Our History
Only a few years after the foundation of “Croatian Woman” in Zagreb, its first branch would open in Chicago in 1929. From the beginning, the women decided that their main goals would be to help people on both the cultural and humanitarian levels while also displaying Croatian culture to the American people.
An idea that started everything
It was the original idea of Agata Durak and her daughter Vilma Strunjak to start a woman's organization in Chicago's Croatian community.
She brought this idea to the attention of Dominican Father Innocent Bojanic at Holy Trinity Croatian Parish in Chicago. With his support,
“Croatian Woman, Branch No. 1 – Chicago” was founded on January 27, 1929.
Our beginnings
From the beginning, the women decided that their main goals would be to help people on both the cultural and humanitarian levels while also displaying Croatian culture to the American people.
Immediately, the group was active in creating exhibits throughout the greater Chicagoland area. The state of Illinois recognized the importance of the organization and granted them a legal charter within the year. Almost instantly twenty six other branches registered throughout the country.
Read our full history in our 90th Anniversary Commemorative Book.
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