The Slovene Settlement in Barberton, Ohio, as Reported by the Slovene Immigrant Press in the USA

V magistrski nalogi je na podlagi slovensko-ameriških etničnih časnikov, dosegljivega arhivskega gradiva in strokovne literature predstavljena zgodovina slovenske izseljenske skupnosti v ohajskem mestu Barberton. Prvi Slovenci so se začeli v mesto naseljevati že malo po njegovi ustanovitvi, leta 1891. V prvem desetletju 20. stoletja so začeli barbertonski Slovenci ustanavljati tudi prva društva, v naslednjem desetletju so v naselbini uspeli ustanoviti slovensko župnijo s slovensko cerkvijo in slovenski narodni dom. Veliko večino v Barbertonu živečih Slovenk in Slovencev so sestavljali nekvalificirani, fizični delavci, ki so opravljali težaška dela v barbertonskih industrijskih obratih, nekateri Slovenci so v mestu odprli in vodili svoje trgovine, gostilne in »saloone«. Politično življenje slovenske skupnosti je bilo pred drugo svetovno vojno precej burno, saj lahko iz časnikov razberemo, da so med katoliško ter liberalno in socialistično usmerjenimi Slovenci potekale ostre debate in prepiri, ki so po drugi svetovni vojni usahnili. Upad članstva v društvih ter s tem upad društvenih dejavnosti je pomenil začetek tesnejšega sodelovanja prej nasprotujočih si ljudi – slovensko poreklo je postalo močnejši dejavnik od različnih političnih in religioznih prepričanj. V Barbertonu sta se do današnjega časa ohranili dve društvi bratskih podpornih organizacij in samostojno društvo Domovina. V mestu še danes bivajo mnogi pripadniki tretje ali četrte generacije slovenskih priseljencev.This master\u27s thesis presents the history of the Slovene community in the city of Barberton (Ohio). The thesis is based on Slovene-American periodicals, available archive materials and scientific literature. The first Slovene immigrants settled in Barberton soon after the foundation of the city in 1891. During the first decade of the 20th century, Slovenes in Barberton started establishing the first lodges of Slovene national benefit societies. During the following decade, Barberton Slovenes founded the parish Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Slovene National Home. The Slovene community was comprised of predominately unskilled manual labourers, although some Slovenes opened and ran their own shops, saloons and bars. The political life within the Slovene community before the First World War was somewhat turbulent, as there were heated debates and arguments between catholic, liberal and socialist-leaning Slovenes. However, the period after the Second World War end ed political and religious disagreements. As membership of all lodges was shrinking, the remaining Slovenes started collaborating more closely and Slovene ancestry became a more important factor than previous political and religious disagreements. Currently, two Slovene lodges and the Domovina independent lodge are still active in Barberton and many third and fourth generation Slovenes still live in the city