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The creation of the Slovak Institute in Cleveland, Ohio began in 1936 with a visit from a delegation of four intellectuals from Slovakia, led by writer and Matica Slovenská (Slovak Institute of Arts and Science) secretary Jozef Ciger Hronský. During their visit, the delegation donated around 3,000 Slovak books published since 1918 to Cleveland’s Slovak-American community. This donation served two purposes: to thank the community for supporting Slovakia’s independence and to help reconnect Slovak-Americans with Slovak communities in Europe. The books were initially housed at St. Andrew Svodad Abbey, which is now the site of the Slovak Institute.
In 1943, the Slovak League of America provided funds to St. Andrew Svodad Abbey to create a Slovak museum in Cleveland. After World War II, the museum became a center for Slovaks in exile who were fleeing communism. In 1952, under the leadership of Abbot Theodor Kojis, the museum was transformed into the Slovak Institute. The Institute not only housed a museum, but also a library and an archive center. From 1952 to 1989, the Slovak Institute represented Matica Slovenská abroad and played a significant role in Slovak culture, including publishing and secretly shipping books by Slovak writers in exile.
In 1989, the Slovak Institute’s mission shifted to focus on strengthening ties between Slovak-Americans and Slovakia. It continues to maintain its collection of Slovak books, archives, and publications, while also supporting research and public interest in Slovak culture.