The mission of the Croatian Ethnic Institute in Chicago, the central institution of Croats in North America, is to preserve the memory of the past and to serve as a source of inspiration for the future. Since its founding in 1975, it has safeguarded the history of Croatian emigration. It is located in the monastery of the Croatian Franciscans, who provide pastoral care for Croats in North America. In 1926, the Croatian Franciscan Custody of the Holy Family for America and Canada was established. Although far from their homeland, emigrant Croats remained deeply rooted in their nation, building communities in their new countries where they preserved and nurtured their identity. For five decades, the Croatian Ethnic Institute has been engaged in collecting, organizing, and preserving historical materials. It holds numerous valuable objects, records, photographs, and memories of Croatian emigrants. It preserves original works by Ivan Meštrović – Fra Dominik Mandić, Cardinal Stepinac, and the drawing Stigmata (1942) – as well as a crucifix carved from a single piece of wood. The collection also includes personal belongings of Bruno Bušić, prison letters of Zvonko Bušić, part of the personal effects of former Chicago Mayor Michael Bilandic, an original New Jersey Nets jersey worn by Dražen Petrović, as well as the rich publishing history developed within the diaspora. Of particular importance are items belonging to Blessed Alojzije Stepinac, including the triptych Our Lady and Three Angels, a gift from Pope Pius XII to the Archbishop of Zagreb upon his elevation to the cardinalate, which Cardinal Stepinac kept on his desk. Thanks to the Franciscans, the history of Croatian emigration has been preserved in the Croatian Ethnic Institute in the best possible manner. (Željka Šaravanja)
