The Croatian Fraternal Union of America was organized in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1894 as the Croatian Union. Three years later, its name was changed to the National Croatian Society. In the 1920s, a movement began to unite all Croatian fraternal organizations. Subsequently, in 1924, the Croatian League of Illinois, the St. Joseph Society of Kansas City and the Young Croatian Society (Whiting, Ind.) merged with the National Croatian Society and adopted the name Croatian Fraternal Union. In 1939, the Slovenian-Croatian Union (Calumet, Mich.) also merged with the Croatian Fraternal Union. The Croatian Fraternal Union of America is a fraternal benefit association. It also encourages programs promoting the history and heritage of Croatians, and maintains scholarship and old age benefit funds.
Records (1896-1971; bulk 1960's) of the Croatian Fraternal Union of America, Lodge 530 (Melcher, Iowa) include an account book; life insurance records; miscellaneous lists of names and addresses; correspondence with members; transfers and membership payments from the Pittsburgh headquarters to members in Iowa; and mass cards. A few personal items of Frank Sepich are also included.
Partial inventory available.
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