Category: Immigration and Ethnicity

WESTERN FRATERNAL LIFE ASSN.

The WESTERN FRATERNAL LIFE ASSN. is a Czech-American fraternal-benefit society based in Cedar Rapids, IA. Known until 1971 as the Western Bohemian Fraternal Assn., the organization was founded in 1897 by lodges of the Czech-Slavonic Benevolent Society which left that organization to form a new association that admitted women as equal members and based insurance premiums on the age of the policyholder.

WIADOMOSCI CODZIENNE

WIADOMOSCI CODZIENNE (Polish Daily News) was founded in 1914 by S. A. Dangel and Paul Kurdziel. Cleveland's first Polish daily, it was an outgrowth of the weekly Narodowiec (Nationalist, 1909-14). Coming under the sole control of Kurdziel by 1921, it was edited by Thos. Siemiradski from 1918-37.

WIESENFELD, LEON

WIESENFELD, LEON (7 Feb. 1885-1 March 1971) wielded considerable influence in Cleveland's Jewish community as editor of various Yiddish and English-language newspapers. He was born in Rzeszow, Poland, and worked for various Polish and German publications before emigrating to America.

WILDE, JOSEPH

WILDE, JOSEPH (28 Feb. 1857-29 March 1923) provided music for the residents of Cleveland's "Little Bohemia" (see CZECHS) both as a performer and as a dealer in musical instruments. A native of Prague, Bohemia, he served his apprenticeship as a maker and repairer of instruments in the old country.

WILHELM PLOTZ MACHINE & FORGE CO.

The WILHELM PLOTZ MACHINE & FORGE CO. is a family-operated manufacturing business. Now owned and managed by the 4th generation in 2005, the firm has been in operation since 1888. In April 1888, Wilhelm Ploetz (the "e" was later dropped), a German immigrant, opened Plotz Iron Works Water Street (W. 9th St.), north of the old Pennsylvania Railroad Depot. The firm did blacksmith work as well as tool and die making.

WILSON, JOHN

WILSON, JOHN (28 Nov. 1893-2 Jan. 1993) a master marble setter who helped create some of the outstanding buildings in the area, was born in Milngavie, Scotland, the son of John and Mary (Smith) Wilson and came to the Cleveland area when he was 19.

WOLFRAM, CHARLES J.

WOLFRAM, CHARLES J. (5 Nov. 1871-8 June 1951) played an influential role in the political, cultural, and fraternal affairs of Cleveland's GERMAN population (see GERMANS). Born in Connersville, Ind., he was the son of Claus and Margaret Baumgartner Wolfram and came with the family to Cleveland.

WOMEN'S WELSH CLUBS OF AMERICA.

WOMEN'S WELSH CLUBS OF AMERICA. See WELSH HOME.

WORKMEN'S CIRCLE

The WORKMEN'S CIRCLE, or Arbeiter Ring, is a secular Jewish fraternal organization founded to build a better world, foster cultural Jewishness, and offer friendships. Part of the national Workmen's Circle, started in 1900, the first Cleveland branch (#79) was chartered in 1904 to work for social legislation.

WZAK

WZAK radio began broadcasting on 26 May 1963 as an ethnic radio station. Founders included Joseph and Elizabeth Bauer, who operated the station, and Xenophon Zapis. It was the first full-time ethnic radio station in Cleveland, and it offered programming in 17 foreign languages, including programs in Hungarian, German (hosted by the Bauers), Greek (hosted by Zapis), Arabic, and Hindi.

YIDDISHE VELT

Die YIDDISHE VELT (Jewish World) was Cleveland's principal Yiddish-language newspaper for over 40 years. It had been preceded by the Yiddishe Tegliche Presse (Jewish Daily Press), founded on 1 May 1908 by SAMUEL ROCKER, Adolph Haas, and Jonas Gross. Rocker sold out 2 years later and then brought out the Jewish World in 1911.

YUGOSLAVS

YUGOSLAVS. See CROATIANS, MONTENEGRINS, SLOVENES, and SERBS.

ZEVIN, BEN D.

ZEVIN, BEN D. (16 May 1901-27 Dec. 1984) built the WORLD PUBLISHING CO. into one of the country's leading book publishers in the period during and after WORLD WAR II. Born in the Ukraine, U.S.S.R., he came to America with his family and settled in New York City early in the 20th century.

ZIONIST ORGANIZATION OF AMERICA CONVENTION

The ZIONIST ORGANIZATION OF AMERICA CONVENTION (June 1921) in Cleveland was a turning point in American Zionist history, with the leadership of the ZOA changing from Louis Brandeis to a group led by Louis Lipsky and Emanuel Neuman that supported the European ideological Zionism of Chaim Weizman.

ZORACH, WILLIAM

ZORACH, WILLIAM (28 Feb. 1887-15 Nov. 1966) was one of America's foremost sculptors. He was born Zorach Finklestein in Euberick, Lithuania. His family emigrated to America when he was 4, settling first in Port Clinton, O., and 3 years later on Cleveland's Woodland Ave. While his father supported them as a junk dealer, Zorach sold papers, shined shoes, and attended school through the 7th grade.

ZORMAN, IVAN

ZORMAN, IVAN (Apr. 1885-7 Aug. 1957), poet and composer, was born in Yugoslavia to John and Marie Pucichar Zorman. The family moved to the U.S. when Zorman was 4. He returned to his homeland only once, at 10, staying for a year. When he came back to the U.S., he began studying the Slovene language, attending Central Institute and St. John's College in Minnesota.