KUrier Newsletter of the Department of German Studies The University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS Editor: William Keel • Layout: Pam LeRow Vol. 7, 2019-2020

Recognition Ceremony and Reception Reed Boohar earned both a German Studies major and 2019 a Bachelor of Science degree in Molecular, Cellular, & Devel- opmental Biology, and he completed certificates in the Re- search Experience, University Honors, and Global Awareness The department held its annual Recognition Ceremony and Re- Programs. He received Engel and Collins scholarships for his ception during Commencement weekend, on Saturday, May 18. semester in Bonn in spring 2018. Reed presented his senior We were joined by two colleagues from the College Advis- capstone course research project, “A Legacy of Division: In- ing and Student Services office: Dr. Laura Leonard, Senior Aca- vestigating Demographic Shifts in a Reunified Three demic Advisor for German Studies, and David Nickol, Gradu- ation Advisor. Both were recognized for the valuable advising Decades Later” at the Undergraduate Research Symposium in support they provide for our students. Dr. Winder McConnell, April. He planned to begin the PhD program in developmental an alumnus of our department, was also recognized for a gen- and evolutionary biology at the University of Miami in fall. erous gift he made to German Studies in memory of his men- Owen Brown completed majors in German Studies and tor, Dr. Ernst Dick. His gift enabled us to present each of our Linguistics and a minor in Religious Studies. He graduated Outstanding Award recipients with $200. with Highest Distinction from the College of Liberal Arts and Our ceremony began with the induction of 14 graduating Sciences. (No more than 3 percent of the graduating class may seniors into Gamma Pi, the University of Kansas chapter of the graduate with highest distinction.) Owen was initiated into Phi Delta Phi Alpha National German Honor Society: Reed Boo- Beta Kappa as a junior and earned the University Honors Pro- har, Owen Brown, Shane Chuwonganant, Sarah Cluff, Collin gram certificate. His semester of study in Bonn was support- Cox, Gabriel Dorsey, Matthew Fawcett, Emily Jacobson, Ryan ed by Engel and Office of Study Abroad scholarships. Owen Liston, Meghan McNamee, Claire Schumacher, Anastasiya presented his senior capstone research project, “The Verein Skvortsova, Brandon Wiederholt, and Theodore Wiklund. Deutsche Sprache and the Contradictions of German Lan- We then recognized seven German Studies majors and mi- guage Purism,” at the Undergraduate Research Symposium. He nors who became new members of Phi Beta Kappa National planned to pursue graduate study in Linguistics in Germany. Honor Society: Owen Brown, Shane Chuwonganant, Sarah Shane Chuwonganant earned a major in Psychology and Cluff, Gabriel Dorsey, Matthew Fawcett, Meghan McNamee, minors in Music and German Studies. He completed the Glob- and Claire Schumacher. PBK is the oldest academic honor so- al Awareness Program certificate with distinction as well as the ciety in the . Founded in 1776, Phi Beta Kappa University Honors Program certificate. He participated in our embraces the principles of freedom of inquiry and liberty of Summer Language Institute (SLI) in Holzkirchen and followed thought and expression. that with a semester of study in Freiburg, for which he received The next part of our ceremony honored the academic Engel and Collins scholarships. He plans to attend medical achievements of our German Studies majors and minors. school.

Induction of Graduating Seniors into Delta Phi Alpha Graduates and German Studies Faculty

Sarah Cluff completed majors in Molecular, Cellular & Matthew Fawcett completed the German Studies major Developmental Biology and German Studies. She earned De- and minors in Global & International Studies and Business, partmental Honors in Biology for her senior thesis and gradu- and he earned the Global Awareness Program certificate. He ated with Distinction in the College of Arts & Sciences. (No participated in our SLIs in Eutin and Holzkirchen. Matthew more than the upper 10 percent of the graduating class may presented his senior capstone course research project, “Ger- graduate with distinction.) Sarah became a member of Phi Beta many’s Path to Marriage Equality: From East to West to the Kappa her junior year. She spent a semester studying in Bonn, European Union,” at the Undergraduate Research Symposium. for which she received Engel and Collins scholarships. She pre- This fall he will begin the MA program in German at the Uni- sented her German Studies senior capstone research project, versity of Arkansas. “Reconstruction of Science and Technology after Reunification Emily Jacobson majored in Applied Behavioral Science in Germany,” at the annual Undergraduate Research Sympo- with a concentration in Early Childhood Autism Interven- sium in April. Sarah received a fellowship from the German tion. She earned minors in German Studies and Linguistics Academic Exchange Service to pursue a Master’s Degree in and completed certificates in the Service Learning and Global Molecular and Cellular Biology in Heidelberg. Awareness Programs. She participated in our SLI in Holzkirch- Collin Cox completed majors in Law & Society and in Pub- en. She will pursue a master’s degree in Occupational Therapy lic Administration, as well as a minor in German Studies. In at Abilene Christian University in Texas. summer 2018 he participated in our Holzkirchen program. He is Ryan Liston completed a degree in Journalism (News & a member of Pi Alpha Alpha, the national honor society for aca- Information), a Political Science major, and a German Studies demic excellence in Public Administration. Collin received one minor. He graduated with Highest Distinction in the College of of the University’s Agnes Wright Strickland Awards in recogni- Liberal Arts & Sciences and also in the School of Journalism and tion of his academic record, demonstrated leadership in matters Mass Communications. He is a member of Kappa Tau Alpha, of university concern, respect among fellow students, and indi- the national honor society for journalism, and Pi Sigma Alpha, cations of future dedication to service in the university. He was the national honor society for political science. Ryan received given the honor of carrying the banner for the class of 2019 in the Mark Johnson First Amendment Award last year from the the Commencement ceremony. In fall he planned to enter KU’s School of Journalism for excellence in the study and protection MA program in Public Administration and continue working in of the First Amendment. He also earned the Global Awareness the Provost’s Office as a graduate assistant and intern. and University Honors Program certificates. Ryan will be work- James Dooley, a German Studies major and Economics ing with a communications group here in Lawrence. minor, participated in our SLI in Holzkirchen and spent his Meghan McNamee completed majors in German Stud- junior year studying in Bonn. He completed the Global Aware- ies and History of Art, and she earned the University Honors ness Program certificate. He presented his senior capstone Program certificate. She spent a year studying at the Technical research project, “Track Recommendations and their Impact University in Dresden, supported by Engel and Collins schol- on Immigrant Students in Germany,” at the Undergraduate Re- arships and a German Academic Exchange Service scholarship. search Symposium. Meghan presented her senior capstone research project, “The Gabriel Dorsey majored in Political Science and completed Phoenix Rising from the Ashes? The Reconstructed Dresdner the German Studies minor. He earned certificates in the Uni- Frauenkirche and the Fantasy of Healing in Post-Unification versity Honors and Global Awareness Programs. In summer Germany,” at the Undergraduate Research Symposium. Next 2018 he participated in our SLI in Holzkirchen. Gabe plans to year she will be a Fulbright Teaching Assistant, teaching Eng- continue working at the statehouse in Topeka with the intent lish in Lower Saxony. of working on a campaign and eventually making his way to Kathleen Meeds earned a Journalism major (Strategic Washington, D.C. Communications), minors in English and German Studies, 2 and certificates in the Global Awareness and University Hon- Theodore Wiklund completed a Bachelor of Science de- ors Programs. She completed an internship with a newspaper gree in Mechanical Engineering, a minor in German Studies, in Eutin. Kathleen presented an independent research project. and the Global Awareness and University Honors Program “The Israel-Palestine Conflict in German and American -Me certificates. He participated in our SLI in Holzkirchen. This fall dia” at the Undergraduate Research Symposium, for which she he will begin graduate study in Robotics at Northeastern Uni- won an Outstanding Presentation Award. After graduation she versity in Boston. will be working as a Surface Warfare Officer in the Navy on the Matthew Fawcett received our Outstanding Service to the USS Preble out of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Department Award. During his senior year, Matthew served Noah Miller earned a Marketing degree in the School of as the department’s student representative and Vice President Business and a German Studies minor. He completed the Glob- of the KU German Club. He was a great advocate for German al Awareness Program certificate and spent a semester studying Studies, actively promoting our courses, study abroad pro- abroad. grams, and extra-curricular activities among German Studies Natasha Rickel earned a Marketing degree in the School of majors and minors and the broader KU student community. Business with a focus on International Business, and a German Professor Vyatkina noted: “Matthew is exceptionally friendly, Studies minor. She completed the Global Awareness Program good humored, and considerate, and very good at working certificate. with other people.” Claire Schumacher double-majored in German Studies Owen Brown received an Outstanding Academic Achieve- and Linguistics and earned the Global Awareness Program cer- ment Award. The excellent research paper Owen wrote for tificate. Claire spent her junior year studying in Bonn, support- the senior capstone course focused on the Verein Deutsche ed by Engel and Collins scholarships. She presented her senior capstone research project, “Born Overnight: Techno Music and Sprache ( Association), founded in 1997 to the Reunification of Germany” at the Undergraduate Research ‘preserve’ the integrity of the German language against foreign Symposium last April. Next year she will be teaching elemen- influences. Professor Linden observed that Owen’s paper, writ- tary school in Milwaukee for Teach for America. ten in nearly flawless German, “was a coherent and convincing Anastasiya Skvortsova completed a Bachelor of Science de- argument for why this institute’s purported goals are in conflict gree in Engineering Physics, Aerospace Systems, as well as a Ger- with the findings of contemporary linguists and with the insti- man Studies minor. She participated in our SLI in Holzkirchen. tute’s own practices.” Morgan Thompson completed her German Studies major. Sarah Cluff also received an award for Outstanding Aca- She presented her senior capstone research project, “Animal demic Achievement. As Professor Vanchena recounted, Sarah’s Welfare in the German Constitution,” at the Undergraduate undergraduate career was characterized by her passion for Research Symposium. She is exploring summer internship learning in a rich variety of educational settings. While study- possibilities and MA programs in translation/interpretation. ing in Bonn she successfully completed courses equivalent to Braeden Vaughn earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in our advanced 500 level. She audited three additional German Mathematics, with minors in German Studies and Economics. Studies courses so that she could earn credit for her Biology Brandon Wiederholt completed an English major in Cre- major. In summer 2018 she interned at the Max Planck Institute ative Writing and a German Studies minor. He spent spring se- for Biology of Aging in . Sarah taught biology as an un- mester of his senior year studying in Bonn, supported by Engel dergraduate Teaching Assistant at KU and she taught German and Collins scholarships. He was also in both of our SLIs. to adult learners at the German School of Northeast Kansas.

In this issue:

Recognition Ceremony and KATG Schülerkongress 2019...... 7 Reception 2019...... 1 Celebrating 30 Years of International Max Kade Center 2019...... 4 Friendship: The Eutin-Lawrence Sister City Relationship...... 7 Departmental News...... 5 Faculty News...... 8 Summer Language Institute in Eutin...... 5 Celebrating the Retirement of Deutsche Sommerschule Holzkirchen William Keel, November 23, 2019...... 10 2019...... 6

3 Max Kade Center 2019 Lorie A. Vanchena, Director

Student engagement, scholarly and outreach initiatives, and expanding partnerships characterized the past year at the Max Kade Center. The KU Museum Studies course on Collections Manage- ment and Utilization, taught by Steve Nowak, Director, and Brittany Keegan, Curator and Collections Manager, Watkins Museum of History, met at the MKC during the spring semes- ter. The graduate students gained hands-on, real-world profes- sional experience by completing projects that addressed our the German genocide of the Ovaherero and Nama peoples of collections-related needs. The Center, in turn, benefitted from Namibia, Dr. Kamatuka spoke eloquently about the genocide the students’ expertise and efforts: they provided invaluable and its legacy and also about repatriation and reconciliation. assistance with risk management, deaccessioning policies, in- Co-sponsored by the Kansas African Studies Center, the event ventory, condition reporting, and website design. At the end drew a capacity crowd. In the fall, we hosted a lunch for faculty of the semester, students presented their projects to members and a graduate student following Dr. Svetlana Vassileva-Kara- gyozova’s CREES Brownbag lecture, “Post-German Objects in Contemporary Polish Migrant Prose.” We were also a sponsor of KU’s 9th Annual Digital Humanities Forum. On November 9, Max Kade Center Director Lorie Vanche- na presented a lecture at the Watkins Museum of History, “A Century of German Immigrants in America, 1820-1920.” This was the first of what will become an annual MKC-sponsored event at the Museum that explores German ethnic history and culture in Lawrence, Douglas County, and the State of Kansas. This program also had national and international partners: the German Studies Association had invited Dr. Vanchena to par- ticipate in its new public speaker series, an initiative supported by the Goethe Institut during its Year of German-American of the Douglas County Historical Society Board of Directors Friendship (#WunderbarTogether). The large crowd (76 peo- and MKC Advisory Board, German Studies faculty and to Dr. ple) and lively Q&A reflected our community’s interest in its Peter Welsh, Director, Museum Studies Program. The Center German ethnic history. has been implementing many of the students’ proposals, and This past fall the Max Kade Center again hosted a welcome we look forward to hosting the course at the Center again this reception for German exchange students, members of the Of- spring. fice of International Studies and Global Engagement, KU fac- Our new partnership with the Museum Studies Program ulty, and German Studies students. We also welcomed, for the inspired the Max Kade Center Exhibition Development & De- second time, a group of students and faculty from Hochschule sign Internship for spring 2020. We recently hired Sarah Ful- RheinMain (Wiesbaden) who were in Lawrence for a consult- ton, a second-year Museum Studies student, to create an ex- ing project organized by the University Career Center. The hibit on Dr. Mervin T. Sudler and the Sudler House, home to Humanities Program’s First-Year Seminar, “How the MKC. Sarah brings significant experience and an interest Changed the World,” taught by Dr. Dale Urie, visited the MKC in historic homes to this project on local, state, and KU history. to discuss German immigrants and their descendants dur- Last spring Markus Bierkoch, a PhD candidate in Ameri- ing the war. Another high point of the semester was a visit by can Studies at the Free University of Berlin, spent a week on members of the Peace Mennonite Church. They came to see campus conducting research on the New York Turn Verein. His our exhibit on Henry Remple, who was born in 1908 in the dissertation focuses on German-speaking migrants and their Mennonite village of Alexanderwohl, Ukraine, and to discuss descendants in NYC 1898-1933. He is especially interested in Mennonite history over coffee and pastries. In December, the migrant associations as providers of social and financial ben- MKC joined KU’s international area study centers at the Wat- efits for their members. kins Museum for its annual Tails & Traditions program. MKC The MKC organized and sponsored numerous programs. Student Assistant Abigail Elliott developed crafts that intro- On April 16 we were honored to host a talk by Dr. Ngondi duced children to German Lebkuchen and paper ornaments. Kamatuka, Director, Center for Educational Opportunity More than 800 people attended the event, many of whom were Programs, School of Education. A descendant of survivors of familiar with German holiday traditions. 4 Departmental News

The faculty in the department of German Studies have continued their work to advance student learning and increase our com- munity outreach. Some of last year’s highlights are research ac- complishments of our students and faculty: Nine students who completed research projects in senior capstone course (GERM 580) or as independent studies gave oral or poster presenta- tions at the KU Undergraduate Research Symposium last April, with Kathleen Meeds (advised by Prof. Meyertholen) winning one of the best presentation awards. In May 2019, Lauren Cas- sidy, our recent graduate, presented her German Studies senior honors thesis project at the World Congress on Undergraduate This year, ten KU students participated in the eight-week Research in Oldenburg, Germany. The department continues program. They had all been learning German for one year at its work on integrating research skills into our curriculum that KU before heading off to Germany. For six weeks, the stu- are transferable to other courses and students’ post-graduation dents stayed with host families in Eutin while attending Ger- careers. To increase the visibility and impact of faculty research, man classes taught by Dr. Wallace and Ms. Combs, which were all our faculty have been submitting their publications to KU held at the Johann Heinrich Voss High School. While in Eutin, ScholarWorks (KUSW), an open access electronic repository. the students spent a day visiting the Berufliche Schule, or voca- These efforts have paid off as evidenced in the KUSW statistics: tional high school, located just across the street. During their 2532 items published by German Studies faculty were viewed visit, they got to practice their German conversation skills with and 4750 items were downloaded worldwide in academic year a class of refugee students, who were also learning the language. 2018-19 alone. You can read more about individual faculty ac- This proved to be a fun activity for everyone involved. The complishments in their reports below. group then got a tour of the vocational school, and got to see where students learn skills for a variety of professions, including hairstyling, carpentry, auto mechanics, and the culinary arts. Summer Language Institute in Eutin During their stay in Eutin, the group took several trips to nearby cities, including Kiel, Lübeck, and Hamburg. The day In the summer of 2019, KU’s German Department once again trip to Kiel took place during the annual Kieler Woche (Kiel organized a study abroad trip to Lawrence’s sister city of Eutin, Week) celebration, which is the world’s largest sailing regatta. which is located in the state of Schleswig-Holstein in the north In Hamburg, the group explored the city and visited the recent- of Germany. The program was headed for the second consecu- ly built Elbphilharmonie Concert Hall. The students visited the tive year by Dr. Emily Wallace. She was accompanied this sum- Hansemuseum in Lübeck, which highlights the city’s rich his- mer by Hannah Combs, a graduate student from Mainz, Ger- tory as the principal city of the Hanseatic League. The group many, who is currently studying Political Science at KU and also spent a long weekend in Berlin. There, they got a guided pursuing graduate certificates in Second Language Studies and tour and learned all about the city’s dynamic history over the Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. last century. They visited the Brandenburg Gate, Checkpoint Charlie, Museum Island, the Holocaust Memorial, Alexander- platz, the former site of the , and the Olympic Sta- dium. A highlight of this weekend trip was the DDR Museum, where they got to see what everyday life was like in East Berlin during the time that the city was divided. After their six weeks in Eutin, the group set off for a two- week tour of Germany. Their first stop was Cologne, where a pair of local guides showed them around the city, told them about its extensive history, and gave them a tour of the famous cathedral. This year, our group’s trip happened to coincide with Cologne’s annual gay pride week. This made for a very festive atmosphere, with parades going right by the group’s hotel. The students also visited the chocolate museum. To travel from the cathedral to the chocolate museum, they rode the Bimmelbahn, a mini-train for tourists. After Cologne, the group moved on to , a beautiful city at the confluence of the Mosel and Rivers. While in 5 Koblenz, the students visited the famous Deutsches Eck, or Ger- man Corner, and took a cable car across the Rhine to the Eh- renbreitstein Fortress on the other side. They also took a boat trip on the Rhine to the quaint village of Bacharach. Unfortu- nately, it was a rainy day this year, but the students still had fun exploring the town. Next, the group visited Nuremberg. They toured the city by foot, led by a local guide. They saw the beautiful town square and its famous fountain and visited the former home of artist Albrecht Dürer, which is now a museum. The group also vis- ited the Nazi Party Rally Grounds and the Nuremberg Trials Museum, where they learned about the city’s dark history. The last stop on the trip was Munich. The group took a walking tour of the city’s old town and visited the Viktualien- markt, which is a daily farmer’s market offering a wide variety of products from around the world. The students spent a morning visiting the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site. They traveled by bus to the fairytale castle of Neuschwanstein, taking in the scenic countryside views along the way. As is tradition, the students and their teachers gathered on their last night in Germany at the Hofbräuhaus in Munich for a farewell dinner. The group had a great time in Germany, both during their six-week stay in Eutin and during their two-week trip around the country. As always, the Friends of Eutin made their stay in Lawrence’s sister city a fun, educational, and certainly memo- rable experience. Dr. Wallace is looking forward to leading the group again in the summer of 2020.

Deutsche Sommerschule Holzkirchen 2019 Summer 2019 in Holzkirchen was definitively a hot one. The weather remained, with only a couple of exceptions, sunny and warm throughout the program. Following two days of orienta- tion in Holzkirchen, including a Schnitzeljagd so the students could find their way around Holzkirchen, Professor Keel and the 12 students, representing both KU and the University of Arkansas, departed by train for eight days of intensive sightsee- ing in Cologne and Berlin. The highlights of the stay in Cologne were the impressive Corpus Christi procession at the foot of the medieval cathe- dral in Cologne and the tour of the winery in Mayschoß on the Ahr River, the northernmost grape growing region in Ger- many. The stay in Berlin, included visits to the Bundestag, the Berlin Wall Memorial, the Holocaust Memorial as well as sev- eral other historical museums, even one housed in an air raid shelter from the Second World War. With the summer weather cooperating, a boat ride on the Spree River (eine Spreefahrt) through the heart of Berlin was a real highlight. Returning to Holzkirchen on June 27, the students were greeted on the steps of the Rathaus by the mayor as the town band played both Ba- varian and American marches. After meeting their host fami- lies, the students departed with them to get some rest prior to the first day of classes in the Volkshochschule Holzkirchen. 6 In addition to classes during the five–and–a-half week stay nated by the consulates of Germany, and in Holzkirchen, the students visited the castles of King Ludwig as well as the Chicago Goethe Institut. As always, KU faculty II of Bavaria: Neuschwanstein, Linderhof and Herrenchiem- and students assisted by judging contests and working in the see. A somewhat rainy and foggy weekend was spent hiking Tante-Emma-Laden. atop the Brauneck Mountain with an overnight in the cozy The 2019 Schülerkongress attracted over 150 high school Stie-Alm, an alpine cottage. One of the several visits to Munich students of German representing German programs from the again included a tour of the memorial to the students of the following high schools: Olathe East, Olathe North, Olathe Weiße Rose located in the main building of the Ludwig-Max- Northwest, Manhattan, Abilene, Newton, Lawrence High, imilians-University in Munich. These students gave their lives Hays, Junction City as well as Lee’s Summit West from Mis- to oppose the Nazi regime in 1943. Visits to the Holzkirchner souri. KU’s German Studies Department initiated the annual Trachtenverein (folklore club) to learn Bavarian folk dances high school student competitions in 1965. At that time it was and to the local Schützenverein (sharpshooters club) rounded known as “KATG German Field Day” and was held at vari- out the immersion in Bavarian traditions and culture. After fi- ous universities in Kansas on a rotating basis, continuing un- nal exams, the students, teachers and host families enjoyed a der that name until the late 1980s when it was superseded by traditional Bavarian buffet at the Gasthof Alte Post, accompa- the Schülerkongress and eventually found a more permanent nied by the folk music of the Miesbacher Musikanten and said home at KU in 1992. farewell to the Holzkirchner and Bavaria before flying back to the U.S. Celebrating 30 Years of International Friendship: The Eutin- KATG Schülerkongress 2019 Lawrence Sister City Relationship For the 27th time since 1992, KU’s Department of German Studies played host to the annual com- petition for high school students of German in Kansas sponsored by the Kansas Association of Teachers of German on March 2. The 2019 Schülerkongress had as its theme “Deutschland- jahr—USA!” The day- long activities included the traditional recitations of German poems and prose texts, a 70-question quiz on the culture of the German- speaking countries of Central Europe, and also a Schnitzeljagd Sister Cities Lawrence marked the 30th anniversary of our sis- (scavenger hunt) at the Spencer Art Museum to find German ter-city relationship with Eutin, Germany, with delegation visits paintings and sculpture. Each school could also create a video from each city to the other. In early June, a 21-person group and/or a poster based on this year’s theme, vying with the other from Lawrence headed by Mayor Lisa Larsen and Vice-Mayor schools for the top prize. Individual students also participated Jennifer Annanda traveled to Eutin for several days of festivi- in an oral proficiency interview. Those with the top scores were ties. Following a formal welcome ceremony and a boat trip on awarded medals at the concluding assembly. Lake Eutin, the American guests were treated to a formal din- In addition, a number of other activities were offered dur- ner in the Eutin Castle. The next day they were taken on a tour ing the day, including learning and performing German folk of the city of Lübeck including a visit to the fascinating newly songs as well as learning and performing German folk dances. opened European Hansamuseum, which explores the history of Students could also visit a game room to play German board the Hanseatic League in the Late Middle Ages. During the stay games or converse in German with exchange students from in Eutin, the guests also made a day-long trip to the Middel- Germany, Austria and Switzerland (Sprachprofis) and earn aldercentret in southern Denmark, a recreated medieval town. Kongress-Euro (play money) to purchase German items in the The stay culminated in the traditional German-American Eve- Tante-Emma-Laden (corner shop or Auntie Em’s Store) do- ning in one of the refurbished Gate Houses of the Eutin Castle. 7 will soon be available online. They are also cooperating with KU ScholarWorks to add digital versions of older dissertations and MA theses on the German dialects in Kansas and Missouri to that public resource. In May, the three of them traveled with producer Suzanne Hogan of KCUR public radio in Kansas City, MO, to Cole Camp, MO, to interview several members of the last generation of Low German speakers there. KCUR rebroad- cast its December 2018 interview with Keel “German Dialects in Kansas and Missouri” in May 2019 and is broadcasting a pod- cast based on the interviews in Cole Camp in February 2020. Last April, Keel presented a research paper entitled “Did Friedrich Schiller Inspire the Assassination of Abraham Lin- coln?” at the 43rd Annual Symposium of the Society for German-American Studies held at the University of Wiscon- sin-Madison. He continues to serve as editor of the Society’s Yearbook of German-American Studies and published volume The reciprocal visit of a delegation from Eutin in Kan- 53 (2018) last fall as well as the fifth supplemental volume of sas took place at the beginning of October. Eutin Mayor the Yearbook entitled Fleeing Europe, Finding Philadelphia: In- Carsten Behnk and City Parliament Leader Dieter Holst led tegration, Crisis, and the Migration of 1816–17, edited by James the 12-perrson group from Eutin to Lawrence. The Eutin visi- tors were honored with commemorative proclamations from both Governor Laura Kelly during a visit to the state capitol in Topeka as well as Mayor Lisa Larsen at a city commission meeting. A highlight of the visit was a daylong excursion to the Eisenhower Museum in Abilene and the Flint Hills Discovery Center in Manhattan. The guests from Eutin were treated to a BBQ welcome dinner at the home of Bob and Sandra Schumm as well as a farewell reception on the roof top of the Oread Ho- tel. KU’s Natural History Museum was the venue for the 30th anniversary banquet.

Faculty News

In his last year of full-time teaching at KU, William Keel taught D. Boyd, with the financial support of the Fritz-Thyssen-Stif- senior level courses on German Dialects (spring) and German tung in Cologne, Germany. Cultural History (fall) as well as sections of Elementary Ger- Keel’s outreach to the region was highlighted by a number man. His last class of GERM 104 gathered for a group photo of presentations during 2019 including two courses on “Ger- prior to the final exam in December 2019. Keel also directed man Settlements and Culture in Kansas” for the Osher Lifelong the Holzkirchen Summer Language Institute in the summer of Learning Institute in Overland Park (February) and Kansas 2019, his last of 36 Summer Institutes in Holzkirchen and Eu- State University at Olathe, Kansas (November). In Lawrence, tin since 1980. He continues to collaborate with Chris Johnson he gave presentations to Central Rotary on “German Dia- (PhD 1995) and Gabi Lunte (PhD 1998) on the Linguistic Atlas lects in Kansas” in May as well as presentations at Windsor of of Kansas German Dialects and the three have begun a parallel Lawrence on “Germans in the U.S. Civil War” in October and website the Linguistic Atlas of Missouri German Dialects, which “ in Germany” in December.

Nina Vyatkina continued leading the department in its nu- merous initiatives while also maintaining an active research agenda. Her chapter on using language corpora for L2 vocabu- lary learning appeared in an edited volume published by Cen- gage Learning, and two more chapters are in press in volumes to be published by Routledge and IGI Global. Furthermore, she has been collaborating with Schirin Kourehpaz, the German Studies multi-term lecturer, on developing interactive mod- ules for teaching German with corpora. Ten first modules will appear on the KU Open Language Resource Center website

8 with free public access in early 2020. Dr. Vyatkina gave invited presentations on this project at an international webinar of the International Association for Language Learning Technol- ogy in March 2019 and at the Modern Language Association (MLA) Convention in January 2020 in Seattle, WA. Dr. Vyat- kina further contributed to elevating the scholarly standing of our department by her professional service as Executive Board member of the Computer Assisted Language Instruction Con- sortium (CALICO), Editorial Board member of two interna- tional peer-reviewed journals, and reviewer for numerous journals, publishers, and conferences.

Ari Linden had a productive year of research in 2019. In the spring and summer, he edited the final proofs of his forthcom- ing book, Karl Kraus and the Discourse of Modernity, which will be published with Northwestern University Press in May At Wichita Zoo 2020. In February, he attended the 6th Biennial German Jewish grant offered by the KU Center for Research, Meyertholen spent Studies Workshop at the University of Notre Dame, present- the summer sequestered in her home with her cats, writing fu- ing his preliminary research on the work of Theodor Adorno riously on her book project and working on articles forthcom- and Sigmund Freud in preparation for his next major project, ing in 2020. In July 2019, her article “‘Zum ersten Mal sah ich tentatively titled “On the Dialectics of Exile.” Linden presented ein Bild’: Goethe’s Cognitive Viewing Subject as Scientist and again on Freud at the 43rd Annual Conference of the Ger- Artist” was published in Seminar: A Journal of Germanic Stud- man Studies Association, in Portland, Oregon, where he gave ies. Meyertholen is currently spending her Research-Intensive a talk on Freud’s last major work, Moses and Monotheism. At Semester (RIS) spread over Fall 2019 and Spring 2020. When KU, Linden helped the German Club organize two successful not enjoying her time in the classroom with her students, it film series in the spring and fall, last semester’s theme being can be assumed that she is, as always, sequestered in her home the films of the eccentric German filmmaker, Werner Herzog. with her cats, writing furiously on her research projects. Oc- For the second year in a row, Linden showcased his skills as a casionally, Meyertholen manages to have some semblance of a DJ at the Second Annual Alpine Party in April. Held at a coffee life: she regularly goes horseback riding and running, and even shop in East Lawrence (Decade), this event brought together finds time for a zoo visit or two. Under the tutelage of Bill Keel, students from the German, Italian, French, and Slavic Clubs she is currently preparing to direct the department’s Summer for an evening of multiethnic music and cuisine. The weekly Language Institute in Holzkirchen for the first time during the Stammtisch met throughout both semesters, and continues to 2020 Summer Session. She is excited and honored to continue meet every Thursday from 4-6 pm at McLain’s Market! this 60-year-old departmental tradition.

This past year Andrea Meyertholen completed her second year In September, Emily Wallace attended the Deutsches in her new capacity as assistant professor. In Spring 2019, she Wochenende, a German-language immersion weekend spon- had the pleasure of teaching two extraordinary classes of Ger- sored by KATG (Kansas Association of Teachers of German). man students and supervised an independent study for Kath- The annual event was held this year at the Barn, a bed and leen Meeds, whose project “Israel and Palestine in German and breakfast located on a beautiful stretch of land in Valley Falls, American Media” received an outstanding poster presentation KS. The theme of the weekend was Beschäftigen,“ beteiligen und award at the KU Undergraduate Research Symposium. Thanks beleben mit Musik.” Participants learned about many innova- to the generous support of the General Research Fund (GRF), a tive ways to incorporate music into the German classroom. At the conclusion of the weekend, Wallace, who served as Vice President of KATG since September 2018, officially became the new President of KATG. She is excited for her new role in the organization. Plans are currently underway to hold next year’s Deutsches Wochenende on the KU campus, with support from the Department of German Studies and EGARC. In November, Wallace attended her first ACTFL Con- ference (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Lan- guages), which was held in Washington, D.C. The conference featured presenters from around the country, who shared their research and teaching techniques related to a wide variety of topics in the field of language pedagogy. During her stay, Wal- With Kathleen Meeds lace also got to do a bit of sightseeing in the nation’s capital. 9 Celebrating the Retirement of William Keel, November 23, 2019

At a reception marking the retirement of William Keel at the end of the 2019 fall semester, the Department of German Stud- ies invited colleagues, former students and family members to offer brief remarks.

Nina Vyatkina, Professor and Chair, German Studies

It has been an honor to work with Bill since my coming to KU, first as his junior colleague and mentee, and more recently also as the chairperson of the department that is now German Stud- ies – the department to which he has dedicated more than 41 years of his professional life and from which he will retire at the end of this semester. Over the years that I have known Bill, board since 1996, twice as chair, including his current term. Bill I have developed great respect for his dedication to KU, our has been instrumental in developing not only the KU Summer department, and our students. Although there are many facets Language Institutes but also many other Sister Cities exchange to Bill’s incredibly rich career, I’d like to focus in my remarks on programs (Arts & Culture, High School Exchange, Intern- his contributions to international education. ships). Among Bill’s many activities are the numerous outreach One of Bill’s contributions that made the most profound lectures he delivered both in Germany and the US (including and direct positive impact on the KU students is his long-term his regular teaching for the KU Osher Lifelong Learning Insti- service as the Director of 36 Summer Language Institutes (SLIs) tute) about German immigrants in Kansas, small-town Ger- in Germany, both in Lawrence’s Sister City of Eutin and, most mans in Kansas, a “Lawrence Friendship Garden” in Eutin, and frequently, in Holzkirchen. With 30-40 SLI students per sum- many more. In Holzkirchen, Bill helped establish the Friends mer and 6-10 students studying in Germany for a semester or of the University of Kansas partnership that finds host families a year, study abroad has become an integral part of our depart- for KU students. mental curriculum and the German Studies B.A. degree under The next area of Bill’s excellence is his collaboration with Bill’s leadership. These programs have inspired many former international colleagues in significant research and publica- students to become donors to our program. Currently, several tions. His scholarship as an internationally renowned specialist departmental funds support student scholarships, many having in German-American Studies, especially in German dialects been endowed during Bill’s tenure as department chair. The im- worldwide, is inherently cross-national and has resulted in pact of these programs on our students is hard to overestimate. several monographs, more than 60 articles and book chapters Holzkirchen student evaluations provide the best testimony to published and more than 70 major conference presentations this. Students returning from the program report that, in ad- delivered across the US and Europe. Many of these publica- dition to improving their German language skills, this experi- tions and presentations resulted from collaborative projects ence helps them develop a better understanding of Germany with German colleagues from the universities of Munich, and Europe, motivates them to seek out a greater diversity of Augsburg, and Regensburg. Bill has been instrumental in in- friends, and positively influences their interactions with peo- viting his collaborators as well as other scholars from German- ple from different cultures. What is equally important, most of speaking countries to KU, the exchanges that benefited many them report that the program provided them with a better un- students and faculty over the years. derstanding of their own culture, cultural values, and biases as The significance of Bill’s numerous teaching, scholarship, well as helped them grow as individuals. As the most rewarding and service contributions is further underscored by his rec- aspects of the program, students name the ability to experience ognition at the national and international level. As early as in a culture different from their own; to apply their German lan- 1999, he was recognized by the German government with the guage skills in real life; and the relationships they build with award of the Cross of Merit of the Federal Republic of Ger- their host family, fellow students, and teachers. As one student many for service promoting German-American cultural and wrote, “It was truly life changing. I can’t wait to go back again.” educational exchange and cooperation. As recently as in 2016, Bill’s service as study abroad program director has been the Society for German-American Studies bestowed on him closely linked to his lead role in developing an active collab- the Outstanding Achievement Award for his service as a long- oration with international partners. Bill is one of the found- time member of the Executive Committee and as editor of the ing members of the Lawrence-Eutin Sister Cities partnership Society’s Yearbook, the role he has been serving in since 1980. that was established in 1989, and he has served on its advisory To quote Prof. Randall Donaldson’s remarks in the society’s

10 newsletter on that occasion, Bill has “left his indelible mark on ample, coordinating commemorative city gift ex- the Society. His regard for true scholarship and the high bar he changes, organizing programs, arranging home- sets as editor are reflected in every page of the Yearbook”. stays for guests, and translating speeches as well To summarize, Bill’s leadership in, and dedication to, inter- as speaking on behalf of these organizations. national education has been unparalleled in his efforts as teach- • Engaged in ongoing reflective practice to ensure er, study abroad organizer, and community engaged scholar. integrity within these exchanges for continued We are positive that he will stay connected to our department growth. and our students as well as engaged in research, community Dear Professor Keel, as President of Friends of Eutin, I extend events, and international partnerships. He currently is mentor- to you, heartfelt gratitude for your continuous leadership for ing our junior colleagues, Prof. Andrea Meyertholen and Dr. these programs, for our students, and for the Lawrence com- Emily Wallace, who will take over as Holzkirchen SLI Direc- munity! tor and as organizer of the annual Schülerkongress for High Not only has it been an honor to serve with you, but it has School students, respectively. We are looking forward to our been a pleasure to come to know your lovely wife, Nancy, and continuing collaboration on many similar and other initiatives. your family. In appreciation of your longtime service and lead- Thank you, and Happy Retirement! ership, my wife Nancy and I would like to present you with a commemorative gift. Professor Bill Keel, we present to you a “White Buffalo” hand crafted by Lawrence artist Brian Horsch. Ken and Nancy Albrecht The buffalo symbolizes strength, integrity, stability, and consis- tency. May it be a reminder of how invaluable your leadership On behalf of the Sister Cities Lawrence Governing Board has been in promoting these international cross-cultural com- and as President, Friends of Eutin, it is an honor for me and my munity exchanges for more than 30 years. The white buffalo is wife to recognize Professor Bill Keel, Chair of the Sister Cit- symbolic of abundance and blessings. May your retirement be ies Lawrence Governing Board. For more than three decades, filled with both. Friends of Eutin in collaboration with our partner organiza- Congratulations and thank you for a job well done! tion in Eutin, Freunde von Lawrence, has enjoyed organizing and hosting over 2,000 international exchanges benefiting stu- dents, teachers, city delegates, musicians, artists, and business Frank Baron, Professor Emeritus, German Studies interns, among others. The Lawrence Sister City partnership and Friends of Eutin exchanges have prospered for so many To speak or write about Bill Keel’s achievements is very difficult years, largely in part because of Professor Keel’s committed ser- because there were so many. I can only point out what appear vice and visionary leadership. Throughout his tenure, Profes- to me to be highlights. sor Keel has consistently demonstrated leadership attributes in Over twenty years of chairmanship is undoubtedly a which he has: unique achievement of service and talent. Most people who • Worked tirelessly to mainstream the exchange were not involved would not be able to appreciate what this process and increase communication between means. One would have to be aware of the preceding decade of Lawrence, Kansas, and Eutin, Germany, for suc- departmental history, the turbulent period of the 1980s. Those cessful exchanges. were years of “war.” The two periods, before and after about • Collaborated with Sister Cities Lawrence and 1990, appeared to me like war and peace, first the war, then the Friends of Eutin to plan and execute anniversary peace. (I’m not talking about Tolstoy; his novel about war and exchanges every five years. This included, for -ex peace was fiction. I am talking about departmental history). Then, since 1980, there was the Yearbook of German-Amer- ican Studies. Bill has edited over forty volumes, counting the supplemental issues. Again you have to look at the history that preceded this achievement. Before Bill and two colleagues took over the project, there were no volumes, only irregularly ap- pearing brochures. Bill raised this project to a serious academic series on a national and international level. This is something that the university can be proud of. This valuable asset is at the Max Kade Center now and must be preserved at all cost. There is no reason to discard a single issue. The Linguistic Atlas of Kansas German Dialects is a project that is promoted and preserved in the work of students, as well as in Bill’s scholarly articles and books. This huge effort to pre- serve the language of the German dialect speakers is a preser- vation project that has attracted the interest and participation

11 I would just point out that his article, “A German-American Cultural Icon: O, du schöne Schnitzelbank,” is the first item cited in Wikipedia’s entry on the topic. Basically, Bill owns this field. My use of the “Schnitzelbank” meme is not meant to limit but to expand upon Bill’s contributions to the field, to the university, and to the community. Bill himself is much, much greater than the sum of that song’s verses, which—as far as I can tell—appear to be nearing infinity. But like the song, Bill straddles German and American communities; and like the song, he has touched the lives of regular folks all across the state of Kansas and far beyond. Bill has kept one foot in the ivory tower (we know him, for example, for his work on German dialects in the Midwest, his articles on German linguistics, and his indefatigable building of exchange opportunities for German students), but he has reached out to the regional community in numerous ways, far more than most, including as a popular speaker for the Kansas Humanities Council’s Speakers’ Bureau and the Sister Cities Project. For his community outreach, Bill was honored by the Steeples Service of scholars in Europe. But my concern is about the interviews to Kansans award in 2006—something he doesn’t brag about. that are preserved on the Internet. Such Internet projects are I want to make the point that that award almost always goes to fragile. I have personal experience and worry about what can faculty in public administration, business, law, environmental happen. Such a digital system can easily disappear from view studies, engineering, political science, social welfare, unless care is taken to make sure that a secure home is found geography, special education—anywhere but the humanities. for it. I understand that the Marburg linguistic atlas in Ger- For a professor in humanities to receive this award is a mark many is interested in the acquisition of this valuable resource. of exceptional service to the state. I could say more about Bill’s Because of my personal involvement in the sister city pro- professional accomplishments here, but each speaker fills in gram of Lawrence and Eutin, I am aware of of Bill’s crucial role some more of the whole picture, and I want to get personal for in its beginnings. Most people are not aware that in 1989, just just one moment before I turn over the podium. after Eutin had decided to become a partner city with Law- Bill was one of the first people I met outside my own rence, a political effort was made in Eutin to reverse that deci- department (Slavic) when I first arrived at KU in 1987. He was sion. There was a new political faction in the city council that already an old hand by then, while I was just a newbie, but we proposed a European city instead of Lawrence. But at a decisive shared a past: we both had PhDs, in our respective fields, from meeting of the Eutin city council, Bill led an effort to resist this Indiana University. That is a major bond in academia. Bill is a effort and was successful in persuading the Eutin leaders that natural-born reacher-outer, and he reached out to me. We did the earlier commitment to Lawrence was the best one. the usual things—served on committees, went to guest lectures, We have made progress since then. We have the strong thirty-year tradition of high school exchanges. There have been four marriages between the two cities. As a result, five children must have a kind of dual citizenship, which obligates them to be loyal to the exchanges. We are fortunate that Bill will not retire from his role as the chair of the board for Lawrence’s sister cities, and thus he can oversee the trend to make Lawrence a genuinely international city.

Maria Carlson, Professor Emerita, Slavic Languages and Literatures

When Jim Morrison asked me if I would like to say a few words about Bill Keel, I knew exactly what those words would be. They are:Ist das nicht ein Schnitzelbank? I mention the song, it was one of the first things I learned about Bill’s interests, but I will spare you my singing of it. Still, if you doubt Bill’s prowess in the field of Schnitzelbank Studies,

12 chatted in the halls—but Bill made sure I met the other German faculty and felt included in the German department ambit, for which I am grateful (disclosure: double undergrad major, German and Russian). Bill was also an early mentor—he was a sympathetic ear outside my own department, an ear with lots of institutional experience, people savvy, and a ton of discretion. I have so many good memories built around Bill—around his wit (he is a funny guy when he wants to be), his mentorship, his kindness, his friendship, and—I have to mention it—his annual Oktoberfest and Nancy’s sauerkraut. Bill, I am here to tell you that retirement changes things in your daily routine but it does not and cannot change who you are, or your priorities, or your character. You will be just as engaged and active and generous as you have always been. (And I suspect that you will continue to expand your collection of Schnitzelbank verses—just for fun.) Congratulations on giving up the grind.

Chris Johnson, PhD in Germanic Languages and Kansas done by his students since 1981 and the methodology Literatures, 1995 used for those interviews. I had taken a fieldwork course in lin- guistics when I was still a grad student there and enjoyed that, I have known Bill Keel since late 1983 or early 1984, both as a so I started to see a dissertation possibility that appealed to me student and as a research partner, so about 35 years. I’m divid- to combine German with linguistic field work. ing this long stretch of time into two parts. In Fall 1989, I returned to finish the PhD. Professor Keel did the departmental work to allow me to do a linguistics-re- Part 1. Professor Keel—teacher/mentor lated dissertation. I first came to the Department of Germanic Languages and In Fall 1991 I became ABD. I took my last class with Pro- Literatures (German) in Fall 1983 as a provisional admit grad- fessor Keel in Spring 1992—Old Saxon. uate student. I received my BA in Linguistics in 1979 and had Over the period of 1983/84 until Spring 1992, I had 7 class- started grad school in linguistics. I found my interests moving es with Professor Keel. away from theoretical and applied linguistics (ESL) towards in- In 1990, Professor Keel introduced me to people who terest in the Indo-European and Germanic languages. I took would be key in my finding informants for my dissertation re- my first German 104 course in Fall 1979 (40 years ago!) to get search. I started connecting with people out in Ellis, Russell a taste of a second modern Germanic language. I was 26 years and Rush counties. I started interviews in Spring 1991 and con- old when I started with German. In Spring 1983, I took the tinued them to Spring 1994. I was able to present my research GERM 118 Intensive German II class and based on that expe- at several conferences. rience, I started to seriously consider transferring to German. I finished and defended the dissertation on the Volga Ger- In fall 1983, I asked to transfer to German to work towards man Dialect of Schoenchen Kansas in Fall 1994 with Professor a PhD. I didn’t know what I was going to do at that point. Keel as my dissertation advisor. It was a long journey to reach My first challenge was to get proficient in German. I took a this goal with some road bumps along the way, but with Profes- pretty intensive track of UG coursework. One of those classes sor Keel’s encouragement, I achieved this goal. was with Professor Keel. I think it was Fall 1983 GERM 344 Although my career path took me into the student affairs or Spring 1984 GERM 348. Professor Keel helped me to get a area of KU, I did not lose interest in the academic research. scholarship to go to Holzkirchen in Spring 1984. I went for 4 That leads me to part II. weeks and got to meet the Keel family there when they met up with the group. He and his family were also very active over Part II Bill Keel—research partner my student years hosting gatherings for Oktoberfest, Maifest, While I was working on finalizing my dissertation, other Feuerzangenbowle, Weihnachten, etc. I started to feel a little students were also doing fieldwork in Kansas and Missouri. I more connected to the program by the end of 1984 after inte- took a trip with Bill Keel and his students to Concordia Mis- grating more socially with everyone. souri to see the language revival efforts there – a Low German I’m not exactly sure when Professor Keel and I talked theatre program. That was my introduction to Low German about fieldwork with Kansas German Dialects. I’m guessing it outside of a classroom. One of Bill’s students undertook re- was around the time that I took GERM 785—Introduction to search on the local dialect of Concordia. Several other students German Dialects in Fall 1985. I learned about the fieldwork in in the early 90s were working on various dialects in Kansas.

13 I took a number of trips with Gabi Lunte over the course of Our recordings are also slowly being added to KU Schol- the 1990s to do further interviews in Kansas in established Low arWorks. German communities in northeast Kansas, central Kansas and In addition, we are working on adding an additional website also in SW Kansas where Low German Mennonite transient for the German dialects of Missouri. That will allow us to share workers from Mexico were increasing in numbers. We worked recordings from all our Missouri trips to those communities with Bill in targeting places where we might get success. of speakers who participated in interviews. All this work leads In 1999, Bill, Gabi and I took a trip to Wausau, WI to a Po- back to Bill Keel and his mentoring of the many people involved. meranian Low German conference. We hooked up with some Bill, I wish you happy retirement. people from Cole Camp Missouri and did some interviews in a hotel lobby. This led to a larger field trip across Missouri in May 2000 to Andreas Kühn, BA in German, 1985 interview German speakers across the state from Cole Camp, Stover and Versailles over to New Melle. In 1981, I was a young undergraduate student in my first year at I also accompanied Bill and his class in 2003 to Cimarron, KU and Prof. Bill Keel was a young Associate Professor in the KS to interview Mexican Mennonites. Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures. You’ve In 2014, Bill, Gabi and I took a trip to Perry County Mis- already heard about a long list of accomplishments and activi- souri to interview some Saxon Lutherans in east central Mis- ties in which Prof. Keel has been engaged in his tenure at the souri and explore the area up to St. Genevieve. University of Kansas. What is remarkable is that Prof. Keel has Finally, in May this year we took another trip down to Cole kept up that pace since I first met him 38 years ago. Besides Camp to reconnect with some people we had first met in 2000. teaching classes, advising and mentoring students, being in- We demonstrated how dialect research is done for a KCUR strumental in establishing and maintaining exchange trips to journalist who was developing a podcast. Germany, and conducting research on the rich history of Ger- It is very interesting to watch Bill Keel as he interacts with man immigration to Kansas and the many German dialects the people who facilitate our interviews and with those who spoken here, Professor Keel was the faculty advisor for the K.U. participate. He can connect like no other person to make the interviews very enjoyable for everyone. He is a natural in front of an audience. If we stop in a place where he suspects he might find a German speaker, he will not hesitate to engage a person whom he thinks might have something to say. It is the way, for example, that we learned the Volga German term kihbladder, meaning cowpies, in a McDonalds at the Russell, KS exit on I-70. He will sing German songs at the slightest provocation. People really like this. When we travel, we sometimes go off the beaten path to see a sight of interest, such as the Immaculate Heart of Mary church in Windthorst, KS located in open coun- try in Ford County, east of Dodge City.

Finally… Technology started to really change after the mid 90s. Al- though we could write articles in journals and books about our research, it was still not possible to make our recordings widely available, especially to those communities where the dialects were located. By the early 2000s, it was possible to convert analog recordings to digital. Access to the internet was grow- German Club. We would go on field trips, eat out at a German ing. EGARC helped us immensely with converting cassettes to restaurant in Kansas City, and each year we celebrated Okto- digital files. With the help of students like Mike Putnam, who berfest at Hoover’s Barn. had come to KU to study under Bill Keel, we began to segment For all that time it was a family affair as the whole Keel digital recordings into a form that we could publish online in family would be involved in activities at K.U. and with the K.U. an organized way. This led to the publishing of the online Lin- German Club. I clearly remember one evening when Prof. and guistic Atlas of Kansas German Dialects in 2003 with Bill Keel’s Mrs. Keel found time to eat dinner with and visit with 50 young 2006 article on the varieties of German in Kansas becoming men at Grace Pearson Scholarship Hall. Our discussions after the highlight of the home page as we redesigned the website dinner left quite an impression on us—especially that both over the years. The website continues to evolve to this day as we took time out of very busy schedules, listened, and were gen- restructure it yet again and add more content. uinly interested in our opinions.

14 As a teacher, I know it is all too easy to measure success by attendance, grades and graduation rates. It is these intangible items, however, where we have the greatest impact. I often have people tell me that they remember their high school or col- lege German teacher. They may not remember but a few words in German. They all remember how engaged their teacher was and how that teacher made them want to learn. That is Prof. Keel. He has always led by example. He is genuinely interested in his research, in the German culture, and most importantly in each and every one of his students. If you’ve ever been to a Deutscher Schülerkongress at Wescoe Hall in March, you know what I mean. For high school German teachers and stu- dents to have this level of support from the University of Kan- sas is incredible. Prof. Keel, just consider the number of students you have taught and mentored over 41 years. It has to be in the thou- sands. We have gone on to become researchers, computer pro- grammers, engineers, doctors, lawyers, judges, entrepeneurs, administrators, and teachers. I’d like to think that we all have taken some of your enthusiasm, dedication, and joy in learning pate in the Eutin sister city exchange program. This opportu- with us. nity certainly opened my eyes to the incredible power of travel- As with former students who approach me from time to ing abroad—experiencing a culture different from my own in time, I may not remember everything I once learned, but some a full language immersion experience. Trips such as these have lessons I will never forget. One I learned when, as president of so much to offer students and my dad has been a tremendous the K.U. German Club many years ago, I had to give a short advocate and ambassador of such programs with his work with speech. Prof. Keel asked me to include one bit of information. the Summer Language Institutes to both Holzkirchen and Eu- This is where you all come in. This is a pop quiz. Please take out tin. The legacy of his work with students abroad is truly one of pen and paper. There is only one question. Who was the first his greatest contributions to our society. U.S. President to have a Christmas tree at the White House? I also had the opportunity to be a student of my father in Professor Keel, on behalf of your grateful students, various classes as I pursued my own degree in German foreign Vielen vielen Dank! language education. A favorite class of mine was certainly Idi- omatic Usage because it had perhaps the very best final I have ever experienced. We decided to meet at Free State Brewery Catherine “Katie” Reddig (Keel), BS in Education, 2000 and over dinner and some beverages we each got to explain the meaning of a different German idiom. I don’t remember which Good afternoon, my name is Katie Reddig and I am one of Dr. idiom I had to explain, but I think I aced it. Keel’s four children and I am truly honored to have the op- All that I gained from growing up as Dr. Keel’s daughter portunity to be here and share a few words in honor of my dad. and student has been freshly recalled for me when this last Like my sister Mitzi here will share, growing up as the daughter summer I got to travel again with him through Germany and of Herr Doktor Keel was truly a unique and wonderful experi- this time with my husband and four children. As a side note, it ence. Some of my earliest memories are of course of Oktober- made me appreciate all the more how amazing my mom is. Be- fest at Hoover’s Barn and also running through the orange tiles cause she traveled to Germany by herself with me a five-year- of the first floor of Wescoe to let him know we were there to old Liesel a three-year-old and Mitzi a 4 month old in 1984 pick him up. I still recall the unique smell of that floor of Wes- and just did it all. She got through airports and train stations coe. And Chris Johnson, I am glad that you are here because I to meet up with my dad. So I wanted make sure my mom does definitely remember you from 1984, when we were all in Holz- get recognized for all that she has done. Anyway, this last sum- kirchen and I was 5 years old. mer trip to Germany with my dad: I will forever be grateful for Being the child of Professor Keel meant that I grew up in the opportunity to share that experience with my family. That an academically focused household where learning was truly they got to see that side of my dad--seeing him in what we lov- valued for its own sake. In my memory every family dinner ingly called his natural adopted habitat in Holzkirchen, having in the evening involved at least one of us kids running to the my children learn from his deep expertise of German history, encyclopedia set to corroborate the information my dad was particularly in Berlin. sharing with us. It was in junior high at Central Junior High So this evening I simply want to say thank you, Dad. Thank School here in Lawrence with Frau Olin that I began to formal- you for all you have taught me and have taught us. You are truly ly learn German and continued with that through high school. one of a kind. And we are so very proud of you. And we love And it was in high school that I had the opportunity to partici- you so much. 15 Christa Marie “Mitzi” Keel, BA in Political Science, 2006

Good afternoon and thank you! I’m Mitzi Keel, one of Profes- sor Keel’s daughters, and I’m so happy and so proud to be here to celebrate our Dad. I wanted first to thank those of you who were involved in putting this reception together—to Samantha and Cynthia es- pecially. Thank you for your dedication to making this event truly special for the person it honors. And thank you, everyone, for taking time out of your weekend to celebrate this occasion. It means so much to us to see our father celebrated by friends, students, and colleagues after 41 years of service to the Univer- sity of Kansas. My memories of growing up are intimately connected with having a father who is a professor of Germanic Languages and Literatures. From lighting real candles on our Christmas tree and knowing the correct pronunciation to Stille Nacht to arguing with a gym teacher that I didn’t need to wear a “jersey” over my t-shirt during a soccer game because I was already wearing a Fussball t-shirt my father had brought home from Germany. I got lucky when I broke my leg freshman year at KU. My From the trips to the airport to send him off on the Sum- doctor said I should drop-out because there was no way I could mer Language Institute to being the first one to get the mail keep up with 17 hours’ worth of classes and work on crutches. and finding a postcard from Germany with Dad’s handwriting. My parents thought differently, and my Dad with his course From waking up at midnight so that we could talk to him load of teaching, would drive to my class, then go teach his seven time-zones away to the excitement of him unpacking his class, then come pick me up and take me to my next class and luggage to find jars of Nutella, Ritter Sport multi-packs, or my then would go teach his class. I’m lucky that I didn’t drop-out childhood favorite—Haribo! and graduated in 4 years and got to walk down the hill and see And of course—developing a taste for an excellent German my Dad along the line of faculty welcoming the newest alumni. beer and learning how to host a premier Oktoberfest, Maifest, I don’t know how he did it all, but had he not done it—my leg or Feuerzangenbowle (traditions each of us have continued in and my life would not be where they are today. our own homes) Dad is and always will be a teacher, and we are so fortunate We had it pretty good growing up with Herr Doktor Keel. to continue to be instructed by him. His voice is in my head Since graduating from KU—I have worked in education (and probably yours too) whenever I try to speak in German. non-profits to ensure every kid gets what I got—an excellent In case you’ve lost that voice along the way, just call my parents’ education. The Keel kids got lucky, all of us received that ex- house when they’re not home to hear my father’s voice sing: “Ei cellent education—not only from the institutions we attended du schoene, ei du schoene, ei du schoene Schnitzelbank!” as he here in Lawrence, but most importantly from our parents. invites you to “please leave a message.” I got lucky when I spent a summer in Germany, and Dad Dad, we lucked out that Mom decided to meet you at a took me to Dachau because I wanted to visit the place that I had party where you were playing in the Deutschmeister Band all studied. I got lucky that I went with my Dad, who had not only those years ago and that you made your home here in Law- been there several times before but could give me a personal- rence. You both worked so hard and sacrificed much for the ized tour (in English) so that I could fully understand every as- four of us and we will always be grateful for that. pect. He did so well that a family visiting from Colorado tagged When friends or colleagues ask me about KU and the pro- along behind us, soaking in the knowledge he was providing. fessor who had the most significant impact on my time here. It I got lucky when in high school, I need to get access to is with great pride to say it was my dad. primary sources for a research paper—so Dad brought me to On behalf of your children, I know I can easily say you will Watson library, helped me get a card through his name, and always be our favorite professor. showed me how to use the stacks to get my research done. I’m Congratulations on your retirement. pretty sure I got an A on that paper. We love you so much, Dad, and are so very proud of you!

16 Giving to the Department

Since 1887, when William Herbert Carruth became the first professor of German at KU and was joined in the 1890s by Elmer Franklin Engel and Alberta Lincoln Corbin, KU’s tradition of German studies has offered students at all levels the opportunity to learn one of the world’s great languages and to study the literature and culture of Central Europe. Under J. Anthony “Toni” Burzle’s tenure as department chair in the 1950s and 1960s, the department was in the forefront of establishing opportunities for our students to study language and culture in Germany. Our programs in German at KU, however, rely very much on the generosity of our former students. For many of you, a sum- mer, semester, or year in Germany during your KU years was the highlight of your studies. This experience has been and con- tinues to be a truly life-changing event for so many of our students. Each year study abroad becomes more and more expensive. It is imperative that we support our students and enable them to study abroad. Norm Fahrer, attended both of our summer institutes as a KU undergraduate (Holzkirchen in 1965 and Eutin in 1966). Before he died, Norm contributed $150,000 to establish an endowed scholarship fund, in memory of his father who had taught German at Bethany College in Lindsborg, for KU students to participate in the summer program in Holzkirchen. Carl Krehbiel was so transformed by his experience as an undergradutate in Holzkirchen in 1968 that he established an endowed scholarship fund in 2011. The nearly two million dollar principal generates enough income to cover the program fee for all KU students participating in the Eutin and Holzkirchen programs. It is very gratifying to hear from former summer institute students. With your help we can continue to offer such high quality summer experiences in Germany for our future students. [With thanks to Prof. William Keel, who composed this historical narrative.]

Herzlichen Dank und beste Grüße! Nina Vyatkina, Chair

Ways to give to the department You can donate online with a credit card by going to http://www.kuendowment.org/depts/german/dept Online giving is se- cure, speedy, and simple. Click the area you would like to support and you will be redirected to the website of KU Endowment, the non-profit fundraising organization that supports KU. For information on other ways to give, please visit the KU Endow- ment web site. For information on other opportunities to assist the Department, please contact the Chair, Nina Vyatkina at [email protected] or (785) 864-4803.

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