Preskočite do glavnog sadržaja

Final “Heritage at Hand at CroAtrium” event showcases Croatian emigrant heritage

Participants in the final "Heritage at Hand at CroAtrium" event.

On 4 November 2025, the National and University Library in Zagreb (NSK) organised the last event of Heritage at Hand at CroAtrium, its programme aimed at the popularisation and promotion of the CROATICA collection, which NSK assembles and curates.

Held at CroAtrium, the Library’s multimedia lab and heritage interpretation centre ideal for presenting its collections to a wide range of audiences, the event showcased the results of a 2024 project which the Library ran in cooperation with the Croatian Fraternal Union of America.

Senior Archivist and Curator at the NSK Manuscripts and Rare Books Collection Dr Tamara Štefanac.
Head of the NSK Preservation and Storage Department Dr Sanda Milošević.
Senior Archivist and Curator at the NSK Manuscripts and Rare Books Collection Dr Tamara Štefanac and Head of the NSK Preservation and Storage Department Dr Sanda Milošević. Photo: © NSK.

The project, entitled From Pittsburgh with love: music and written heritage of Croatian emigrants, was presented by the Head of the NSK Music Collection Dr Tatjana Mihalić, Head of the NSK Preservation and Storage Department Dr Sanda Milošević and Senior Archivist and Curator at the NSK Manuscripts and Rare Books Collection Dr Tamara Štefanac, who examined around 5,000 items preserved in the Union’s library and museum.

Head of the NSK Music Collection Dr Tatjana Mihalić.
The secretary and treasurer of the Croatian Fraternal Union of America Bernadette Luketich-Sikaras.
Head of the NSK Music Collection Dr Tatjana Mihalić Secretary and treasurer of the Croatian Fraternal Union of America Bernadette Luketich-Sikaras. Photo: © NSK.

The Union’s secretary and treasurer Bernadette Luketich-Sikaras, who joined the event via a video link, also addressed the programme participants, giving them a brief overview of the Union’s path to establishing itself as the “depository for all things Croatian” in the US.

The rich heritage of Croatian Americans – in need of digitisation

Demonstrating the results of their onsite research, NSK’s heritage experts provided details about the rich written and musical heritage of Croatian emigrants preserved by the Union. Also, they elaborated on the challenges associated with efforts to protect and preserve these treasures as well as with securing the necessary conditions for their digitisation.

Librarian spreading historic newspapers in a library reading room.
A miniature prayer book in a librarian’s hands.
Photo: © Sanda Milošević.

With emphasis on the importance of understanding and protecting Croatian cultural heritage originating abroad and integrating it into the national cultural identity, the event’s programme confirmed the significance of cooperation with emigrant communities. Focusing on the strengthening of cultural ties between Croatian Americans and their Croatian homeland and on the preservation of the heritage of the Croatian emigrants in the United States, the project was supported by Croatia’s Central State Office for Croats Abroad.

The front page of a primer.
Shellac records stored in cardboard boxes.
Photo: © Sanda Milošević.