Interviewer
Allison Fromm
Description
Danica Duletich, Father Bratislav Krsic, John Sepcevich, Milan Marsenich, and Marko Lucich discuss the history of Serbian immigration to Butte, Montana, during the 20th century. Marsenich shares the story of how his father and uncle came to Montana, and then Butte. Duletich recalls immigrating as a young woman with a four-year-old son to meet her husband who was working in the Butte mines. All five interviewees discuss the different Serbian lodges in Butte, how membership was determined by what part of Serbia you were originally from, and the Serbian Orthodox Church’s role in the Serbian community. Father Krsic details the role of the church, noting that the Serbian church in Butte, was the only one in the Northwest for much of early 20th century. The interviewees discuss World War One and World War Two in Europe and how it affected Serbian immigration and family members who chose to remain in the old country. They also describe customs such as slavas and kums, and daily life in Butte for Serbian immigrants. They briefly mention their community's relationship with other immigrant groups in Butte.
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Document Type
Oral History
Subjects
Butte, Montana; Ellis Island, New York; Serbian immigration, United States; Taft, Montana; Montenegro; Serbia; Yugoslavia; Croatia; Boka, Yugoslavia; Boka, Montenegro; Serbian Benevolent Society; Bokelian Brotherhood; Anaconda Copper Company; Petrovich, Bill; World War, 1914-1918; Slava; Circle of Serbian Sisters; World War, 1939-1945; Warm Springs, Montana; Kum; Mining; Prosveta Lodge; Montenegro Lodge; Srpsko Jedinstvo Lodge; Early Days: Serbian Settlers in America; Ottoman Empire; Wedding traditions; Balkan Wars, 1912-1913; Turkish army; Gusle; Pasha
Original Date
2-22-2003
Time Period
Twentieth century
Geographic Coverage
Montana
Language
eng
Original Collection
Serbian Immigrants in Butte Oral History Project, OH 420, Archives and Special Collections, Mansfield Library, University of Montana-Missoula
Digital Publisher
University of Montana--Missoula. Mansfield Library
Rights
Copyright to this collection is held by the interview participants and by the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, University of Montana-Missoula. Permission may be required for use. For further information please contact Archives and Special Collections: (406) 243-2053 / library.archives@umontana.edu
Oral History Number
OH 420-001
Media Type
Sound; Text
Original Format
1 sound cassette (90 min.) analog + 1 transcript (41 p.: 28 cm.)
Digital Format
audio/mp3; application/pdf
Run Time
01:17:39 minutes
Local Filename
OH_420_001.mp3; OH_420_001.pdf
Citation
Duletich, Danica; Krsic, Bratislav Bratso; Sepcevich, John; Marsenich, Milan; and Lucich, Marko, "Danica Duletich, Bratislav Bratso Krsic, John Sepcevich, Milan Marsenich, and Marko Lucich Interview, February 22, 2003" (2003). Serbian Immigrants in Butte Oral History Project. 1.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/serbianimmigrants_oralhistory/1