The visit of CHF Director Zdeslav Milas confirmed the importance of this unique institution that has been preserving the history of Croats in North America for over 50 years, and through two strategic projects of the Republic of Croatia continues its digital and infrastructure upgrade.
CHF Director Zdeslav Milas visited the Croatian Ethnic Institute, which operates within the Croatian Franciscan Custody of the Holy Family in Chicago. He was introduced to the work of the Institute by Custos Fr. Nikola Pašalić, also the Director of this unique institution, which has been systematically collecting, preserving and researching the heritage of Croatian emigrants in North America for half a century already.
The Croatian Ethnic Institute was founded in 1975 at the initiative of Croatian Franciscans in Chicago and is the central institution for preserving the history of the Croatian diaspora in the United States and Canada. The Institute cares for extremely valuable archival, library and museum material testifying to the life, work and cultural, religious and social activities of numerous generations of Croatian emigrants.
Housed in its collections are over 13,000 books and nearly 800,000 archival documents of invaluable importance to the study of the history of Croats in the United States and Canada. The treasury of the Institute includes numerous historical documents, personal legacies, photographs, publications and museum artifacts that represent a valuable testimony to the life of Croatian emigrants, people who, leaving the Homeland, brought with them the Croatian language, culture, religion and national identity. Of particular value to the work of the Institute is the long-standing commitment of Croatian Franciscans who have been systematically collecting, preserving and passing on this rich heritage to future generations for decades.
Recognizing its exceptional importance, the Government of the Republic of Croatia, at the proposal of the Central State Office for Croats Abroad, in two phases, declared the projects of the Croatian Ethnic Institute to be strategic projects of particular importance for Croats abroad.
The first strategic project was approved in 2024 and refers to the digitization of archival material. Its goal is to protect, digitize and increase accessibility of valuable archival material preserving the history of the Croatian diaspora. Funds in the amount of EUR 150,000 were approved for the implementation of the digitization project and the renovation of premises.
The second strategic project was approved in 2026 under the title “Projects of the Croatian Ethnic Institute”, for which an additional EUR 250,000 was secured. The allocated funds are intended for construction works and the renovation of the premises of the former printing house and their conversion into a modern and functional library.
The total investments of the Republic of Croatia in the amount of EUR 400,000 confirm the importance of the Croatian Ethnic Institute as one of the most important institutions for the preservation of the historical, cultural and identity heritage of Croatian emigrants in North America and the strong support of the Republic of Croatia for its further development and preservation of valuable material for future generations.
Text and photo: CHF
