THE ADDRESS OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE TECHNICAL MUSEUM OF SLOVENIA ........................................... 4

THE ADDRESS OF THE GENERAL CONSUL OF THE REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA ............................................... 6

BEHIND US AND THEM ............................................................................................................................... 10

PRIMOŽ TRUBAR, IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD ............................................................................. 12

HERMAN POTOČNIK NOORDUNG, THE FIRST SPACE ARCHITECT ............................................................. 18

ANTON PETERLIN, DESTINY IS YOUR EFFORT! ......................................................................................... 24

PETER FLORJANČIČ, LIVING A DREAM ...................................................................................................... 30

ALEŠ STROJNIK, BEYOND THE VISIBLE .................................................................................................... 36

FRANCE RODE, SILICON VALLEY PIONEER ................................................................................................ 42

ANTON MAVRETIČ, SPACE VOYAGER ......................................................................................................... 48

MARIJA STROJNIK, PLANET HUNTER ....................................................................................................... 54

SUNITA L. WILLIAMS, SPACE WALKER ...................................................................................................... 60

SLOVENIAN IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY IN THE UNITED STATES FROM PAST TO PRESENT .......................... 68

TECHNICAL MUSEUM OF SLOVENIA ......................................................................................................... 72

THE ADDRESS OF

THE DIRECTOR OF

THE TECHNICAL MUSEUM

OF SLOVENIA

I am excited that the Technical Museum of

Slovenia’s exhibition Knowledge without Frontiers

will finally cross the border, even the ocean, and

make the journey of the Slovenian women and

men who emigrated time ago and, either them-

selves or their descendants, became established

professionals in various fields, in particular science, engineering, innovation and research.

Unfortunately, our knowledge of these im-

portant individuals and their achievements,

time and again accomplished through hardships,

leaves much to be desired, as they deserve to be

remembered and appreciated.

Let us recal few more individuals of Slo-

venian descent who are not presented in this

catalogue, but they left a strong mark in North

America. Friderik Irenej Baraga was a Catholic

missionary and later a bishop who ministered to

a vast diversity of peoples in the region of Lake

Superior in the 19th century. Baraga made a

difference in the native Indian community. For

example, he published a grammar – the first ever

of any Indian language – and a dictionary of the

Otchipwe language (Otchipwe-English and Eng-

lish-Otchipwe) spoken by the Chippewa Indians.

Quite a few Slovenians tried their luck in the

entertainment industry as actors, singers or mu-

sicians, while others became successful journa-

lists, artists and athletes. Currently, Goran

Dragič, Anže Kopitar and Luka Dončič are at the

top of the best-known-Slovenian-athlete list.

Not to forget people who made it in politics.

Frank Lausche (Lovše) was elected senator and

governor of Ohio and mayor of Cleveland, being

the first mayor of Slovenian origin of any Ameri-

can major city. George Voinovich’s political career

was similar to Lausche’s. Best known today is Amy

4

Klobuchar, the first woman senator from Minne-accomplish that? By doing their best to add to sota and an important figure in the political and

its prosperity and welfare of its people, and by

public life of the United States. Her father was of

affecting a lot more than a particular geographic

Slovenian descent, and one of her ways to ho-

area and their own time. They live on through

nor her ancestors’ heritage is to make poticas for

their knowledge, findings, inventions, research,

Christmas, sending them to her fellow politicians.

innovations and, quite often, their role in educa-

(Too) often, migrations are associated with

tion, proving it is possible to (co)shape the future

“an emergency situation”, “a problem”, while

and make it better.

completely ignoring that they are a historical and

I am confident they never abandoned the

social structural phenomenon that makes a posi-

memory of their ethnic origins and the homeland

tive contribution to the communities we live in.

of their fathers and grandfathers. This year, Slove-

Old as humankind, migrations contribute sig-

nia celebrates the 30th anniversary of indepen-

nificantly to economic and social development,

dence. The exhibition we present perfectly coin-

and as such, they will be a key to reaching the ob-

cides with the anniversary which symbolically lifts

jectives of sustainable development in the future.

Us and Them without Frontiers to a higher level.

Through dedication to science, our compa-

Identity and heritage enrich us, they demon-

triots presented in the exhibition went beyond

strate who we are. Once we know it, we can add

frontiers; not only the state borders of their

our little piece to the mosaic of the world which

homeland, but they also defied those most per-

belongs to al of us. Fol owing the example set by

sistent – frontiers in our heads and minds.

the featured individuals, the world can be made

What can museums do to break them? A

a better place, more connected and gentler to

modern museum involves the public, it doesn’t

the lives of us all, without exceptions.

exclude anybody, meaning it is accessible, in-

A big thank you to Ms. Alenka Jerak, General

clusive and participatory. Its objective is to pre-

Consul of the Republic of Slovenia in Cleveland,

serve, protect, hold, pass down, interpret and

without whom our exhibition would never make

exhibit heritage identified valuable enough to be

it to the United States, my colleagues at the mu-

preserved. The Technical Museum of Slovenia is

seum and in particular Dr. Estera Cerar and Irena

a keeper of movable technical heritage, while at

Marušič, curators at the Technical Museum of

the same time it is our mission, a major one, to

Slovenia and project managers of the exhibition,

make the achievements in science and engineer-

which was in the Republic of Slovenia properly ac-

ing, together with the people credited for them,

knowledged by being granted the 2018 Valvasor

known and appreciated. In the end, museum is

Award, the highest award for achievements in the

people, and only people can cross the frontiers

field of museology.

they have set themselves.

Sincere thanks to the Ministry of Culture

Science and engineering contribute to pro-

of the Republic of Slovenia for their financial gress, and museums are a place for a critical

support to the project.

assessment of progress and development.

Safe journey to the exhibition on its U.S. tour.

Our fel ow compatriots – to whom this award-

I am sure it wil do a lot of good and open many

ed exhibition is dedicated and who we proudly

new worlds.

present in the catalogue – found their new

homeland in the U.S. But first, they had to find

Dr. Barbara Juršič

a way to make this land their own. How did they

Director of the Technical Museum of Slovenia

5



THE ADDRESS OF THE

GENERAL CONSUL OF THE

REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA

Here it is. Final y. The exhibition Us and Them

without Frontiers, what else.

A tour of the Technical Museum of Slovenia’s

exhibition to the United States has been planned

for quite a while. Unfortunately, the new “nor-

mality” of the COVID-19 pandemic crushed all

our plans to the point that we almost gave up hope on showing it to the American public and

the Slovenian immigrant community.

So it happens that the presentation of the

scientific, engineering, technological and other

achievements of successful Slovenians, both

men and women, in the United States coincides

with the 30th anniversary of Slovenia’s inde-

pendence. It is an extra reward for al the effort

invested in the preparation of the exhibition in-

stal ations in Cleveland, Milwaukee, Chicago and

Washington, as wel as over eighteen months of

uncertainty, waiting to be final y able to meet in

person, like human beings normal y do, not over

some high-tech web application. Which is per-

fectly fine, it just doesn’t feel the same.

6

In the pandemic, the scientists from diffe-Aleš Strojnik, the first space architect Herman

rent disciplines and al four corners of the world

Potočnik Noordung, the space voyager Anton

proved once again that science and knowledge

Mavretič, the planet hunter Marija Strojnik,

indeed have no frontiers – neither in relation to

the space walker Sunita L. Wil iams, the Silicon

time nor country. And it is stil true that the past

Val ey pioneer France Rode and the world-class

can be a great teacher for the future.

innovator Peter Florjančič who passed away last

Knowledge, with a right dose of courage, can

November.

be the inspiration to fulfil the dreams and build

However, there are a lot more Slovenians

a better world. We need to dream, have the cour-

who left their mark in different walks of life on

age to take a step forward and make our dreams

this side of the Atlantic. To mention just few of

come true.

them: Joseph Frederick Sutter – aeronautical en-

This step was taken by many Slovenian wo-

gineer, the “father of the 747”; Frank J. Lausche

men and men who emigrated in search for work,

and George Vojnovich – Senators, Ohio Gover-

a better life, new experience or because of politi-

nors and Mayors of Cleveland; Frankie Yankovic –

cal situation in the country. Today, about 350,000

“America’s Polka King”; Ronald J. Zlatoper – U.S.

people of Slovenian descent live in the United

Navy Admiral; Dr. Ronald M. Sega – Major General

States of America, and as much as seventy-five

in the U.S. Air Force and NASA astronaut; Prof.

percent in six states (Ohio, Pennsylvania, Il inois,

Dr. Duncan Haldane – 2016 Nobel Laureate in

Minnesota, Wisconsin and California). Together

Physics; Ivan Zorman – poet and composer, and

with other Americans and immigrants, they ac-

as many as ten Catholic bishops – from Frederic

tively participate in the political and economic Baraga to the current bishop of the Diocese of development of the U.S., representing a small

Cleveland, Edward C. Malesic.

piece in a most diverse cultural landscape.

I could not agree more with the words of

The same as in other large cities, the Slove-

the exhibition curators – never has knowledge

nian community in Cleveland – which lost the

acknowledged any frontiers, be it visible or in-title of the “third largest Slovenian city” long visible. It is usual y the scientists who dare to go

ago – maintains the national and cultural identi

beyond the familiar, known and safe, capable of

ty through the activities organized by national

crossing any frontier. Because their only frontier

homes ( narodni dom), various societies, parishes is (lacking) knowledge.

with the Slovenian language schools held on

Congratulations to the Technical Museum

Saturdays, fraternal organizations, recreation

of Slovenia and the exhibition curators Irena

centers, museums, newspapers and radio shows.

Marušič and Dr. Estera Cerar. Knowledge without

Despite being the third or fourth generation of Frontiers won them the 2018 Valvasor Award, the immigrants, Slovenian Americans, one way or

highest Slovenian award in museology. It further

another, preserve their ethnic identity.

validates the significance of the exhibition and This exhibition in particular draws attention

its aim: learn from the past for the future. Learn

to Slovenians who are - except Primož Trubar -

about migrations, a phenomenon as old as hu-

somehow related to the USA. Through their work

manity, which made our world a better place.

and knowledge, scientific achievements and

innovations, they contributed to the progress

Alenka Jerak

and welfare of the American society. These indi-

General Consul of the Republic of Slovenia

viduals include the expert in electron microscopy

7

US AND THEM

WITHOUT

FRONTIERS

Contributors: Estera Cerar, Milojka Čepon,

Orest Jarh, Edvard Kobal, Irena Marušič,

Martina Orehovec, Marija Strojnik, Blaž Šef

8

9

The concept of Slovenia has existed since around the 6th century, but its ethnic lands – be

it through the domination of powerful monar-

chies or as the result of a movement for self-de-

termination – always formed a part of something

bigger, the two best-known examples being the

Austro-Hungarian Empire and Yugoslavia, re-

spectively. Because of this heritage, the geostra-

tegic location as a gateway from the southeast

to western and northern Europe, and a variety

of other reasons, including historical, religious,

ethnic, socioeconomic, political, climate, etc., its

territory has seen a lot of people come, leave or –

especial y over the recent years due to instability

in the Middle East – just pass through.

BEHIND

The exhibition Us and Them without Frontiers

US AND THEM

is al about movement of people in both direc-

tions – in and out of the countries. If anything,

migrations are not a new phenomenon, they

have been a part of human history since ancient

times. Which is good. Just imagine the world had

people never left their homelands. No explo-

ration of foreign lands and civilizations, no disse-

mination of knowledge, no exchange of ideas,

no col aboration, no scientific and technological

milestones and breakthroughs. No nothing. A

truly miserable place.

So why do we insist on using the terms such as

“us” and “them” or “ours” and “theirs”? What does

it mean, and feel, to be Slovenian or American, a

migrant or an immigrant or any other word (some

nice, some not so nice) that we use to describe the migration of people? How come that intelli-gent and reasonable beings keep failing to realize

that nothing lasts forever? In fact, what is claimed

“ours” today could easily become “theirs” tomorrow.

Migrations have an undeniable and perma-

nent influence on society. They did prove to be

a good thing in the past, just think of the “no nothing” world. What changed? Why are many

hesitant to the notions of “foreign”, “different”

and “unknown”, which are often associated with

10

migrants? The fact is that our society is changing, father and a mother descended from Slovenian

public opinion is divided, politicians and the me-

immigrants. However, Slovenians think of her as

dia are, for obvious reasons, sensationalist and

one of “ours”. Williams is often featured in the na-

the outcome is that people are confused. As a

tional media and we seem to be extremely proud

museum, we inspire the visitors to look beyond

of her. She won over even the most reluctant by

the known and to move across frontiers; not just

taking a traditional Slovenian sausage up to the

the visible ones, but even more importantly,

International Space Station! At the other extreme

those invisible, to embrace the ideas and people

is Fritz Pregl. Not featured in this exhibition be-

who carry them across the borders.

cause he has no connection to the U.S., he pro-

The original project of the Technical Museum

vokes mixed emotions. He was born in Ljubljana

of Slovenia Knowledge without Frontiers focused (the capital of Slovenia) to a Slovenian father and

on the positive impact of migration on society,

a German mother. Pregl studied and worked in

aiming to point to a strong connection between

the Austro-Hungarian Empire and in later years

technical and scientific heritage on the one side,

in Austria (after the collapse of the empire), his and cultural and national identity on the other.

working language was German, hence he was

The exhibition was dedicated to successful in-

considered “not Slovenian” enough. For decades

dividuals across different fields of science and he was left out of our science history records and

engineering who migrated to or from Slovenian

books despite being one of the two Nobel Prize

lands from the 16th century to the present.

winners of Slovenian origin to date!



Scientists and inventors have always crossed

The tour of the Us and Them without Frontiers

frontiers for a variety of reasons, either out of exhibition to the United States coincides with the

their own free wil or because they were forced to

30th anniversary of Slovenia’s independence, and

leave. Sometimes they did it to improve their li-

we thought it was a perfect opportunity to show

ving conditions and job opportunities or simply

“our” contribution to the advancement of scien-

to expand their knowledge. However, history

tific and technological development within “your”

also bears witness to the fact that a person can

great nation. We want people to understand how

become a “stranger” in their own land. States and

misleading and narrow-minded such assumptions

their borders change, and Slovenia is a perfect

can be by portraying the lives of the featured indi-

illustration as this happened several times in the

viduals, who not only made a difference with their

previous century alone. From the Austro-Hun-

achievements, but did so because of migration.

garian Empire to Yugoslavia, gaining indepen-

The exhibition explores the fascinating con-

dence 30 years ago and becoming a part of the

nections between our two nations and the bene-

European Union. There are many scientists and

fits of sharing the knowledge beyond frontiers,

inventors who were born in one country, lived in

the idea which is best summed up in the line of

another and died in a completely different one.

the Slovenian rap song From People to People Now, probably this is not unique to Sloveni-by Murat & Jose: “It does not matter where you

ans, but we are so proud of “our” scientists when

come from, what counts is what’s in your mind”.

they make it abroad, and yet a lot more restrained

We might just add – and in your heart.

when “foreigners” are successful in our coun-

try. Two examples that illustrate the challenge

Irena Marušič, Estera Cerar

perfectly: the record-holding astronaut, Sunita

Exhibition Curators, Technical Museum of

Williams was born in the USA to an ethnic Indian

Slovenia

11



PRIMOŽ

TRUBAR

1508-1586

IN THE

BEGINNING

WAS THE

WORD

A portrait of Primož Trubar. Woodcut, Jacob Lederlein, 1578.

Born on 8 June 1508 in the vil age of Rašica

near Velike Lašče, Primož Trubar studied theo-

logy in Rijeka, Salzburg, and Vienna. He was

a catholic priest but after converting to Pro-

testantism, he was forced to flee to Germany.

Protestant priest, religious

Fol owing his return to Ljubljana, he took up

reformist, translator, the

the position of vicar of the Protestant Church

author of the first printed book

in Ljubljana. Exiled in Germany once again, he

in Slovenian, the founder of the

settled down in Derendingen, where he died on

Slovenian literary language.

28 June 1586.

12





A reprint of Trubar’s Catechism from 1935. Technical Museum of Slovenia. Photo: Nebojša Tejić, STA.

Trubar was guided by the fundamental

value of Protestantism: to make the word

of God accessible to the common people in

BELOVED SLOVENIANS...

the vernacular. With Catechism, he built the foundations of a literary language designed to

In 1550, Trubar wrote and published the first

be understood by the speakers of al Slovenian

printed book in the Slovenian language, the Cate-

dialects. In his time, Slovenian only existed in the

chism. It could be said that without his work all form of geographical y and social y dispersed

the great Slovenian scientists in this exhibition

dialects. By creating a single language, he

may not have the same cultural identity they

unified the Slovenian nation and highlighted its

brought to the USA, and Peterlin would never

uniqueness to the outside world. To this day, his

have argued the finer points of Slovenian gram-

actions remain a pil ar of the Slovenian national

mar at his home in Washington.

identity and statehood.

13





Abecedarium, 1550 (reprint). Photo: Sanja Živković.

ABECEDARIUM - THE FIRST

ALPHABET

Realizing that the people first needed to learn

to read and write, he followed up the Catechism

the same year with the Abecedarium, an eight-leaf booklet containing the first Slovenian alphabet.

14



Trubar in a printshop. Etching. Saša Šantel, 1942.





BOOK BARRELS


TRUBAR'S POTICA


Printed in Germany, al Trubar’s books were

The first record of potica, Slovenia’s signature

shipped to Slovenian readers in wooden barrels.

cake, dates to Trubar’s era. At the time, it was Being waterproof, barrels were used to transport

called povitica, meaning a cake made of rolled al manner of goods. This was also the best

dough. The expression appears in the 1575 edi-

way to conceal the content of shipments and

tion of the Catechism and the New Testament of smuggle forbidden Protestant books at a time

1577.

when Protestants were being persecuted.

15



The statue of Primož Trubar, the work of sculptor Franc Berneker, was erected in 1910 in Ljubljana. Photo: Irena Marušič.

Literature

Sitar, Sandi: Primož Trubar, začetnik slovenske književnosti (1508-1586). Utemeljitev strokovne in znanstvene publicistike.

In: Sto slovenskih znanstvenikov. Ljubljana, 1987, pp. 15-16.

Janez Bogataj, Potica iz Slovenije, Ljubljana, 2013.

Trubar's Catechismus, Ljubljana, 1935.

Primož Trubar, Abecedarium 1550, Ljubljana, 1966.

Rajhman, Jože: Trubar, Primož (1508-1586). In: Slovenski biografski leksikon. http://www.slovenska-biografija.si/oseba/sbi729148/

16



ROTHENBURG

NUREMBERG

LAUFFEN

B

A

V

A

R

I

A

VIENNA

BAD URACH

A

U

S

T

R

I

A

N

DERENDINGEN

M

O

N

A

R

C

H

Y

SALZBURG

KEMPTEN

LJUBLJANA LAŠKO

LOKA

R

E

P

U

B

L

I

C

RAŠICA

ŠENTJERNEJ

TRST/ TRIESTE

O

F



V

E

N

I

C

E

RIJEKA

17



HERMAN

POTOČNIK

NOORDUNG

1892-1929

THE FIRST

SPACE

ARCHITECT

One of the few photos of Potočnik.

Herman Potočnik Noordung was born on 22

December 1892 in Pula (Croatia), where his fa-

ther, a native Slovenian, was working as a navy

physician. Fol owing his father’s sudden death,

the family moved to his mother’s birthplace,

Maribor (Slovenia), where he completed elemen-

tary school. He attended the technical military

academy in Mödling near Vienna. A year after fini-

shing his studies in 1913 as an expert in bridge

and rail construction, he ended up on the battle-

fields of the First World War, where he contracted

tuberculosis and received a medical discharge at

the age of 27. Despite poor health and financial

problems, he managed to graduate from the

Col ege of Technology in Vienna. He died on 27

Engineer, rocket technology

August 1929 in Vienna, where he is buried.

specialist, military officer, and

He never went to the United States, however,

astronautics and space flight

his visionary ideas were instrumental to the

pioneer.

development of space technologies.

18





Potočnik never lived to see any of his ideas come to fruition nor go to space.

SPACE TRAVEL

However, the Slovenian edition of his book (on the picture) was taken by Russian cosmonauts to the International Space Station, currently the only human settlement not on planet Earth. Cultural Centre of European Space Technologies (KSEVT). Photo: Nebojša Tejić, STA.

Writing under the pen name Noordung, he

published his only book in 1928, Das Problem der

Befahrung des Weltraums (The Problem of Space

Flight - The Rocket Motor), and it is stil considered one of the fundamental works of the first

vacuum. His most valuable contribution was the

generation of space flight pioneers.

design of a space station, which is regarded as

It directly influenced the work of the sec-

the first comprehensive example of architecture

ond generation of space pioneers and helped

in space. There is evidence that Werner von

establish a new science – astronautics. This

Braun and other key personalities within the

work, the first part of which deftly and concisely

new NASA space program were desperately keen

summarized the relevant work of his predeces-

to see the book translated to English. One of the

sors, introduced several revolutionary methods

beneficiaries of Noordung’s book was celebrated

for dealing with flight in zero gravity and in a science fiction author Arthur C. Clarke.

19





Potočnik’s spacecraft in Kubrick’s film 2001: A Space Odyssey, 1968. Photo: NASA.

Interview with Frederick I. Ordway III at the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Washington, 2008. Photo: KSEVT.

2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY

Herman Potočnik Noordung was the first

person to recognize the importance of geosta-

FINALLY

tionary orbit. He proposed that his space station

be placed in geostationary orbit, and several

“I have read the first ful English translation

decades later Arthur C. Clarke popularized the

of Noordung’s Das Problem der Befahrung

idea in the Wireless World magazine. His space station was designed to spin around an axis,

des Weltraums with a sense of both relief and

with the centrifugal force generating artificial

satisfaction — relief that the book is final y

gravity, thus enabling humans to spend longer

accessible to the English reading public and

stretches of time in space. Space architects from

around the world have copied his spinning circu-

satisfaction that the project was achieved

lar design and it even appeared just before the

in the first place. Like most efforts that are moon landing in Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space

ultimately realized, from my perspective the

Odyssey, inspired by a short story by Clarke. Even now, communications and broadcast satel ites

Noordung translation had quite a history.”

typical y operate in geostationary orbit.

Frederick I. Ordway Il

20





English edition of Noordung’s Das Problem der Befahrung des Weltraums was published by NASA in 1995.

The August 1929 issue of the magazine Science Wonder Stories.

SLOVENIAN VISIONARY

“Potočnik was a great visionary and a good

engineer. His ideas about spacecraft were

U.S. CONNECTION

unique during his time. Slovenians should

He may have never set foot on the American

celebrate him more, for there are few visio-

soil, but his ideas of space travel reached Ameri-

naries such as Potočnik. Unfortunately, some

ca. The first ever color il ustrations of a space sta-

writers designated him as Austrian, Czech,

tion in the U.S. were of Potočnik’s station on the

cover of the Science Wonder Stories magazine in etc., but we don’t have to be so humble when

August 1929 – the precise month of his untime-

it comes to tel ing the world the truth and,

ly death. Frank R. Paul accurately il ustrated all

when justified, brag and state with pride that

three segments of the station: the observatory,

the support module with a solar array, and the

Potočnik was a Slovenian visionary.”

circular living unit.

Anton Mavretič

21





Center Noordung. Photo: KSEVT and Tomaž Gregorič.

SPACE ARCHITECTURE ON

PLANET EARTH

The Herman Potočnik Noordung Center of

Space Technologies (Cultural Centre of Europe-

an Space Technologies until 2017) is located in

a smal town Vitanje in northeastern Slovenia

where his mother's family hails from. Its architecture is based on the design of the circular living unit, a constituent of the geostationary

space station as described in his book.

Literature

Kobal, Edvard: Herman Potočnik Noordung : ob 80-letnici nastanka knjige Das Problem der Befahrung des Weltraums Der Raketen - Motor (Problem vožnje po vesolju). Ljubljana : Ustanova Slovenska znanstvena fundacija, 2008.

Premzl, Primož, Sitar, Sandi, Potočnik, Herman, Kokoschinegg, Gustav: Herman Potočnik Noordung : življenjepis v besedi in sliki. Maribor.

(prevodi iz nemščine Metka Smodiš ; uredil Primož Premzl) : Umetniški kabinet Primož Premzl, 2013.

22



HRANICE

VIENNA

MÖDLING

BAD FISCAU

A

U

S

T

R

O

-

H

U

N

G

A

R

I

A

N



E

M

P

I

R

E

GRAZ

MARIBOR

PULA

23



ANTON

PETERLIN

1908-1993

DESTINY IS

YOUR EFFORT!

Peterlin delivering a lecture in 1970. Photo: Družina Publishing.

Anton Peterlin was born on 25 September

1908 in Ljubljana. Upon completing secondary

school, he enrol ed at the Faculty of Arts, Univer-

sity of Ljubljana, and after graduating took a po-

sition at the Technical Faculty’s Physics Institute.

He spent a year in Berlin, where he earned his PhD in 1938, but returned to the Faculty of Arts

to become an assistant professor in the physics

department and a tenured professor in 1946. The

Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts elected

him a ful member in 1949. A series of disagree-

ments led him to leave his homeland and head

to Munich in 1960, and then to the USA the

fol owing year, where he became the director of

the Camil e Dreyfus Laboratory in Durham, NC.

Scientist, professor of

Concurrently, he taught at Duke University and

experimental physics,

at Cleveland State University as a visiting pro-polymerphysics researcher,

fessor. In 1973, he accepted a position at the Na-

inventor, innovator, a world-

tional Bureau of Standards in Washington, where

renowned expert in large

he worked until 1992. He died on 24 March 1993,

molecules.

only a few months after returning to Ljubljana.

24





Peterlin’s attaché case, which he purchased during one of his first trips to the U.S. and used practically daily ever since. Technical Museum of Slovenia.

Photo: Nebojša Tejić, STA.

UNPROMISING POLYMERS

Peterlin focused his research efforts on the

study of polymers, large molecules composed

of smal er units cal ed monomers. He once re-

Used by engineers and engineering students to carry out quick and fairly accurate counted how the study of polymers had been

calculations, slide rules were a common tool in mechanical and electrical considered unpromising in the post-war years

engineering, aircraft design, the military, in surveying, and in all other fields where logarithms, trigonometry, roots, squares, multiplication, and division were and smart people were advised to avoid this

required. Slide rules were eventually replaced by the HP-35 calculator, which France Rode helped design in 1972. Technical Museum of Slovenia. Photo: Nebojša field. Subsequent developments would prove

Tejić, STA.

the naysayers very wrong, for polymers stil play

a fundamental and multifaceted role in our lives

owing to their broad range of applications.

25





Peterlin compiled a dictionary of his own to practice English.

Techical Museum of Slovenia. Photo: Leja Kolenc.

THREE UNIVERSITY OAFS

There is an amusing anecdote about Peter-

Peterlin giving a lecture after being awarded honorary membership by the Jožef lin. The confusing situation after the World War

Stefan Institute, 1968. Photo: Jožef Stefan Institute.

Two is beautiful y il ustrated by the story of the

“three university oafs”, as Peterlin himself cal ed

it. Three university professors, al of them cal ed

Anton (Peterlin, Kuhelj, and Moljk) were sent

off to Italy with suitcases ful of money to buy research equipment. It was not possible to buy

such equipment official y in Yugoslavia and so

that trip was barely legal. The expedition would

turn into a nightmare, for the professors were

intercepted by the carabinieri, who confiscated

three mil ion liras from them and locked them up

for several months. It took diplomatic interven-

tion to get them out of prison, but the efforts to

get the money back lasted six years. In the end,

only half a mil ion liras out of three was returned.

26





Peterlin’s family donated to the museum several objects, which, among other things, testify to his ardor for technological developments.

Photo: Tomo Jeseničnik.

FOREIGNER

“Despite living and working in the U.S. for a

long time, Peterlin’s answer to the question

GUARDIAN OF THE

whether he liked his life in America was that

LANGUAGE

he felt a foreigner. Although he could discuss

Peterlin was known as a strict guardian of the

scientific problems fluently, his everyday

Slovenian language. His students were more con-

English, according to him, left much to be de-

cerned about speaking proper Slovenian than

sired. He did not know how to buy bread, for

they were about scientifical y accurate language.

One could debate science with him but debating

instance – his wife had to do it.”

Slovenian language — that was il advised.

Ljubov Petrovna Mjasnikova

27





Peterlin had many passions aside from his work, including hiking and skiing.

When Anton Peterlin received an honorary doctorate from the Univerity of Private Archives.

Ljubljana in 1988, his bust, the work of sculptor Marjan Keršič-Belač was erected in front of the Jožef Stefan Institute. Photo: Sanja Živkovič.

Literature

Anton Peterlin, exhibition curated by Stanislav Južnič, TMS, September 24, 2008.

Sitar, Sandi: 100 slovenskih znanstvenikov, Ljubljana, 1987.

Bukošek, Vili, Peterlin-Neumaier, Tanja, Stepišnik, Janez, Strnad, Janez, Svetina, Saša, Peterlin, Anton: Anton Peterlin 1908-1993 : življenje in delo = his life and work. Ljubljana. [uredili Vili Bukošek ... et al.] : Slovenska akademija znanosti in umetnosti : Institut Jožef Stefan, 2008.

28

CLEVELAND

WASHINGTON D.C.

U

S

A

DURHAM

BERLIN

G

E

R

M

A

N

Y

MUNICH

S

L

O

V

E

N

I

A

LJUBLJANA

29



PETER

FLORJANČIČ

1919-2020

LIVING

A DREAM

Portrait of Peter Florjančič taken just few months before he passed away.

Photo: Marko Cotič Trojer.

Peter Florjančič was born on 5 March 1919 in

Bled. As a youth, he was a promising athlete and

participated at the 1936 Winter Olympics in ski

jumping. His entrepreneurial spirit became evi-

dent early on and he started a successful weav-

ing business before WWI . To avoid conscription

into the German army, he fled from Bled in 1943.

He staged his own death in avalanche and then

crossed the Alps on skis to get to Switzerland.

He had a long, inventive and eventful life,

living and working in five European countries

and even spent a short time in New York on

business. Pasha Ilhami Hussein, whom he met

in Monte Carlo, introduced him to the world of

the rich and famous. They founded Florilham, a successful company manufacturing products

Athlete, musician and actor,

mainly for the cosmetic industry.

adventurer, cosmopolitan,

In 1998, he returned home to Bled where he

entrepreneur and, first and

continued to work on inventions. He died on 14

foremost, world-class innovator.

November 2020.

30





Some of his ideas were ahead of their time. When he thought of car air bags back in 1957, the car industry of the time lacked technology to allow the implementation of this revolutionary innovation.

I WILL BE AN INVENTOR

He was convinced that to have the slightest

chance of a successful invention, one needs to

observe people and the world around, giving

If it had not been for Florjančič, women

them what they need and are wil ing to pay for. He

would not be able to spray perfumes nor apply

experienced both incredible success and bitter

nail polish elegantly. Photographers loved his

failure from which he learnt valuable lessons.

plastic slide frames, and businessmen appreci-

His first invention was a hand loom that could be

ated a plastic injection-molding machine. In his

operated by the disabled people. He patented it

exciting career, he worked with some prominent

during his stay at the internment center in Bern

foreign companies, such as Guerlain, Elizabeth

and sold the patent for serious money. At that Arden, Coco Chanel, Kodak, Fuji, AGFA, Babcock,

point he decided to be an inventor by profession.

Battenfeld, Bussman, Melitta, as wel as local,

Of about 400 patents, he realized 43.

including LEK and Paloma.

31





Launched in 1947, the bottle with atomizer was developed by Florilham. Their first products were made of precious materials – crystal, silver and gold. Private Archives.

Elizabeth Arden, the legend of the cosmetic industry, found Florjančič's perfume atomizer interesting enough to invite him to New York where they struck a deal. A couple of days before his 101st birthday, we recorded an interview with Florjančič If we were to choose one from a myriad of

recounting – vividly and with humor – his U.S. adventure. Unfortunately, he died patents, it would inarguably be the perfume

a few months later.

atomizer, which literally conquered the world and

whose operating principle is still in use today.

PERFUME ATOMIZER

Its invention was closely related to the develop-

ment of plastic. Perfumes contain corrosive

“My best and most accomplished invention

substances, and a special plastic was required to

al ow its extended use. The atomizer development

was definitely the perfume atomizer. Perfume

took two years. Despite looking plain, the opera-

is one hel of a product, difficult to atomize

ting mechanism, which is composed of 18 different

finely enough to meet the requirements of

parts, is quite complicated.

the perfume industry. To be able to fully de-

However, the work of an inventor is not just

about the finished product, it also has to do with

velop the atomizer, my patient financers had

tools and machinery for its mass production. To

to dig deep in their pockets. But they were

produce atomizers, Florjančič built a tabletop

bil ionaires, and it was al just entertainment

plastic injection-molding machine cal ed the Co-

libri, which he over time further developed and to them.”

adapted depending on the products and require-

Peter Florjančič

ments of different companies.

32





Plastic injection-molding machines were mass-produced in Florjančič's factory in Florjančič lived in five countries, he was a citizen of five countries, and held two Villach. He moved to Austria 1962. Private Archives.

‘extra’ passports, namely the Nansen passport, an internationally recognized refugee travel document from the WWII, and the World Passport issued by the World Service Authority founded by Garry Davis in 1954. Private Archives.

FAREWELL TO PLASTICS

After the Second World War, plastic was

nothing short of a magical material with a

huge potential. Florjančič took ful advantage

of that and patented a whole lot of products



for everyday use. Eventual y it turned out that,

without plastic, the world might be a better

The birdhouse is simply attached to the

place. Florjančič ful y agreed and, in line with window, which means that one can observe

sustainability, implemented the Reduce, Reuse,

birds from the comfort of their own apartment.

Recycle principle in his later work.

According to research, watching birds had a

One of his last inventions which made it to

beneficial effect on people’s health and behavior,

actual production was Francesko, a foldable especial y in cases of depression, loneliness and

birdhouse from 2012. Made of recyclable

dementia. An increase of wel -being was also

cartonplast, it is completely weatherproof.

observed with people with special needs.

33





Application for the slide frame patent protection in the USA, 1976.

Florjančič said that the frame was one of the most complex products he ever https://patents.justia.com/patent/3952434

invented. It incorporated tens of innovative technical solutions and details, and the same number of complicated patent claims. He also developed the storage box and slide feeder. Technical Museum of Slovenia. Photo: Tomo Jeseničnik.

FAMOUS FRAME

HOME SWEET HOME

In 1966, Florjančič was commissioned to

design a slide frame and slide feeder, with a

After coming back home to Slovenia, he often

condition that both items could be patented.

wondered what better choice in life is – to see the

Made of Bakelite and glass or cardboard, frames

world or stay at home.

in use did not do a good job. He demonstrated

“If I had another life to live, I would choose

once again that he knew perfectly how to

the latter. It’s a lot easier and more beautiful

capitalize on the development of plastic. For

a long time, he searched plastic resistant to

at home. You always have friends by your side

high temperatures of the slide projector and

whilst when you leave for another country,

impermeable to light, and eventual y found

you always need to start al over again. And

it in a new type of polystyrene. His slide frame

conquered the professional and amateur world

starting al over again is difficult and pain-

of photography for several decades.

staking.”

34

NEW YORK

U

S

A

G E R M A N Y

PARIS

MUNICH

ZÜRICH

GARMISCH

F R A N C E

WALLGAU

MONTREUX

DAVOS

BELJAK / VILLACH

RADOVLJICA

BLED

LJUBLJANA

MONTE CARLO

FLORENCE

I T A L Y

Literature

http://peter-florjancic.eu/

https://4d.rtvslo.si/arhiv/dokumentarni-portret/108359978

Florjančič, Peter, Marinček Edo: Skok v smetano : Izumitelj Peter Florjančič pripoveduje o svojem življenju, Ljubljana, Mladinska knjiga, 2007, (COBISS).

Florjančič, Peter, Marinček Edo: Ideja za milijon : Izumi Petra Florjančiča, Žirovnica, Medium, 2011, (COBISS).

Marušič, Irena: Živeti sanje : stoletnica Petra Florjančiča. Ljubljana, Urad RS za intelektualno lastnino, 2019.

35



ALEŠ

STROJNIK

1921-1995

BEYOND

THE VISIBLE

A lecture in Karlsruhe, Germany. Private Archives of Primož Strojnik, D.Sc.

Aleš Strojnik was born on 21 May 1921 in Lju-

bljana, where he graduated from the Technical

Faculty, University of Ljubljana. He worked as an

aircraft designer, then secured a position at the

Faculty of Electrical Engineering. He specialized

in electron microscopy at the renowned Caven-

dish Laboratories at Cambridge University, UK.

In 1969, he accepted a position as professor at

Arizona State University in Tempe. Strojnik was

Scientist, professor in physics,

keenly aware of the importance of international

expert in aerodynamics and

cooperation and his career took him from Swe-

electron optics, light aircraft

den and Egypt to Germany, Australia, and the

designer, author of multiple

U.S. He died in Tempe, Arizona, on 6 November

textbooks and a bril iant teacher.

1995. He is buried in Ljubljana.

36





LEM4 electron microscope. Private Archives of Primož Strojnik, D.Sc.

Fibers of elastane, wool and polyamide

under electron microscope.

Photo: Faculty of Natural Sciences and

Engineering, University of Ljubljana.

WITH ATOMIC PRECISION

In 1955, Strojnik designed and constructed

know-how. Established by Strojnik, the Electron

his first electron microscope in Ljubljana, the

Microscopy Laboratory would in the subsequent

LEM1, making Yugoslavia the fifth country in the

years produce a series of electron microscopes,

world not only to have its own electron micro-

named LEM1 to LEM4. The latter was the first

scope, but one that was the product of domestic

such device in the world to be air-cooled.

37





Before take-off with the S1 on a hill overlooking Bokalce near Ljubljana.

Private Archives of Primož Strojnik, D. Sc.

During a flight in his airplane. Private Archives of Primož Strojnik, D. Sc.

PASSION OF YOUTH

After retiring, he returned to his passion for

aircraft design. He designed and built multiple

light aircraft and motor gliders and his S-4 even

broke the world speed record in its category.

38





TEACHING

Strojnik was appreciated by his students as

PING-PONG MASTER

an exceptional teacher and lecturer. He believed

that teaching was an important duty for every

Not only was Strojnik an excel ent ping-pong

professor, which motivated him to write text-

player, but he made his own equipment as wel .

books for al the subjects he taught. His books

He used his technical knowledge to make pad-

on aviation, including popular science titles and

dles that completely befuddled his opponents.

expert works, are considered superb.

39



TEMPE





Aleš Strojnik with his daughter Marija at the 33rd Annual Meeting of the Electron Microscopy Society of America in Las Vegas, Nevada, 1975. Aleš was a session chairman and Marija delivered a paper on strongly excited magnetic lenses.

Private Archives.

Literature

Aleš Strojnik, Marija Scholl, Physics Today, May 1997.

Sandi Sitar, 100 slovenskih znanstvenikov, Ljubljana, 1987.

40

CAMBRIDGE

KARLSRUHE

LJUBLJANA

ALEXANDRIA

CAIRO

MELBOURNE

41



FRANCE

RODE

1934-2017

SILICON

VALLEY

PIONEER

Rode working at Hewlett-Packard. Private Archives.

Born on 20 November 1934 into a farming

family in the smal vil age of Nožice about four-

teen kilometers from the country’s capital, Rode

graduated from the Faculty of Electrical Engi-

neering in Ljubljana and continued his studies

in the U.S., drawn there by his secondary school

sweetheart Mija, who was living with her family

in Chicago and would later become his wife. In

1962, he was awarded a master’s degree from

Northwestern University in Il inois, whereupon

he and his wife moved to Palo Alto, California, where he worked for Hewlett-Packard for almost

twenty years. In 1979, he started the company

Sielox with a partner, and in 1990 took a position

Electrical engineer and

at a satel ite navigation company in Sunnyvale,

inventor, entrepreneur, hobby

CA. Nine years later he joined two col eagues in

woodworker, and avid tennis

founding eRide Inc. He retired in 2008 and lived

player.

in California until his death on 7 June 2017.

42





Pocket calculator HP-35. Technical Museum of Slovenia. Photo: Tomo Jeseničnik.

POCKET CALCULATOR

Rode was the lead engineer on the team that

invented the first scientific pocket calculator, the

HP-35, which had arithmetic, logarithmic, and

Rode worked on the HP-80 project as the project manager and lead co-inventor.

trigonometric functions. Hewlett-Packard had

He simplified financial calculations and thereby replaced the cumbersome and time-consuming tables that had been used by banks and other financial already developed a desktop computer when

institutions. He was even prouder of this calculator than the HP-35 because he Wil iam Redington Hewlett came up with the

thought the project required more ingenuity and creativity.

A leaflet for the HP-80. Private Archives.

idea to create a computer that would fit in his shirt pocket. Development took a year and sales

exceeded al expectations. U.S. President Rich-

ard Nixon took one with him on his first visit to

China as an example of the latest American tech-

nological achievement. Soon after, astronauts

took it to space, recognition of what a useful instrument it was.

43





At the declaration of the HP-35 as an IEEE Milestone Event in 2009.

Private Archives.

Rode and Hewlett-Packard colleagues, with the HP-80 on the desk.

Private Archives.

The IEEE Milestone in Electrical Engineering and Computing Award. In 2009, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the highest professional authority in this field, declared the HP-35 a “milestone in electrical engineering and computing.” A plaque displaying the text of the recognition has been installed in the lobby of Hewlett-Packard Labs in Palo Alto, CA.

INVENTOR

Technical Museum od Slovenia. Photo: Sanja Živković.

Rode is the holder or co-holder of 23 patents

in the fields of digital electronics, computer engi-

neering, and metrology, which are used al over

the world. For example, he patented the elec-

tronic lock and participated in the development

of GPS-based satel ite navigation for aircraft.

44





Rode performing calculations with a slide rule that he made himself.

Private Archives.

USEFUL WOODWORKING

Rode giving a lecture in Ljubljana. Private Archives.

As a youth, Rode would spend most of his free

time in his uncle’s carpentry workshop, where

he made toys and other useful objects that his

family could not afford to buy. He made his first

pair of skis, teaching aids for secondary school,

the box for a radio receiver, and a slide rule that

he used throughout his university studies. Many

years later he would col aborate on the develop-

ment of an electronic version of the tool - the HP-35 pocket calculator.

45





Rode’s family donated to the museum his personal belongings from both professional and private life. Technical Museum of Slovenia.

Photo: Tomo Jeseničnik.

Rode’s wallet. Technical Musuem of Slovenia. Photo: Nebojša Tejić, STA.

LIFE IN A WALLET

In addition to business cards testifying to his

professional career and the electronic lock that

he invented, Rode always kept a dinar (currency

in former Yugoslavia), a tolar (Slovenian curren-

cy from 1991 until the introduction of the euro)

and a dol ar banknote in his wal et, somewhat

symbolizing the life of a migrant.

46



NORTHWESTERN

U

S

A

PALO ALTO

LOS ALTOS

S

L

O

V

E

N

I

A

NOŽICE

LJUBLJANA

Literature

Gobec, Edi: Slovenski ameriški izumitelji in inovatorji : njihove sledi na Zemlji in v vesolju. Ljubljana, Družina, 2015.

Kobal, Edvard: Strast po znanju in spoznavanju : pogovori z velikimi slovenskimi znanstvenicami in znanstveniki. Ljubljana, Ustanova Slovenska znanstvena fundacija, 2003.

Interview with Rode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUaRQ3rqvPg 47



ANTON

MAVRETIČ

1934-2019

SPACE

VOYAGER

Mavretič at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Photo: KSEVT.

Born in the small village of Boldraž on 11 De-

cember 1934, Mavretič started studying electrical

engineering at the University of Ljubljana before boarding a ship to the U.S., where he graduated

from University of Denver. After a brief visit to his

homeland, he returned to the Syracuse Univer-

sity, NY, and completed a year of PhD studies. He

worked for Westinghouse in Pittsburgh the fol ow-

ing year, whereupon he completed his PhD at the

Pennsylvania State University. His last position

before retirement was as a professor and research

associate at Boston University’s Center for Space

Physics. He received multiple awards for his work

on space technologies, was a lifelong member of

An electrical engineer involved

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, in work on radio transmitters,

and a corresponding member of the Slovenian

analogue circuit boards,

Academy of Sciences and Arts. He died on 21 No-

semiconductors, plasma,

vember 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts, where he

the solar wind, and patent

is buried.

arbitration procedures.

48





The plasma spectrometer for the Voyager space probe. Photo: KSEVT.

THE MAN WHO CAPTURED

important instruments humans have ever sent

THE SOLAR WIND

into space, the PLS has played a crucial role in

the exploration of deep space by the Voyager 1

and Voyager 2 space probes, whose objectives

“The biggest chal enge for me as a scientist was

included up-close investigation of the gas giants

col aboration on the Voyager spacecraft.”

beyond the asteroid belt and, ultimately, the de-

termination of the Solar System’s boundary. On

As a NASA contractor, Mavretič developed the

25 August 2013, Voyager 1 became the first man-

electronics for a device that measures the solar

made object to pass this boundary; if not for the

wind. He worked as engineer on the project,

PLS, the data demonstrating this achievement

having a critical role in the development of the

would never be obtained let alone analyzed.

plasma spectrometer. Cal ed the PLS, it is used

The solar wind is a simplified term for the

for measuring interplanetary plasma, the solar

stream of charged particles – particularly pro-

wind, and the composition of planetary atmos-

tons and electrons – emitted by the Sun into

pheres in the Solar System. One of the most

interplanetary space.

49



The solar wind. Photo: NASA/SOHO.

KNOWLEDGE BELONGS TO

EVERYONE

In 2013, Mavretič donated several hun-

dred kilograms of his research materials to the

National and University Library in Ljubljana,

sending a profound message in support of the

accessibility of knowledge. In a world in which scientific achievements and patents, in particular advanced technologies, quickly fal prey to

private interests, he wanted to make his findings

freely available to future generations of students

and researchers. It is humanity as a whole that

has every right to lay claim to knowledge, not the

profit-making corporations.

50





Techical Museum of Slovenia is delighted and honored that Mavretič and his family donated several personal objects and some related to his work on Voyager and Explorer. Photo: Tomo Jeseničnik.

Mavretič delivering a lecture at MIT. Private Archives.

At MIT, Mavretič developed plasma spectrometers for the Voyager missions and the Interplanetary Measuring Platform (IMP). On the picture, working with his assistant, mid-1970’s. Private Archives.

51



Inscription on the plasma spectrometer. Photo: KSEVT.

FOR EVER

As a project engineer, Mavretič’s name ap-

LIGHT

pears on a golden plate attached to the PLS

instrument, which is stil travel ing deep in

Soon after the Second World War, when

interstel ar space. Even when Earth is gone, it Mavretič was 12, his native vil age became one

wil continue to travel through space aboard the

of the first settlements in the region to be electri-

Voyager time capsule, carrying the name of the

fied. He recal s how the magnificent light of the

Slovenian scientist some cal the new Noordung.

electric bulb inspired his choice of career.

52

BOSTON

DENVER

PITTSBURG

PENNSYLVANIA

U

S

A

S

L

O

V

E

N

I

A

LJUBLJANA

BOLDRAŽ

Literature

Voyager 127AU/Dr. Anton Mavretič. http://4d.rtvslo.si/arhiv/dokumentarni-filmi-in-oddaje-kulturno-umetniski-program/174301643

Dr. Anton Mavretič: Opazovanje znanosti (Observing science). http://outsider.si/opazovanje-znanosti/

Dr. Anton Mavretič on the reflections of Slovenianhood. http://radio.ognjisce.si/sl/145/ssd/11357/

Interview with Dr. Anton Mavretič on Radio Študent. https://radiostudent.si/kultura/milo-rase-vitica/anton-mavreti%C4%8D

Vaš krog Anton Mavretič. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gvwKISsA14

Mission of Voyager 1 & 2 space probes. SLO Science Festival 2013. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaHnKiClIM4

53



MARIJA

STROJNIK

1950

PLANET

HUNTER

Strojnik participating at the 23rd Slovenian Science Festival in Ljubljana.

Photo: Sanja Živković.

A native of Ljubljana, Marija Strojnik was born

on 13 July 1950. She started studying physics at

the University of Ljubljana and completed her

studies at Arizona State University in Tempe,

AZ. While there, she col aborated with her father

Aleš Strojnik, who was building an electron mi-

croscope. She took a master’s degree in physics,

optical sciences, and engineering, and in 1979

became the first woman to receive a PhD in op-

tical sciences from the University of Arizona in Tucson.

After working at Rockwel International

(later sold to Boeing) in Los Angeles and then at

Honeywel in Phoenix, she took a position at the

California Institute of Technology, which is also

an official NASA center. She is currently a lecturer

at the Optical Research Center in Leon, Mexico,

focusing on discovering exoplanets, i. e. planets

Optical physicist, infrared

outside our Solar System. She has designed a

radiation specialist, editor

special instrument for the optical detection of

and professor.

planets next to a bright star.

54





The prestigious George W. Goddard Award, 1996. At the time, her surname Scholl was taken after her husband. Private Archives. Photo: Tamino Petelinšek, STA.

CASSINI MISSION

She is best known for developing an auto-

nomous technique for optical navigation, which

remains one of the fundamental methods for

determining location and orientation on and

around Earth. With the help of star charts, an in-

tel igent CCD camera, and a computer calculating

directions based on an algorithm she developed,

spacecraft became independent of Earth-based

calculations. The technology was first deployed

on the Cassini mission to Saturn.

For this invention, the International Society

of Optics and Photonics bestowed on her the

prestigious George W. Goddard Award in 1996.

She was the first woman to receive this accolade.

55





A charge-coupled device (CCD) camera with a light-sensitive electronic detector that Strojnik uses for her work, 1992. Private Archives.

The Moon. Photo: NASA.

Even more than in the first man’s step on the

MEMORIES OF THE

Moon, I was curious about how they got there. I

FIRST LANDING

watched the engineers who worked on the pro-

OF MAN ON THE MOON

ject on television. Physicists on television spoke

about gravity, the concept of weightlessness

“When that summer of 1969, as a nineteen-

that we didn’t real y understand at the time. Al

year-old girl in Ljubljana I watched the documen-

of this had a tremendous influence on my life. I

taries and interviews about the landing of a man

just enrol ed in the first year of the study of phy-

on the Moon, I was stupefied with admiration

sics, without slightest intention to explore the for the greatness of the project. I realized and universe. Also, because it was al happening far

apprehended that this was not an achievement

away in America. Surprise, surprise! Two years

of a single genius, but the result of a successful

later I was studying in the U.S. and in eight years

col aboration of many people, people just like

I was working for a company actively involved in

you and me.

space research.”

56





At work in the laboratory, 1975. Private Archives.

Lecturing at the Optical Research Center in Leon, Mexico, 2016. Private Archives.

IN A MAN'S WORLD

Despite a “traditionally girl-oriented up-

bringing”, she displayed an interest in science.

She had been the only female student in a

She would help her father Aleš, an electrical en-

department with 60 physicists, “living in a man’s

gineer, from an early age and learnt a great deal

world al her life: from growing up with four

about physics and optics. At the age of 14 she brothers to being the only or the first woman in

even built a transistor radio.

many situations”.

57





Marija Strojnik with her father Aleš in Ljubljana, around 1955. Photo: Private Archives.

Marija Strojnik donated her PC to the museum in 2020. Technical Museum of Slovenia. Photo: Tomo Jeseničnik.

PARTNER IN KNOWLEDGE

professional work, meaning it was a repository of

This computer was in service of knowledge

everything she ever studied, learnt, researched

for nearly two decades. Strojnik used it in her and discovered.

Literature

Gobec, Edi: Slovenski ameriški izumitelji in inovatorji : njihove sledi na Zemlji in v vesolju. Ljubljana, Družina, 2015.

Kobal, Edvard: Strast po znanju in spoznavanju : pogovori z velikimi slovenskimi znanstvenicami in znanstveniki. Ljubljana, Ustanova Slovenska znanstvena fundacija, 2003.

58

U

S

A

LOS

ANGELES

PHOENIX

& TEMPE

TUSCON

M

E

X

I

C

O

LEON

S

L

O

V

E

N

I

A

LJUBLJANA

59



SUNITA L.

WILLIAMS

1965

SPACE

WALKER

Sunita Williams in a spacesuit. Photo: NASA.

Born in Euclid, Ohio, on 19 September 1965 to

an ethnic Indian father and a mother descended

from Slovenian immigrants, Sunita L. Wil iams

grew up in Massachusetts and attended the Na-

val Academy in Annapolis, where she graduated

in physics. She trained to be a helicopter pilot and became a test pilot for different types of aircraft. In 1995, she completed a master’s degree in

engineering management at the Florida Institute

Pilot, officer, prominent

of Technology. After visiting the space center in

astronaut with several

Houston and meeting with astronauts, she deci-

International Space Station

ded to pursue a career in space exploration.

records, one of the few people

Wil iams was selected for astronaut training by

to have been in space more than

NASA from among several thousand applicants

once.

and became a part of their astronaut team.

60





The jumpsuit that Williams wore as the commander of two expeditions to the International Space Station in 2012, Expedition 32 and Expedition 33.

Photo: Sanja Živković.

INTERNATIONAL

SPACE STATION

While staying at the International Space Sta-

tion, she conducted scientific experiments and

concurrently repaired and upgraded the station

in open space. She was entrusted with operating

the robotic arm, an assignment in which she was

SUIT FROM SPACE

able to leverage her physics and engineering

know-how.

Upon visiting Slovenia in 2013, she donated

Her extraordinary persistence and resource-

the jumpsuit to the people of Leše, a vil age near

fulness enabled her to set several records. With

Tržič where her mother’s family hails from. It is

195 consecutive days spent at the International

kept in the “Sunita L. Wil iams Memorial Room”.

Space Station, she was the record holder among

Wil iams visits it whenever she is in Slovenia. The

female astronauts until June 2015. In total, she

memorial room has been created by the Institute

spent 321 days or almost 11 months in space.

of Slovenian Astronauts, which promotes the

Until 2017, she also held the women’s record

astronaut profession. Her great wish is that

with seven space walks and a total of 50 hours

someday a Slovenian wil fol ow in her footsteps.

and 40 minutes of extravehicular activity.

61





Exercising at the International Space Station. Photo: NASA.

Carrying out repairs on the outside of the International Space Station.

Photo: NASA.

SPACE VERSUS EARTH

Sunita and her older sister Dina are keen mara-

thon runners and have both been competitive

from an early age. They even did a marathon

while she was in space: while Dina ran in the streets of Boston, Sunita ran on a treadmil at the space station and due to more favorable

conditions she beat her sister on Earth.

62



The International Space Station. Photo: NASA.

SAUSAGE IN SPACE

One of her favorite memories of her stay on the

International Space Station between December

2006 and June 2007 was the time spent with the

Russian cosmonauts during dinner. On one such

evening she shared with her Russian col eagues

a Kranjska sausage, a signature Slovenian dish,

A PERSPECTIVE FROM SPACE

which her mother had sent her. But before the

sausage managed to fly to space, the butcher Bill

“Every trip is more about discovering your-

Azman from Euclid (Wil iams' birthplace) received

self than other places. And for some reason, it an interesting cal from NASA: “They wanted to

know the sausage ingredients. I told them it’s a

takes al this technology for us to come up here

very simple recipe, just salt, pepper, garlic and

and understand the simplicity of things. From up

pieces of pork. They were interested because the

here, it is real y difficult to understand borders,

space station doesn’t have a physician. Had the

sausage contain any al ergens, it could be a real

wars, and hate!”

disaster.” Azman was also requested the recipe

Sunita Williams

in writing.

63





Honorary members of the Slovenian Engineering Academy – France Rode (since 2017) and Sunita Williams (since 2014). Archives of the Slovenian Engineering Academy. Photo: Marjan Smerke.

Williams and her mother with Peter Florjančič, during their visit to Slovenia in 2013. Photo: Tibor Zavrl.

IT’S A SMALL WORLD

It is a common “knowledge” that in Slovenia

not only we al know each other but we are often

related. Here is a proof. Wil iams and Rode met

and took a picture together, while with Florjančič

– guess what. They are relatives, for real.

64

NEEDHAM

EUCLID

ANNAPOLIS

U

S

A

HOUSTON

CAPE CANAVERAL

INTERNATIONAL

SPACE

STATION

E

A

R

T

H

Literature

E. Kobal, D. Petrač : Astronavtka Sunita L. Wil iams : državljanka vesolja. Ljubljana. Ustanova Slovenska znanstvena fundacija, 2010.

65

APPENDIX

Slovenian Immigrant Community in the U.S.

from Past to Present: Alenka Jerak

Technical Museum of Slovenia: Ajda Kozjek,

Melita Silič, Urša Vodopivec

66

67

Over the last three centuries, many Slovenians were swept by modern European and global

waves of migration, leaving their homeland and

settling in different parts of the world. Emigration

from the Slovenian ethnic territory to the United

SLOVENIAN

States was at its high before the First World War,

IMMIGRANT

in the interwar period, and in the 1960s and

‘70s. It has continued to this day, although in COMMUNITY

substantial y smal er numbers.

IN THE

Slovenian women and men moved across the

big pond for a variety of reasons. In the second

UNITED

half of the 19th century and in the 1960’s and STATES

‘70s, they mainly left for economic reasons, while

post-WWI and WWI migrations were provoked by

FROM

the political situation in the country. Slovenian

PAST TO

intel ectuals engaged in science, art or culture were often motivated by better economic and

PRESENT

work conditions, career opportunities or re-

putation, which is also the case with the current

immigration of Slovenians to the States.

The first to come were the Protestants who

emigrated during the Slovenian Counter-Refor-

mation in the 17th century, fol owed by Catholic

missionaries engaged in religious work among

the native tribes in Minnesota, Michigan and Wis-

consin.

Immigration was massive between 1870 and

1924, which was the period of rapid develop-

ment of industry and mining. In 1924, the U.S.

placed severe restrictions, establishing a quota

system that limited immigration from southern

and eastern Europe. However, not even strict

legislation could stop people from abandoning

their homes to live the American dream.

Due to fertile soil, developed industry and

mining, Slovenian immigrants mostly settled

in the northwestern and midwestern part

of the U.S. Their destination depended on a

variety of factors, such as accessibility, period of immigration, eventual Slovenian immigrant

settlements, climate. They worked in mining,

steel and ironworks, agriculture and service

68





industries (trade, catering, travel agencies).

Some became successful businessmen.

Most immigrants lived in ethnic settlements,

i.e., parts of towns or cities with a large enough

concentration of Slovenians, and at least one of

three ethnic organizational structures: a benefit

society or fraternal organization, a national home

or a Slovenian Catholic or Evangelical ethnic

parish which organized Slovenian schools.

Slovenian immigrants visiting their former homeland, 1950s. Photo: Slovenian The largest Slovenian communities were

Emigration Association.

formed in western Pennsylvania, northeast Ohio,

Great Lakes region and upper Michigan, Great

Lakes region of Wisconsin, central Il inois, Indi-

ana, and central and northern Minnesota. Brock-

way (today St. Stephen’s) was one of the oldest

Slovenian settlements in the States. In 1920,

Cleveland (Ohio) was claimed the third largest

“Slovenian city”, second only to Ljubljana and

Trieste.

Established before and during WWI, fraternal

Before leaving for the USA from the Port of Trieste, 1950s. Photo: Slovenian Emigration Association.

benefit organizations were a fundamental form

of organization of Slovenian immigrants in the

venian Research Center of America (Cleveland)

U.S. They provided insurance in the event of

with an extensive archive of successful Slove-

occupational accidents or il nesses and support-

nians in the U.S. (in part, it was transferred to the

ed cultural activities. Composed of individual

Archives of the Republic of Slovenia).

lodges across the States, some have been active

Slovenian National Homes ( narodni dom)

to this day: American Slovenian Catholic Union

also had a significant role in the formation and

(ASCU), Joliet, Il inois (1894), Slovene National organization of the Slovenian immigrant com-Benefit Society (SNBS), Imperial, Pennsylvania

munities. They were built by volunteers who

(1904), and American Mutual Life Association

shared a concern for the fate of their old home-

(AMLA), Cleveland, Ohio (1910). In the early 20th

land. In Cleveland alone, four such homes were

century, these organizations started building

opened in 1919, fol owed by the largest in the recreation centers in the rural areas: SNBS in

United States, built on St. Clair Avenue in 1924,

Kirkland (Ohio) and Enon Val ey (Pennsylvania),

which has served the Slovenian community

which also has a Slovenian heritage center. Post-

to this day. It has a main hal with 1,350 seats WWI immigrant community built Slovenska

(the stage curtain is a piece of art reproduced pristava (Ohio) and Triglav park (Wisconsin). Of

from 1924 painting Mother Slovenia by Maksim some thirty-tree Cleveland Cultural Gardens,

Gaspari), a library with a reading room and a

one is Slovenian.

boules court. For years, the center housed eleven

Other important organizations include the

offices, seven shops, a Sokol gymnastic society’s

Slovenian Union of America (former Slovenian

hal , a Slovenian school, several choirs, a drama

Women Union of America, Joliet) and the Slo-

school, a travel agency, a photo studio, a Slove-

69





St. Stephen’s (former Brockway) and Tower (Min-

nesota) in 1871. As many as thirty-two Slovenian

parishes existed in the U.S. in 1924, acting as the

core of religious, cultural and social life of immi-

grants. Slovenian language was taught at the pa-

rochial schools to maintain national identity of

the incomers and their descendants. Today, re-

ligious service and Saturday school in Slovenian

are held in St. Vitus (the largest Slovenian parish

Car for the transport of sick children donated by the Slovenian American National Council (USA) to the children's home in Ljubljana, 1950s. Photo: Slovenian in the U.S.) and St. Mary parishes in Cleveland,

Emigration Association.

and the Slovenian Catholic Mission in Lemont.

Slovenian Protestant parish in Bethlehem (Penn-

sylvania) and St. Cyril Church in New York are still

active as wel .

Ethnic newspapers, periodicals and radio

shows were instrumental in maintaining national

identity of the immigrant community members.

Some are stil published/broadcast; a few both

in Slovenian and English, and a majority just in

English to accommodate younger members of

Three thousand people showed up at the Leroy (Ohio) concert of the Lojze Slak the community. Cleveland is also known for the

Ensemble, held on 7 September 1970. Photo: Tomo Jomišič, Slovenian Emigration Association.

National Cleveland-Style Polka Hal of Fame and

Museum.

nian national museum and many associations.

In addition to Slovenian organizations, we

It was also the headquarters of the American

cannot forget sons and daughters of Slovenian

Mutual Life Association for some time. This kind

immigrants who grew into successful entrepre-

of a community center with related commercial,

neurs, politicians (mayors, governors, members

social and cultural venues was a model for other

of the United States Congress and even presiden-

national homes of the Slovenian immigrant com-

tial candidates), scientists, culture professionals,

munity in the States. Today, it houses the Slove-

innovators, artists, high-ranking military officers,

nian archives and museum, and the Slovenian

astronauts, physicists, mathematicians, biolo-

International Genealogy Society. It is also the

gists and philosophers. With their achievements,

place where the United Americans for Slovenia

they contributed to the progress and welfare of

was founded in 1991. Through communication

the U.S. Some are portrayed at the Us and Them

strategies and events, the organization appealed

without Frontiers exhibition by the Technical Mu-to the then administration for recognition of in-

seum of Slovenia.

dependent Slovenia.

Compared to the “old times”, modern migra-

Ethnic parishes were a distinctive form of

tion of Slovenians to the U.S. (mostly young en-

immigrant organization. The Catholic Church

trepreneurs, scientists, researchers, artists, medi-

supported their establishment in the late 19th

cal doctors and IT professionals) is a completely

century to prevent the immigrants’ loss of faith.

different story. They settle in “non-traditional”

The first two Slovenian parishes were founded in

parts of the USA (California, New York, Florida),

70

they organize in a completely different way Modern technology, in particular the Internet

(mainly through social media), and their social

and social networks, al ow Slovenian immi-

and other activities are interest-based. Many are

grant community in the U.S. to establish closer

associated within the American Slovenian Edu-

relations with Slovenian ethnic communities

cation Foundation, which enhances Slovenian

in other parts of the world as wel as with their

education and research activities, the VTIS Asso-

motherland.

ciation of Slovenes Educated Abroad, and other

Based on U.S. census data, 123,631 indivi-

institutions (Fulbright Program, Kerže Funds).

duals, born in Slovenia, and 59,800 people born

Al immigrants and their offspring have many

in the USA reported Slovenian as their mother

possibilities to learn or practice Slovenian lan-tongue in 1910. In 1920, the number of Slovenian

guage. In addition to newspapers and radio

immigrants amounted to about 228,000.

shows, Saturday language schools and Sunday

In the 1990 census, barely 124,437 individuals

religious services, they can attend online Slove-

(0.05% of the entire U.S. population) acknow-

nian classes provided by some universities (lec-

ledged their Slovenian origin, of which only

tureship of Slovenian language at the Cleveland

87,500 reported Slovenian as their primary ethic

State University organized by Center for Slovene

identity. In the 2000 census, the number of indi-

as a second or foreign language, Faculty of Arts,

viduals acknowledging their Slovenian ethnicity

University of Ljubljana), summer schools of Slo-

totaled 175,099.

venian in Slovenia, etc.

There are an estimated 250,000 to 300,000

To sum up: the fabric of the Slovenian ethnic

people of Slovenian descent living in the U.S.

community in the United States changed over

today, of whom 75% in six states: Ohio (50,000–

time. In the early 20th century, the community

80,000), Pennsylvania (up to 15,000), Il inois (up

was mainly composed of generations born in

to 12,000), Minnesota (up to 7,000), Wisconsin

Slovenia, whereas today, the generations born in

(up to 6,500) and California (up to 20,000).

the USA, who are U.S. citizens, account for nearly

90%. However, they ever more intensely, espe-

cial y after Slovenia’s independence and now,

in the time of crisis and pandemic, explore and

manifest their Slovenian origin and roots, while

at the same time repositioning the notion of

national identity to other fields, such as culture

and cultural heritage, music, dance, customs

and traditions, and traditional food and cooking.

Generalni konzulat Republike Slovenije v Clevelandu, Slovenska skupnost v ZDA.

https://www.gov.si/predstavnistva/generalni-konzulat-cleveland/slovenska-skupnost-v-zda Matjaž Klemenčič, Slovenska tvarna kulturna dediščina v ZDA, Dve domovini, 2001.

http://twohomelands.zrc-sazu.si/uploads/articles/1546711769_Klemencic_tvarna%20kulturna%20dediscina.pdf Matjaž Klemenčič, Slovenske naselbine v Združenih državah Amerike, http://www2.arnes.si/~krsrd1/conference/Speeches/Klemencic_

Slovenske_naselbine.htm

Janez Stanonik, Slovenci v Clevelandu, Zgodovinski časopis • 51 • 1997 • 1 (106) • 21-3, file:///C:/Users/mzz/Downloads/1468-Besedilo%20

%C4%8Dlanka-4741-1-10-20200924%20(4).pdf

71



TECHNICAL

MUSEUM

OF SLOVENIA

Technical Museum of Slovenia. Photo: Jure Korber.

The Technical Museum of Slovenia is the

central national museum dedicated to the

preservation of technical heritage in relation to

the development of craft and industry. Heritage

of particular interest includes products of the

local know-how and those that made a difference

in everyday lives of the Slovenian people. The

museum’s permanent col ections and temporary

exhibitions show and promote the achievements

in various fields of science and engineering.

FROM ROMAN STONEWORK TO

A 21ST CENTURY MUSEUM

Known in Latin as Vallis Iocosa (Happy Valley), the walls of the former Bistra monastery today

house one of the largest museums in Slovenia.

Walking its rooms and enjoying captivating views

it is perfectly clear why the Carthusian1 monks,

1 A Catholic monastic order founded by St. Bruno of Cologne in 1084 in the val ey of Chartreuse (France). The Carthusians combine the life of hermits with a common life within a cloister. Their life is solitary and devoted to contemplation and prayer. Today, Pleterje is the only Carthusian monastery in Slovenia.

72





members of one of the strictest Catholic monastic

In its six hundred years, the Bistra monastery

orders, made it their home in the Middle Ages.

experienced its fair share of ups and downs and

was rebuilt on several occasions. It was nearly The earliest evidence of Bistra goes back to

destroyed by two large fires in the 14th and for-

the Roman period; Roman stonework and two

tified in the defense against Turkish incursions in

tombstones which probably originate from the

the 16th centuries. In Baroque, the monastery saw

graves in Nauportus.2 Taking its name from the

intensive reconstructions and additions. Built in karstic springs of the Bistra river, the settlement

this period, St. Joseph Chapel is lavishly decorated

reached its peak in the time of the Carthusian with stucco work and late 18th century frescoes.

monastery. The charterhouse was founded be-

tween 1255 and 1260 by the Carinthian Duke3,

Bernard Spanheim and his son Ulrich I I who

secured its existence through a charter.

Fresco decoration was executed by the Ljubljana painter Anton Cebej. Photo: Jaka Blasutto.

As a man of the Enlightenment, Emperor Jo-

seph II5 banned several contemplative monastic

Copperplate of the Bistra monastery, J. V. Valvasor, A Contemporary Topography

of the Duchy of Carniola, 1679.

orders in 1782, including the Carthusians. Monks

left the monastery, the monastic church and monk

In the late 17th century, Janez Vajkard Val-

cel s along the great cloister were demolished.

vasor4 wrote in his magnum opus The Glory of Besides St. Joseph Chapel, a little Gothic clois-the Duchy of Carniola: “The monks seem to have ter with elaborate stonework and impressive

chosen this val ey for their house, for a silent Baroque buildings with arcades survived of the

home in solitude where they could, alone and

original structure.

undisturbed, without any company, enjoy com-

forting views of this enchanting vale so distant

from the hustle and buzzle of other populated

areas; there are no vil ages in the vicinity.”

2 Original y a settlement of the Celtic tribe of the Taurisci, Nauportus (modern Vrhnika, four kilometers from Bistra) was control ed by the Romans from the late 2nd or the early 1st century BC. It was located on the east-west transit route between Italy and the Middle Danube area.

3 The Duchy of Carinthia covered the territory of southern Austria and parts of northern Slovenia. It was a State of the Holy Roman Empire until its dissolution in 1806, though from 1335 it was ruled within the Austrian dominions of the Habsburg dynasty. Carinthia remained a crown land of Austria-Hungary until 1918.

4 Born in the town of Ljubljana, Valvasor, in German Johann Weikhard Freiherr von Valvasor (1641–1693), was a natural historian, a polymath and a pioneer of study of karst phenomena. In 1687, his extensive treatise on the intermittent Lake Cerknica won him a Fel owship of the London Royal Society.

5 Joseph I (1741–1790) was Holy Roman Emperor from 1765 and sole ruler of the Habsburg Monarchy from 1780 until his death. The eldest son of Empress Maria Theresa and her husband, Emperor Francis I, Joseph was one of the three great Enlightenment monarchs. His reforms were a conscious attempt to reorder the rule of his lands on the idea of the unitary state, with a centralized government, rational and mostly secular society, with greater degrees of equality and freedom.

73





Of eleven il uminated manuscripts preserved

from the time of the charterhouse, most notable

is a transcription of St. Augustine’s The City of God from 1347.

A flair of nobility. Photo Jaka Blasutto.

THE AMERICANS IN SLOVENIA

AND VICE VERSA

St. Augustine’s De Civitate Dei, National and University Library, The Manuscripts, Ms. 2.

At this point, we wil zoom in on some objects

In the 19th century, the merchant and indus-

from our col ections that were either used by or

trialist Franc Galle6 bought the Bistra estate and

influenced everyday life of Slovenians and are

gave it the appearance of a fine manor it has kept

directly or indirectly related to the United States.

to this day. The former monastery cemetery was

turned into a park and the house decorated with

Forestry and woodworking col ections have

stylish furniture, paintings and hunting trophies,

the longest standing in our museum. Covering

giving it a sophisticated flair.

three fifth of its territory, Slovenia can easily be

styled the land of forests. In terms of forest den-

After being nationalized at the end of WWI ,

sity, it is only second to Finland and Sweden in

the Bistra estate was passed over to the national

Europe. Two of the major topics addressed by

Forestry Institute which prompted the founda-

the permanent exhibition are the significance of

tion of the Forestry, Woodworking and Hunting

forest as a source of energy and its social bene-

Museum. The Technical Museum of Slovenia

fits, especial y in modern times.

was established in 1951, and within two years,

the first forestry, woodworking and hunting col-

Sawmilling was an important economic acti-

lections were opened to the public. Today, over

vity already back in the times of the charterhouse

6,000 m2 are dedicated to the display of perma-

which traded in timber. Today, several karst

nent col ections on agriculture, road vehicles,

springs of the Bistra river provide perfect natural

water-powered machinery, forestry, woodwork-

conditions and scenery for water-powered ma-

ing, wildlife & hunting, fishing, textiles, printing chinery, such as the veneer and Venetian sawmill.

and electrical engineering.

6 Gal e was a reputable Ljubljana bourgeois family involved in different business activities. In 1911, they built a hydropower plant on their estate in Bistra.

Renovated and modernized to maintain its operation, this over 100 years old power plant stil generates electrical energy. Enough to ful y meet the museum’s needs.

74





Transferred to Bistra in 1980, the original sawmill from Podrečje supplied veneer Diorama with a focus on a group of chamois. Photo: Blaž Zupančič.

to Ljubljana craftsmen from 1824 to 1952. Photo: Dragan Arrigler.

Fast forward. Talking about post-WWI indus-

trial design and timber, we cannot but brag that

the iconic Rex foldable armchair designed by the architect Niko Kralj in 1952, is included in the permanent col ection of the Museum of Modern

Art (MoMA) in New York City.

A hunting rifle manufactured by Iver Johnson Arms, Arkansas, USA. Photo: Jaka Blasutto.

Agriculture was one of the principal and basic

economic activities of most of the Slovenian

population as late as the mid-20th century.

Coming from various regions, the artefacts

and materials col ected demonstrate the

development of crop production, grassland

management, animal husbandry, fruit growing,

With over two million chairs produced, Niko Kralj’s design has served - and still does - many generations. Photo: Jaka Blasutto.

viticulture and winemaking. The exhibits from

earlier period mainly include hand tools, small

devices, and equipment. Mechanization of

The Slovenian Hunting Museum, which is a

agriculture at the turn of the 19th and 20th

part of the Technical Museum of Slovenia, pre-

centuries provided farmers machinery and

serves several hundred exhibits, from taxider-

equipment which substantially facilitated their

mic specimens, trophies, hunting weapons and

work.

accessories, to medals and other objects which

testify to the hunting tradition in our land. Other

Slovenians seem to be very fond of techno-

than illustrating the history of hunting, the mu-

logy. According to some estimates, we are the

seum aims to raise public awareness of nature

nation with the largest number of tractors per

and environmental protection, with a special

capita in the world! In spite that the country focus on wildlife ecology.

covers a little over 20,000 km2 and has relatively

smal arable areas.

75





Believe it or not – every twentieth Slovenian has a tractor. Photo: Blaž Zupančič.

Old carding machine used to separate threads of material before spinning. Photo: Neža Renko.

Coming from the U.S., this engine-powered push mower was dubbed “the Commercial Singer sewing machines used in garment manufacturing trade. Photo: American”. It was manufactured by Dille and Mcguire in 1953.

Jaka Blasutto.

Photo: Blaž Zupančič.

Textiles in Times Past and Today is a perma-

Humanism and the Protestant Reformation in

nent exhibition showing the evolution of textile

the 16th century were central for the Slovenian

technology in Slovenia from crafts to textile

national identity. We got first printed book in industry, which was one of the most important

Slovenian language, Primož Trubar’s Catechis-

industries in the country. The first textile plants

mus, together with his Abecedarium (1550), and

– spinning and weaving mil s – emerged in the

the first Slovenian translation of the Bible by first half of the 19th century. From these and Jurij Dalmatin (1584). The exhibition The Written

other textile works, the museum holds spinning,

Word: History of Printing in Slovenia covers five weaving, knitting and other machines.

centuries of the printed word and printing tech-

niques from Trubar to the early 20th century.

A major milestone in the development of

It addresses the origins of the black art7 in the

ready-to-wear clothing industry was the inven-

world and local y, Gutenberg, the invention of

tion of a sewing machine which soon found its

movable type and the first printed book in Eu-

way to both industry and practical y every Slove-

rope.

nian household.

7 Letterpress printing is sometimes affectionately referred to as “the black art”, due to inevitability of ink on fingers.

76





This is what printing looked like in the olden days. Photo: Blaž Zupančič.

Tito’s Lincoln Continental. Photo: Aleksander Šenekar.

The first car came to the museum in 1953,

and over the next seventy years it multiplied into

extensive col ections of al sorts of road vehicles.

The exhibitions Our Beloved Car 8 and Motorcycles from Koper sum up the first century of motoring in Slovenia and the history of the only Slovenian

motorcycle manufacturer, Koper-based Tomos

factory.

Jauny Braille typewriter allows blind and visually impaired to write in Braille alphabet, ca. 1930. Photo: Nada Žgank, Domen Pal.

Significant both as technical heritage and

because of its historical value, the col ection of

limousines that were in possession of Yugoslav

President Tito has a special place in our muse-

um. It is complemented with the first armored

state car purchased in the independent Slovenia.

Lincoln Continental — a four-door cabriolet

with the 8V engine, fitted with air-conditioning,

power seats and a lot of other amenities, was

Besides Austro-Daimler and Wanderer (produced before and few years after WWI), donated to Tito by the staff of the Zagreb Fair the car collection includes a 1930’s Chrysler limousine, which was one of popular in September 1965. Tito used it on the Brioni Is-American car brands in our country. Photo: Dragan Arrigler.

lands until 1979, driving around his many guests

from al walks of life; among others a famous

on-and-off couple Richard Burton and Elizabeth

Taylor. Burton visited Yugoslavia in the prepara-

tion for the role of Marshal Tito in a 1973 partisan

film The Battle of Sutjeska. 9

8 Other than a Baron and the owner of the first car in Carniola (Benz Velo Comfortable, 1898), Anton Codel i (1875–1954) was a prolific inventor. His first patented invention was an ignition system for automobile engines (the patent was also registered in the USA), and his most acclaimed a device for mechanical transmission of an image at a distance. In Togo, Africa, he was involved in the construction of a radiotelegraph station “guilty” of the first radio transmission between Africa and Europe in late 1913 – a remarkable achievement at that time.

9 From Burton’s diary entries recording a trip with (at the time) his wife E. Taylor to visit Tito in preparation of the film: August 7, 1971. He met Churchil , who 77





The permanent exhibition Caution, Elec-

tricity! is about the electrification of Slovenia.

The oldest exhibits are a distribution panel and

generator from a smal hydro-power plant in

Jelendol (at the time Puterhof) near Tržič. It was

built in 1895 by Baron Julius Born, the owner of

nearly a third of al woodlands around Tržič, as

wel as the Puterhof manor. Put on display are

also a steam engine and generator from the old

Kids learning about space travel within the temporary exhibition on the 50th municipal power plant in Ljubljana. Starting its

anniversary of the landing of a man on the Moon (2020). Photo: Ursula Osojnik.

operation on 1st January 1898, it was, at the

time, the largest public power plant in what is now Slovenia.

The experiments are pretty much the same as those performed by Tesla himself over a hundred years ago. Photo: Ursula Osojnik.

Good old two-phase steam engine and generator. Photo: Dragan Arrigler.

Besides permanent and temporal exhibi-

tions, the museum organizes al sorts of events

and programs for young and old(er) visitors: from

educational programs for preschool, elementary

and secondary school children, workshops and

guided tours to demonstrations. Of the latter,

Nikola Tesla experiments are one of the most

popular. It is not common knowledge that this

bril iant – and eccentric – inventor spent several

months in Maribor in 1878/79 where he had a job

with an engineering company.

was in the vicinity on Onassis’ yacht. Winston C. accepted a very smal whiskey. Tito had his usual large one. “Why so smal a portion?” asked Tito. “You taught me to drink large ones.” “That was when we both had power,” said Winston C. “Now I have none and you still have yours.”

78





MUSEUM OF POST AND

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

An off-site unit of the Technical Museum

of Slovenia, the Museum of Post and Tele-

communications is housed in the Polhov Gradec

Mansion.10 It gives an overview of the history of

post from prehistory to modern days,11 while the

permanent exhibition (Tele)communications in

Designed in 1978 by Davorin Savnik, the ETA 80 telephone manufactured by Iskra the Past, at Present, and in the Future! il ustrates also makes part of the MoMA permanent collection on industrial design. Photo: Mare Cotič-Trojer.

the development of telecommunications from

Morse telegraph to the first mobile phones.

Our visitors can test some exhibits them-

selves, for instance the manual and automatic

telephone exchanges. Instal ed in Ljubljana in

1927, Strowger was the first automatic tele-

phone exchange in the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats

and Slovenes.

The mansion has a beautiful park with a rose garden. Photo: Dragan Arrigler.

This is just a glimpse of our museum. If – no,

it doesn’t sound right… When you come to

Slovenia, don’t be a stranger. Drop by, there

is a whole lot more to be discovered…

Strowger automatic telephone exchange. Photo: Blaž Zupančič.

10 In the first half of the 19th century, Count Richard Ursini von Blagay became the owner of the Polhov Gradec estate and mansion. Count Blagay was a botany enthusiast, and in 1837 he was brought an unknown flowering plant by one of the locals. He immediately knew that something important was found, assuming it was probably a daphne. He was right, his daphne was really a new species, named in his honor Daphne blagayana.

11 Lovrenc Košir (1804–1879) was a civil servant with the Austro-Hungarian Royal Postal Accountancy Office. In 1835, he proposed improvements to the postal service and the introduction of an adhesive tax-paid postmark – a postage stamp. His idea was ahead of its time and rejected by the authorities. His latter attempts to be acknowledged as the inventor of postal stamps failed because his original proposal documents were lost.

79

Editors: Estera Cerar, Irena Marušič Photos and other material: Dragan Arrigler,

Contributors: Estera Cerar, Milojka Čepon,

ATR.SIS, Jaka Blasutto, Marko Cotič Trojer,

Orest Jarh, Alenka Jerak, Edvard Kobal,

Družina Publishing, Faculty of Natural

Ajda Kozjek, Irena Marušič, Martina

Sciences and Engineering (University of

Orehovec, Melita Silič, Marija Strojnik,

Ljubljana), Peter Florjančič, Tomaž Gregorič,

Blaž Šef, Urša Vodopivec

Institute of Slovenian Astronauts, Tomo

Foreword: Alenka Jerak, Barbara Juršič

Jeseničnik, Tomo Jomišič, Jožef Stefan

Design: Miha Turšič

Institute, Leja Kolenc, Jure Korber, KSEVT,

Translation: Melita Silič, Sebastijan R. Maček,

Irena Marušič, Mavretič Family, NASA,

Dean J. DeVos

Ursula Osojnik, Domen Pal, Tamino

Publisher: Technical Museum of Slovenia,

Petelinšek, Peterlin Family, Neža Renko,

Ljubljana, 2021

Rode Family, Slovenian Emigration

Director: dr. Barbara Juršič

Association, Slovenian Engineering

Academy, Marjan Smerke, Marija Strojnik,

TMS publication no. 72

Primož Strojnik, Aleksander Šenekar,

Format: PDF

Technical Museum of Slovenia, Nebojša

URL: www.tms.si/2021/09/15/e-katalog-us-

Tejić, Tibor Zavrl, Blaž Zupančič, Nada

them-without-frontiers

Žgank, Sanja Živković

Digital edition

Free copy

Publication was made possible by the

Ministry of Culture RS.

Kataložni zapis o publikaciji (CIP) pripravili v Narodni in univerzitetni knjižnici v Ljubljani COBISS.SI-ID 78342659

ISBN 978-961-6464-73-4 (PDF)

REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA

MINISTRY OF CULTURE

REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA

CONSULATE GENERAL CLEVELAND