Slovenian Community in Cleveland Gets Museum and Archive
The Slovenian community in Cleveland, the biggest in the US, opened on Sunday the Slovenian Museum and Archives, which will tell the story of Slovenians who came to work in the US and their community.
The opening offered a glance at the yet unfinished museum collection, which is to be put together from contributions from US citizens of Slovenian descent, such as photographs and various documents as well as works of art and clothing.
Among other things, the exhibition features the life story of late Cleveland mayor, democratic senator and governor of Ohio, Frank Lausche, one of the most successful Slovenians in the US.
Olga Merela, deputy president of the museum, said that this was a unique opportunity for the Slovenian community to become even more connected, while Michael Polensek, member of Cleveland city council stressed that the community played a significant role in the city's history.
The establishment of the museum was funded by some 40 individuals, city of Cleveland, as well as the Slovenian government and the Richmond Brothers Fund. The Richmonds' apparel factory employed many Slovenians in the early 1990s. Its success was thanks to diligent Slovenians, said Ray Novak, member of the fund's management board.
Slovenian Ambassador to the US Samuel Zbogar was very happy to see that it only took one year to open the museum, after the idea was initiated by Consul-General Zvone Zigon.
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