The Czech-Slovak Protective Society (CSPS), which became the Czecho Slovakian Association, was an organization supporting the welfare of Czech and Slovak immigrants to the United States. The Czech-Slovak Protective Society started as an insurance services organization.[1] It was once the largest Czech-American freethought fraternity in the United States.[2]

History

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The CSPS was founded in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1854, and, like other immigrant societies, began by offering a kind of insurance program, which provided for members when they were ill and covered funeral expenses.[3] It was the "largest Bohemian fraternal organization".[4]: 182 

The Czecho-Slovak Protective Society, headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, joined in organizing the Czechoslovak Society of America in 1933. That organization, based in Lombard, Illinois changed its name to CSA Fraternal Life in 1982.[5]

Č.S.P.S. stands for "Česko-Slovenský Podporující Spolek" (Czech-Slovak Protective Society). These lodges were the forerunner of the (Západní Česko-Bratrská Jednota, or Western Bohemian Fraternal Association). Both associations offered a type of insurance for the Czech people. The association later became known as the Western Fraternal Life Association.[6]

In the C.S.P.S., the initial deposit was twenty-five cents to the dollar, and monthly fees of fifty cents provided financial support to members in the event of illness, including serious childhood illnesses, injury, disability, or death. In 1897, due to contradictions (he did not agree that a 20-year-old should pay the same death fees as a 60-year-old), John Rosicky[7] became one of the founders of the West Czech-Bratrské Jednota (Z.Č.B.J.).

Local lodges

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C.S.P.S. Hall (Saint Paul, Minnesota)

References

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  1. ^ William Wilcoxen (April 2, 2008). "Sokol keeps Czech-Slovak heritage alive". Minnesota Public Radio.
  2. ^ "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form" (PDF). National Register of Historic Places. Retrieved 2019-05-10.
  3. ^ a b Marlin L. Heise (July 16, 1976). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: C.S.P.S. Hall / Czech Hall". National Park Service. Retrieved 2016-06-25. with three photos
  4. ^ Melvin G. Holli, Peter d'Alroy Jones (1995). Ethnic Chicago: a multicultural portrait. Wm. B. Eerdmans. ISBN 9780802870537.
  5. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-02-15. Retrieved 2010-08-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. ^ "Our Czech Heritage". Archived from the original on 2010-09-16. Retrieved 2010-10-06.
  7. ^ A Memorial to John Rosicky, Omaha 1911 Online archive.org
  8. ^ a b c d "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  9. ^ Steve Altheide (1978). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: C.S.P.S. Hall". National Park Service. Retrieved 2016-06-25. with photo from 1977
  10. ^ William Preucil (August 1975). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Czecho Slovakian Association Hall / The Preucil School of Music". National Park Service. Retrieved 2016-06-25. with photo from 1975