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Guide to the Besich Family Papers, 1902-1995

Repository
Heinz History Center
Title
Besich Family Papers,
Creator
Besich Family
Collection Number
MSS#443
Extent
1.0 linear feet (2 boxes)
Date
1902-1995
Abstract
The Besich family immigrated to the United States from the former Yugoslavia (at that point part of Austria-Hungary) around 1908, settling near Sharon, Pa. Anne Margaret Besich graduated from Mercy Hospital School of Nursing and worked as nurse in the Navy during World War II. These papers include birth certificates, death certificates, obituaries and funeral cards, baptismal certificates, marriage licenses, naturalization papers, correspondence, photographs, school and career information, photo album, newspaper clippings, and miscellaneous items.
Language
The material in this collection is in English.
Author
The guide to this collection was written by Debbie Day.
Publisher
Heinz History Center
Address
1212 Smallman St.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
library@heinzhistorycenter.org
URL: https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org

History

Joseph I. Besich (Josef Beshitz) was born in 1877 in Austria-Hungary. He married Genevieve Theresa Elbi who was born in 1879 in Austria-Hungary as well. They immigrated to the United States about 1908 with children John A., Madeline (Lena) and Katherine (Kate) M. and eventually settled in the area near Sharon, Mercer Co., PA. Two more children were born to them in Mercer Co., - Joseph Stephen and Anna Margaret. Joseph I. Besich died in 1941 and his wife Genevieve, who was naturalized as a U.S. citizen in Nov 1945, died in 1946.

John A. Besich (11 July 1900 to 3 Oct 1973) was born in Austria-Hungary. He immigrated to the U.S. with his parents and was naturalized in 1948. John was employed for 25 years (1921-1946) at American Steel & Tinplate Co. and then for 16 years (1946-1962) at General American Transportation.

Joseph Stephen Besich was born 4 May 1909 in Sharon, Mercer Co., PA after his parents immigrated to the U.S. He married Frances Elizabeth Gorence (daughter of Michael Gorence and Franciska Brajer/Brayer). He worked for over forty years for the United States Steel Corporation. Frances was born 1 Dec 1909. Joseph S. and Frances had two children. Frances Ann Besich was born 3 July 1937 in Sharon, Pa., and Joseph Carl Besich was born 10 Nov 1935. Joseph Carl Besich became an Eagle Scout in 1953.

Anne Margaret Besich, the last of the five children of Joseph I. And Genevieve Besich, was born 26 Nov 1915 in Farrell, Mercer Co., Pa. and died 22 Aug 1987. She attended nursing school and graduated from Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in Pittsburgh Pa. She was a Navy nurse during WWII and also taught for a while at Temple University.

Michael (Matija/Mathew) Gorence was born 1 Feb 1881 in Austria-Hungary and died 12 June 1970. He was the father of Frances Elizabeth Gorence Besich. At one time he relayed some of early life to his daughter Amelia (Millie) who wrote it down. When he was 6 or 7 years old his mother sent him out to work for room and board with a man who made pots and pans. His mother then left home. At age 16 Michael was working digging stones to be used in making wine cellars. The person driving the horse and wagon which hauled the stones told Michael he should go to America. Using 150 gildings ($75) borrowed from the "pots and pans man", Michael went to America to a man he knew from one of the villages he had worked in and who was now living in Sharon, Pa. Some of his jobs in America included working in the brick yard, cleaning ashes out of bellows, working in a steel mill in Carnegie and in lumber camps in the Appalachia Mts.

Scope and Content Notes

The Besich Family Papers are housed in two archival boxes and are arranged alphabetically by person and then alphabetically by folder title. These papers include birth certificates, death certificates, obituaries and funeral cards, baptismal certificates, marriage licenses, naturalization papers, correspondence, photographs, school and career information, photo album, newspaper clippings, and miscellaneous items.

Arrangement

  1. The Besich Family Papers are housed in two archival boxes and are arranged alphabetically by person and then alphabetically by folder title.

Conditions Governing Access

No Restrictions.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Tracy Sullivan and Jennifer Baldwin on 2003.

Preferred Citation

Besich Family Papers, 1902-1995, MSS#443, Library and Archives, Senator John Heinz History Center

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Debbie Day in 2006.

Conditions Governing Use

Property rights reside with the Senator John Heinz History Center. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the Library and Archives of the Senator John Heinz History Center.

Separated Materials

Two boxes of photographs have been arranged and described as MSP#443. Two oversized photos have been separated and cataloged as MSR# 443. A 78 rpm record has been separated and cataloged as MSC# 443

Subjects

    Personal Names

    • Besich Family
    • Gorence Family

    Other Subjects

    • Immigrants-Pennsylvania-Mercer County

Container List