Vlasta Adele Vraz (June 18, 1900 — August 22, 1989) was a Czech American relief worker, editor, and fundraiser. She was director of American Relief for Czechoslovakia, and president of the Czechoslovak National Council of America. In 1949 she was arrested by Czech authorities on espionage charges, but quickly released after pressure from the United States.
Vlasta Adele Vraz was born in Chicago and raised in Czech California, South Lawndale, Chicago. Her father was Enrique Stanko Vraz (1860-1932), a naturalist and explorer born in Bulgaria to Czech parents.[1] Her mother was also called Vlasta Vraz (1875-1961).[2] Her maternal grandfather August Geringer (1842-1930) published a Czech-language Daily, Svornost, in the United States, starting in 1875.[3]
Careeredit
She lived in Prague as a young woman, from 1919 to 1939, at first helping her father who was lecturing there before he died in 1932. During World War II she returned to the United States with her widowed mother, and was a secretary in Washington, D. C. for the Czech government in exile. In 1945, she was back in Prague, directing American Relief for Czechoslovakia.[4] She was responsible for distributing $4 million in food, medicine, clothing and other supports. She was inducted into the Order of the White Lion by Jan Masaryk in 1946, for her relief work. But in 1949, Vraz was arrested by the Communist authorities, on espionage charges, sparking protests from the United States.[5]
Upon release after a week in custody,[6] Vraz returned to the United States,[7] where she became president of the Czechoslovak National Council of America, and edited two national publications for the Czechoslovak-American community.[3] She was called upon for reactions during the 1968 Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia.[8]
Personal lifeedit
Vlasta Vraz died in 1989, aged 89 years.[3] Her remains were buried in the Bohemian National Cemetery in Chicago, near those of her mother and her brother, Victor E. Vraz, an economics professor at Northwestern University. Some of her papers are in the Geringer Family Papers, archived at the Chicago History Museum.[9] The rest of her papers was bequeathed to the Náprstek Museum in Prague, Czech Republic. The same institution owns extensive personal papers of her father Enrique Stanko Vráz.
Referencesedit
^Dana Adams Schmidt, "U. S. Woman Relief Head Jailed by Prague for Political Inquiry" New York Times (April 14, 1949): 1.
^"Mrs. Vlasta Vraz" Chicago Daily Tribune (October 21, 1961): B8.
Portrait of Vlasta Vraz under street signs, 1945-1946, University of Minnesota Media Archive.
April 14, 2024
vlasta, vraz, vlasta, adele, vraz, june, 1900, august, 1989, czech, american, relief, worker, editor, fundraiser, director, american, relief, czechoslovakia, president, czechoslovak, national, council, america, 1949, arrested, czech, authorities, espionage, ch. Vlasta Adele Vraz June 18 1900 August 22 1989 was a Czech American relief worker editor and fundraiser She was director of American Relief for Czechoslovakia and president of the Czechoslovak National Council of America In 1949 she was arrested by Czech authorities on espionage charges but quickly released after pressure from the United States Vraz in Moravska Ostrava 1945 1946 Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Personal life 4 References 5 External linksEarly life editVlasta Adele Vraz was born in Chicago and raised in Czech California South Lawndale Chicago Her father was Enrique Stanko Vraz 1860 1932 a naturalist and explorer born in Bulgaria to Czech parents 1 Her mother was also called Vlasta Vraz 1875 1961 2 Her maternal grandfather August Geringer 1842 1930 published a Czech language Daily Svornost in the United States starting in 1875 3 Career editShe lived in Prague as a young woman from 1919 to 1939 at first helping her father who was lecturing there before he died in 1932 During World War II she returned to the United States with her widowed mother and was a secretary in Washington D C for the Czech government in exile In 1945 she was back in Prague directing American Relief for Czechoslovakia 4 She was responsible for distributing 4 million in food medicine clothing and other supports She was inducted into the Order of the White Lion by Jan Masaryk in 1946 for her relief work But in 1949 Vraz was arrested by the Communist authorities on espionage charges sparking protests from the United States 5 Upon release after a week in custody 6 Vraz returned to the United States 7 where she became president of the Czechoslovak National Council of America and edited two national publications for the Czechoslovak American community 3 She was called upon for reactions during the 1968 Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia 8 Personal life editVlasta Vraz died in 1989 aged 89 years 3 Her remains were buried in the Bohemian National Cemetery in Chicago near those of her mother and her brother Victor E Vraz an economics professor at Northwestern University Some of her papers are in the Geringer Family Papers archived at the Chicago History Museum 9 The rest of her papers was bequeathed to the Naprstek Museum in Prague Czech Republic The same institution owns extensive personal papers of her father Enrique Stanko Vraz References edit Dana Adams Schmidt U S Woman Relief Head Jailed by Prague for Political Inquiry New York Times April 14 1949 1 Mrs Vlasta Vraz Chicago Daily Tribune October 21 1961 B8 a b c Vlasta Adele Vraz 89 Czechoslovak Activist Chicago Tribune August 24 1989 Disease Menacing Europe s Children New York Times November 27 1946 18 Protest Arrest of Berwynite by Czech Reds Chicago Daily Tribune April 14 1949 N3 Czechs Release Berwyn Woman at U S Demand Chicago Daily Tribune April 17 1949 12 Freed Relief Head Back from Prague New York Times May 19 1949 14 George Landover and Nicholas von Hoffman How Could They Do It Czech Americans React to Invasion Washington Post August 22 1968 C1 Geringer Family Papers Chicago History Museum External links editPortrait of Vlasta Vraz under street signs 1945 1946 University of Minnesota Media Archive Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Vlasta Vraz amp oldid 1144172105, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
