Volume 24 No 2 • Spring 2015

The in a Time of War: Die Abendschule Speaks Out in 1915 Translation by James Doing, with introduction by Cora Lee Kluge

ie Abendschule, a whole- thing possible be done to prevent the some and conservative country’s involvement in the conflict. INSIDE family newspaper published Nevertheless, it continued to support inD St. Louis for nearly all its long life the United States government, even • Upcoming Conference (1853 to 1940), is known today as one after April of 1917, when America • The Meeme House Inn of the most influential German-Amer- joined the Allies to fight against Ger- • Eugene Field and Carl Schurz ican periodicals, not least because of many and the other Axis powers. • Library Campaign its huge press run and its widespread Throughout the entire period, Die • 2015 Friends Annual Meeting appeal. Abendschule’s editorials reflected the • The Wisconsin–Hessen When World War I began in Europe difficult position of German Ameri- State Partnership in July of 1914, Die Abendschule cans, as well as their growing concerns Proclamation featured war news; and it staunchly over the anti-German sentiments advocated America’s maintaining its heard in this country—the “Germano- • Thiel and Zamzow Join the declared neutrality, urging that every- Friends Board Continued on page 13 DIRECTORS’ CORNER

Greetings, Friends and Readers!

reetings from the Univer- sity Club! As the Spring of this year drawsG to a close, we reflect on what we have accomplished in the last few months: teaching, doing research, and presenting our work to students, scholars, and other interested groups, both on the Madison campus and beyond. Mark gave presentations on the , Wisconsin’s speakers of , and the Amishand in places as far-flung as Madison, New Holstein (Wisconsin), Plymouth (Wisconsin), and Bocken- heim (in the Rhenish Palatinate, Ger- A scene from Bekehrung vom Temperenzwahn many). Antje and Lori Bessler from the Wisconsin Historical Society held century German-American culture, after-dinner lecture on “Wisconsin’s a successful day-long workshop for concerns, language, and literature German Heritage” by Mark Louden. genealogists, addressing the question were brought before enthusiastic au- More than 80 Friends were in at- of how to investigate our German diences of modern spectatorsthree tendance; and even the UW’s Spring ancestors. And Cora Lee spoke on times in Madison, and once in Revelry event, which was taking the German Americans and the First Milwaukeeand thus some of what place just outside our windows, was World War (in Janesville), Friedrich many believed was Wisconsin’s long- not able to drown out our Friends’ Kapp’s article on John Brown (in gone past was moved to front and festivities. St. Louis, at the symposium of the center stage. We are absolutely de- On page 3 of this Newsletter, you Society for German-American Stud- lighted to find that our field has now will find information about the ies), and Christian Essellen’s comedy become part of the area’s entertain- Wisconsin Workshop conference on Bekehrung vom Temperenzwahn ment scene! “Outside the Kaiserreich: The Ger- (Deliver Us from Temperance!) (in However, the absolute highlight of man Diaspora in the World War I Madison). the semester was the annual dinner Era,” which we will host on October In May, Essellen’s play, which was and meeting of the Friends of the 8–10, 2015. Please mark your calen- written in 1853 for the German- Max Kade Institute, which was held dars! The 100-year anniversary of the American stage in Milwaukee, was in Madison on May 2. It featured a First World War makes this a timely performed in German by students guided tour of German-American event, and we have put together a in the UW–Madison’s Department books, artifacts, and other materials very attractive program. of German under the direction of that are held at the Wisconsin Histor- We wish you all the best for the German theater director Manfred ical Society, the opening in our own summer months ahead. Enjoy the Roth and professor/producer Sabine MKI Library of our new Carl Schurz season, do good work, and stay in Gross of the German Department. exhibit, and dinner at the Univer- touch! With this presentation, nineteenth- sity Club, which was followed by an Cora Lee and Mark

2 UPCOMING CONFERENCE

Outside the Kaiserreich: The German Diaspora in the World War I Era International Symposium, October 8–10, 2015 Free and Open to the Public, on the University of Wisconsin–Madison Campus During the era of the “Great War,” many nations had significant numbers of first- or second-generation ethnic living within their borders. Speakers of German could be found in the United States, Russia, Denmark, southern Africa, China, and Latin America. This symposium will look at the complex situations and dynamics of societies with German populations on the periphery or outside the borders of the German Empire in this period of global armed conflict.

October 8, Thursday, 5:00–8:00 pm [University Club] 3:00–3:45 5:00 Exhibit Opening and Reception The Impact of World War I on American Classical Music, From the Archives of the Max Kade Institute: The German- Pamela Potter, UW–Madison American Press During the World War I Era 4:00–4:45 6:00 Keynote Address Enemy Alien Internment in the British Empire during World Imperial Germany as a Country of Emigration and Immigra- War I, Stefan Manz, Aston University, Birmingham, UK tion, Werner Sollors, Henry B. and Anne M. Cabot Research October 10, Saturday morning [Pyle Center] Professor of English, Harvard University 9:30–10:15 7:00 Reception Rethinking “National Indifference”: German and Polish Activists October 9, Friday morning [Pyle Center] in Łódź during the First World War, Winson Chu, University of 9:00 Words of Welcome Wisconsin–Milwaukee 9:30–10:15 10:30–11:15 The German-American Experience in World War I: Brothers in Arms but Strangers at Home: Germans in Schleswig- A Centennial Assessment, Walter Kamphoefner, Texas A&M Holstein during and after WWI, Julie Allen, UW–Madison University 11:30–12:15 10:30–11:15 The Immediacy of the Unapproachable: Writings on China by Fissures in the Element: German-American Disunity and the German POWs in East Asia during World War I, Weijia Li, First World War, Cora Lee Kluge, UW–Madison UW–Madison 11:30–12:15 October 10, Saturday afternoon [Pyle Center] Urban Language Shift and the German Language in 2:00–2:45 Early 20th Century Metro Detroit The Martyrs of Alcatraz: A Narrative Account of Hutterite Con- Felecia Lucht, Independent Scholar scientious Objectors, Duane Stolzfus, Goshen College 3:00–3:45 October 9, Friday afternoon [Pyle Center] Pennsylvaniadeutschtum: Pennsylvania Dutch Identity and the 2:00–2:45 World War I Era, Mark Louden, UW–Madison Conflicting Loyalties in Wartime: The “Germanness” of British 4:00 Wrap-up Discussion and American Jews during World War I, Sarah Panter,

Leibniz Institute of European History, Mainz, Germany For abstracts, directions, and other information, consult the Max Kade Institute Web site (mki.wisc.edu) or contact Antje Petty: [email protected]

This symposium is the forty-eighth Wisconsin Workshop, an annual interdisciplinary forum in German studies. It is cosponsored by the following University of Wisconsin–Madison units: Department of German, Department of History, Center for European Studies, Mosse/Weinstein Center for Jewish Studies, and the Friends of the Max Kade Institute. Generous financial support is also provided by the UW Anonymous Fund, the Jay and Ruth Halls Visiting Scholars Fund, and the UW Lectures Committee. 3 The First Customers at the Meeme House Inn Karyl Rommelfanger

eldom does it happen that two rather insignificant his- torical events come together toS frame a larger story. Such is the case, however, with the building of a log cabin by Michael and Andreas Herr in the town of Meeme, near Manitowoc, Wisconsin, and a jour- ney south along the Green Bay Road by immigrant Karl Pflaume. Recent research has begun to uncover some of the early history of the Herr fam- ily’s Meeme House, a way station for weary travelers along the Green Bay Road, which was recently purchased by the Manitowoc County Historical

Society. Society Historical County Manitowoc credit: Photo In 1847 brothers Michael, Andreas, The Meeme House Inn, undated and Peter Herr, along with their widowed father Karl, immigrated opened up for settlement and govern- to Germany almost penniless. from Alzenau, Bavaria, to Wisconsin. ment-owned lands became available The lives of the Herr brothers and Peter settled in Sheboygan County, at very reasonable prices. Karl Pflaume appear to intersect in a while the others journeyed north into Another German immigrant, Karl narrative written by Pflaume about Manitowoc County. Andreas and Mi- Pflaume, came from Aschersleben, a trip that he and his neighbor took chael both purchased property along Saxon-Anhalt, in 1851. His situation in 1852 to Cedarburg to buy cattle. the Green Bay Road in the township was different. He was from a well- Pflaume writes: of Meeme, approximately one mile to-do family, had earned a degree in south of the village of Spring Valley. We traveled a road hewn into agriculture, and set out for America This was a time of poverty in Ger- the wilderness in an almost to earn his fortune, as it were. Pflaume many. The splitting of land parcels straight line from north to purchased land in the township of into ever smaller slices, poor crop south, which was called the Newton, on the northeast corner of years, and a sudden growth in popu- Green Bay Road. . . . We fol- South 26th Street and Silver Creek lation led to poverty and starvation lowed the road south and Road. He returned to Germany in among the masses. Some families found very few settlers along 1854 to marry, came back to Manito- decided to emigrate, sold their prop- it, hiking long stretches before woc with his new bride, and became erty and personal possessions and coming upon a house or two. active in local politics. For a time he used the proceeds to finance their We saw some log cabins which published his own newspaper, Der trip to America, hoping there would had been abandoned by their Buschbauer. Pflaume, however, was an be enough money left over for the owners, and some, which were intellectual whose joy of writing and purchase of inexpensive land. In this occupied by settlers from Ire- reading often overtook his interest in same time period, Wisconsin was land. farming, and he eventually returned

4 We reached a place where we beginnings of the Meeme House, the ers were familiar with the early inns thought we would stay over- evidence strongly suggests this is in- from their journeys along the Green night. There was an American deed the case. Bay Road. They may have seen an op- living here, who owned an Pflaume has placed himself be- portunity to earn extra cash as they inn and was the postal agent. tween an Irish settlement, the area slowly began clearing the forested There was a sign over the door around today’s Osman, and a Mani- acreage they had purchased. And indicating lodging and the towoc County settlement of Welsh Pflaume’s unexpected stay may have postal agent. . . . But we could immigrants, just south of the Herr provided some extra impetus to their not stay there, the man said, property. In addition, he indicates budding idea. as he had no lanterns. We told that he had journeyed south from The early Meeme House was likely him that was not a problem, an inn owned by a postmaster. This exactly as Pflaume describes—a to which he responded that he must have been the property of Hen- crude “bed and breakfast” housing also did not have any tea or ry Edson, which stood directly north the family and a guest or two. With coffee. . . . of Spring Valley and was later owned the passing of time it expanded into So we continued on, until, as it by a Peter Phillips. the large structure it is today. How grew dark, we reached another Pflaume implies that the brothers quickly this happened is still being house which was occupied are of contrasting ages, which indeed researched. What is clear, however, is by some Germans. However, they are, Michael being seven years that the experience Karl Pflaume and since the house was not yet older than his brother Andreas. They his companion had was a very pleas- complete, and the room quite are also, of course, Bavarians. Ad- ant one, as Pflaume writes that he small, it took some effort to ditionally, the 1850 United States and his friend stayed there again on convince them to let us spend census shows the two brothers were their return trip to Manitowoc. the night there. This was in working on the prairie lands of Karyl Rommelfanger is a retired March and it was too cold to southeastern Wisconsin, just as they high school teacher of German from sleep on the ground in the for- intended to do again in the summer Manitowoc, Wisconsin. She has done est, and too far away from the of 1852. Lastly, Michael has recently extensive research on the history of next dwelling. So we stayed married, and his wife is from Lau- Manitowoc and its German-speaking there, and were quite satisfied. bach, a community directly west of immigrants. . . . The man was from Ba- the city of Koblenz in Germany. varia. His brother, a young and Without a doubt, the two broth- hearty lad, explained that in a few weeks they would be head- ing to the Racine prairie to find work, just like a few others The Restauration of the Meeme House Inn from their neighborhood. They The Manitowoc County Historical Society recently purchased the old wanted to earn some money Meeme House Inn building, located on Green Bay Road. Built in 1855 by in order to establish their own immigrants from Bavaria, the Inn was a stage coach stop where you could stay inn. . . . The innkeeper’s wife for $1 a day, including breakfast, supper, and feed and stabling for a team of came from the area around horses. The building had several small overnight rooms, a tavern on the first Koblenz. . . . On the next day floor, and a large, beautiful ballroom on the second. Voting also took place we came upon a settlement of inside until a new poll house was built, and town meetings were held in the Welsh—people from Wales. . . . ballroom until the construction of a new town hall in 1983. While it is impossible to know The Meeme House Inn, its original livery stable, and its poll house will soon with absolute certainty that the place make the 15-mile journey to Pinecrest Historical Village, where a fundraising described by Pflaume is the earliest effort is under way to restore all the buildings to their ca.-1900 glory.

5 CARL SCHURZ LIBRARY

Eugene Field Plays a Prank on Carl Schurz Kevin Kurdylo

mong the books from Carl had resented his broken English Schurz’s personal library more than his political heresies. on display at the Max Kade On another occasion, when the AInstitute are eight volumes of humor- gentleman who was to introduce Mr. ous articles, essays, and poetry writ- Schurz failed to appear, Field stepped ten by Eugene Field. Field is remem- to the front and with a strong Ger- bered today mainly for his children’s man accent addressed the gathering poetry, particularly the popular “Lit- as follows: “Ladies und shentlemens, tle Boy Blue” and “Wynken, Blynken, h’m, h’m!” (He coughed hoarsely.) “I and Nod” (originally titled “Dutch recret it dot I haf a fery bad coldt.” Lullaby,” in this case referring the (More coughing.) “I am so sorry inhabitants of the Netherlands). to say it, but et is not bossible for Biographies of Field also often note me to make you a speedg to-night. his fondness for playing pranks. For Howeffer, it gifs me creat bleasure to example, in 1882, while working as introduce to you my prilliant cho- a newspaper editor in Denver, Field urnatistic friend Euchene Fielt, who impersonated Oscar Wilde, who was will now attress you.” He turned and then on an extensive tour of Ameri- waved his hand to the amazed and ca, dressing extravagantly and wear- indignant Schurz and sat down. ing a wig of golden curls while riding It is reported that Schurz’s only re- through the streets in an open car- monstrance was, “Field, why will you riage—all to the cheers of admirers. lie so outrageously?” Back in 1874, Field, a native of St. Louis, was a young journalist work- ing for the St. Louis Journal. He was assigned to report on Carl Schurz’s Missouri campaign for re-election to the U.S. Senate. Two stories of Field’s pranks on Schurz are told. On one occasion a party of Ger- mans appeared and played music outside the hotel where Schurz was staying. Before Schurz could appear to acknowledge them, Field stepped out on the veranda and proceeded to address the crowd in broken English, spouting political nonsense. The ini- tial cheering subsided into amazed silence, until Field was pushed aside by the real candidate. Apparently Mr. Schurz found it difficult to save Field from the wrath of the crowd, which Eugene Field, 1896

6 FUNDRAISING

Make the Max Kade Institute Library a Part of Your Family’s History

Are you interested in German-American publications from a specific state? Do you feel a personal connection to a special collection in our Library? Would you like to honor a family member or immigrant ancestor and his or her contributions to the American experience? At the Max Kade Institute, we would like to recognize your contribution to our Library Campaign with the following naming opportunities.

• Adopt a book: choose your favorite publication in the MKI collection and have a nameplate added to the book ($200–$500). • Adopt a state in the Published in America (PIA) Collection: the MKI’s PIA collection is organized by state. Put your name on the shelf of your favorite state: ($500-$5,000). • Sponsor a Collection, such as the North American German Dialect Collection, Carl Schurz Collection, or Family History Collection ($5,000 - $10,000). • Name a room ($10,000 - $20,000).

Additional naming opportunities exist. Please inquire!

Max Kade Institute programs and operations have in the past been supported almost entirely through grants and donations. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to you, our Friends, for your tireless work on our behalf and your cru- cial financial support throughout our capital campaign. It is humbling to know that so many people appreciate what we are doing, use our resources, and in many cases see their own family’s history reflected in the Institute’s research.

Our move to the University Club nearly one year ago has brought all the benefits we anticipated. But there is still more work to be done. Our Library Project Campaign and our fundraising efforts need to continue.

Please help us raise the remaining matching funds for our National Endowment for the Humanities Challenge Grant, most of which goes to an endowment to support the Librarian/Archivist position.

Help us reach this year’s goal of $50,000 by July 31, 2015

Your support in securing our future is both crucial and deeply appreciated. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have questions, ideas, or suggestions. We look forward to seeing you at the Institute and serving you.

Cora Lee Kluge: [email protected] Mark Louden: [email protected] Antje Petty: [email protected]

7 FRIENDS ANNUAL MEETING

Impressions from the Friends of the Max Kade Institute’s Annual Meeting in Madison Antje Petty

n May 2, for the first Today Paul Seifert watercolors time in ten years, the are highly-prized examples of Friends of the Max Kade Midwestern folk art. In 2014, the InstituteO held their annual meeting Historical Society Museum under

in Madison. On this sunny spring Joseph Kapler’s direction showed an Charles James of courtesy Photo day, while Library Mall was bustling exhibit “Wisconsin in Watercolor: with a student music festival and The Farmscapes of Paul Seifert.” Read an arts fair, the Friends visited the more about the artist and the exhibit Wisconsin Historical Society and the in the Winter 2013– 2014 issue of the

University Club next door. Friends Newsletter (mkifriends.org). James Doing and Johannes Strohschänk examine We began with a tour of the Our next stop was the stunning a Wisconsin German-language newspaper in the Historical Society’s Reading Room. Historical Society, where staff Reading Room, which only a members and volunteers had done few years ago was restored to its to the Museum archives, where Lee a fantastic job of setting up three original beauty in the Neoclassical Grady, Senior Reference Archivist, different rooms with a variety of Revival style of the 1900 building. shared German-Wisconsin German-American materials from Here Michael Edmonds, Deputy materials from the Society’s Special the Society’s collection. At the first Director of Library Archives, gave Collections. These included letters station, Joseph Kapler, Curator of us an overview of the Wisconsin written by prominent eighteenth- the Historical Society Museum, Historical Society’s holdings and century Milwaukee women’s rights showed us paintings by the German- their significance for German- activist Mathilde Franziska Anneke, born artist Paul Seifert, who, in the American studies. German-language a three-dimensional embossed last two decades of the nineteenth newspapers from Wisconsin, maps, photograph of Milwaukee brewer century, traveled around rural and other documents were displayed Captain Frederick Pabst, a vandalized Wisconsin to paint landscapes and for our Friends to examine. 1918 campaign poster for Milwaukee idyllic representations of farms. The final leg of the tour took us Photo courtesy of Charles James of courtesy Photo

The Geiger-Tesch family at the annual meeting

8 Socialist Victor Berger’s run for U.S. Senate, and as a colored German- language map printed in 1849 of “the state of Wisconsin, to the extent it had been surveyed in 1843.” Photo courtesy of Charles James of courtesy Photo Our hosts graciously invited us to come back and explore their collections not only when we work on a research project, but also when we are just curious. All of us at the Max Kade Institute and the Friends wish to extend a big “thank you” to our colleagues and neighbors at the Historical Society for preparing for us such an interesting and informative event. The tour was followed by the annual business meeting. Looking back at all that happened since our last annual meeting, we know we had an exciting year. The biggest

event, of course, was the Max Kade Lee Grady, showing a 1918 vandalized campaign poster from the Wisconsin Institute’s long-awaited move to Historical Society’s archive its new location in the University Club. The move, the renovation Library, volunteered at German Fest, President Jim Kleinschmidt. Thank project, and the capital campaign wrote articles for the Newsletter, you, Friends! that preceded it, could not have arranged for the Institute to come Four members were elected to happened without the tremendous to their communities, and much the 2015–2016 Board of Directors: support of the Friends, who have more. We are especially grateful to Hans Bernet and Pamela Tesch will continuously assisted the Institute in the members of the Friends Board be serving a second term, while Bill a variety of ways. Friends donated of Directors, particularly outgoing Thiel and Don Zamzow were elected to the campaign, helped out in the members Gary Gisselman and to a first term. Please see the Friends Profiles for Bill and Don on page 12. New Officers of the Board are Fran Luebke (President), Edward Langer (Vice President), John Pustejovsky (Secretary), and Luanne von Schneidemesser (Treasurer). Hans Bernet was elected as the fifth member of the Executive Committee. Photo courtesy of Charles James of courtesy Photo Our evening was rounded out with a dinner at the University Club restaurant and a fun and informative lecture and Powerpoint presentation

Sunset over Library Mall and Bascom Hill by MKI Co-Director Mark Louden on “Wisconsin’s German Heritage.”

9 In the Right Place at the Right Time: Saving the Wisconsin–Hessen State Partnership Proclamation Sy Kreilein

am sure that all of us have at Fast forward to January 15, 2015, combination of history and German some time been surprised by a day I met with Charles Baumbach, was a project I, of course, could not the coincidence of events or a lawyer and Milwaukee native, and refuse. encounters.I This is the story of such Ken Germanson, president emeritus That is why we met at the an occurrence. of the Wisconsin Labor History Wisconsin AFL-CIO Headquarters In 1976, the Minister President Society at the Headquarters of the that January day, hoping to of the German State of Hessen, Wisconsin AFL-CIO in Milwaukee. find historic documents in the Albert Osswald, and Wisconsin Baumbach had been doing research organization’s archives. We had Governor Patrick Lucey signed an on his grandfather, a mason who gone through several piles, when official proclamation establishing a helped construct Milwaukee’s City Ken Germanson cleared a stack, partnership between the two states. Hall. As part of his study, he had leaving one item on the desk. My The signing ceremony celebrated also investigated the infamous Bay heart stopped for a few seconds. the 200th anniversary of the United View Massacre of May 5, 1886. On There on the table was the framed, States as well as the 30th year of that day about 1,500 workers, mostly official German-language version of Hessen’s state constitution. The Polish immigrants wanting an eight- the Hessen-Wisconsin Partnerschaft goals of the Proclamation stated the hour work day, marched on Rolling document signed by Minister following: Mills, a foundry in Bay View, south President Albert Osswald and The State of Hessen and the of Milwaukee on Lake Michigan. Governor Patrick Lucey! State of Wisconsin agree that Because of the disastrous bloody end I looked at Ken and asked, “Do the Partnership should benefit to the Haymarket Square incident you know what you have here?” the citizens of both States that had occurred in Chicago only “I have no idea. I only know it’s directly and, namely, through a few days before, the Governor of written in German,” Germanson the promotion of an exchange Wisconsin, Jeremiah Rusk, called replied. After I explained the of persons from the following out the militia to control the strikers history of the relationship between areas: and protect the foundry, and gave Hessen and Wisconsin, he looked the order to shoot if necessary. The bewildered and elated at the same education and science, art Milwaukee Sentinel newspaper later time. Nobody had a clue how this and culture, environmental noted that when the “anarchists and framed document had found its way protection, health sector socialists” rushed the mill, after being to the basement of the Wisconsin (hospital administration), warned to stop, the militia shot, AFL-CIO Headquarters, where it police and justice system, killing five people, and wounding had been gathering dust for years. In and tax administration. several others. Two of those killed fact, not knowing what the document In addition, the Partnership were innocent bystanders. meant, Germanson confessed that helps support the contacts of Baumbach now was interested he had been going to throw the non-State institutions, above in comparing the coverage of Proclamation into the dumpster. all, in the areas of private the Bay View incident in the How’s that for timing! Being in the economy, tourism, broadcasting English-language press with right place at the right time, indeed! media, the fostering of tradition that in Milwaukee’s German- Today, the Partnerschaft document through Heimat Societies and language newspapers and asked hangs on a wall in the in Max Kade historical associations, and of for my assistance with researching Institute Library, in the Institute’s sport. the German publications. The new location on the University

10 of Wisconsin–Madison campus, where it will not gather any dust. Meanwhile in Milwaukee, a For Sale sign was posted in front of the AFL- CIO building in March.

Sy Kreilein, Ph.D., lives in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. He is a retired teacher of German at Marquette University High School in Milwaukee and a member of the Hessen-Wisconsin Society, as well as the Goethe House Milwaukee.

11 FRIENDS PROFILE

Welcoming Bill Thiel and Don Zamzow on the Friends Board of Directors Antje Petty

t the annual meeting on live in Schofield, near Wausau. May 2, two long-time Don is a founding member of Friends were elected to the the Pommerscher Verein Central BoardA of Directors: Bill Thiel and Wisconsin, where he was a member Don Zamzow. Both Bill and Don of the Board of Directors and its have served on the Board before, and President for many years. For we are delighted to have them back. eighteen years, Don has edited the Born in Milwaukee, Bill Thiel is a Verein’s newsletter, Dat Pommersche graduate of Marquette Law School. Blatt. Through their work with the Since 1975, he has been a resident Pommerscher Verein, Don and Lou of Eau Claire, where he is a lawyer Ann have been actively involved in in private practice. Bill served on promoting the language, the Board once before, from 2000 to a Northern German dialect that 2006. they grew up speaking in Northern In his free time, Bill enjoys reading Wisconsin. Currently they are histories and biographies and doing conducting some of the “Platt Tied” his own research. He has done sessions designed to promote usage prolific work on nineteenth-century of this German dialect. German immigration to Wisconsin, As members of the Pommerscher Don Zamzow especially on emigrants from Verein, the Zamzows have been Schleswig-Holstein. Together with instrumental in making numerous language of their childhood. Johannes Strohschänk, a Professor connections with German heritage Don has extensive experience of German at UW–Eau Claire and societies around the country and the in the business world as the a fellow Board member, Bill wrote world, such as the Landsmannschaft CEO of Government & Industry the monograph The Wisconsin Office organizations of Hamburg and Technologies, a software of Emigration 1853–1855 (2005), , Germany, as well as the development company providing published by the Max Kade Institute. Ostsee-Akademie in the Pommern- Wisconsin County Health & Human Bill and Johannes continue to work Zentrum, Lübeck-Travemünde. Services agencies with information on a comprehensive history of In addition, the Verein maintains systems. In more recent years, Don German immigration to Wisconsin close associations with other Low- and his son Michael established for the years 1836 to 1861. Another German Heritage societies in Iowa, and now operate Bull Falls Brewery of their projects concerns the diary Nebraska, and Michigan, as well LLC, in Wausau, a new craft beer of Johann O. Kröhnke, a founding as societies in Germany, and helps microbrewery whose products will member of the town of New organize international seminars on soon to be available throughout the Holstein. In addition, Bill regularly the Low German language and its state of Wisconsin. joins Johannes in teaching an honors different dialect forms. Furthermore, Bill and Don will both bring course on German-American Don has organized five “roots” unique perspectives, expertise, and immigration at UW–Eau Claire. tours to Germany and for enthusiasm to the Board. We look Don Zamzow served on the people interested in researching forward to working together with Board once before, from 2003 to their ancestral villages and in finding them! 2009. He and his wife Lou Ann opportunities to use the Low German

12 Continued from page 1 Americans. These findings are based basket, ignored all of the mass dem- on the census of 1910, according to onstrations, threw all good counsel phobia” of the times—on issues such which there were 5,412,364 such il- and caution to the wind, adopted an as the use of the German language. literates, specifically 2,227,731 blacks evermore partisan stance despite its The following commentary from Sep- and 3,184,633 whites; among the lat- own advice to pray for peace, encour- tember of 1915 reminds readers that ter, 1,534,272 were of American birth aged the massive arms export to the the German language has been an and 1,650,361 of foreign birth—only Allies, and ever more strongly and important advocate for liberty and about 100,000 more. It has also been obviously favored England while freedom in the United States through- shown that the number of illiterates constantly conjuring up the threat out the country’s history, and it argues drops more quickly among descen- of war?—Where would our country that “in the present crisis” their knowl- dants of immigrants than among the be today, after the Anglo-American edge of German, by the grace of God, second generation of native-born yellow press ranted against Germany has given them “an accurate view.” It Americans, and quickest of all among with poisonous hostility, widely dis- concludes with the often-heard dec- those of German origin. We German tributed all of their lies and defama- laration that the German language’s Americans are proud to be a bilin- tions, suppressed the truth, aligned enemies must be conquered! gual people! themselves with the Allies, and de- —Cora Lee Kluge Are we justified in our pride? There liberately agitated for war?—Where has never been a time when the would our country be today, if there value of our German mother tongue were no German voices left to advo- Die Abendschule, Year 62, Issue 5. next to that of the national language cate for truth and justice? St. Louis, Missouri has come to light so clearly and evi- It was the German language that Thursday, September 30, 1915. dently, so pricelessly and invaluably struck the tones of freedom from sea Of the Times—For the Times as in this great time of war! Let it to sea, protecting the life and prop- sink in, dear Reader, and consider it erty of our people, just like the old The German Language is More with your eyes open to the daylight! Liberty Bell of Philadelphia that is Precious Today Than Ever Before. Imagine that you were no longer able currently touring the country.* In our country, English is the of- to read German. Would it not have It was the German language in this ficial lingua franca. It is therefore been England’s unmistakable intent, country,—the pen of history shall necessary for every citizen to master just as soon as our German connec- record this for all future genera- the thoroughly. tion had been lost, to fill our heads tions!—that, just as it first brought One does not fully deserve to be daily with the most wretched lies the Declaration of Independence to called a “good citizen” until he can and false news, as they have done all paper, again came on the scene with fluently speak, read, and also write along with every monolingual Eng- flaming words and the sword of rea- the national language—the language lish speaker in America? What would son and slashed the web of lies and of the country that has bestowed we have known of the true state of shrewd political machinations. upon him freedom, protection, nour- affairs, of the victories and successes It was the German language that, ishment, and profit. Despite com- of our kin, our blood brothers? What just as her patriotic sons fought for pulsory education, the number of would we have known of the progress the freedom of this country under illiterate people in the United States of their worthy cause, if we had been Washington and Lincoln, did once is still very large. It is often assumed thoroughly Anglicized in the “melt- again inspire the inferior elements to that most of these illiterates are im- ing pot” shortly after our arrival, if true, emphatic patriotism! migrants who came largely from we had treacherously abandoned and uneducated classes and culturally forgotten our German language? * Translator’s note: In 1915, the Liberty Bell backward countries. However, recent Yes, where would our country be was sent from Philadelphia to San Francisco for the Panama-Pacific International Exposi- findings have shown that the major- today, after the government tossed all tion, stopping frequently along the way to be ity of the illiterates are native-born of the mass petitions into the waste- admired by crowds.

13 And why, in this crisis, was it the German language that struck the proper tone, provided an accurate view, maintained healthy judgment, generated true patriotism, and kept a clean conscience? Why, in this age of decision, was it the German Ameri- cans who proved themselves to be the real, true patriots of the country? Yes, Readers and Friends, it was by the grace of God! Behold, our Ger- man mother tongue, like no other language in the world, possesses little charms and jewels that He has be- stowed upon her. And you find these treasures in churches, schools, and Christian homes! However, for unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required (Luke 12:48). Just recently, even the Russian war minister circulated a letter warning TheAbendschule was not the only German-American paper that closely followed the war in that instruction in the German lan- Europe with a focus on the German point of view. The above advertisement appeared in the St. Louis Westliche Post on January 1, 2016. It reads: guage is of the utmost importance, By popular demand, the showing of the wonderful war images at the given the current hostility to all Garrick will be extended for another week. Do not wait, come to the Garrick Theater today! things German, and it will continue On Chestnut between Broadway and Sixth Street to be important in the future, as Directly from the battle field! The moving-picture scoop of the War! At the firing line with the Germans! Germany will remain Russia’s enemy Tickets for 25 and 50 cents after the war. Learning the enemy’s Under the direction of the War Film Syndicate, Chicago language is an absolute necessity, he states, and failure to do so became painfully noticeable, for example, during the Russo-Japanese War; the better one knows his enemies, the sooner he may conquer them. Board of Directors, Friends of the Max Kade Institute The German language, too, has Hans Bernet Monroe many enemies, near and far, and you Karen Fowdy Monroe have already come to know all of Steven Geiger Wausau Cora Lee Kluge ex officio, Madison them. Fate has spoken clearly: Edward Langer Vice President, Nashotah Conquer them! Mark Louden ex officio, Sun Prairie Fran Luebke President, Brookfield Translation of this Abendschule text Antje Petty ex officio, Fitchburg by James Doing, a student in the John Pustejovsky Secretary, Whitefish Bay Luanne von Schneidemesser Treasurer, Madison University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee’s Johannes Strohschänk Eau Claire Translation & Interpretation Gradu- Pamela Tesch Oconomowoc ate Certificate Program, who is fulfill- Bill Thiel Eau Claire ing requirements with an internship at Don Zamzow Schofield the Max Kade Institute.

14 MEMBERSHIP/RENEWAL

Join the Friends of the Max Kade Institute for German-American Studies

Name ______Address ______City______State______Zip ______Email ______Phone______

☐ I am a new member ☐ I am a renewing member ☐ Check here to indicate address change

☐ Student—$15 ☐ Supporter—$100 ☐ Individual—$30 ☐ Patron—$250 ☐ K–12 Educator—$30 ☐ Lifetime, Individual—$1,000 ☐ Family (one address)—$50 ☐ Lifetime, Family—$1,500

Please make checks payable to the Friends of the Max Kade Institute, 432 East Campus Mall, Madison, WI 53706-1407.

• Friends of the Max Kade Institute is a non-profit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization that supports the research, outreach, educational, and publishing activities of the Max Kade Institute for German-American Studies. • Membership covers the calendar year (January–December). Payments received after November 1 of the current year will be credited for the full succeeding year.

The Newsletter of the Friends of the Max Kade Institute for German-American Studies is published three times a year at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Submissions are invited and should be sent to:

Kevin Kurdylo Friends of the Max Kade Institute for German-American Studies 432 East Campus Mall, UW–Madison, Madison, WI 53706–1704 Phone: (608) 262–7546 [email protected]

mki.wisc.edu maxkade.blogspot.com

15 Friends of the Max Kade Institute Non-Profit Organization for German-American Studies US Postage University of Wisconsin–Madison PAID Madison, WI 432 East Campus Mall Permit No. 658 Madison, WI 53706-1704