Finding aid for the Anna M. Sotak Photographs


Repository: Western Reserve Historical Society
Creator: Sotak, Anna M.
Title: Anna M. Sotak Photographs
Dates: 1915-1968
Extent: 0.20 linear feet (1 container)
Abstract: Anna Sotak (ca. 1893-1976) was an officer of State Savings and Loan in Cleveland, Ohio. She was also active in local Slovak fraternal organizations. The collection consists of individual portraits and group portraits of Anna M. Sotak, her family and friends, and views of the State Savings and Loan Company office in South Euclid, Ohio. Also included are views of the Ladies Pennsylvania Slovak Catholic Union convention, 1960 and 1968, and views of various trips taken by Sotak.
PG Number PG 208
Location: closed stacks
Language: The records are in English

Biography of Anna M. Sotak

Anna M. Sotak (ca. 1839-1976) was active in the Cleveland business community and Slovak fraternal organizations in excess of fifty years. She and her husband, Joseph Sotak, served as officers of Tatra Savings and Loan, a local institution established in 1914, which was instrumental in assisting area Slovaks in acquiring real estate. The family continued its management of the business after it became State Savings and Loan in 1946.

Mrs. Sotak served as an officer of the Ladies' Pennsylvania Slovak Catholic Union for over forty years. She served as president for approximately twenty of those years. Mrs. Sotak frequently contributed articles to the publication of the organization, the 'Zornicka' (Morning Star). She was also an active member in the Slovak Ladies' Union, the National Order of Fraternal Organizations and the Slovak League of America.

Mrs. Sotak was a leader in the Slovak community of Cleveland, bringing issues to the attention of the neighborhoods by speaking frequently on the Slovak Hour on radio station WERE. She received a special citation from Pope Paul in 1963 for her service to the church and was a guest of the late President Lyndon B. Johnson at the White House in 1964.

Sons of Anna and Joseph Sotak, both residing in Cleveland, are Joseph E. Jr. and Thomas J. Sotak.


Scope and Content

The Anna M. Sotak Photographs, 1915-1968, consist of individual portraits and group portraits of Anna M. Sotak, her family and friends, and views of the State Savings and Loan Company office in South Euclid, Ohio. Also included are views of the Ladies Pennsylvania Slovak Catholic Union convention, 1960 and 1968, and views of various trips taken by Sotak. The collection includes 64 black and white photographs that measure 8 x 10 inches and smaller.

This collection will be useful to researchers studying the history of women and the Slovak immigrant community of Cleveland, Ohio, in the twentieth century.


Statement of Arrangement

The collection is arranged by subject.

Restrictions on Access

None.

Related Material

The researcher should also consult MS 3813 Anna M. Sotak Papers.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Subjects:

Businesswomen -- Ohio -- Cleveland -- Photographs.
Ladies Pennsylvania Slovak Catholic Union -- Photograph collections.
Slovak Americans -- Ohio -- Cleveland -- Photographs.
Slovak Americans -- Societies, etc. -- Photographs.
Sotak family -- Photograph collections.
Sotak, Anna M., ca. 1893-1976 -- Photograph collections.
State Savings and Loan (Cleveland, Ohio) -- Photograph collections.
Women -- Ohio -- Cleveland -- Photographs.

Preferred Citation

[Container ___, Folder ___ ] PG 208 Anna M. Sotak Photographs, Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio

Acquisition Information

These photographs were removed from MS 3813 Anna M. Sotak Papers. Gift of Mr. Thomas J. Sotak in 1977.

Detailed Description of The Collection

Anna M. Sotak Photographs 1915-1968

Box Folder
1 1 Anna M. Sotak ca. 1955
1 2 Anna M. Sotak groups 1960-1966
1 3 Anna M. Sotak family and friends ca. 1915-1964
1 4 Charlotte Sotak ca. 1950
1 5 Jeri Jane Sotak 1958
1 6 Joseph E. Sotak 1960-1962
1 7 Joseph E. Sotak, Jr. ca. 1960
1 8 State Savings and Loan Company, South Euclid office opening 1957
1 9 Ladies Pennsylvania Slovak Catholic Union (?) convention banquet 1960
1 10 Ladies Pennsylvania Slovak Catholic Union convention 1968
1 11 European trip 1963
1 12 Rome, Italy ca. 1963