Volume 25 No 3 • Fall 2016

From Evangelische Dreieinigkeitskirche to King Solomon Missionary Baptist Church—The History of a Milwaukee Place of Worship

Antje Petty Photo courtesy Alan Magayne-Roshak Alan courtesy Photo Evangelische Dreieinigkeitskirche Milwaukee: stained glass window with inscription in memory of Christoph Baumgaertner

n the corner of 4th Street elegantly curved balcony, visitors are and Meinecke, in the heart surrounded by tall, colorful, stained- of Milwaukee’s Harambee- glass windows that depict biblical INSIDE OBronzeville neighborhood, two figures and scenes. Many windows • Upcoming Events cream-colored brick structures stand feature bible verses and personal out: an old church and an adjacent dedications in the German language, • Second Annual MKI Oktober old school building. This is the home recalling an earlier time in the build- Fest of the King Solomon Missionary ing’s history. On the outside, above • The Bennett Law, the Germania, Baptist Church. On Sundays the the entryway, one can still see the and the Körner Pamphlet church comes alive with exuber- name of the original church chiseled • Friends Profile: Charlotte ant services. On other days, there in sandstone: Ev[angelische] Drei- Bleistein may be public meetings addressing einigkeitskirche. challenges in the neighborhood, This church was built in the performances by the KSMBC choir, early 1890s for the Evangelische or bible study classes. Sitting in century-old wooden pews under an Continued on page 4 DIRECTOR’S CORNER

Greetings, Friends and Readers!

he fall semester is now well port, IA, which was very successful. for information on these and other underway, and the biggest Also that month I traveled to Holmes events. update to share is, of course, County, OH, to give a presenta- Good progress continues on our Tthe retirement of our dear colleague, tion on Pennsylvania Dutch at the ongoing research projects. In con- Cora Lee Kluge. Cora Lee’s half-cen- annual meeting of the Amish and nection with the German Immi- tury of service to our University, the Mennonite Heritage Center. Almost grant Oral History Project, Antje German Department, MKI, and the 400 people attended, most of them has interviewed more first-gener- broader field of German-American Amish and Mennonite speakers of ation immigrants who came from studies has touched literally thou- the language. Most of our outreach German-speaking Europe. On the sands of students and colleagues. work this fall has been in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania Dutch Documentation Fortunately, Cora Lee is keeping her which has taken us to the Milwau- Project front, German Ph.D. student office in the University Club in order kee metro area and as far north as Joel Stark successfully defended his to continue her research and contrib- Boulder Junction in Vilas County. dissertation on the Reading Adler ute her time and expertise to MKI This fall, the UW–Madison Speakers newspaper in May and is complet- in other ways. In addition, as our Bureau (speakers.wisc.edu) rolled out ing his revisions, while I continue Friends know, we are deeply grateful the Faculty Hometown Engagement to work with colleagues in the UW to all our gifted volunteers, includ- Project, which aims to showcase the Medical School, nurses, doctors, and ing JoAnn Tiedemann and Charles impact UW–Madison has across the midwives to improve the delivery of James, for helping us out! Badger State. MKI’s outreach mission health care to Wisconsin Amish and As usual, MKI has been a hive is very much in line with this exciting Mennonite families. of activity this semester. I am very and important project. Thank you, our Friends, forall you grateful to Hope Hague for her Here in Madison we have been do on behalf of MKI. Our second hard work in so many areas that pleased to sponsor three guest lec- annual Oktoberfest at the University are crucial to the smooth operation tures, the first by our friend and Club was another great success (and of the Institute. Kevin Kurdylo has colleague who leads the German a lot of fun). A huge shout-out to continued his good work to build program at UW–Whitewater, Matt Fran Luebke, John Pustejovsky, and and maintain our library and archive, Lange, who spoke last month on Pamela Tesch, who worked hard with an important component of which is the topic of “Hermann Ahlwardt’s Antje and Hope to make everything the ongoing development of our web- Antisemitic Campaign in the United happen. We could not do our work site. Since we redesigned our virtual States, 1895–97.” This month, Vikto- without your support, and for that we portal last year, the feedback about rija Bilic from UW–Milwaukee deliv- are deeply grateful. Warmest regards it from patrons around the world ered a lecture on “Translation and the to all for a healthy and happy holiday has been very positive—thanks to German-American Experience: His- season! Kevin and Antje Petty for their hard torical Letter Collections.” And, look- Mark work! Both Antje and I have been ing toward the holiday season, we are on the road quite a bit this fall with excited to welcome MKI Friend Bill public presentations and workshops, Petig from Stanford University and a a few highlights of which are worth native of Watertown, whose topic is mentioning. In October Antje led a “The History of the Moravian Star.” genealogy workshop at the German Check the Events page (mki.wisc. American Heritage Center in Daven- edu/events/all-events) on our website

2 Calendar of Upcoming Events

Join us for these upcoming Max Kade Institute programs — all free and open to the public. For details check http://mki.wisc.edu/events/all-events

DECEMBER 14, 6pm Lecture: “The History of the Moravian Star” William E. Petig, Department of German Studies, Stanford University UW–Madison, Union South Stars have been part of Advent and Christmas celebrations from the earliest days of Christianity, but one star has become a ubiquitous decoration in Europe and America: the multi-point Moravian star. Petig’s presentation will trace the history of this ornament from its early beginnings in a Moravian Church school in Saxony to its many manifestations today.

FEBRUARY 15, 7pm Lecture: “The German Harmonica and African-American Blues” Reception follows. Herbert Quelle, Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany / Chicago UW–Madison, Pyle Center Auditorium For about a century, the German harmonica or mouth organ was one of the most popular musical instruments in the United States. About one billion harmonicas were imported from Germany between the 1870s and 1980s. Cheap and portable, it was the pocket-sized companion of European immigrants, and—once introduced to the American South—it became the instrument of choice for many African American musicians. They developed a totally new way of playing it, ‘bending’ the harmonica’s notes to fit their traditional musical scale, and making the little instrument an integral part of the emerging and increasingly popular ‘blues.’

MARCH 30 – APRIL 1 Conference: “People of Faith, Voices of Tradition: Germanic Heritage Languages among Christians and Jews” UW–Madison University Club and Pyle Center Of the approximately 7,000 languages spoken around the world today, more than half are likely to no longer be spoken actively by the turn of the next century. In almost every case, these languages are spoken by groups of people, often indigenous, who are minorities in the larger societies in which they live. There is, however, a small group of minority languages that are not endangered and which in fact are enjoying robust vitality. In North America there are four such languages, which are spoken in conservative Christian and Jewish religious communities: Pennsylvania Dutch (Amish and Old Order Mennonites); Mennonite Low German (Old Colony Mennonites); Hutterite German (Hutterites); and Yiddish (Haredi Jews). This symposium will bring together an international group of researchers specializing in these languages with Amish, Mennonite, Hutterite, and Haredi community members to explore sociolinguistic aspects of the social-spiritual identities of these faith groups. • On Thursday evening, March 30, the symposium will open with a panel discussion of community members moderated by MKI Director Mark Louden, followed by a reception. (University Club) • Friday morning and afternoon and Saturday morning will feature 45-minute presentations by the invited speakers. (Pyle Center) • On Friday evening, we will have a reading of literary works in the four languages that evoke the themes of the symposium. English translations will be projected onto a screen for the benefit of the attendees. (Pyle Center)

3 Continued from page 1

Dreieinigkeitskirche (Trinity Evangelical Church), which had been founded in 1862 by German- speaking immigrants. This group had separated itself from more traditional “Old Lutheran” and “Evangelical Lutheran” churches during a time when “quarrel and strife were ripe among the (German) Protestants in Milwaukee, and sectarianism flourished.”1 As was common practice in many Protestant churches in Wisconsin, German was the language used by the Dreieinigkeitskirche well into the twentieth century. Its parishioners were first and second generation immigrants from German-speaking Europe, who lived in the surrounding neighborhoods and worked for the most part as laborers, tradesmen, teachers, or merchants. According to Bobby Tanzilo’s Petty Antje Photo: Evangelische Dreieinigkeitskirche Milwaukee—King Solomon Missionary Baptist Church “OnMilwaukee” article from April 24, 2014,2 the congregation had erected German or English. [Dedicated by the family John W. a building on the same site in 1870, Goetzinger] which was torn down to make room Gestiftet von Frau F. Mueller im John Goetzinger was born in for the current structure. Only the Andenken an den verst. Gatten H. Wisconsin in 1862. His father was cornerstone with the year “1870” was Mueller. Geb. 15. Aug. 1828. Gest. 6. a teamster and immigrant from saved and embedded in the façade Aug. 1889 the German state of Baden. Young of the new building. The church as [Donated by Mrs. F. Mueller in John learned the glazing trade and well as the adjacent two-story school memory of her deceased husband eventually opened his own small were designed by the renowned H. Mueller. Born August 15, 1828; business: Cream City Mirror & Plate Milwaukee architects Herman P. deceased August 6, 1889] Company. Schnetzky and Eugene Liebert and The Muellers were a family of constructed for $15,000 and $5,000 carpenters. John Henry Mueller In Memory of the The Henry J. Pauly respectively. The funds probably and his wife Franziska had come to Family came from church members, and the America in 1849 from the German Henry J. Pauly was born in names of some of the (presumably) state of Hessen-Nassau. Their son Milwaukee in 1853, the son of more prominent donor families Henry Phillip Mueller was born in German immigrants from Prussia have been memorialized in the Milwaukee in 1857 and followed in who arrived in Wisconsin in the church windows. Who were these his father’s footsteps. mid-1840s. His father had been a families? The following are some of Gewidmet von der Familie John W. carpenter, and Henry J. also learned the window memorials, written in Goetzinger the trade but focused on ship

4 building. He later owned his own capsules” and “antiseptic tablets.” vessels and worked as a merchant Gestiftet von der Familie mariner on the Great Lakes. Baumgaertner zum Andenken an den In Memory of the A.C. Liepe Family verst. Vater Christoph Baumgaertner, Among the German immigrants, geb. 20. Juli 1832, gest. 7. Juli 1888. Arthur C. Liepe was a late [Donated by the Baumgaertner arrival. Born in 1854 in Nauen, family in memory of their deceased Brandenburg, he was a pharmacist father Christoph Baumgaertner; born who came to Milwaukee in 1891 with July 20, 1832; deceased July 7, 1888.] his wife and two young children. (Johan) Christoph Baumgaertner Here he opened a successful drug II arrived in Milwaukee in 1854 at store on 1412 Green Bay Avenue the age of 22 with his parents (Johan) and was granted a number of Christoph and Anna Maria (Schäfer) patents, including those for “creosote Baumgaertner, and his sisters Before citizens of the Duchy of Saxe-Weimar- Eisenach were given permission to emigrate, they had to announce their intent twice in the local paper to protect potential credi- tors. The above is the “First Posting,” for the Baumgaertner and Schoen families in the Eisenachisches Wochenblatt on November 30, 1853. It reads: TheAnspänner* Christoph Baumgärtner, from Tiefenort, with his wife and three children und the day laborer Con- stantin Schön, same town, with his wife and one child, are planning to emigrate to America and will receive the necessary travel permits, if no court raises an objection within four weeks of the second posting of this announcement. Eisenach, November 26, 1853; The Director of the 3rd administrative district of the Grand Duchy. *An Anspänner was a farmer who owned a team of horses which he hired out.

Amalie (26), and Eva Margarete (17). Traveling with them on the same ship was another sister, Eva Elisabetha (25) with her husband Konstantin Schön and a daughter. They joined an older brother, Johannes (born 1818), who with his wife and two young sons Andreas (Andrew) and Heinrich (Henry) had immigrated to Wisconsin two years earlier. The extended family came from the small town of Tiefenort in the Duchy of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach (whose population was ~1,300) and was part of a chain migration pattern

Photo: Antje Petty Antje Photo: typical for the nineteenth century. Members of the King Solomon Missionary Baptist Church restoration committee: Beginning in 1846, and over the (back row from left) Charlene Bond, Melva Tatum, Virgie Bond; (front row from left) Rose Carter, Pastor Charles D. Watkins

5 course of the next two decades, more than 400 people from little Tiefenort moved to America.3 Like many other members of the congregation, Christoph Baumgaertner II was a carpenter. He and his wife Friederike, an immigrant from Prussia, had 11 children. His nephew Henry also learned the carpenter trade, had a successful signage business, and represented Milwaukee’s 10th Ward on the City Council from 1879 until 1888. In July 1897, the Evangelische Dreieinigkeitskirche made national news when its pastor, the Rev. George Magayne-Roshak Alan courtesy Photo Interior view of the church Hirtz, officiated at the wedding of Gertrud Farun, a member of the faction led by [Prof. Althoff] near and far. congregation and white woman, and met at Schmidt’s hall for Each subsequent decade brought David P. Redd, a local veterinarian Christian devotions and fully new developments and new residents who was black. According to an 500 of the former attendants to Milwaukee. People came from article in the Saint Paul Globe from at Trinity were present. […] countries in Southern and Eastern July 27, 1897, Preliminary steps were taken Europe, Mexico and America, The ceremony had no sooner toward the organization and across the U.S. Many African been performed […], than a of a new church society, in Americans made their homes in storm broke loose among the which the unwritten law the neighborhoods surrounding the large congregation of Trinity will place a ban upon the Dreieinigkeitskirche, and in 1977 King church. Rev. Mr. Hirtz was amalgamation of Ethiopians Solomon Missionary Baptist Church denounced in acrimonious and Caucasians. (KSMBC) purchased the property for terms by some of his In the end, however, most members its growing congregation. KSMBC leading parishioners, who stayed with Trinity Evangelical had been founded as a mission threatened to withdraw from Church, and the Rev. Hirtz led the church in 1958 by the Reverend membership in the church congregation for another 15 years, F. L. Harper and now counts over unless the pastor made a which included celebrations of the 150 active members. Under the suitable apology for the congregation’s 50th anniversary in leadership of its current pastor, the alleged affront. […] Sunday a 1912 that attracted 3,500 people from Rev. Charles D. Watkins, KSMBC sees its role not just in its spiritual mission, but also as an anchor and provider of practical assistance in the larger community. Through cultural and social events, the KSMBC choir, contributions to the “Shakespeare in the Park” festival, and other activities, the church adds vibrancy to the neighborhood. It also

6 runs a community food pantry, offers the installation of a new roof, the surrounding neighborhoods and scholarships to select college-bound removal of a drop ceiling and altar beyond. TheDreieinigkeitskirche high school seniors, and participates structure that were added in the will stand as a symbol of the city’s in the discussion of pressing 1970s, the repair and reconditioning settlement past and also be a community issues through its SOULS of some of the glass windows, and sanctuary and community anchor for program (Solomon Outreach and more. The school house, too, is in today’s residents. Or to paraphrase Urban Learning Sessions). Recently need of repairs, including a new another nineteenth-century German- the program has featured meetings roof, but additional renovations American architect, Adolf Cluss, with city aldermen on topics are also planned that would turn who built many public buildings in such as how to provide economic the building into a neighborhood Washington, D.C., students learn opportunities and workshops on resource and support center. It is easy better in attractive, quality-built how to reduce crime and interact to see how the old classrooms could schools, and people in general rise with law enforcement. KSMBC also be renovated to serve as after-school to the level of their surroundings. actively participates in the city of tutorial rooms for area youth, to Representatives of KSMBC and the Milwaukee’s “All Things in Common” teach life skills to adult community larger community have established initiative, which collaborates with members, or to offer computer access an organization called “Rescue and local churches to deliver a variety of and training. A hall on the second Restore MKE,” which exists solely community programs and services floor with a stage and big windows for the purpose of preserving and on a neighborhood level. invites larger community events, restoring the Dreieinigkeitskirche In the meantime, the old brick musical and theatrical performances, buildings. For more information, structures are showing their age. and private gatherings. including how to help, go to Improvements and changes were The preservation and restoration the “Rescue and Restore MKE” made over the decades, but now of the Dreieinigkeitskirche and Facebook page. And if you have any the buildings are ready for a major the old school house is a major information and stories about the overhaul. First priority is the undertaking. The result, however, Evangelische Dreieinigkeitskirche or restauration of the church itself: will have a profound impact on the the people who worshiped there, please share what you know.

NOTES 1 Rudolph H. Koss, Milwaukee (Schnellpressen Druck des Herold, 1871) 248. Quote translated by Antje Petty. 2 Bobby Tanzilo, “Urban Spelunking: Evangelische Dreieinigkeits Kirche/ King Solomon Baptist Church,” http://onmilwaukee. com/history/articles/spelunkdreieningkeits. html 3 Astrid Adler, Vergessene Menschen— Auswanderung im 19. Jahrhundert (Tiefenort, 2013) 77–79. An English translation of this work will be published in November 2016 with the title Our Ancestors Were German – Emigration in the 19th Century from the Duchy Saxe–Weimar–Eisenach. Photo courtesy Michael Zahn Michael courtesy Photo Youth rally at King Solomon Missionary Baptist Church, in front of the historic building

7 Friends of the Max Kade Institute Second Annual Oktober Fest

Antje Petty

n November 4, we cele- and the University Club restaurant. brated the second annual Thank you! Oktober Fest, a fundraiser Everybody enjoyed the Swiss and forO the Max Kade Institute Library German folk tunes played by ac- and Archive, which was organized by cordion musician Bill Niederberger the Friends. An enthusiastic group of and got into the swing when Bill people gathered on the first floor of and ten members of the Madison the University Club for an evening of Männerchor led the audience in a fun, food, drink, and entertainment. Schunkellied sing-along. And there Guests were greeted with a buffet was some Bildung, too, when Anita of German delicacies and beer. We Auer, Professor of socio-historical thank Don Zamzow, a member of the linguistics at the University of Lau- Friends Board of Directors, and his sanne, introduced her “Swiss Islands son Mike for donating and serving in North America” project. Anita several varieties of their tasty and and one of her students, Alexandra award-winning Bull Falls Brewery Derungs, are visiting Wisconsin to beer. Brewed in Wausau, Wisconsin, interview immigrants from Switzer- according to German brewing prac- land or their descendants who still tices, the beer was a great hit at our speak the language of their home Anita Auer speaking at the MKI Oktober Fest Oktober Fest. Equally popular were country. the German delicacies donated by The event was rounded out by the Friends and local businesses. At Clasen’s European Bakery, Freiburg a silent auction featuring items the MKI, we are very grateful for so Gastropub, Bavaria Sausage, Inc, contributed by many members of much support. We had a wonder- ful time with our Friends and look forward to Oktober Fest 2017!

Audience listening to Anita’s description of the project to interview Swiss speakers in Don Zamzow and Mike von Schneidemesser at the Bull Fall Wisconsin Brewery table

8 The Madison Männerchor performing at the MKI Oktober Fest

Cora Lee and others enjoying the sumptuous buffet

Bill Nederberger providing music for the evening

A selection of offerings at the silent auction

John Pustejovsky, President of the Friends of the MKI 9 TheBennett Law, the Germania, and the Körner Pamphlet

Christopher Stohs

isconsin’s Bennett Law of 1889 ignited a fiery debate regarding the meritsW of bilingual education, the proper degree of immigrant assimila- tion, and the extent of freedom of religion, conscience, and association vis-à-vis the State. Such issues are perennial in American politics. A look around the state and the nation today reveals many examples of these Headline from the New York Times, 25 September 1890 continuing conflicts, such as school voucher initiatives, religious freedom parochial schools could lose out-of- Bennett Bill issue that was decisive. protections, and bilingual education district students. The issue exploded TheGerman-language press played bills (such as the one just recently over the next 19 months. Scandina- a major role in the Bennett Law con- passed in California). Understanding vians and Germans, whether Catho- troversy. To be sure, some Germans, the Bennett Law and why it became lic or Protestant, opposed the law. like the Freethinkers who published such a huge issue can inform our German Protestants, in particular, in the Amerikanische Turnzeitung, understanding of contemporary saw the law as an attack on freedom or the Republicans who wrote for controversies. of religion, on freedom of conscience, the Herold, were in favor of the law. TheBennett Law passed with and on German culture itself, the Most Germans in Wisconsin, how- bipartisan support of the Wiscon- so-called Deutschthum. In response, ever, were against it. The majority sin Legislature in late April of 1889. the Democrats swept the April 1890 of Wisconsin’s German immigrants Ostensibly, the law would strengthen elections in Milwaukee. Then, the tended to be religious and tradi- compulsory education in Wisconsin Republican governor, William Hoard, tional rather than agnostic or liberal, as well as help curb child labor. Op- lost the November 1890 guberna- and many of them found voice in ponents of the law saw it as an attack torial election to the Democrat, their press. Catholic papers like the on private education, particularly the George Peck. For the first time since Columbia and Excelsior encouraged clause that required core subjects of the 1850s, Democrats held sway in their German-speaking readership reading, writing, math, and US his- Wisconsin. Their sweep included the to vote down those who supported tory be taught in English. What par- governorship, majorities in the state the law, while most important paper ticularly rankled was language in the Senate and Assembly, and all but one representing the German Protestant law stating that schools that did not congressional seat. Wisconsin’s situ- perspective, the Germania, was vehe- comply with the English requirement ation attracted national attention, as mently opposed to the law. would not be recognized as schools, is shown by an article that appeared When historians have examined the and that public school boards would in the New York Times published on Bennett Law, they have for the most decide who was in compliance. There 25 September 1890.1 Nationally, a part focused on English-language was also the issue of districting. Since tariff issue certainly played its part versions of the events. Unfortunately, children would be required to attend in sinking the Republicans that year, many references to the Germania a school in their own district, many but in Wisconsin it was above all the and other German-language press

10 organs in Bennett Law histories are second-hand reports; the English press’s translations of German pas- sages are often cited instead of the German newspapers themselves. For- tunately, in addition to their stores of nineteenth-century Anglophone newspapers, the Wisconsin Historical Society has a vast treasure of Ger- man-language newspapers. Thus, it is possible to compare the variety of Bennett Law opinions in the two lan- guages. This article is the beginning of a larger project that attempts to portray the German-language views Excerpt from a statistical page of Körner’s pamphlet, indicating location of parochial on the controversy. The author is school; name of the pastor; number of students; school weeks per year; hours of English instruction per week; and language used by pupils outside of class (D=German, thankful to everyone who has helped E=English). The intent was to show that English was already taught in German parochial him with this project so far, includ- schools and in many cases was even the everyday language spoken by pupils. ing Professor Mark Louden, Profes- sor Cora Lee Kluge, Professor John TheGermania understood the Ben- George Brumder, had lent money Sharpless, the Max Kade Institute, nett Law as a part of a wider national to the Anti-Bennett Committee for and the helpful staff of the Wisconsin struggle of German Americans to the spring campaign, but later told Historical Society. preserve their rights and freedoms the Anti-Bennett Committee that from attacks by tyrannical Nativist he did not need to be reimbursed.5 TheGermania forces; they were defending Deutsch- The chief editor, George Koeppen, TheGermania may have had the thum (Germandom), their word for constantly supported the anti- greatest anti-Bennett influence German culture in America. They Bennett forces through articles he among German language news- took the Bennett Law to be an assault penned and articles he allowed to be papers. Published in Milwaukee on the parochial school, the bulwark printed. The business manager of the with both national and Wisconsin of German culture in America, with- Germania, August Roß, also spoke editions, the Germania boasted the out which they thought Deutschthum out publicly against the Bennett Law, widest circulation of any German would fail along with all of its noble addressing the Anti-Bennett forces weekly.2 Indeed, by October of 1889, traditions and customs. According at their convention in June of 1890.6 it had become popular enough to to the Germania, the present conflict Finally, Christian Körner, the legal warrant a second national weekly with the state began with Governor editor of Germania and a Wisconsin- edition.3 TheGermania was influen- Hoard’s address in January of 1889. Synod Lutheran, himself headed tial not only because of its impres- It then continued with the Pond Bill the anti-Bennett Committee for the sive circulation, but also because of passed in February, which mandated entire state. He also wrote a highly- its relentless anti-Bennett articles. It the transmission of attendance statis- influential pamphlet attacking the campaigned against the law in nearly tics in parochial and private schools Bennett Law. every edition between April of 1889 to local clerks, and finally reached its Körner’s Pamphlet and November of 1890. By means of culmination with the Bennett Law in Undoubtedly, the most important 4 editorials, guest articles, headlines, April. document produced by anti-Bennett poetry, and special pamphlets, it Many members of the Germania forces was Christian Körner’s Das made its case against the Bennett staff played a prominent role in Bennett Gesetz und die deutschen Law known to the public. the anti-Bennett cause. The owner,

11 protestantischen Gemeindeschulen schools would be convinced that the German immigrants continue to in Wisconsin, (The Bennett Law and Bennett Law was totally unnecessary, maintain many of the churches and the German Protestant Parochial noting that the pamphlet spoke in schools that their ancestors founded, Schools in Wisconsin). Though often numbers, a language that Americans but only a few of these descendants referred to in historical works on the could understand. The pamphlet was can still speak German. In questions Bennett Law, little is said about how sent to all newspapers in Wisconsin, of linguistic assimilation, patience it was developed or how widely it was state officials, members of the legis- seems more effective than legislation, distributed. The pamphlet includes a lature, school superintendents, Ger- and much political rancor could have copy of the Bennett Law, arguments man pastors, teachers, and others. been avoided if Hoard and his allies against it, and statistical tables con- The cost was 5 cents per pamphlet or had simply waited for linguistic as- cerning parochial schools throughout 100 pamphlets for $3.35.9 similation to take place. Instead, they the state. The Germania saw to it that By 25 February, the German edi- pushed the State’s right to oversee as many Wisconsinites as possible tion of Körner’s pamphlet was ready. education too far for immigrants, had access to the pamphlet. TheGermania said that its German who found their language, schools, Thepamphlet probably originated translation was more precise than and religion under attack, and at the 1889 joint meeting of the Wis- those made by other newspapers. pushed back, forcefully. consin Synod and Wisconsin District It also asserted that it was the most of the Missouri Synod in Watertown. important anti-Bennett document, NOTES The pastors and teachers present suggesting that even those who sup- 1 See image, this article, pg 10. decided to merge their individual ported the law would want a copy. 2 According to the Germania’s header. anti-Bennett committees into a Making a sales pitch that sounded 3 Germania, 15 October 1889, national edition. single executive committee.7 Eventu- like a public service, the Germania 4 “A llerlei aus Milwaukee,” Germania, 2 Sep- ally, Christian Körner would be the claimed that the price was just high tember 1889, national edition, pg 8. 5 “Endorsieren eine Platform,” Germania, 28 chair of that committee, but at that enough to cover the cost of printing. March 1890, national edition. juncture, he was just a member of the Less than a month after first hitting 6 “A nti-Bennett Konvention (part 2),” Ger- statistics committee.8 We can assume the press, the English edition was mania, 28 June 1890, national edition. that the tables in his pamphlet came already in its second printing. Even 7 Germania, 14 August 1889, national edition, pg 1. out of his work on that committee. though many copies had already 8 Ibid. TheKörner pamphlet was ready been sold, at this point the Germania 9 Germania, 4 February 1890, national edition, before the Milwaukee election in the still requested additional informa- pg 1. spring of 1890. On 4 February, the tion about parochial schools from its 10 “Allerlei aus Milwaukee,” Germania, 25 Germania announced its first print- readership for the statistical tables.10 February 1890, national edition, pg 8. 11 “Das Bennettgesetz in den Gemeinden Mil- ing of it, an English edition. It in- Over the next month, thousands of waukees,” Germania, 4 March 1890, national cluded arguments Körner had made pamphlets were bought and distrib- edition, pg 8. in a recent Milwaukee Journal article, uted, and the Germania reported 12 “Allerlei aus Milwaukee,” Germania, 11 March 1890, national edition, pg 8. but added tables showing parochial about how many hundred pamphlets school data in Wisconsin. The goal of pastors of each congregation were Christopher Stohs grew up in Kansas the pamphlet was to prove to English giving their parishioners.11 By 11 City, took his Bachelor’s degree at speakers that English was already March, the Germania was boasting Valparaiso University, and is working being taught in German parochial that the pamphlet was bearing fruit, towards his PhD in German at UW– schools and, moreover, to show and that no one could act on the Madison. His dissertation will investi- anglophiles that English-language Bennett Law without reckoning with gate the German press’s contributions newspapers like the Sentinel had the German Protestants.12 to the Bennett Law controversy. not been telling the full truth. The Conclusion Germania hoped that even the most Today, descendants of Wisconsin’s ardent enemies of German parochial

12 FRIENDS PROFILE

Charlotte Bleistein: A Century of Activism in a Family of Activists

Antje Petty

ow 101 years old, Char- Like most women of her genera- lotte Bleistein is not only tion Emma Elsner had not herself the oldest Friend of the received a higher education. Instead, NMax Kade Institute, but also one of she became a seamstress and sup- the Institute’s earliest supporters. At ported her brothers’ schooling with her home in Greendale, Wisconsin, her work. Now Emma wanted her a house designed by Frank Lloyd granddaughter to fight for women, Wright that she built in 1953, the arguing that women deserve legal first thing a visitor sees is the shingle representation by other women. of her law practice: a testament to Charlotte was equally influenced Charlotte’s many decades of commu- by her grandfather Richard Elsner, nity activism and public engagement, especially after her father’s death in as well as to the many “firsts” she 1931. Richard had come to Milwau- herself accomplished as a woman in kee in 1880 as a penniless young man her profession. from Ziegenhals in Silesia, where he “Looking out for those disadvan- had learned the brewer trade and had taged in society” ran in her family. been a member of the Social Demo- Charlotte Bleistein, 2013 Charlotte was born in January 1915, cratic movement. In Milwaukee he the daughter of Hugo Anschütz, an was employed by Pabst Brewery and Registrar of Deeds and in the State immigrant from Thuringia who be- joined the Freethinkers. In his new Legislature, where he represented came a prominent choral conductor job, he was troubled by the treat- Milwaukee’s 13th Ward. Throughout in St. Louis, Missouri, and his wife ment of factory workers, their long his life, Richard Elsner was a prolific Rosalind Elsner. Rosalind had grown working hours, and their dismal contributor of articles and op-eds to up in Milwaukee as the daughter of working conditions. Thus he joined Milwaukee newspapers, especially German immigrants. Most members the Knights of Labor and later helped the Socialist paper, the Milwaukee of the family were musical, includ- to create the Local No.9 Brewery Leader. ing Charlotte’s brother Richard, who Workers’ Union. In addition, he at- But back to Charlotte. Her family became a famous concert violinist. tended night school law classes at was thrilled when she won a four Only Charlotte had no musical tal- Milwaukee Law College and later at year scholarship to attend Washing- ents. the UW–Madison Law School; and ton University in St. Louis as an un- When time came for Charlotte to after graduating in 1894, he opened a dergraduate. Once there, she imme- think about what to do after high law practice “to help working people diately got involved in student causes. school, her maternal grandmother with the law.” His business card read: When she decided to continue at the Emma (Melster) Elsner suggested “Deutscher Advokat und Notar, Washington University Law School, that she should become a lawyer. Richard Elsner, Lawyer.” In 1897, her grandfather footed the bill. Char- Emma Elsner was a great admirer Richard Elsner became one of the lotte was one of only two women in and friend of Belle La Follette, the founding members of the Milwaukee her class, and they were admitted wife of progressive politician Robert Socialist Party, and in 1910 he was only because they were expected to “Fighting Bob” La Follette, who was elected on the Socialist Party ticket use their newly acquired knowledge a progressive lawyer and women’s to a four-year term as a judge on the of the law to do better “social work.” suffrage activist in her own right. new Civil Court. Stints followed as

13 attempted to find employment as a us in Racine. We now look forward lawyer, and once again no law firm to seeing her at our next meeting and would hire a woman. She decided to learning more about her fascinating set out on her own. In her new neigh- life. borhood in Greendale, Charlotte opened a general law practice and also got an insurance license. At the time, lawyers were not allowed to ad- vertise; so Charlotte went from house to house selling home insurance and incidentally informing people about the new law firm in town. Indeed, her early clients were mostly neigh- bors and included many women. As her law practice blossomed, Char- lotte did not forget those who could not afford legal representation. Thus

Richard Elsner, Charlotte Bleistein’s grandfather, in 1957 she was one of the first law- fall 1892 yers—and the only woman—to join a newly established volunteer-defender program in Milwaukee. Charlotte, however, actually wanted This was not the only way Charlotte to practice law. The only problem was helped the community. She volun- that not a single law firm in Missouri teered for the Red Cross, was a Girl in 1939 would hire a female lawyer. Scout leader, and became active in In 1941, Charlotte finally found organizations such as the Greater her first employment as a staff law- Milwaukee United Nations Asso- yer for the National Labor Relations ciation, the Women’s International Board in Washington, DC. But even League for Peace and Freedom, and there her activities were restricted. the National Organization for Wom- For example, she was discouraged en. Like her grandfather, Charlotte from traveling across the country to joined the Socialist party in Milwau- observe labor conflicts that lay be- kee, and she became a good friend hind some of her legal cases. When of Milwaukee mayor Frank Zeidler she did manage to go to Detroit to and his family. She is a proud social- observe union elections, local police ist and even though she has had to would not allow her to enter the Ford cut down on many of her activities, Motor plant, arguing that they could Charlotte continues to be engaged not “protect women in the factory.” and informed, and lends her support The irony, of course, is that only a few to her favorite causes whenever she months later it was mostly women can. who worked at Ford, after the men Over the years, often in the compa- had been sent to war. ny of Frank and Agnes Zeidler, Char- In 1950, newly divorced and with lotte attended many of the annual a young daughter, Charlotte moved meetings of the Friends of the Max back to Milwaukee. Once again, she Kade Institute. This year, she joined

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