Joseph Vidich's Austrian Passport

Joseph Vidic left Austria for America from the port of Hamburg, a very common point of departure for many eastern Europeans seeking a new life in the new world. His passport indicates that he left his native land on January 3, 1911, when he was 25 years of age. He must have spent only a few days in Germany before he departed for America. His vessel departed Hamburg on January 3, 1911, taking him on his historic voyage to New York City.

Josef Vidic

Born in 1886 under the reign of his majesty Franz Joseph I, King of the Austrian empire. Joseph was smart dresser from the village of Kropa. His last name, Vidic, of Latin origin, comes from the root word "seer" or one with vision. His name was changed when he arrived in America to Vidich. It is not clear why he added the letter "h" to his name but this is how he spelled his name on his naturalization papers and throughout the rest of his life. See page 2 of his Austrian passport for his signature prior to arrival in America.

It is also worth noting that his passport was stamped with the name of Radovlica, a city not far from Kropa, where immigration affairs were apparently handled at that time. This passport was provided to Arthur Vidich, Joseph's only son and later this document was given to Arthur's son Charles who is now maintaining an archive of family documents and photographs.