Chicago was once known as the “2nd Croatian Capital”. Lured by economic, political and social freedoms, Croatians, like other immigrants, came to Chicago in search of the American dream. The first documented groups settled mainly in Pilsen, Bridgeport and the South Side in the late 1800’s. By the turn of the century, these immigrants toiled in the steel mills, meat-packing plants and constructionsites of Chicago. 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 Chicagoland area and many of the foundations built by the forefathers continue to service the community. Ivan Mestrovic’s “Indian” sculptures still adorn Congress Parkway and Michael Bilandic remains in the history books as the only Croatian Mayor of Chicago. Croatians of Chicagoland examines how this community and its leaders, clergy, laborers, politicians, athletes, benevolent societies and social organizations helped build and shape Chicago’s history.

Maria Dugandzic-Pasic was born in Chicago. Her mother was a first-generation Croatian whose parents emigrated in 1951. Her father arrived in the early 1960s from Bosnia-Hercegovina. Maria dedicates this book in honor of her grandparents who, like many immigrants, tackled the challenges of surviving in a new country while teaching us the importance of cultural preservation, identity, and the meaning of family.