The Fraternal Herald was a publication put out by the Western Fraternal Life association, an insurance organization consisting of membership under charters of Czech Lodges situated in cities throughout the US. The Lodges were organized for the people of Czech ancestry in order for them to have some sort of life insurance. It initially only included men, but after only a year or so, the insurance program included women as well. In later years, it also included the children. It was organized under the title of ZAPADNI CHESKA BRATRSKY JEDNOTA (ZCBJ) when translated is Western Bohemian Fraternal Association. In later years, the title became Western Fraternal Life Association and although it originally allowed only people of Czech Ancestry, it today is open to anyone wishing to buy their insurance. It was organized 4 Jul 1897, and is still in existence with headquarters in Cedar Rapids, IA It printed a monthly periodical originally printed in Czech, until the 1940s when it began to include English, gradually switching to all English. Each month in the periodical, they printed a mortality death claim list, as well as some obituaries or death notices. This is the basis of this microfilmed card file index which is now on 6 reels of microfilm and located at the W. Dale Clark Library 3rd floor. If you are interested in looking at the lists, you will find the films in the metal filing cabinets at the back left of the book room. You will have to take the reel(s) you are interested in to the microfilm room for reading. A reader printer is available for copies. The cards have places for the following information (which may not all be filled out on all cards): Name, age, date & place of death, Lodge # & year they became a member, date of death claim & date of obit notice. The date of death & date of claim may be a year or more apart. There were member groups in NE, MN, IA, WI, KS, ND, CO, etc. We invite you to visit the W. Dale Clark Library if you are interested in the information on these films. Feel free to share the availability of these microfilms with others that may be interested because of Czech ancestry. If you can't make it to Omaha, contact me off list for a list of other options to check the information. Hope this information turns out to be a good Christmas present for you. Karen