The history, values, culture of the Lithuanian American community will be highlighted at the Immigrant Heritage week 2019 ( April 15-21)
The history, values, culture of the Lithuanian American community will be highlighted at the Immigrant Heritage week 2019 ( April 15-21) organized by NY Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs.
The American Lithuanians together with other nations greatly contributed to the vibrant development of NYC through the years and continues to be a valuable part of the diverse City.
The exhibit “For Freedom: Lithuanian American Support for Lithuania’s Independence and Recognition” explores Lithuanian Americans’ passionate and energetic support for the cause of Lithuania’s independence one hundred years ago. Curated by Irena Brokas Chambers using photographs, documents, publications, and other historical artifacts, the exhibition gives an overview of Lithuania’s fate at the dawn of the twentieth century as a subjugated part of the Russian Empire; briefly portrays the Lithuanian American communities in America; and summarizes their significant cultural, political, and financial achievements.
The exhibition’s central focus is the vital role played by Lithuanian Americans as their native land seized a unique and complex opportunity to end its 125-year Russian subjugation. This exhibition demonstrates that Lithuanian Americans’ support for freedom in their native land did not end with the declared independence in 1918 nor with its recognition by the United States in 1922. In fact, as the exhibition shows, Lithuanian Americans supported their native land’s recurrent struggles to achieve freedom and independence for most of the twentieth century.
Drawing on materials in the Balzekas Museum in Chicago as well as public and private national and regional archives and collections, the exhibition centralizes the presence of historical documents to prove that this century-long struggle for freedom was powered by ideas and ideals expressed in words and actions.
The exhibition on display at the Lithuanian Alliance of America/SLA ( 307 West 30th street, New York, NY 10001). Please visit exhibit For Freedom: Lithuanian American Support for Lithuania‘s Independence and Recognition on Saturday, April 20, 2019 from 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. at the Lithuanian Alliance of America (SLA)
