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For Freedom Lithuanian American Support for Lithuania's Independence and Recognition

A poster image from 1922 expressing Lithuania's gratitude for America's recognition of Lithuania's independence and statehood
A poster image from 1922 expressing Lithuania’s gratitude for America’s recognition of Lithuania’s independence and statehood

In celebration of the 100th Anniversary of Lithuania’s Independence, the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture invites you to the opening of a new historical exhibit: “For Freedom: Lithuanian American Support for Lithuania’s Independence and Recognition”. The exhibit explores Lithuanian Americans’ passionate and energetic support for the cause of Lithuania’s independence one hundred years ago.  Curated by “No Home to Go To” curator Irena Brokas Chambers using photographs, documents, publications, and other historical artifacts, the exhibition gives an overview of Lithuania’s fate at the dawn of the twentieth century as a subjugated part of the Russian Empire; briefly portrays the Lithuanian American communities in America; and summarizes their significant cultural, political, and financial achievements.

The exhibition’s central focus is the vital role played by Lithuanian Americans as their native land seized a unique and complex opportunity to end its 125-year Russian subjugation. This exhibition demonstrates that Lithuanian Americans’ support for freedom in their native land did not end with the declared independence in 1918 nor with its recognition by the United States in 1922. In fact, as the exhibition shows, Lithuanian Americans supported their native land’s recurrent struggles to achieve freedom and independence for most of the twentieth century.

Drawing on materials in the Balzekas Museum as well as public and private national and regional archives and collections, the exhibition centralizes the presence of historical documents to prove that this century-long struggle for freedom was powered by ideas and ideals expressed in words and actions. 

Never before shown in Chicago, the original petitions by Lithuanian Americans to the  President of the United States as well as Petras Rimsa’s iconic sculpture “the Ploughman” will be on exhibit. 

  • Exhibition Tour Dates

  • NEW YORK

  • January 18 to March 16, 2019

    at the Lithuanian Alliance of America / SLA

    307 West 30th Street New York, NY 10001-2703

  • Admission by appointment. To visit or for  more information, please call (917) 501-3275.

    • CHICAGO

    • Through December,  2019

    • On view daily from 10 – 4 PM

    • at the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture, 6500 South Pulaski Road, Chicago, IL 60629

    • For information, contact: info@balzekasmuseum.org
      Entrance free with Museum admission

  •  
  • This program is partially supported by grants from the following organizations:
  •  
  • Lithuanian Foundation, Inc.
  • Illinois Arts Council
  • DCASE

The Balzekas Museum gratefully acknowledges the support of these sponsors and other private donors.

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  • BALZEKAS MUSEUM of
    LITHUANIAN CULTURE
  • About
  • Visit
  • Genealogy
  • Exhibits & Programs
    • A Weekly Visit to the Balzekas Museum
    • Lithuanian Life and Landmarks in America
    • “No Home To Go To: The Story of Baltic Displaced Persons from 1944-52”
    • A Night at the Opera – Chicago Lithuanian Opera Performances from the Aleksandras Plenys Collection
    • Lithuanian Opera Company of Chicago- Aleksandras Plenys Collection
  • Workshops/Classes
  • Membership
  • Travel
  • Gift Shop
  • Contact

Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture

6500 South Pulaski Road
Chicago IL 60629
USA
Tel. 773.582.6500
The Balzekas Museum is a 501(c)3 non-profit institution registered in the State of Illinois: EIN: 36-6140176

Thank You – Ačiū!

The Balzekas Museum is supported in part by grants from the following sponsors:

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