History 21 The Podcast - 1.26 Albert Kordiak
Albert Kordiak served as Anoka County commissioner for 32 years, beginning a family legacy that lasted a total of 64 years when his son retired. During his lifetime, Kordiak built a legacy based on supporting causes he firmly believed in, including the anti-communist movement in the 1950’s, advocating for his hometown of Columbia Heights, and remembering his Czechoslovakian roots. In 2009, Kordiak took time to record an oral history for ACHS that detailed many of his experiences.
Hosts Rebecca Desens, ACHS Executive Director, Sara Given, ACHS Volunteer Coordinator and Erin McBrien, ACHS Archivist.
Albert Kordiak at his desk.
Albert Kordiak
Anoka County Commissioner 1954 - 1986
The Kordiak family
Anoka County Commissioners, undated. Far left: Albert Kordiak.
Albert and Milie Kordiak
Anoka County Library Minute
Further Reading:
The Practice of Local Government Planning by Charles H. Hoch (320.6 PRA)
Everything you’d want to know about how to operate in local government. Topics covered include a history of city planning, land use, transportation, finance, etc.
Columbia Heights: bootstrap town: a social history by Irene Parsons (977.665 PAR)
A thorough history of the city of Columbia Heights with a wealth of names, dates, locations and photographs. Of particular note to listeners might be Chapter 13, in which we learn that Albert Kordiak pioneered the Anoka County park system.
An account of the events leading to the formation of Czechoslovakia during World War I. A small band of rebels seized control of the Trans-Siberian Railroad, bringing down the Austro-Hungarian Empire, while claiming independence as a nation for Czechoslovakia.
If you, too, have Czechoslovakian roots, learn how to trace your lineage with this genealogy guide specific to Eastern European ancestry.
Transparent Language Online (eResource)
Learn to speak Slovak with this online language learning resource. Starting at the library’s website, anokacountylibrary.org, click on the Books and More menu option and then click Languages & Writing under Subject Guides. Create an account to track your progress or continue as a guest.
America in the 1950s by Edmund Lindop (J973.92 LIN)
This book is geared more for grade school children, but it provides a good overview of the decade for adult learners, as well. Learn more about the international tensions surrounding communism. In addition to government affairs, the book also highlights social movements, entertainment, sports, and more. There is a timeline in the back of the book that highlights key milestones from all of these areas, which gives readers a good sense of what was going on from year to year.
The Red Flag: a history of communism by David Priestland (320.532 PRI)
In this book, Oxford professor David Priestland takes the reader through the global history of communism, from its rise after the French Revolution to its demise in the late 1980s. The author examines the motives of various communist world leaders as well as the conditions under which their subjects had to live.
Dewey Defeats Truman: the 1948 election and the battle for America’s soul by A.J. Baime (324 BAI)
This book outlines the details around Truman’s rise to presidency. While Truman served as “accidental” President following FDR’s death, he was actually considered the underdog in the 1948 election. His triumph was unexpected and the challenges he faced were many, not least of which was “careful attention to the origins of the Cold War”.