This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: Suzie727 Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/topics.ethnic.czech/383.3.1.1.1.1.1.2/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Just a reminder -- put all the information together that you now have. I believe the census record said Agnes' age at marriage was 23. You know she was born about 1876 -- so you now have a date of marriage. She emigrated in 1898; She was probably married sometime in 1899 or thereabouts. Children were born in Queens in 1902 - Theresia and Mary; Hugo was born about 1900 - death at 25 was 30 Nov 1925. It's likely they were married in Queens...now you must determine where to find the certificate. Good luck. Susan Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: Suzie727 Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/topics.ethnic.czech/383.3.1.1.1.1.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: It is unlikely that you will learn your grandmother's parents names online. However, if you could locate your grandparents marriage record, this information could be listed. Her death certificate might also have the information but only if whoever recorded her death knew that information. Many times the form gets filled out with answer unknown. You can estimate marriage date by the birth of the first child and then try and figure out where they would have been married. Death certificates might lead you to the name of the church; small donations to that church sometimes help locate records. Will let you know if I think of something else. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: greggblack Surnames: Ralbovsky Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/topics.ethnic.czech/383.3.1.1.1.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: I'm sorry. Yes I did. I really appreciate everyone's help here. The last bit of help I would try and ask if anyone could find her parents names. That would complete my mother's side of the tree. Thank you so much! Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.

A friend sent me a copy several years ago, if I remember right, she found it on a remainder table at a national bookstore. I have a tenth revised edition and it appears to be dated 2000. In the US, Hippocrene is the distributor. They had an email address listed in the book as hippocre@ix.netcom.com I didn't try the email address, their snail address was listed as Hippocrene Books 171 Madison Avenue New York, NY 10013 Elaine > I bought it in Prague on my trip in 1987. It's titled "Cesko anglicky > slovnik" or "Czech English Dictionary" compiled > by Ivan Poldauf. It's a > First Edition. Wouldn't mind buying another one > if I could find one. It's a > great dictionary but the pages are not > acid-free and are already turning > yellow. > Teresa

Yes, it's a one-way dictionary, Czech to English. It's also 1133 pages with some grammar helps in the back along with the names that I sent in the previous email. It is compiled by Dr. Ivan Poldauf, Professor of English, Charles University, Prague in cooperation with Robert Pynsent (M.A., Ph.D), School of Slavonic and East European Studies, London, Published by State Publishing House For Educational Literature Prague Copyright Ivan Poldauf 1986 The introduction is all Czech, useful to the Czech reader. Teresa ----- Original Message ----- From: "Carol Rogers" <homealot@earthlink.net> To: <czech@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, October 21, 2007 9:28 PM Subject: Re: [CZ] Given names > I'd like to know the name of the dictionary, too. I have the "Handy > Czech-English Genealogical Dictionary" by Jan Parez and it has all those > names except for Jindra. Also, it did not list Jindrich as an option for > Hynek. This dictionary just translates one way - from Czech to English. > Is > that the same for yours? > > Carol > > -----Original Message----- > From: czech-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:czech-bounces@rootsweb.com]On > Behalf Of Ron and Betty Mlejnek > Sent: Sunday, October 21, 2007 6:35 PM > To: czech@rootsweb.com > Subject: Re: [CZ] Given names > > > Very interesting Teresa. I had the same information in my "notes", > but could not document it. > > What is the name of the dictionary. > > ron > > At 04:13 PM 10/21/2007, you wrote: > >>In my CZ dictionary it shows >> >>Hynek = Ignac, Jindrich >>Igna/c = Ignatius >>Jindrich = Henry >>Jindra = Harry, Hal, Hank >> >>Teresa >> >>----- Original Message ----- >>From: "Ron and Betty Mlejnek" <rvmlejnek@navix.net> >>To: <czech@rootsweb.com> >>Sent: Sunday, October 21, 2007 2:54 PM >>Subject: [CZ] Given names >> >> >> > Can anyone give me alternative names to Hynek as a first name? >> > >> > The same question for the name Ignace. >> > >> > ron >> > >> > >> > ------------------------------- >> > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> > CZECH-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes >> > in the subject and the body of the message >> > >> >> >>------------------------------- >>To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >>CZECH-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the >>quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > CZECH-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > in > the subject and the body of the message > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > CZECH-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > in the subject and the body of the message >

I bought it in Prague on my trip in 1987. It's titled "Cesko anglicky slovnik" or "Czech English Dictionary" compiled by Ivan Poldauf. It's a First Edition. Wouldn't mind buying another one if I could find one. It's a great dictionary but the pages are not acid-free and are already turning yellow. Teresa ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ron and Betty Mlejnek" <rvmlejnek@navix.net> To: <czech@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, October 21, 2007 6:35 PM Subject: Re: [CZ] Given names > Very interesting Teresa. I had the same information in my "notes", > but could not document it. > > What is the name of the dictionary. > > ron > > At 04:13 PM 10/21/2007, you wrote: > >>In my CZ dictionary it shows >> >>Hynek = Ignac, Jindrich >>Igna/c = Ignatius >>Jindrich = Henry >>Jindra = Harry, Hal, Hank >> >>Teresa >> >>----- Original Message ----- >>From: "Ron and Betty Mlejnek" <rvmlejnek@navix.net> >>To: <czech@rootsweb.com> >>Sent: Sunday, October 21, 2007 2:54 PM >>Subject: [CZ] Given names >> >> >> > Can anyone give me alternative names to Hynek as a first name? >> > >> > The same question for the name Ignace. >> > >> > ron >> > >> > >> > ------------------------------- >> > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> > CZECH-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the >> > quotes >> > in the subject and the body of the message >> > >> >> >>------------------------------- >>To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >>CZECH-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the >>quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > CZECH-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > in the subject and the body of the message >

I'd like to know the name of the dictionary, too. I have the "Handy Czech-English Genealogical Dictionary" by Jan Parez and it has all those names except for Jindra. Also, it did not list Jindrich as an option for Hynek. This dictionary just translates one way - from Czech to English. Is that the same for yours? Carol -----Original Message----- From: czech-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:czech-bounces@rootsweb.com]On Behalf Of Ron and Betty Mlejnek Sent: Sunday, October 21, 2007 6:35 PM To: czech@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [CZ] Given names Very interesting Teresa. I had the same information in my "notes", but could not document it. What is the name of the dictionary. ron At 04:13 PM 10/21/2007, you wrote: >In my CZ dictionary it shows > >Hynek = Ignac, Jindrich >Igna/c = Ignatius >Jindrich = Henry >Jindra = Harry, Hal, Hank > >Teresa > >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Ron and Betty Mlejnek" <rvmlejnek@navix.net> >To: <czech@rootsweb.com> >Sent: Sunday, October 21, 2007 2:54 PM >Subject: [CZ] Given names > > > > Can anyone give me alternative names to Hynek as a first name? > > > > The same question for the name Ignace. > > > > ron > > > > > > ------------------------------- > > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > > CZECH-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > > in the subject and the body of the message > > > > >------------------------------- >To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >CZECH-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the >quotes in the subject and the body of the message ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to CZECH-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Very interesting Teresa. I had the same information in my "notes", but could not document it. What is the name of the dictionary. ron At 04:13 PM 10/21/2007, you wrote: >In my CZ dictionary it shows > >Hynek = Ignac, Jindrich >Igna/c = Ignatius >Jindrich = Henry >Jindra = Harry, Hal, Hank > >Teresa > >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Ron and Betty Mlejnek" <rvmlejnek@navix.net> >To: <czech@rootsweb.com> >Sent: Sunday, October 21, 2007 2:54 PM >Subject: [CZ] Given names > > > > Can anyone give me alternative names to Hynek as a first name? > > > > The same question for the name Ignace. > > > > ron > > > > > > ------------------------------- > > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > > CZECH-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > > in the subject and the body of the message > > > > >------------------------------- >To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >CZECH-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the >quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Ignace is also Ignatz. In a message dated 10/21/2007 2:49:36 PM Central Daylight Time, rvmlejnek@navix.net writes: Can anyone give me alternative names to Hynek as a first name? The same question for the name Ignace. ron ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to CZECH-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message ************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com

In my CZ dictionary it shows Hynek = Ignac, Jindrich Igna/c = Ignatius Jindrich = Henry Jindra = Harry, Hal, Hank Teresa ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ron and Betty Mlejnek" <rvmlejnek@navix.net> To: <czech@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, October 21, 2007 2:54 PM Subject: [CZ] Given names > Can anyone give me alternative names to Hynek as a first name? > > The same question for the name Ignace. > > ron > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > CZECH-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > in the subject and the body of the message >

Can anyone give me alternative names to Hynek as a first name? The same question for the name Ignace. ron

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: ZlaticaBeca Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/topics.ethnic.czech/383.3.1.1.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Gregg Hopefully you were notified about my 3 posts to your query. Would not want all my information go to waste. Do take a look in www.helenezx.homestead.com Slovak Pride RALBOVSKY was listed as being from Kuty, Malacky and few other places. The town of Kuty is 3.5 km West of C'ary and 3km from Czech Republic border. Loads of RALBOVSKYs in Kuty's phone book. www.zoznamst.sk in Vyhladaj: surname, in Mesto-town; click on Hladaj Most of RALBOVSKYs arr. thru Ellis Island were from Kutti/Kutty/Rutti- Kuty. I see that the surname was transcribed as RALBORSKY. Maria RALBORSKI from Csari might be a family member. Use a One step/gold form www.stevemorse.org to find them. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.

>Reply-To: "Czech Embassy - Cultural Section" <cul_washington@embassy.mzv.cz> >From: "Czech Embassy - Cultural Section" <cul_washington@embassy.mzv.cz> >Subject: FILM: Academy Award Winning Director To >Present Washington Premiere on November 12, 2007 >Date: Fri, 19 Oct 2007 13:23:57 -0400 >Organization: Czech Embassy > > >Dear Friends of Czech Culture: >THE KING IS SERVED AT AFI >AFI Welcomes Academy Award Winning Director > >Czech director Jiri Menzel will present the >Washington, DC, premiere of his new film I >Served the King of England (Obsluhoval jsem >anglického krále, 2006), written by acclaimed >scriptwriter Bohumil Hrabal, at the AFI Silver >Theatre in Silver Spring, MD, during the EU Film >Showcase on November 12, 2007, at 7 pm. A 2007 >Czech Lions winner for Best Film, Best >Supporting Actor, Best Cinematography, and Best >Director, I Served the King of England is the >director’s sixth adaptation of works by Bohumil >Hrabal, and also recently won the International >Federation of Film Critics Award at the Berlinale 2007 Film Festival. > > >AFI Silver Theatre >8633 Colesville Road >Silver Spring, MD 20910 > >Showtimes >7 pm and 9:40 pm. Menzel will be at the early show. > >Tickets >Please stay posted at ><http://www.afi.com/silver>www.afi.com/silver for ticket information. > >Take care, >Mary E. Fetzko >Cultural Section > > > >[] > > > > ><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> > >MORE ABOUT MENZEL >Menzel became famous for his debut film Closely >Watched Trains (Ostre sledovane vlaky), winning >an Academy Award for Best Foreign Film in 1967. >He has made over 20 films, starred in more than >twice that many, and has written books about >Czech cinema and more than a dozen scripts. Like >his compatriot Milos Forman, Menzel was >influenced by Czech novelists rather than by >Western filmmakers. Therefore, it is no surprise >that Menzel was a friend of the late Bohumil >Hrabal, and collaborated with him on several >occasions, turning his books into films. Hrabal >ranks among the most influential Czech authors >of modern times. When he died in 1997, he had >written approximately 50 books, 3 million >printed in his native <?xml:namespace prefix = >st1 ns = >"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" >/>Czechoslovakia, and many translated into 27 languages. > > > >In the mid-1960s, Hrabal’s vision of the world >so fascinated Jiri Menzel that Menzel and six >other filmmakers of the Czech New Wave created >Pearls on the Bottom (Perlicky na dne) from >Hrabal’s collection of short stories. However, >it was not until the filming of Closely Watched >Trains (Ostre sledovane vlaky, 1965), which >remains one of the most compelling films of the >1960s, that Menzel and Hrabal became closer >friends. Menzel furthered his collaboration with >Hrabal making Cutting It Short (Postriziny, >1967), a film about a brewery and the beautiful >wife of the owner. The director solidified this >successful partnership with the writer in the >1970’s with Larks on a String (Skrivanci na >niti), a film that was immediately banned by the >communist authorities and remained shelved until 1990, after the revolution. > > > >“For over 30 years my work has been interwoven >with that of Bohumil Hrabal. The novel I Served >the King of England (Obsluhoval jsem anglickeho >krale, 2006) is for me one of Hrabal’s greatest >achievements­a view of the modern world and a >segment of 20th century history as reflected in >the life of one man” said Menzel. > > > >After taking a 12-year break from directing, >Menzel returns to the director’s chair with I >Served the King of England which enabled him to >use comedy in scrutinizing his country’s past. >The film is the story of a man whose >irresistible charm and overriding desire to make >it to the top let him wander unharmed through >the political and social upheavals experienced >by Czechoslovakia in the 1930s and 40s. It tells >the tale of a quick-witted waiter who beds a >string of beauties in pre-war Prague, marries an >Aryan superwoman as the Germans march in, and >finally settles down to reflect on his bizarre >life after winning and losing a fortune. > > > >“From the author himself we know the novel was >written in a very short space of time as a >spontaneous reaction to the constant pressure, >emotional and social, under which the writer was >forced to live in the period of ‘normalization’ >(i.e., the post-1968 years) when he was not >allowed to publish,” said Menzel. > > > >In an interview with the Prague Post, Menzel >discussed the struggles of putting the book to >screen. “It’s a very rich novel. Whenever I >return to the text, I keep saying­this is >terrible. I shouldn’t have left this out or that >out,” he says. “Maybe some people will be >disappointed when they see the film because they >won’t find the scene they were expecting.” > >In response to the pressure of making yet >another successful adaptation of Hrabal’s work, >Menzel said, “With the making of every film, I >am propelled by a fear of failure.” > >Menzel fought a 10-year-legal battle for the >rights to I Served the King of England, which >were sold more than once so that several names >were working on the project at the same time. At >the 1998 Karlovy Vary film festival, an incensed >Menzel took his stick to the film’s then- >producer, Jiri Sirotek, finding out that other >people were planning to direct the film. When >asked by Variety Magazine’s Elizabeth Guider >what was so special about directing this >particular film, Menzel only replied: “What is >special you have to find yourself­in the book and in the film.” > >On November 12, 2007, at 7 pm, Menzel will >present the Washington, DC, premiere of I Served >the King of England at AFI Silver Theatre. >Viewers can see for themselves the beauty and >mastery of Hrabal’s work through the eyes of director Jiri Menzel.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: ZlaticaBeca Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/topics.ethnic.czech/383.2.1.2/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Gregg An ALL site for research in Slovak Republic: www.iabsi.com/gen/public Up to 1918 the records would say Austria or Hungary. http://users.erols.com/mwhite28/austhung.htm In that empire 12 different languages. Hungary controlled present Slovak Republic and Austria Bohemia, Moravia - Czech Republic. A map of Czechoslovakia for a short time after the fall of A-H empire: www.cgsi.org Angnes RAIBOWSTA from Csary arr. in 1897 traveling with Rozalia LANYIK also from Csary. LANIK and KUNIK surname does list in Cary's phone book. www.zoznamst.sk You might post on Slovak Republic/ Slovakia's board. Check out http://genforum.com www.iarelative.com http://slovakia.eunet.sk www.helenezx.homestead.com Slovak Pride index Use One step/gold form www.stevemorse and look also for Hungarian spelling of your ancestral surname RALBOVSZKI, RALBOVSZKY. Family went to family in the old days and for sure to a place where they were speaking the "old country" language. Mystery solved. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: ZlaticaBeca Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/topics.ethnic.czech/383.2.1.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Gregg An old 1910 Hungarian megye map: http://lazarus.elte.hu/hun/maps/1910 click on Nyitra to find Csary (Czare, Cschari, Csari). www.cary.sk RALBOVSKY in Cary's phone book. www.zoznamst.sk Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: ZlaticaBeca Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/topics.ethnic.czech/383.4/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Gregg No W in Czech and Slovak alphabet and no V in Polish. SKY = Czech and Slovak and SKI = Polish. In Czech phone book: RALBOVSKY, RALBOVSKA http://phone.quick.cz In Slovak phone book: RALBOVSKY and RALBOVSKA www.zoznamst.sk Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.

Just for CZECH Mail List subscriber information, most of these links are available at the CZECH Mail List website: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~elainetmaddox/index.htm On the side bar is a "link" to Slovak Genealogy. Slovak genealogy research is very much related to Czech research. :-) rvm At 06:04 PM 10/18/2007, you wrote: >This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. > >Author: ZlaticaBeca >Surnames: >Classification: queries > >Message Board URL: > >http://boards.rootsweb.com/topics.ethnic.czech/383.2.1.2/mb.ashx > >Message Board Post: > >Gregg > >An ALL site for research in Slovak Republic: >www.iabsi.com/gen/public >Up to 1918 the records would say Austria or Hungary. >http://users.erols.com/mwhite28/austhung.htm In that empire 12 >different languages. >Hungary controlled present Slovak Republic and Austria Bohemia, >Moravia - Czech Republic. >A map of Czechoslovakia for a short time after the fall of A-H >empire: www.cgsi.org >Angnes RAIBOWSTA from Csary arr. in 1897 traveling with Rozalia >LANYIK also from Csary. >LANIK and KUNIK surname does list in Cary's phone book. >www.zoznamst.sk >You might post on Slovak Republic/ Slovakia's board. >Check out http://genforum.com >www.iarelative.com >http://slovakia.eunet.sk >www.helenezx.homestead.com Slovak Pride index >Use One step/gold form www.stevemorse and look also for Hungarian >spelling of your ancestral surname RALBOVSZKI, RALBOVSZKY. Family >went to family in the old days and for sure to a place where they >were speaking the "old country" language. >Mystery solved. > >Important Note: >The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If >you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board >URL link above and respond on the board. > > > > >------------------------------- >To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >CZECH-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the >quotes in the subject and the body of the message

If anyone wants this in original HTML (hypertext), let me know and I will forward it to you. Rootsweb only allows plain text documents. Ron Mlejnek At 11:11 AM 10/18/2007, you wrote: >Dear Friends of Czech Culture: > > >The Embassy of the Czech Republic announces the >Washington Debut Concert of Marta Topferova with >Pedro Giraudo (bass), Franco Pinna (percussion) >and Roland Satterwhite (violin and guitar) on >Thursday, November 15, 2007, 7 pm. > >The music of Marta Topferova, the Czech-born, >New York-based singer and songwriter, fuses a >range of Latin American musical styles and >rhythms that Topferova has studied and mastered >since her childhood in Prague. Described as “a >leading light of the nueva cancion movement,” >Topferova’s sound blends folk and jazz that >Topferova conveys through her silky hypnotic >vocals and her crisp cuatro and guitar playing. > >In this Washington debut concert, Topferova and >her fellow musicians will bring a Latin flavor >to the Embassy that features a mix of original >songs in Spanish from her internationally >acclaimed CDs, Flor Nocturna, La Marea, and >Sueno Verde, combined with selections from her Czech CD, Homage To Homeland. > >To listen to Topferova’s music go to ><http://www.martatopferova.com/>www.martatopferova.com. > >R.S.V.P. >(202) 274–9105 > >Directions: >The Embassy of the Czech Republic is located at >3900 Spring of Freedom Street, NW, Washington, DC 20008. > >The closest metro stop is Van-Ness-UDC, which is >about a 15–20 minutes walk from the metro >station. Head south on Connectucut. Turn left >onto Tilden Street, walking towards Rock Creek >Park. Make a right onto Spring of Freedom >Street. The Embassy is the first building on the right. > >Parking: >Street parking is available outside the Embassy gates. > >Sincerely, >Mary E. Fetzko >Cultural Section > >[] > > >MORE ABOUT TOPFEROVA: >Transformation­the Making of an Artist: Marta Topferova > >“Imagine your parents transform into other >characters right in front of you,” says >singer/songwriter and musician Marta Topferova >remembering her upbringing in <?xml:namespace >prefix = st1 ns = >"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" >/>Czechoslovakia. The daughter of stage and film >actors, Ms. Topferova’s early childhood was >peopled with artists who counterbalanced the >grayness of the Czech industrial cities where >her parents worked in local theater with what >Topferova describes as the “always somewhat >strange and magical” world of rehearsals and >performances. “I am grateful for growing up with >art and a sense of creativity around me,” she >says, “I also witnessed that it’s really hard >work. And since my parents made a living doing >it, I somehow had faith that I could do it too if I was dedicated.” > >If her parents taught her artistic dedication, >they also literally and figuratively set the >stage for the transformative life that awaited >her. When she was 6, they launched her into >music with piano lessons, but Marta recalls, “I >didn’t connect so well with the piano at that >age, so nothing much came of it.” She studied >languages­Russian then English, and when she was >8, her parents found a choir in Prague for her, >which she joined and discovered that she loved >to sing and make music with a group. Her >earliest musical influences were the Czech and >Slovak folk songs she sang in choir, the >occasional concert, and the artists in her >parents’ record collection. Though small, it >included the Beatles and an early favorite of >Marta’s, the Chilean group Inti-Illimani, which >instilled in her an attraction to Latin American >and Spanish music. (Editor’s note: Inti-Illimani >was a leading member of the nueva cancíon >movement, started in the 1950s and 60s, which >blended traditional Latin American folk with >popular rock music and had progressive, >sometimes politicized lyrics. In 2007, the BBC >called Topferova “a leading light” of the nueva cancíon movement of today.) > >During the years of Marta’s musical awakening, >her parents divorced. She, her mother, and older >sister moved into one room in her maternal >grandparents’ home. Both of her grandmothers had >worked for Czech radio writing plays and >stories. Marta’s maternal grandfather was a >dancer and choreographer who had immigrated to >Los Angeles in 1969. Her grandmother’s second >husband, a historian and dissident, was not >allowed to work in his field. The majority of >her father’s family perished in Terezin and >Auschwitz concentration camps. Although her >paternal grandparents survived the war, neither >was in her life past age 8. In her new home, her >maternal grandparents helped soften the edges of >these turbulent years in Marta’s life, infusing >it with some of the more idyllic trappings of >Czech childhood­mushroom and berry picking in >the forests, summer trips in nature, and night >time fairy tales. Then in 1987 when Marta was >11, her mother­spurred by the desire to see her >own father whom she had not seen in nearly 20 >years­moved her daughters to the United States. >They stayed briefly in New York, but settled in >Seattle, convinced by friends that it was “an >easier place for a single mother with two kids >who don’t speak English to restart their lives,” Topferova recalls. > >In Seattle Marta studied English before >transferring to a public middle school, where >she says, “The real culture shock came.” With no >direct relationship to her homeland and no >Czechs to help her assimilate, she could not >find a widespread community where she fit in. >But her new life wasn’t all isolation. “As an >adolescent in the United States, the one thing I >felt strongly about was to take advantage of the >freedom I was given,” Topferova says, “I >searched for things that were meaningful to me. >I found myself gravitating toward other >immigrants and making Hispanic friends. The >Spanish language, music, and culture became my >main interest which offered me tremendous >richness, and a community with which I felt a >great affinity.” She taught herself Spanish and >soaked up as much Hispanic music as she could. >She also joined the Seattle Girls’ Choir where >she received ear training and music coaching, >then entered Nova, an alternative high school in >Seattle, that allowed her to include musical >studies in her curriculum. Later, she followed >her older sister to Bard College but left early >because she says, “I felt pulled toward other >ways to learn what I was interested in.” Her >musical passion led her to Spain where she >studied guitar and different song forms. Along >the way she found many musical influences >including Camaron de la Isla, Paco de Lucia, >Pepe de la Matrona, Celia Cruz, Joao Gilberto, >Mercedes Sosa, Atahualpa Yupanqui, and numerous >others. In 1994 she returned to Prague for a >year, then moved to New York and started playing professionally. > >Topferova has performed in Europe, Latin >America, Thailand, and across the United States. >She recently wrapped up a European tour that >included the Czech Republic, England, France, >Germany, Holland, Hungary, and Switzerland. To >date, Marta has released four CDs­Flor Nocturna, >2006; La Marea, 2005; Sueno Verde, 2003; Homage >To Homeland, 2002; and is featured on a fifth­a >2007 Putumayo compilation titled Women of the World – Acoustic. > >Topferova maintains a strong connection to her >Czech origins, annually visiting her grandmother >and father, the Czech actor and senator Tomas >Topfer, who still live in Prague. “When I >arrive, I get reminded of how deep my roots go >there. All my ancestors were Czech­on my >father’s side we have a family tree which traces >back the whole family in the Czech lands to the >1600s. On my mother’s side, we are all Czechs >for at least the last four generations.” But >Marta appreciates aspects of all three cultures >which have influenced her life­Czech, American, >and Hispanic­and admits that assigning an >identity can be difficult, “I feel very mixed,” >she says, “I guess I’m more interested in >staying open culturally than in trying to have >my identity all figured out. Perhaps this is >because my destiny has asked me to continue to >examine my values and what I care about in the different cultures.” > >If her identity vacillates, music gives her >constancy. “Music is like an anchor to me,” she >says, “a dear companion. Through all the changes >in my life, it has always accompanied me.” Music >also helps Topferova connect to others, “It’s a >universal language humanity has developed to >share all kinds of beautiful things, to tell >stories…I strive to offer a sort of refuge with >my work, a place to turn away from the noise, >pollution, and ugliness of the modern world.” > >Topferova’s hypnotic soulful voice belies her >young age, sounding instead as though it comes >from an older woman who has learned repeatedly >that love leads to heartbreak but dares to love >anyway. Given the journey and the many >transformations Marta Topferova has experienced, >it is not so unusual that this Czech-born, New >York-based musician writes and sings songs >primarily in Spanish. For Topferova music is >transcendent. “At its best, music can be a very >soulful spiritual experience. There is something >vital that music offers,” she muses. Topferova >feels she achieves artistic success when her >voice communicates with the hearts of listeners. >So whether it is Czech, English, or Spanish, >language and its attendant culture are not the >focus, “It’s a question of deep affinity,” she >says, “Music and poetry are a tremendous gift >for humanity. I feel a calling to preserve music >that is honest, beautiful, and poetic. I’m doing >what is sincerely close to my heart.” > >..............

Jiri, Thank you for responding. I honestly only know the spelling that appeared on the post card -- her handwriting was clear but small. I'll have to check but I don't think there was a "J". In fact, when I first read it I didn't know if it was a given name or a surname. She wrote about two aunts who were so old -- now I think the postcard may have come from Cirkvice (near Kutna Hora) in Bohemia. Thanks again for responding. Susan ----- Original Message ----- From: "jiri mlejnek" <grzybczyn@wp.pl> To: "czech" <czech@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2007 2:30 AM Subject: [CZ] Odp: Mlejnek surname Susan, my Mlejnek line originates since abt 1650 (first mention) from Moravia, Bucovice (exactly - local part Vicemilice). On the other hand this surname is rather common in Czech lands. By the way: is the right spelling Mlejnek or Mlenek? The last one would be Moravian (dialect) version. Jiri Jiri > Jiri, > > Seeing your last name makes me curious. My grandmother's family was from > Kutna Hora, Bohemia. In 1907 my grandmother, Louise Holecek, participated > in the Prague Sokol Slet. She stayed in Europe for almost two months > visiting the town where her mother, Antonie Hala, was born and lived > (Kutna > Hora). I think she also visited Caslav and Novy Dvory. I have postcards > that she sent home. On one of them she tells of visiting two very old > aunts, Aunt Mlenek and Aunt Weber. Was any of your family from those > areas. They could have been related through the Hala line or the > Kraupner > line. Just curious. Susan > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "jiri mlejnek" <grzybczyn@wp.pl> > To: "czech" <czech@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Wednesday, October 17, 2007 3:42 PM > Subject: [CZ] Odp: Need Czech? Translation > > > It's Slovak... > ...a collection of coat-of-arm seals > > Jiri Mlejnek > > Dnia 17-10-2007 o godz. 21:06 VONSKIPPER@aol.com napisał(a): > > Could someone please translate the following, from a Web site: ZBIERKA > > ERBOVYCH PECATI....Is it Czech or Slovak or..? > > > > Thanks. > > > > Betty Catherwood > > > > > > > > ************************************** See what's new at > > http://www.aol.com > > > > ------------------------------- > > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > > CZECH-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > > quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > ---------------------------------------------------- > Tej nocy młody Tristran spełni Pragnienie Swego Serca. > Nastrojowa powieść Neila Gaimana "Gwiezdny pył" > już w księgarniach. > http://klik.wp.pl/?adr=http%3A%2F%2Fcorto.www.wp.pl%2Fas%2Fpyl.html&sid=62 > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > CZECH-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in > the subject and the body of the message > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > CZECH-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message ---------------------------------------------------- Paul Oakenfold - najdroższy DJ świata już 7 grudnia wystąpi w Hali Stulecia we Wrocławiu. Zobacz więcej: http://klik.wp.pl/?adr=http%3A%2F%2Fcorto.www.wp.pl%2Fas%2Fgaleria.html&sid=61 ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to CZECH-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Susan, my Mlejnek line originates since abt 1650 (first mention) from Moravia, Bucovice (exactly - local part Vicemilice). On the other hand this surname is rather common in Czech lands. By the way: is the right spelling Mlejnek or Mlenek? The last one would be Moravian (dialect) version. Jiri Jiri > Jiri, > > Seeing your last name makes me curious. My grandmother's family was from > Kutna Hora, Bohemia. In 1907 my grandmother, Louise Holecek, participated > in the Prague Sokol Slet. She stayed in Europe for almost two months > visiting the town where her mother, Antonie Hala, was born and lived > (Kutna > Hora). I think she also visited Caslav and Novy Dvory. I have postcards > that she sent home. On one of them she tells of visiting two very old > aunts, Aunt Mlenek and Aunt Weber. Was any of your family from those > areas. They could have been related through the Hala line or the > Kraupner > line. Just curious. Susan > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "jiri mlejnek" <grzybczyn@wp.pl> > To: "czech" <czech@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Wednesday, October 17, 2007 3:42 PM > Subject: [CZ] Odp: Need Czech? Translation > > > It's Slovak... > ...a collection of coat-of-arm seals > > Jiri Mlejnek > > Dnia 17-10-2007 o godz. 21:06 VONSKIPPER@aol.com napisał(a): > > Could someone please translate the following, from a Web site: ZBIERKA > > ERBOVYCH PECATI....Is it Czech or Slovak or..? > > > > Thanks. > > > > Betty Catherwood > > > > > > > > ************************************** See what's new at > > http://www.aol.com > > > > ------------------------------- > > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > > CZECH-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > > quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > ---------------------------------------------------- > Tej nocy młody Tristran spełni Pragnienie Swego Serca. > Nastrojowa powieść Neila Gaimana "Gwiezdny pył" > już w księgarniach. > http://klik.wp.pl/?adr=http%3A%2F%2Fcorto.www.wp.pl%2Fas%2Fpyl.html&sid=62 > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > CZECH-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in > the subject and the body of the message > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > CZECH-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message ---------------------------------------------------- Paul Oakenfold - najdroższy DJ świata już 7 grudnia wystąpi w Hali Stulecia we Wrocławiu. Zobacz więcej: http://klik.wp.pl/?adr=http%3A%2F%2Fcorto.www.wp.pl%2Fas%2Fgaleria.html&sid=61