Sokol Sydney Gymnastic Association records, 1912-2003

MLMSS 10387
SLIDES 349

fonds

1912-2003

Textual Records, Graphic Materials, Photographs, Ephemera

1014694

0.49 metres of textual material (3 boxes)
4 transparencies - colour

Sokol Sydney was established in 1950 as an all-age gymnastics organisation for Czech expatriates. It was based on the Sokol movement founded in 1862 in Prague, which advocated “a strong mind in a sound body”. In addition to gymnastics and other sport, Sokol organised nature camps and holiday camps for children and other cultural events. In 1975 the association opened the first stage of its national premises at Frenchs Forest in Sydney, the second stage being completed in 1981. The association’s newsletter ‘Vĕstník’ is distributed throughout Australia and internationally.

Reference:
Compiled from the collection

Records of Sokol Sydney Gymnastic Association, documenting the Association's history since its establishment in 1950 and also including material brought to Australia by refugees from Czechoslovakia. The text is mainly in Czech.

CALL NO.: MLMSS 10387

BOX 1
‘A brief history of Sokol Sydney’, 1912-2003. Scrapbook containing photographs, articles, press clippings, postcards and ephemera including material brought to Australia by Czechoslovakian refugees. Includes: portraits of Sokol founders; ‘The Sokol Movement – Prague’ translation of article, 1999; commemorative postcards, 1991; original postcards and photographs of Sokol events, 1912-1938; photograph of ‘The Sydney contingent’, 1957; photographs and other material from various international Sokol meets, 1966-1994; photographs of construction of and activities at Sokol National House at Frenchs Forest, 1970s-2003; Sokol insignia; ‘Sokol Sydney’ administrative history written by George J. Jelínek, 1996, with list of presidents of Sokol Sydney. 4 colour transparencies removed from scrapbook (Located at Call No.: SLIDES 349)
‘Sokol Sydney – examples of correspondence’, 1947-2001. Display folder containing governance records, correspondence relating to a potential property at Dulwich Hill, fundraising and other matters
‘Sokol Sydney – examples of invitations to meetings, past presidents and functionaries’, 1957-1969. Display folder containing meeting agendas and articles about Sokol Sydney officials
‘Sokol Sydney – cultural, sporting and entertainment activities’, 1951-1999. Display folder containing invitations, tickets, flyers and programs
‘Special editions of Vĕstník’, 1964-1982. Display folder containing 20 issues of Sokol’s newsletter
‘The autobiography of Jaroslav Novak’, no date. Typescript, in Czech and English
‘Memoir of former paratrooper, Karel Niemczyk, member of the parachute cell Calcium’. Typescript photocopy, in Czech and English
‘Poetry of Dr Oliver Fiala’, 1948-1949. Computer printouts
Photocopies of published material: ‘Návštěva na Bezdězi’, playscript in Czech; Kvety zrani / Vasa Zdarsky, book of poetry
‘Papers from Germany’. Includes ‘Svoboda’ issue 5-8, published by the Czechoslovak Alliance of Political Refugees in Germany, 1950; letter, 1950; ‘True stories from out of the old trunk’, 1994 / Bozena Samanek, typescript, in English

BOX 2
‘Sokol manuals – philosophy and history of the movement’, 1925-1997. Various Australian and international Sokol publications including Sokolský věstník (Prague), and biographies

BOX 3
‘Sokol gymnastics instruction handbooks smuggled from Czechoslovakia by refugees fleeing the Nazi and Communist occupations and later translated into other languages’, 1921-1968. Includes songbooks and other material, some in English

CALL NO.: SLIDES 349
4 colour transparencies of Sokol banner and insignia

PRINTED MATERIAL
'Vĕstník', the newsletter of Sokol Sydney. Issues dated 1957-2003 are catalogued separately at Call No.: Q305.89186/1

Czech, English

This material is held in cold storage and requires 3 working days notice to retrieve. Please submit your request through Ask a Librarian - Applies to SLIDES 349

Copyright restrictions may apply:
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales