Vojta Náprstek
Encyclopedia
Vojtěch Náprstek (17 April 1826, Prague
- 2 September 1894), was a Czech philanthropist
, patriot and politician, as well as a pioneering Czech language
journalist in the United States
.
/distillery and adjoining inn, ”U Halánků”, hospitable to budding nationalist organizations. Both Vojtěch and his elder brother Ferdinand, outspoken nationalists, were closely watched by the Hapsburg police. After the disastrous results of the Prague Upheavals of 1848, Vojtěch left home in secret for the United States, where he finished his law studies.
, where he lived for about a decade before returning home, completing his law studies. He is considered to be the spiritual father of Czech journalism in America. He published the freethinking
newspaper
the Milwaukee Flügblatter, the first periodical published by a Czech in the United States. Although the Flügblatter was in the German language
, it was read largely by Czechs. Naprstek encouraged Czech American
s to organize and publish their own Czech newspapers. He became an American citizen.
around 1857, and resumed political activities. After his return, he labored to familiarize his fellow Czechs with American concepts, institutions, and techniques, as well as with the Native American
peoples with whom he had worked. He helped fellow Czech patriot Charles Jonas
learn English, and arranged for his flight to London, and later immigration to Racine, Wisconsin
. His collections became the core of the present Náprstek Museum
of Asian, African, and American cultures in Prague
. He became an alderman of the town of Prague (1873–1894) and a town councillor (1881–1892). Náprstek was an advocate of progressive ideas, including general living conditions in Prague, as well as the provision of education and health care facilities and the introduction of modern technologies in public life (gas lighting and cooking, the telephone, etc.).
s (until then unknown in Prague) together with demonstrations on how to use them, which was heavily visited by women. In 1865 he funded the founding of the “Americký klub dám” (American Ladies’ Club or American Club of Bohemian Women), which held its first meetings on the premises of his mother's in ”U Halánků”. The club offered lectures on questions of women’s emancipation
, astronomy
, medicine
, biology
, philosophy
, literature
, history
and many other topics. The free lectures were given to women on Sunday mornings; men were allowed to listen to them from the lobby. During the twenty years of this lecture series almost 27,000 listeners were registered. The members of the American Ladies’ Club could also use Náprstek's library of Czech books, as well as books written in English and other foreign languages. This patronage, as well as his public advocacy of women's suffrage
as early as 1887, brought Náprstek the sobriquet
“the women’s advocate”. The organization was looked upon askance by the authorities, and was forced to function as a private club rather than as a civic organization.
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
- 2 September 1894), was a Czech philanthropist
Philanthropy
Philanthropy etymologically means "the love of humanity"—love in the sense of caring for, nourishing, developing, or enhancing; humanity in the sense of "what it is to be human," or "human potential." In modern practical terms, it is "private initiatives for public good, focusing on quality of...
, patriot and politician, as well as a pioneering Czech language
Czech language
Czech is a West Slavic language with about 12 million native speakers; it is the majority language in the Czech Republic and spoken by Czechs worldwide. The language was known as Bohemian in English until the late 19th century...
journalist in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Background
His mother, Anna Náprstková (1788–1873), was a nationalist businesswoman who ran a breweryBrewery
A brewery is a dedicated building for the making of beer, though beer can be made at home, and has been for much of beer's history. A company which makes beer is called either a brewery or a brewing company....
/distillery and adjoining inn, ”U Halánků”, hospitable to budding nationalist organizations. Both Vojtěch and his elder brother Ferdinand, outspoken nationalists, were closely watched by the Hapsburg police. After the disastrous results of the Prague Upheavals of 1848, Vojtěch left home in secret for the United States, where he finished his law studies.
1848 and America
He secretly fled to Milwaukee in WisconsinWisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, where he lived for about a decade before returning home, completing his law studies. He is considered to be the spiritual father of Czech journalism in America. He published the freethinking
Freethought
Freethought is a philosophical viewpoint that holds that opinions should be formed on the basis of science, logic, and reason, and should not be influenced by authority, tradition, or other dogmas...
newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
the Milwaukee Flügblatter, the first periodical published by a Czech in the United States. Although the Flügblatter was in the German language
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
, it was read largely by Czechs. Naprstek encouraged Czech American
Czech American
Czech Americans are citizens of the United States who were born in, or who descended from, the territory of the historic Czech lands, , or succession states, now known as the Czech Republic...
s to organize and publish their own Czech newspapers. He became an American citizen.
Return to Bohemia
He returned to BohemiaBohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
around 1857, and resumed political activities. After his return, he labored to familiarize his fellow Czechs with American concepts, institutions, and techniques, as well as with the Native American
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
peoples with whom he had worked. He helped fellow Czech patriot Charles Jonas
Charles Jonas (Wisconsin politician)
Charles Jonas was a Czech journalist, linguist and political activist, who became a Wisconsin journalist and politician.- Background :Karel Jonáš was born in Malešov, Bohemia...
learn English, and arranged for his flight to London, and later immigration to Racine, Wisconsin
Racine, Wisconsin
Racine is a city in and the county seat of Racine County, Wisconsin, United States. According to 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the city had a population of 82,196...
. His collections became the core of the present Náprstek Museum
Náprstek Museum
The Naprstek Museum is a museum of Asian, African and American art in the city of Prague. It is part of the Prague National Museum. It was founded by Vojta Náprstek .-External links:*...
of Asian, African, and American cultures in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
. He became an alderman of the town of Prague (1873–1894) and a town councillor (1881–1892). Náprstek was an advocate of progressive ideas, including general living conditions in Prague, as well as the provision of education and health care facilities and the introduction of modern technologies in public life (gas lighting and cooking, the telephone, etc.).
Women's rights
When he returned to Prague after ten years abroad, his speeches and presentations about activities established by American women attracted a great deal of attention. Around 1864 he organised an exhibition of American sewing machineSewing machine
A sewing machine is a textile machine used to stitch fabric, cards and other material together with thread. Sewing machines were invented during the first Industrial Revolution to decrease the amount of manual sewing work performed in clothing companies...
s (until then unknown in Prague) together with demonstrations on how to use them, which was heavily visited by women. In 1865 he funded the founding of the “Americký klub dám” (American Ladies’ Club or American Club of Bohemian Women), which held its first meetings on the premises of his mother's in ”U Halánků”. The club offered lectures on questions of women’s emancipation
Women's rights
Women's rights are entitlements and freedoms claimed for women and girls of all ages in many societies.In some places these rights are institutionalized or supported by law, local custom, and behaviour, whereas in others they may be ignored or suppressed...
, astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
, medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
, biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
, philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
, literature
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
, history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
and many other topics. The free lectures were given to women on Sunday mornings; men were allowed to listen to them from the lobby. During the twenty years of this lecture series almost 27,000 listeners were registered. The members of the American Ladies’ Club could also use Náprstek's library of Czech books, as well as books written in English and other foreign languages. This patronage, as well as his public advocacy of women's suffrage
Women's suffrage
Women's suffrage or woman suffrage is the right of women to vote and to run for office. The expression is also used for the economic and political reform movement aimed at extending these rights to women and without any restrictions or qualifications such as property ownership, payment of tax, or...
as early as 1887, brought Náprstek the sobriquet
Sobriquet
A sobriquet is a nickname, sometimes assumed, but often given by another. It is usually a familiar name, distinct from a pseudonym assumed as a disguise, but a nickname which is familiar enough such that it can be used in place of a real name without the need of explanation...
“the women’s advocate”. The organization was looked upon askance by the authorities, and was forced to function as a private club rather than as a civic organization.
Sources
- Czech Pioneers in Wisconsin by Miloslav Rechcigl Jr., accessed 9 December 2007