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Pittsburgh Agreement Returns to Its Birthplace

On Sunday, September 9, 2007, at a special ceremony, the Slovak League of America returned the original Pittsburgh Agreement to Pittsburgh for permanent display. The event took place at the Senator John Heinz Pittsburgh Regional History Center. Twenty-one Slovak and Czech organizations were present when Dan Tanzone, president of the Slovak League, formally presented the official document to Andrew Masich, president of the Heinz History Center. Greetings were extended by Slovak Ambassador Rastislav Kacer and Czech Deputy Ambassador Jaroslav Kurfurst as well as City of Pittsburgh Council President Doug Shields and State Representative Don Walko. Over 200 people attended the ceremony sponsored by the Western Pennsylvania Slovak Cultural Association.

The signing of the Pittsburgh Agreement on May 31, 1918 was an important occurrence in the course of events leading to the establishment of an independent Czechoslovak state after the First World War. The Pittsburgh area at this time included one of the largest concentrations of Slovaks outside of Slovakia. Many American Slovak newspapers and fraternal organizations traced their origins to the Pittsburgh area. It was during Masaryk's visit to Pittsburgh that the famous document known as the Pittsburgh Agreement was drafted and signed in the Loyal Order of Moose Bldg. On May 31, 1918 by representatives of American based Slovak and Czech fraternal organizations. The Agreement proclaimed for the first time in a public written paper the intention of the Slovaks and Czechs to establish one common state.