Sokol Slets in America

Slets (Festivals, Gatherings) Came to America with the Czech Immigrants

The first Ten National Sokol Competitions and Slets in America were under the National Union of Sokols (Národní Jednota Sokolská) or NUS
In 1878 ten Sokol Clubs, of the 16 in existence, joined this national organization for the purpose of consistency in training according to the Tyrš system.
  • The first 5 competitions did not include the typical Slet formats, since there were no mass field displays.
    The number of competitors ranged from 19 to 131 and the contests were in New York (1879), Detroit (1881), Chicago (1884), New York (1887), and Milwaukee (1891).

  • Two of the founding 10 clubs were from Chicago (Gymnastic Unit Sokol in Chicago, and Sokol Czech American) and two were from Cedar Rapids (Sokol Tyrš, and Sokol Club Cedar Rapids). The other six were: Sokols New York, Blesk in Baltimore, St Louis, Budivoj in Detroit, Czech-American in Kewaunee WI, and Cech in Cleveland.

Sokol Slet in Conjunction with the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair

This event brought into focus the Sokol movement in the US, due to the large exposure gained from Sokol events, e.g., various displays, a parade through the streets of Chicago, gymnastic competitions (194 men) and mass calisthenic performances (1,003 men, women and juniors), as well as the participation of the Czech Sokols.

Fair’s Grand Basin and Court of Honor

Fair’s Grand Basin and Court of Honor

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Sokol boys and girls performing at the Slet

Sokol Participation in 1893 World’s Fair: Columbian Exposition: Recognition for Czech Immigrants and the Sokol Movement

  • National Heritage Chronicles described this event as “the most magnificent demonstration of National awareness of a Czech Colony in America.”

  • As seen in the photo, 20,000 paraded in the streets of Chicago. Antonín Dvorak directed a concert featuring Czech music.

  • This Sokol Slet was the first to include a significant number of gymnasts performing mass calisthenics.
photo, 20,000 paraded in the streets of Chicago

VII National Union Slet: 1900, Cleveland

  • Participants (a total of 715): 225 men, 115 women, 125 junior boys, 115 junior girls and 135 children.

  • Gymnastics competitors: 119 men.

  • By 1900 there were 34 Sokol Clubs in the National Union Sokol, although all did not participate in this Slet. The growth of Sokol in America was evident by the turn of the century.

  • The poster on this page advertises the German Cruise Line that was available for Czechs traveling to America at the time of the VII Slet.
advertises the German Cruise Line that was available for Czechs traveling to America

VIII National Union Sokol Slet: St Louis 1904

The Slet was held at the time of the St. Louis Fair (Louisiana Purchase Exposition), shown in photo. This was the second Slet to be held at the time of a World Fair (the first was Chicago’s 1893 event.
  • Participants: 700 men, women, juniors and children.

  • Gymnastic competitors: 197 men and 66 women (women competed for the first time in a national Slet).
VIII National Union Sokol Slet St Louis 1904

IX National Union Sokol Slet
(Gathering or Festival) 1909, Chicago

  • National Union Sokol (Národní Jedota Sokolská), established in 1878, was the first national Sokol organization in America. In 1917 it became the American Sokol Organization.

  • Total number of participants at the 1909 Slet: 1,402 men, women, juniors, children.

  • The number of participants at this National Union Sokol Slet was double the number of the previous Slet held in 1904 and is indicative of the growth of the Sokol movement in the US.
IX National Union Sokol Slet

1909 IX American Sokol Slet in Chicago

Participants; 302 men, 300 women and 800 juniors and children
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National Union Sokol Slet in 1909 held in Chicago

Women, in dresses, performing calisthenics. (From American Sokol Archives)
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1914 National Union Slet held in Omaha

1914 National Union Slet held in Omaha

  • 350 men and women competitors.

  • 750 men, women, juniors and children participated.

  • This was the last National Union Slet to be held, because the American Sokol Organization became the national governing body and held its first Slet in 1921.

  • This year marked the start of World War I in Europe; Czech Sokol was banned during this war and then reinstated in the new Czechoslovak Republic in 1918.

Second Slovak Sokol Slet (Trenton, NJ) in 1910
Souvenir Album

  • The first Slovak Sokol was not established until 1893, and there were none is Slovakia until 1918.

  • In 1893 a Slovak Sokol was established in New York, with encouragement from Sokol New York and the use of their instructor.
  • A central Slovak Sokol organization (Slovak Gymnastic Union Sokol) was formed in 1896.

  • The first Slet was held in 1906 with 223 gymnasts from 12 clubs participating.

  • During the next 10 years four National Slets were held.
Second Slovak Sokol Slet (Trenton, NJ) in 1910

Slovak Sokol Slet in 1916: Celebration of Twenty Years of Slovak Gymnastic Union Sokol (later Sokol USA)

Subsequent Slets

1919 Homestead PA

1922 Bethlehem PA

1926 Bridgeport CT

1930 Binghamton NY

1934 Philadelphia

1938 Detroit

1946 New Kensington PA

1950 New York

1954 Chicago

1958 Cleveland

1962 Pittsburg

1969 Flushing, NY

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First Slet of the American Sokol Organization

  • Held in The Coliseum in Chicago in 1921 (four years after the organization was established).

  • 1356 seniors and juniors participated in the calisthenic displays and 466 competed in gymnastics.
First Slet of the American Sokol Organization

First American Sokol Organization Slet (Chicago, 1921)

First American Sokol Organization Slet (Chicago, 1921)
Slet championship team, Sokol Chicago
Slet championship team, Sokol Chicago, in the photo.

Second American Sokol Slet (1925) Soldier Field, Chicago

2,207 participants, with 937 competing in gymnastics
Second American Sokol Slet (1925) Soldier Field, Chicago
Second American Sokol Slet (1925) Soldier Field, Chicago 1

1925 American Sokol Organization Slet II in Chicago’s Soldier Field

Women assembled for calisthenic drill
(photo from American Sokol Organization Archives)

1925 American Sokol Organization Slet II in Chicago’s Soldier Field

Chicago’s Mayor Antonin Cermak, seated in his office, welcomes the Czech Sokol delegation to the city for the 1929 American Sokol Slet

Chicago’s Mayor Antonin Cermak, seated in his office, welcomes the Czech Sokol delegation
Mayor Cermak, who was a member of Sokol Pilsen, came to the US at the age of one. He appears in the photo with President Roosevelt
Mayor Cermak, who was a member of Sokol Pilsen, came to the US at the age of one. He appears in the photo with President Roosevelt. He was with the president in Miami in 1933 when he was assassinated by a member of the Capone gang.

1929 American Sokol Slet III: Chicago’s Soldier Field

Competition (photo below) and exhibition (photo to the right)
1929 American Sokol Slet III Chicago’s Soldier Field Competition
1929 American Sokol Slet III Chicago’s Soldier Field Exhibition

1933 Sokol Slet IV in conjunction with the World’s Fair in Chicago

Gymnasts (left) pose for the poster (right)
1933 Sokol Slet IV in conjunction with the World’s Fair in Chicago Gymnasts
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1933 American Sokol Slet in Chicago’s Soldier Field

(photo from American Sokol Organization)
1933 American Sokol Slet in Chicago’s Soldier Field

1933 Sokol Slet:

1,343 men and women & 302 juniors competed in gymnastics; 3,403 participated in mass calisthenic displays on the field (right photo). Special numbers were performed in Grant Park (left photo)
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1,343 men and women & 302 juniors competed in gymnastics; 3,403 participated in mass calisthenic displays on the field

1937 American Sokol Slet: Calisthenic Drill by Junior Girls and Boys; A total of 2,900 gymnasts participated and 791 competed.

1937 American Sokol Slet Calisthenic Drill by Junior Girls and Boys Poster
1937 American Sokol Slet Calisthenic Drill by Junior Girls and Boys2

1937 American Sokol Slet Chicago’s Soldier Field

Men and women assembled for a calisthenic performance
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1941 American Sokol Slet (VI)

This Slet recorded the highest number of participants (more than 4,000) in an ASO Slet.
1941 American Sokol Slet (VI)

1941 American Sokol Slet (VI) in Soldier Field, Chicago

Mass calisthenic drill
Mass calisthenic drill (left), and men’s track event (below)
men’s track event

1941 American Sokol Slet

Sokol Slet 1941 Chicago Stamp
  • Number of competitors: 625 women, 440 men, 267 junior girls and 169 junior boys.

  • American Sokol Slet co-sponsored with Federation of American Sokols.
Legendary Sokol Jarka Jelinek (gymnast, coach-teacher & national director) at the podium
Legendary Sokol Jarka Jelinek (gymnast, coach-teacher & national director)

American Sokol Organization Slet (VII) in Chicago’s Soldier Field, 1947

(photo from American Sokol Archives)
American Sokol Organization Slet (VII) in Chicago’s Soldier Field, 1947 Poster
American Sokol Organization Slet (VII) in Chicago’s Soldier Field, 1947

1947 American Sokol Slet in Chicago’s Soldier Field

1,828 participants; 966 competed in gymnastics
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1947 Slet

Gymnastic competition winners
Gymnastic competition winners
Horizontal bar exhibition
Horizontal bar exhibition

1953 VIII American Sokol Organization Slet

Of the 1,270 participants, 907 competed in gymnastics
1953 VIII American Sokol Organization Slet
Slet souvenir Plate with woman in Czech costume (kroj)
Slet souvenir Plate with woman in Czech costume (kroj).

1953 American Sokol Organization Slet in Chicago’s Soldier Field

Folk dancers, horizontal bar exhibition, and mass calisthenics
Folk dancers
horizontal bar exhibition
mass calisthenics

1953 American Sokol Organization Slet in Chicago’s Solider Field

(American Sokol Archives)
1953 American Sokol Organization Slet in Chicago’s Solider Field 1
1953 American Sokol Organization Slet in Chicago’s Solider Field

Slovak Gymnastic Union Sokol (SGUS) Slets of the 1950s

Slovak Gymnastic Union Sokol (SGUS) Slets of the 1950s 1
Slovak Gymnastic Union Sokol (SGUS) Slets of the 1950s
  • Three SGUS Slets were held during this decade. In 1950 New York was the site of the first post-war Slet.

  • In 1954 the Slet was in Chicago’s Soldier Field and was the last Slet held in that stadium. Because of the many ASO clubs in the Chicago area, participation of the Slet included many Sokols from these clubs.

  • The 1958 Slet in Cleveland, also with many participants, was held in a large auditorium.

IX American Sokol Organization Slet in 1957 with 1,528 participants of which over 1,000 competed in gymnastics

IX American Sokol Organization Slet 1
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1957 IX ASO Slet in Morton Stadium, Berwyn IL

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Junior girls performing mass calisthenics (right photo) and dancers in Czech costumes (left photo)
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X American Sokol Slet in 1961 in Berwyn IL
Anticipating 1962 and 100 years of Sokol Gymnastics

  • 2,253 participants

  • 1,284 gymnastic competitors

  • for the first time junior competitors outnumbered seniors

  • Gymnastic Open Championship: Sokols and Non-Sokols
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1961 Slet, Berwyn IL

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1961 Slet, Berwyn IL 2

XI American Sokol Slet:1965, Berwyn IL

XI American Sokol Slet 1965 Berwyn IL poster
  • The 2,340 participants were the most since the Slet of 1941.

  • 1,321 (56%) of the participants competed in gymnastics. Women competitors outnumbered men.
XI American Sokol Slet 1965, Berwyn IL

Sokol Gymnastic Association of Canada and Expo 1967 in Montreal

Although the first Sokol club was formed in 1911 in British Columbia, a national organization, Sokol Canada was not established until 1952. Slets have been scheduled since that time and a significant growth of the organization occurred after 1968 as Czech immigration surged in Canada following the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia.
Sokol Gymnastic Association of Canada and Expo 1967 1
Sokol Gymnastic Association of Canada and Expo 1967 2

1969 XII American Sokol Slet in Berwyn IL

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Dancers in traditional Czech costumes (kroje)

American Sokol Slet at Morton West High School, Berwyn IL, 1969

American Sokol Slet at Morton West High School, Berwyn IL, 1969
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1969 American Sokol Slet (Morton Stadium, Berwyn IL)

  • This Slet included 1,748 participants.

  • Of the 643 competing in gymnastics, 497 (77%) were juniors; only 54 men and 84 women competed. This was a major change from previous Slet competitions when senior competitors outnumbered juniors.

  • Subsequent Slets were also characterized by the data that the number of juniors competing far out numbered the seniors.
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1973 XIII Slet Berwyn, IL

1973 XIII Slet Berwyn, IL Poster 1
1973 XIII Slet Berwyn, IL poster 2
  • 1,328 participants

  • Senior competitors: 112 women; 61 men

  • Junior competitors: 478 girls; 172 boys.

  • 82 dancers

XIV. American Sokol Slet (1977) Berwyn, IL

1,592 participants of which 867 competed in artistic gymnastics and 68 in rhythmic gymnastics. This was the first Slet to include a rhythmic gymnastics competition.
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  • 44 volleyball teams

  • 12 special numbers

  • 23 golf competitors

  • 230 folk dancers

  • 1,750 in Slet parade
XIV. American Sokol Slet (1977) Plate

1981 XV Slet in Ft. Worth

1,328 participants; 684 competed in artistic gymnastics and 10 in rhythmic gymnastics (souvenir stamps are shown below)
1981 XV Slet in Ft. Worth

Gymnastic competitions at ASO XV. National Slet 1981

Gymnastic competitions at ASO XV. National Slet 1981 Poster
Gymnastic competitions at ASO XV. National Slet 1981

XVI and XVII Slets

1985 Berwyn, IL

1985 Berwyn, IL

Berwyn

  • 1,600 participants

  • 589 competitors in artistic gymnastics

  • 32 competed in rhythmic gymnastics

1989 Omaha

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Omaha

  • 1,190 participants

  • 402 in artistic gymnastics

  • 29 in rhythmic gymnastics

1993 XVIII ASO Slet, Berwyn IL

1993 XVIII ASO Slet, Berwyn IL

Looking Back100 Years

This anniversary recognized the Slet in 1893 held in Chicago in conjunction with Chicago’s World Fair (Columbian Exposition). The first day of the fair was “Czech Day,” and included a Sokol parade. Over one-thousand Sokols participated in exercise displays and 194 men from 24 clubs competed in gymnastics. Czech Sokols also participated in the event and honored their American counterparts with a silver wreath of Slavonic leaves, because they were impressed with the number of Sokols being established in the US. The week-long event was described as “the most magnificent demonstration of a national awareness of a Czech Colony in America in the National Heritage Chronicles.

1993 XVIII ASO Slet

  • 1,469 participants.

  • 581 competed in artistic gymnastics and 71 in rhythmic gymnastics.

  • The number of participants and the number in the next Slet (1997) represented sustainability in participation. Beginning in 2001, Slet participation dropped by an average of 50%.

  • Souvenir plate featuring young gymnasts on the balance beam.
1993 XVIII ASO Slet plate
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The 1997 Chicagoland Slet was the last with a substantial number of participants (1,404), a similar number to the 1993 Slet.

  •  497 competed in artistic gymnastics

  • 45 competed in rhythmic gymnastics
The 1997 Chicagoland Slet 1

First Two Slets of the 21st Century

XX Slet in Detroit

  • 604 participants

  • competitors: 350 artistic gymnastics; 33 rhythmic gymnastics
2001 Detroit

XXI Slet in Oak Brook (Greater Chicago)

  • 950 participants

  • competitors: 369 artistic gymnastics; 45 rhythmic gymnastics
2005 Greater Chicago
XXII Sokol Slet in Ft. Worth in 2009

XXII Sokol Slet in Ft. Worth in 2009

750 participants with 320 competitors in artistic gymnastics and 16 women competitors in rhythmic gymnastics
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Postcard for XXII Slet in Fort Worth (by Czech artist, Milan Med )

Postcard for XXII Slet in Fort Worth (by Czech artist, Milan Med )

2009 American Sokol Slet in Ft. Worth: Display of Tyrš Bust and Other Items

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IA Cedar Rapids Sokol Slet
  • 620 participants

  • 231 competed in artistic gymnastics.

  • Rhythmic gymnastic competition was not held.
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2017 XXIV American Sokol Slet in Cedar Rapids, Iowa

The National Czech and Slovak Museum opened their exhibit, ”Twists and Turns: the Story of Sokol,” to correspond to the days of the Slet.
2017 XXIV American Sokol Slet in Cedar Rapids, Iowa
This Slet included an award banquet recognizing individual Sokols for service, leadership, sports achievement and honor.
2017 XXIV American Sokol Slet in Cedar Rapids, Iowa 2