Rado Lenček
Encyclopedia
Rado Ludovik Lenček was a Slovene linguist, cultural historian
and ethnologist
, who lived and worked in the United States
. He was a professor emeritus of the University of Columbia and contributed significantly to the development of Slovene studies in the United States.
Lenček was born in Mirna. He finished grammar school in Novo Mesto
in 1940 and then studied Slavic studies at the University of Ljubljana
's Faculty of Arts. He graduated in 1944 and in 1946 and 1947 continued his studies in Padua
, Italy. After that, he worked for ten years as a professor at different grammar schools in the Allied Military Government administered Zone A of the Free Territory of Trieste
. In Trieste, he also edited the Kulturne vesti (Cultural News) newsletter of the United States Information Service
.
In 1956, Lenček and his family emigrated to the United States. From 1958 to 1959, he studied at the University of Chicago
, after which he enrolled at Harvard University
, where he received a doctorate in Slavic languages
and literatures
in 1962. He then taught Slavic languages and literature at the University of Illinois at Chicago
. In 1965, he started teaching at Columbia University
in New York
, where he remained until his retirement in 1995. From 1975 to 1988, he was the head of the Slavic department. He was also a member of the New York Academy of Sciences
and of several linguistic societies in the United States and Europe.
Lenček was awarded several times for his work, for example the award of the American Association of Teachers of Slavic and Eastern European Languages
in 1994, and the title Honorable Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia in Science, bestowed on him by the Slovenian Ministry of Science and Technology in 1995 for his achievements in research that contributed to raising Slovenia's international profile. In 2001, he was bestowed the Order of Freedom of the Republic of Slovenia by Slovene President Janez Drnovšek
for his numerous years of work for raising the profile of and establishing the Slovene language abroad. From 1991 until his death, he was a correspondent member of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts
. The Rado Lencek Graduate Student Prize of the American Association for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies was named after him.
Cultural history
The term cultural history refers both to an academic discipline and to its subject matter.Cultural history, as a discipline, at least in its common definition since the 1970s, often combines the approaches of anthropology and history to look at popular cultural traditions and cultural...
and ethnologist
Ethnology
Ethnology is the branch of anthropology that compares and analyzes the origins, distribution, technology, religion, language, and social structure of the ethnic, racial, and/or national divisions of humanity.-Scientific discipline:Compared to ethnography, the study of single groups through direct...
, who lived and worked in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He was a professor emeritus of the University of Columbia and contributed significantly to the development of Slovene studies in the United States.
Lenček was born in Mirna. He finished grammar school in Novo Mesto
Novo Mesto
Novo Mesto is a city and municipality in southeastern Slovenia, close to the border with Croatia. The town is traditionally considered the economic and cultural centre of the historic Lower Carniola region.-Geography:...
in 1940 and then studied Slavic studies at the University of Ljubljana
University of Ljubljana
The University of Ljubljana is the oldest and largest university in Slovenia. With 64,000 enrolled graduate and postgraduate students, it is among the largest universities in Europe.-Beginnings:...
's Faculty of Arts. He graduated in 1944 and in 1946 and 1947 continued his studies in Padua
Padua
Padua is a city and comune in the Veneto, northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Padua and the economic and communications hub of the area. Padua's population is 212,500 . The city is sometimes included, with Venice and Treviso, in the Padua-Treviso-Venice Metropolitan Area, having...
, Italy. After that, he worked for ten years as a professor at different grammar schools in the Allied Military Government administered Zone A of the Free Territory of Trieste
Free Territory of Trieste
The Free Territory of Trieste was to be a city-state situated in Central Europe between northern Italy and Yugoslavia, created by the United Nations Security Council in the aftermath of World War II and provisionally administered by an appointed military governor commanding the peacekeeping United...
. In Trieste, he also edited the Kulturne vesti (Cultural News) newsletter of the United States Information Service
United States Information Agency
The United States Information Agency , which existed from 1953 to 1999, was a United States agency devoted to "public diplomacy". In 1999, USIA's broadcasting functions were moved to the newly created Broadcasting Board of Governors, and its exchange and non-broadcasting information functions were...
.
In 1956, Lenček and his family emigrated to the United States. From 1958 to 1959, he studied at the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
, after which he enrolled at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, where he received a doctorate in Slavic languages
Slavic languages
The Slavic languages , a group of closely related languages of the Slavic peoples and a subgroup of Indo-European languages, have speakers in most of Eastern Europe, in much of the Balkans, in parts of Central Europe, and in the northern part of Asia.-Branches:Scholars traditionally divide Slavic...
and literatures
Slavic literature
Slavic literature refers to the literature in any of the Slavic languages:*Belarusian literature*Bosnian literature*Bulgarian literature*Croatian literature*Czech literature*Kashubian literature*Macedonian literature*Polish literature...
in 1962. He then taught Slavic languages and literature at the University of Illinois at Chicago
University of Illinois at Chicago
The University of Illinois at Chicago, or UIC, is a state-funded public research university located in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Its campus is in the Near West Side community area, near the Chicago Loop...
. In 1965, he started teaching at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, where he remained until his retirement in 1995. From 1975 to 1988, he was the head of the Slavic department. He was also a member of the New York Academy of Sciences
New York Academy of Sciences
The New York Academy of Sciences is the third oldest scientific society in the United States. An independent, non-profit organization with more than members in 140 countries, the Academy’s mission is to advance understanding of science and technology...
and of several linguistic societies in the United States and Europe.
Lenček was awarded several times for his work, for example the award of the American Association of Teachers of Slavic and Eastern European Languages
American Association of Teachers of Slavic and Eastern European Languages
The American Association of Teachers of Slavic and Eastern European Languages is an academic organization founded in 1941.AATSEEL holds an annual conference each December and publishes the Slavic and East European Journal , a peer-reviewed journal of Slavic studies.AATSEEL is currently run by...
in 1994, and the title Honorable Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia in Science, bestowed on him by the Slovenian Ministry of Science and Technology in 1995 for his achievements in research that contributed to raising Slovenia's international profile. In 2001, he was bestowed the Order of Freedom of the Republic of Slovenia by Slovene President Janez Drnovšek
Janez Drnovšek
Janez Drnovšek was a Slovenian liberal politician, President of the Presidency of Yugoslavia , Prime Minister of Slovenia and President of Slovenia . He was born in Celje, Slovenia, then the Socialist Republic of Slovenia...
for his numerous years of work for raising the profile of and establishing the Slovene language abroad. From 1991 until his death, he was a correspondent member of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts
Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts
The Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts is the national academy of Slovenia, which encompasses science and the arts and brings together the top Slovene researchers and artists as members of the academy....
. The Rado Lencek Graduate Student Prize of the American Association for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies was named after him.