names and the villages they come from; it also gives a wonderful history of how life was lived during these times. Another book currently being translated is DIMITZ, a history of Slovenia, written in German. The primary reason for translating these books is retrieving surnames of individuals. Current researchers find this information most helpful. Contact Al Peterlin at ab.peterlin@verizon.net for further information.