( in immigration documents rarely is the exact place of origin listed - usually it is a larger municipal or parish centre.)

Dr SRZENTIĆ is listed in the memorial book of Serbian volunteers 1912-1918,  tto have taken part in foreign medical volunteer missions on the side of Serbia during the WWI ( 1914-1918). His place of origin listed in that book is Boka Kotorska, Montenegro and he is identified as a doctor.

Boka Kotorska is a bay and BUDVA town is part of the same coastal region of Montenegro.

I found family SRZENTIĆ in period records in first half of the XX century living in that region, in villages PETROVAC (Budva municipality) and SOTONIĆI ( Bar municipality). You ought to look for relatives in these locations there is probably someone still residing in the birthplace of your ancestor from the same family.

https://www.google.hu/#hl=en&gs_nf=1&tok=gCHwoDewX_INCI7DKEhe-Q&cp=14&gs_id=h0&xhr=t&q=Budva+Srzenti%C4%87&pf=p&sclient=psy-ab&oq=Budva+Srzenti%C4%87&gs_l=&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&fp=5d6f9ca7f7e6cf2c&biw=1366&bih=583

*Ragjenovic* is not a valid surname - you should be looking for relatives under the surname RAĐENOVIĆ ( may also be spelled: RADJENOVIĆ ).

For tips on how to locate and contact descendants see our general research section  article:

http://www.rodoslovlje.com/en/documentation/guide-researching-ethnic-serbian-ancestors-austria-hungary

( local forums in local languages, local media outlets,  localized family/town facebook  groups,  contact via Serbian and Montenegrin organizations in USA, as well as Serbian Orthodox Church is recommended.  I suggest you post on the Cafe Del Montenegro website forum : http://www.cdm.me/, among other places - best chance for someone to reply to you in English)

- The reason why his *country* of origin is listed in immigration documents as *Dalmatia* is because that is what these territories were jointly called under foreign rule (occupation).

Balkan Wars  ( First Balkan War and Second Balkan War) took place in 1912. and 1913. , so the years you are referring to (1908. and 1909.) when he took part in missions in the region were not during them .

from an article "SERBIAN AMERICANS" by Bosiljka Stevanović on first Serbian immigrants and their organizations in late XIX century, a passage on early Bokelji immigrants ( immigrants from Boka Kotorska, Montenegro) where dr Srzentić is mentioned as one of the pioneers :

The First Cultural and Fraternal Organizations

We have no information on the number of Serb immigrants in Chicago in the late nineteenth century. They began to settle in the city in the late 1880’s. During the Columbian International Exposition, Chicago’s first World Fair held in 1893, the city organized a public event involving the participation of all the ethnic groups living in Chicago. We know that “there were enough Serbs to join the ‘Parade of Nations’ as Serbians—flag and all—after winning a protest against being classed as
‘Austro-Hungarians’ and later grouped with many others as just ‘Slavs’.”2 The need and capability of the local Serbs to promote their specific ethnic identity on this occasion reflects the earliest efforts of the Chicago Serbs to act in an organized manner.

The founding of the first Serbian cultural organization in Chicago is associated with one of the first Serb immigrants in this city. His name was Ivan Vučetić. He was a Serb from Budva, one of many Serbs from Boka Kotorska (Bokelji) that had arrived in America during the first period of immigration in the nineteenth century. Most of the Bokelji had settled in the coastal areas around New Orleans, New York, and especially San Francisco. During the Gold Rush, some of them settled in California’s hinterland and Alaska. Others sought jobs in mines and industrial centers and established communities in Butte (Montana), Douglas (Alaska), Chicago, etc. The Bokelji were later joined by immigrants from Herzegovina and subsequently by many more from Serbian lands within Austria-Hungary. Vučetić and his fellow Bokelji living in Chicago decided in 1878 to establish a cultural and educational club, which they named Obilić. As the membership of the club grew, in 1881 the organization was renamed and reorganized as the cultural club; it was transformed into a fraternal society called the First Montenegrin Benevolent Society (Prvo crnogorsko dobrotvorno društvo).

3 The society was mentioned in the minutes of another Serbian society founded in 1880 in San Francisco, the Serbian-Montenegrin Literary and Benevolent Society (Srpsko-crnogorsko literarno i dobrotvorno društvo), which welcomed the establishment of the Chicago organization. As the San Francisco society had already been registered, they assisted the new organization in Chicago by sending them their charter and by-laws.4 In 1895 the Chicago fraternal organization changed its name to Serbian Unity (Srpsko Jedinstvo).

By the last decade of the nineteenth century, there was a number of local and regional Serbian fraternal organizations in America. The biggest were the Serbian-Montenegrin Literary and Benevolent Society in San Francisco, Serbian Unity in Chicago, United Serbs (Sjedinjeni Srbi) in New York and Serbian Unity (Srpsko jedinstvo) in Butte. The Chicago organization was the first to attempt uniting all Serb organizations on the national level. The initiative came from Špiro Srzentić, former editor of the San Francisco newspaper Liberty, and was publicly advocated by Vasa Dinić, former president of United Serbs. In 1899 the Chicago organization began lobbying for unification, which was later accepted by three of the above-mentioned organizations, but not by the one in San Francisco. It seems the federation was formally established in 1903. It was based in Chicago and named the First Serbian Fraternal Benevolent Federation (Prvi srpski bratski dobrotvorni savez) or FSFBF.

3. The First Serbian Fraternal Benevolent Federation

The San Francisco society did not join, probably because at that time it was better organized than other Serbian organizations in America.5 This was due to the fact that San Francisco had for several decades been the home of one of the oldest and most numerous Serbian communities in America. During the last two decades of the nineteenth century, San Francisco was the most important Serbian-American cultural center and the home of the first Serbian newspapers published in America: the short-lived Serbian American (Srbin Amerikanac) began publication in 1893, at the same time as Liberty (Sloboda), founded by members of the Serb-Montenegrin Literary and Benevolent Society.6Liberty was for some time the only Serbian newspaper in the country. For several years the San Francisco-Oakland area had two Serbian newspapers: Liberty and Serbian Independence (Srpska nezavisnost) [End Page 36] established in 1904. Both newspapers featured a number of articles on the FSFBF.

When the process of establishing this federation began in 1899, Chicago had no Serbian language newspapers, so Liberty from San Francisco was asked to act as their unofficial organ. This cooperation lasted until 1903, when Liberty published one of its last articles regarding the activities of the FSFBF—its annual convention held in August 1903. The article gives us an insight into the organizations that were members of the federation at that time: Serbian Unity (Chicago), United Serbs (New York), Serbian-Slavic Benevolent Unity (Anaconda), Serbian Unity (Butte), Serbian Benevolent Society (Angels Camp) and Serbian Benevolent Unity (Los Angeles).

By this time, a competing federation of fraternal societies had been established in Pittsburgh by Serbian immigrants, mainly from Krajina, who were arriving in large numbers at the turn of the century. Most of them settled in Pennsylvania and found jobs in the mines and steel mills located in this area. Their organization, established in 1901, was called the Serbian Orthodox Society Srbobran (Srpski pravoslavni savez Srbobran). This was the only federation that had a religious marker in its name. Initially, its official organ was a newspaper titled The Srbin (Srbin), published in Pittsburgh, and publicized as “the only Servian weekly newspaper in Eastern States in the U.S.”

Thanks so much for all the information.  I only speak English so I'll have to find ways to interpret many of the web pages.  Now that I'm a senior I don't facebok either.   I will try the best I can to research the surnames and find a living relative.

In reading my Great uncle Spiro's papers, it says he was in the Serbian Army as a surgeon during the Balkin Wars.  He was also in the USA Army during WW! and wrote an article about the wars in the Medical Sentinel, March 1917, called observations in Servia.   He was also part if a Red Cross inspection team visiting Budua in 1921 to view the war torn Europe.

Is there a way to find out information about his brother Steve, mayor of Budua during WW1 ?

Thanks again. I may have more questions later.

on brother - I believe the info on any town officials can be located in state archives in Montenegro and also the Museum of town of Budva. The name of the brother would be STEVAN / STEFAN / ŠĆEPAN SRZENTIĆ.

There is a historical source available that is cited in several history books from the newspapers that printed it, the telegram that the mayor of Budva SRZENTIĆ sent to Montenegro king NIKOLA upon liberation of Budva in 1914. :

"Povodom oslobođenja Budve, 1914, predsjednik opštine, Srzentić, telegrafiše KRALJU NIKOLI:

»... U ovom svečanom istorijskom času, kad se nad gradom Budvom popela vaša dična zastava, MILA NAŠA TROBOJNICA (crveno-plavo-bijela), okupljeni narod oduševljeno prožet srećom nad srećama podnosi Vašem veličanstvu nepokolebljivu privrženost i sinovljevu ljubav i odanost, a sve to sa najtoplijim željama za sreću i napredak SVEGA SRPSTVA!«

( published in »Cetinjski vjesnik« newspaper, 4th of August 1914.)

I will write a few emails on your behalf in local language to these archives and leave a few messages on the forums - hopefully someone will reply.  I will also post you here later a translation of a message in our language perhaps someone younger from the family can spread on facebook to all Srzentić and Rađenović people who use that network  explaining who you are and who you are looking for.

On family members - there is a note in historical records of the  navy captain MILAN SRZENTIĆ from Budva who was executed by the Austro-Hungarians in 1914. and his courage is cited in the Year book of the Maritime Museum in Kotor ( book published in 1953., original title: "Godišnjak Pomorskog muzeja u Kotoru") :

"Godisnjak Pomorskog muzeja u Kotoru, za 1953.g., opisuje streljanje pomorskog kapetana Milana Srzentica 1914.g. u tvrdjavi Spanjoli iznad Hercegnovog: "Na gubilistu je skinuo maramu sa zavezanih ociju i uzviknuo neposredno prije nego ga je plotun pokosio: Pucajte krvoloci, zivjela Srbija!"

-he took of the blindfold off and shouted at the firing squad "Shoot you bloodthirsty (monsters), long live Serbia! ".

That is the only info I have been able to locate so far   briefly browsing  some history books and sources in that are available in Serbia and Montenegro that corresponds with the info you provided ( WWI time, seamen, Budva, officials).

There is an English-language resource on that same captain Milan Srzentić mocked-up trial here (page 43) in this document titled "Austria-Hungarian Efforts to Exterminate Her Jugoslav Subjects":

http://ia700309.us.archive.org/29/items/austriahungaryse00lond/austriahungaryse00lond.pdf

Note: as the family was obviously very pro-Serbian , you may encounter some additional difficulties when researching them in Montenegro today - the climate is ...how to put this delicately...not favourable towards documenting that aspect of the history of Montenegro at all.

contact for Maritime Museum of Montenegro, Kotor :

http://www.museummaritimum.com/eng/kontakt.htm

contact for central archive of Montenegro:

http://www.dacg.me/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=62&Itemid=30

You are very helpful and I am so grateful for your help. In reaing more about Spiro Srzentic when he returned to Budua in 1921, he received his grandfathers very valuable gold watch. Later he donated it to the Smithsonian in Wash. DC.in 1947.  It says his father  a navigator  aboard merchant ships, carried the watch to California after the crew left the ship in New Orleans in search of gold during the California gold rush.

So my guess is that Milan is not Spiro's father. But he could be Stevan's relative or one of Spiro's other brothers, etc.

I can send you these articles about spiro if you wish.

Thanks again

This Milan is definitely the next generation - he was born  in appr. 1893.

Another thing you need to know - any research of the history of the family needs to be done keeping in mind the clan of origin - and clan of origin of Srzentić family is PAŠTROVIĆI clan.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pa%C5%A1trovi%C4%87i

http://poincare.matf.bg.ac.rs/iak/arhiv/ch02.htm

Here is a link to a forum post in Serbian which is a photo-essay on monastery PRASKVICA, one of the central temples of Paštrovići clan. I visited it years ago and their treasury and monastery library are impressive:

http://www.vojvodinacafe.rs/forum/kulturna-bastina/stari-srpski-manastiri-van-srbije-8511/#post364270

Hello. I sent off an email to the vojvodinacafe managers to ask if this site is  the correct one for asking questions about my family, but no response. I looked at the forum guidelines and I can't find an English translation.  Is it OK to just post a message in English and hope someone can read it ?  Is this site an approprite site to ask such questions about my family ?

Also, is Budua, Dalmitia now caled a different town ?  I have a photo of the city in 1900 and it looks like a penninsula sourounded by water on 3 sides. file://localhost/Users/carlsargent/Desktop/IMG_0009.jpg

I have some information that might be helpful written from Dr Spiro Sargentich(srzentic) in 1914. " In September 1914 I was given charge of second base hospital situated at the foot of the lofty mountain Bukulja, touching the northeast end of the renowned little town of Arangelovac. Dr. Tomich, a physician from Belgrade was the superintendant. The hospital comprised two large buildings amung verdant forest. It was the summer resort of Prince Milosh Obrenovich, built 50 years ago. It was a place for rest and recreation for thousands every year from all parts of the country. At the beginning of this war the two large buildings were convirted into hospitals. The main building could accommodate 450 patients, etc. In September when I arrived there were few patients"   As Austria  was preparing for a new offensive, he new things would increase. He said "I am elated over the new system I established in the hospitals, especially the progress of the male nurses."  

He goes on about the hospital conditions, and on page 3 lists all the cases at the hospitals by types of injuries.  I don't know how useful this might be, but it explains where he served  during the Balkin wars.

Thanks for all your help.

Carl

Hello, sorry I have so many questions.  I went to the Central Archive in Montenegro, I can't find an English translation. I could see the word director plus several contacts that seem like in cities of Kotor and Budva.  Would you recommend I just email them with my questions ?

Is that appropriate ?   Same with the Maritime museum in Kotor. They seem to have no email just a phone number on their site. I could write them ?

Thanks

Hello. I sent off an email to the vojvodinacafe managers to ask if this site is  the correct one for asking questions about my family, but no response. I looked at the forum guidelines and I can't find an English translation.  Is it OK to just post a message in English and hope someone can read it ?  Is this site an approprite site to ask such questions about my family ?

Also, is Budua, Dalmitia now called a different town ?  I have a photo of the city in 1900 and it looks like a penninsula sourounded by water on 3 sides. file://localhost/Users/carlsargent/Desktop/IMG_0009.jpg

I have some information that might be helpful written from Dr Spiro Sargentich(srzentic) in 1914. " In September 1914 I was given charge of second base hospital situated at the foot of the lofty mountain Bukulja, touching the northeast end of the renowned little town of Arangelovac. Dr. Tomich, a physician from Belgrade was the superintendant. The hospital comprised two large buildings amung verdant forest. It was the summer resort of Prince Milosh Obrenovich, built 50 years ago. It was a place for rest and recreation for thousands every year from all parts of the country. At the beginning of this war the two large buildings were convirted into hospitals. The main building could accommodate 450 patients, etc. In September when I arrived there were few patients"   As Austria  was preparing for a new offensive, he new things would increase. He said "I am elated over the new system I established in the hospitals, especially the progress of the male nurses."  

He goes on about the hospital conditions, and on page 3 lists all the cases at the hospitals by types of injuries.  I don't know how useful this might be, but it explains where he served  during the Balkin wars.

Thanks for all your help.

Carl