Czech Folk Costumes

In the late 1850s following a revolt among the peasants in the province of Bohemia, a
large number of Czechs came to Iowa and settled in Tema, Benton, Linn, Johnson
and Winneshiek Counties. Some came to avoid mandatory military service.
National folk costumes, or kroje, in Czech Lands developed over centuries from the
simple garments of the people to the colorful, artistic ensembles one finds today at
festivals and in museums throughout Iowa.

Join us at the Council Bluffs Public Library for an evening of educational awareness
event on Tuesday, May 21 at 6:30 p.m. in Meeting Room B. Presented by Janet
Jeffries and assisted by her daughter Elizabeth Spencer, this program delves into
the intricate and captivating realm of Czech folk costumes (kroje). Jeffries offers an
intriguing exploration of hundreds of costume variations across districts, villages,
and feudal estates through slide illustrations and her personal collection.

Jeffries has studied and worked with state and local history for many years in the
areas of Nebraska history, the state’s architectural history, Czechs in Nebraska,
Czech costumes and folk art, genealogy, and other related topics. Her degrees in
history and architectural history are from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln., where
she studied Czech as her foreign language in the 1970s.

This program is free and open to the public.