{"product_id":"croatians-of-chicagoland-9780738578194","title":"Croatians of Chicagoland","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eCroatians of Chicagoland\u003c\/i\u003e examines how the Croatian community, its leaders, clergy, laborers, politicians, athletes, benevolent societies, and social organizations helped build and shape Chicago's history.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eChicago was once known as the \u003ci\u003eSecond Croatian Capital\u003c\/i\u003e. Lured by economic, political, and social freedoms, Croatians, like other immigrants, came to Chicago in search of the American dream.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe first documented groups settled mainly in \u003ci\u003ePilsen, \u003ci\u003eBridgeport, and the\u003ci\u003e South Side in the late 1800s. By the turn of the century, these immigrants toiled in Chicago's steel mills, meatpacking plants, and construction sites. They soon formed social groups, churches, schools, Croatian-language newspapers, and other infrastructure needed to support the expanding community. Today there are more than 150,000 descendants of Croatian heritage in the \u003ci\u003eChicagoland\u003c\/i\u003e area, and many of the foundations built by the forefathers continue to service the community. Ivan Mestrovic 's \u003ci\u003eIndian\u003c\/i\u003e sculptures still adorn \u003ci\u003eCongress Parkway\u003c\/i\u003e and Michael Bilandic  remains in the history books as the only Croatian mayor of Chicago.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Author Maria Dugandzic -Pasic  was born, and still lives, in Chicago. Her mother was a first-generation Croatian whose parents emigrated in 1951. Her father arrived in the early 1960s from Bosnia-Herzegovina. As a producer with CNN, she has covered major news events in Chicago, Rome, London, Jerusalem, and the Balkans.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Arcadia Publishing (SC)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 04\/19\/2010\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780738578194\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 127\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.70lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.10h x 6.40w x 0.40d","brand":"Maria Dugandzic-Pasic","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40366914011317,"sku":"9780738578194","price":21.24,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0473\/0804\/6492\/products\/img_1ceb534c-0314-4107-b4a9-5b2ec20eafbc.jpg?v=1624978831","url":"https:\/\/pastforward.org\/products\/croatians-of-chicagoland-9780738578194","provider":"Past Forward","version":"1.0","type":"link"}