Editor CHRISTINE CLAYTON AHSGR Headquarters, Lincoln, Nebraska
Editorial Board IRMGARD HEIN ELLINGSON PETER J. KLASSEN Bukovina Society, Ellis, KS California State University, Fresno ARTHURE FLEGEL TIMOTHY KLOBERDANZ Certified Genealogist, Menlo Park, CA North Dakota State University, Fargo ADAM GIESINGER GEORGE KUFELDT University of Manitoba, Canada, emeritus Anderson University, Indiana, emeritus NANCY BERNHARDT HOLLAND LEONA PFEIFER Trinity College, Burlington, VT Fort Hays State University, Kansas, emeritus WILLIAM KEEL HELMUT SCHMELLER University of Kansas, Lawrence Fort Hays State University, Kansas, emeritus
On the cover: Top: Arthur Flegel's grandparents, taken 110 years ago. Left: Frieda Gress and her The Journal of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia is published quarterly by AHSGR. grandchildren. Right: Cleo Flegel and her Members of the Society receive a quarterly Journal, Newsletter, and an annual genealogical publication. great-grandchildren. Clues. Members qualify for discounts on material available for purchase from AHSGR. Membership The Golden Gate Board and Michael categories for 1998 are: Individual, $50; Family, $50; Institutional $50; Contributing, $75; Sustaining, $100; Life, $750. Memberships are based on a calendar year, due each January 1. Dues in excess of $50 may be Schulz designed the cover collectively. tax-deductible as allowed by law. Applications for membership should be sent to AHSGR, 631 D Street, Margaret Freeman and Penney Raile of Lincoln, NE 68502-1199. Southern California also gave special The Journal welcomes the submission of articles, essays, family histories, anecdotes, folklore, book help. reviews, and items regarding all aspects of the lives of Germans in/from Russia. All submissions are subject to review by the Editorial Board. Manuscripts should be typed double-spaced with endnotes. Computer fan- fold paper should be separated before mailing. If written on computer, please include a diskette containing a copy of the computer file. We can accept IBM-compatible ASCII or WordPerfectTM files. Our style guide is The Chicago Manual of Style, l4th ed. revised (Chicago; University of Chicago Press, 1993). Please indicate in your cover letter whether you have photos or illustrations to accompany your article. If you wish your submission returned to you, please include a stamped, self-addressed envelope with adequate postage. Unless you instruct us otherwise, submissions not published in the Journal will be added to the AHSGR Archives.
The International Foundation of AHSGR is a non-profit organization, which seeks funds to support the needs of the many operations of the Society. The Foundation accepts monetary gifts, bequests, securities, memorial gifts, trusts, and other donations. Gifts to the Foundation may be designated for specific purposes such a promoting the work of the Aussiedler Project gathering information from German-Russian emigrants recently arrived in Germany, the AHSGR/CIS Project for research in Russia, or supporting the Society's library or genealogical work; gifts may also be designated for use where most needed. All contributions help further the goals of AHSGR; to gather, preserve, and make available for research material pertaining to the history of Germans from Russia. For information and to make contributions, contact the International Foundation of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, 631 D Street, Lincoln, NE 68502-1199. Telephone: (402) 474-3363. Fax: (402) 474-7229. E-mail: [email protected]. Donations to the International Foundation are tax deductible as allowed by law.
Opinions and statements of fact expressed by contributors are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Society, the Foundation, the Editor, or members of the Editorial Board, who assume no responsibility for statements made by contributors.
Published by the American Historical Society of Germans From Russia 631 D Street • Lincoln, NE 68502-1199 • Phone 402-474-3363 • Fax 402-474-7229 • E-mail [email protected] © Copyright 1997 by the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A.
ISSN 0162-8283 $10.00 U.S. CONTENTS
THE VISION OF HOPE Donnette Sonnenfeld...... 1
PERILS OF A JOURNEY Peter J. Klassen ...... 3
UNITE YOUR FAMILY WITH THE BERLIN DOCUMENT CENTER RECORDS Marianne Wheeler...... 7
ANNUAL REPORTS...... …………...... …………… 12
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD John Schleicher...... 23
BEGINNING OF VOLGA-GERMAN EMIGRATION TO AMERICA
Dr. Igor R. Pleve Translated by Richard Rye...... 25
THE GERMANS IN RUSSIA: THEIR PRESENT SITUATION (AND THE ROAD TO THE FUTURE) Eugen N. Miller Translated by Ursula Moessner and edited by William M. Wiest...... 27
RECENT GENEALOGICAL FINDS IN UKRAINE Richard Rye...... 32
THE LIFE OF THE GERMAN WOMEN IN RUSSIA Leona Wasinger Pfeifer...... 38
ONE HUNDRED AND TEN YEARS OF VOLGA GERMANS IN FRESNO Diana Bell...... 40
LISTING OF DONATIONS ...... ………….. 47
WHEN WE WERE YOUNG Gil Axt...... 53
II
Page 1
THE VISION OF HOPE Donnette Sonnenfeld, Society President
When AHSGR was first formed, members and chapters eagerly Carl Sandburg once said, "When a society or civilization perishes, one helped gather research to build our repository of records. They condition can always be found; they forgot where they came from." gathered obituaries, typed family group cards, sought church records, When the charter members of AHSGR founded our organization in and all kinds of material vital to the growth and prosperity of AHSGR. 1968, they did so with the intent of never letting our heritage be When members inquired in writing or in person, our staff could assist forgotten. They had a vision that our organization would honor the them in their quest to learn more about their family. Today AHSGR is memory of our ancestors and preserve our history. They had hope we confronted all too often with having to buy records from a chapter, would attract all the descendants of Germans from Russia as members. which many times has restrictions on how they can be used. Village Our ancestors left us an incredible legacy. We owe it to them to never coordinators often have members' records, but these records aren't forget the trials and tribulations they endured to give us the freedom available at AHSGR. When Headquarters is left out of the loop, how we have today. But will the vision our founders had continue well into can we expect to grow and get new members if we have to refer the twenty-first century and beyond, or will AHSGR be a fleeting members to others who have records and we don't? I know so many of memory? The real question before us is what will it take, and will we you have new children, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren. I join together to ensure that the future of AHSGR is a reality? have seen the pictures to prove it, but I'm willing to bet the majority of I was looking through the Fall 1991 Journal and I noticed our members have yet to add them to their family group charts at AHSGR President Lee Kraft's keynote address, "Catch the Vision." I Headquarters. I know how proud you are of them. Why not be equally reread his address and would like to refresh you with some of his as proud by including them in your records? presentation. He reminded us that we had to catch a new vision for the We see costs and membership prices rise. One of the reasons for nineties if we were to survive. He went on to remind us that we can't this comes back to our records. So many members who contributed afford to polarize ourselves in negative thoughts, in "us" verses their family information to us did so on paper. Many of these "them" thinking. We had to come together as one organization. members have this information on computers, but have not sent a copy I then read his keynote address for the following year. He of this on disk to Headquarters. In order to include these cards in our borrowed a quotation from the bible as his keynote address, "Where database we have to hire an individual staff member to do this. Having there is no vision, the people perish." He reminded us that without to hire a staff person to do this costs the membership money. Instead immediate action to build our membership we might be left with only of having to duplicate work, we should be working on other things. a museum, a few members, and no chapters. We've seen groups of individuals within AHSGR translate There is the vision of hope, but we have to work together for the obituaries and place them on another organization's homepage, yet good of AHSGR. We have to join hands, reach into our hearts and AHSGR has yet to receive copies of them. souls, and firmly agree that we have to work together as one people to In the early days of AHSGR we found many individuals willing to make this organization continue for our children, our grandchildren, translate material. Today we're forced to hire translators at very and for all future generations. We cannot pit ourselves against each expensive prices. other in disagreements. While we can agree to disagree, we must find As of this moment we have not received an invitation to host the ways to work together to resolve issues. Rather than destroying our 1999 convention. If no offers come in, we will be forced to make a beloved Society over issues that continue to plague us, we must decision that could well affect AHSGR forever. We may be forced compromise and resolve them. There is a saying that illustrates this, into having conventions every other year. If you miss a convention, "Together we stand, divided we fall." you would then have to go four years without being part of a Donnette Sonnenfeld is the outgoing Society President of AHSGR. She gathering. gave this speech as the keynote address at the International Convention Conventions have become a rich tradition. Yes, they are a lot of in San Jose, California. work, but when you sit back and realize just how important they have been, why would we want to destroy this tradition? At each convention we attract new members who tell us in tear-filled eyes that they had no idea there were others of German-Russian descent. They are excited about finally being able to have their questions answered. All too often questions were left unanswered when their parents died without telling them about their
2 The Vision of Hope ancestors. At conventions we have found distant relatives and built members must pitch in. There are so many untapped resources within lasting friendships. I was reading my dad's hometown paper in late the fingertips of chapters, but we need your help if we are to grow. So May and saw the Selby High School's class motto, and I realized that it many of the early founders of AHSGR gave so much of themselves described our conventions. Their motto was, "In learning, we have with little or no recognition. The only thing they received was the joy shared. In sharing, we have found friendship. In friendship, we have in their hearts that they had given back to a society that they had found ourselves." Without AHSGR many of us would still be benefited from. Each member has a talent or something to offer struggling to know who we really were, and most importantly who our AHSGR. You don't have to live on the doorstep of Headquarters to be ancestors were. We must hold on to the legacy. a volunteer. We live in a very different world today than we did in 1968. Back There is the vision of hope for AHSGR's long-term survival. then there were huge evening meals with the family gathered around There are younger individuals who do have a keen interest in learning the table. Television consisted of about four channels, and probably about their heritage and preserving it. We can't afford to drive off black and white. Copy machines were hand-cranked. Companies were today's youth. We must hold on to them and encourage them if we the only ones who owned computers. Today we live in a fast food, fast wish to grow. Today's youth are tomorrow's future. Without youth, we paced society. Meals for families all too often are eaten on the run, will have a bleak future. microwaved or skipped entirely. Television today is cable with dozens As we embrace the vision of hope, we must all come together as of channels, with people still complaining there is nothing to watch. one people for the good of AHSGR. We must put aside past Some homes own more than one computer. They are using computers differences and look to the future and all it holds. We must share our to shop, surf the Internet, and learn about AHSGR. information with AHSGR in order to share with others. We gain AHSGR has caught the vision that Lee Kraft was talking about. nothing and lose tremendously if we must constantly buy materials, Today we even accept credit cards for AHSGR purchases, which exist and are held by members. We must build our repository memberships, and donations. We're developing a computer system that instead of saying that a specific item exists, but the Headquarters staff will allow you to research your files in the snap of a finger. This has to refer a member or potential member to another chapter or group technology won't happen over night. AHSGR has outgrown its first of people. When this happens we leave new members and potential computer data base, but the Computer and Digital Technology new members with little or nor reason to join. Committee is carefully working on a new data base that will meet our We've caught the vision and moved into the age of technology. needs better and for a longer period of time. Some members feel this We have the hope of an organization, which will preserve our history. should happen all at once, but the Board is taking the time necessary to AHSGR is your organization. Without you, the member, we don't ensure the final product is the best it can be. We know that if you can’t exist. Let's commit ourselves to build an everlasting organization that use the final product, what good is it? We are also now faced with would make our ancestors proud of our accomplishments. It's time to legal questions of whether the Privacy Act is applicable to the leave our past conflicts go and join together as one as we pursue the database. vision of hope. What will it take to make the future a reality? We have to join In closing I would like to pass on to you words translated from the together in all aspects of AHSGR. We must put aside our differences Sanskrit, which is actually a classical language of India and Hinduism. and work together for AHSGR and not against it. The author is unknown, and some sources believe this was written in Individuals and chapters must take an active roll in helping the fifth century. The title is Salutation of Dawn. AHSGR build the repository. I am always impressed with how the Northern Illinois Chapter has worked to do this. They have taken on a "For Yesterday is but a Dream, number of projects for AHSGR. They went to the Lutheran Archives And To-morrow is only a vision: outside of Chicago and found a tremendous amount of information, which they photocopied and presented to AHSGR. In addition they But Today well lived makes recently completed a project concerning the records of the John V.
Mays Funeral home. There are other chapter doing projects, but we Every Yesterday a Dream of Happiness need everyone's help. All chapters and And Every To-morrow a Vision of Hope."
Let us Join together to keep AHSGR's vision of hope alive.
Thank you.
Page 7
PERILS OF A JOURNEY
Peter J. Klassen
Points of Origin granted Mennonites the right to practice their religious beliefs, On 12 August 1926,1 on the rolling Alberta prairie, a Canadian Pacific including pacifism. Soon, however, the military ambitions of the train slowed to a stop. A family of eight disembarked uncertainly. Their Prussian kings took precedence over religious toleration. Mennonites arrival was the result of courage produced of desperation, hope, and were informed that, unless they accepted military obligations, they faith. Their leader John, with his young family and parents, had made would be barred from further land acquisition.3 Since most Mennonites the fateful decision to leave Russia that spring despite the fact that engaged in agriculture, the restrictions elicited numerous protests and other family members, who also planned to emigrate, had decided to petitions. reap the benefits of the summer's harvest before their departure. Power Politics and Emigration When these remaining family members attempted to leave in the The distressed Mennonites now found hope in a Russian emissary, fall, the door had already closed. For them, it was too late; their fate Georg Trappe, who invited Mennonites to find a new home in Russia. would be inextricably tied to the new regime in Russia. In 1787 he boldly distributed a leaflet in Danzig in which he invited the How and when did John Klassen's journey, so full of hope and "highly regarded and respected members of the Mennonite churches in disappointment, promise and peril, begin? What were the historical Danzig"4 to join the exodus to this New Canaan. events, which shaped the context for the exit from Russia? Those Mennonites who wanted to accept Catherine's invitation to Well over two centuries ago, a very eventful odyssey into Russia settle in Russia now found themselves caught in a power struggle began for many who would become known as Germans in Russia, later between provincial and central authorities. On the one hand, Berlin as Germans from Russia. The journey usually began in hope and directed local administrators to prevent Mennonites from leaving; at optimism, tempered by anxiety and uncertainty. But it was a new the same time, Berlin indicated it would not relent on its insistence on beginning in a venture that promised opportunity and unbounded keeping military demands in place. Sometimes, however, Berlin issued challenge. In the 1760s, large numbers of settlers moved to largely directives that were confusing to local officials; sometimes, guidelines uninhabited lands along the Volga; two decades later, other large stated that perhaps some persons, especially those with very limited groups began to establish colonies in the vast stretches of territory, means, might be allowed to emigrate; on other occasions, these 5 acquired by Russia through military conquest, in what came to be provincial authorities were told to use a variety of stalling tactics. On known as "New Russia." Among the thousands of hopeful colonists 6 March 1788 the government in Berlin showed its frustration with who accepted Catherine the Greats’ invitation,2 some were tired of the administrators implementing policy in the Vistula Delta when it ravages of war; others hoped for better economic opportunities as they declared: left regions such as Hesse, Swabia, the Palatinate, Baden, and "We cannot understand how the West Prussian office could come Wurtemberg. Whatever the reasons, throngs of newcomers set the stage to a position where it is offering these Mennonites hope of freedom to for dramatic demographic, economic, social, and cultural change. emigrate.'"' Clearly, in the latter 1780s the much-vaunted Prussian Substantial communities, comprising dozens of new settlements, now administrative efficiency was not evident in the Vistula Delta. became an important part of the Russian landscape. Often, Mennonites escaped Prussian restrictions by moving briefly Mennonites from Prussia formed part of the second wave of this to Danzig, still a city under the Polish crown but functioning as exodus. Most of them came from the Vistula Delta, a region seized by essentially an independent city state, residing there briefly, then getting Prussia in the First Partition of Poland. Earlier, Polish kings and other Danzig emigration papers. Some Prussian authorities argued that this authorities had was simply a ruse to escape Prussian jurisdiction (which indeed it was), but Danzig maintained its position. On other occasions, when Peter J. Klassen is Professor of History and Director, International Mennonites failed to get the appropriate emigration papers, they simply Programs, at California State University in Fresno. He serves on the left clandestinely,7 thus becoming "illegal immigrants." Soon the AHSGR Editorial Board. Mennonite emigration became a significant movement. On 28 July 1788, a farewell service for
4 Perils of a Journey
152 families, held at the Rosenort Church in the Delta, some reason for hope. But these hopes were to be quickly demonstrated the strength of the desire to move to Russia.8 dashed. Then, in 1789 a total of 228 families established Khortitsa, the The Growing Communist Peril first Mennonite colony in New Russia, as it was then called. By the mid-1920s, the new Communist power structure Some fourteen years later, an even larger emigration began and established itself as an increasingly oppressive and totalitarian the Molochna Colony came into being, rule; the tenets of Communism left no room for traditional Among those who joined this movement were farmers, religious, cultural, and educational practices of Catholics, craftsmen, merchants, laborers, and others who came from Lutherans, Mennonites, and others. villages throughout the Vistula Delta. One of these was one of Soon, the personality cult of Josef Stalin, the concentration my ancestors, Julius (Gils) Klassen, who came from the village of power in the hands of a dictator and those around him, the of Heubuden, now Stogi, and helped to establish the village of subordination of everything to the dictates of the party as Schonau.9 Time does not permit an examination of the early defined by its leader, led to the creation of one of history's most difficult years, but this village, as well as others in the colony, ruthless regimes. Terror became a widely used lactic in the survived, and began to thrive. pursuit of totalitarian policy. The Perils of Nationalism Once again, in this time of crisis, many Germans in Russia In the 1870s, another major challenge arose when Russia, responded by seeking a new home. My own parents, after long like many other European powers, found itself caught up in a family debate, decided to leave in 1926 and immigrated to grip of nationalism; indeed, some political and intellectual Canada. My father's brother, and other relatives, hoping to take leaders championed a Russification policy that would sharply advantage of a good harvest, stayed for several months, then limit traditional liberties. The Prussian victory in the Franco- also tried to emigrate, but the opportunity had passed. For them Prussian War accentuated Russia's determination to strengthen and for millions of others, a time of repression, loss of freedom, its military position. Like the Prussian king a century earlier, seizure of property, and practice of deliberate terror now began. the Russian tsar now demanded a sharp curtailment of cultural By 1928, the church where my grandfather had been a minister and religious liberties. Military exemption was to be ended; had been seized by the government and converted into a high prescribed use of the Russian language seemed to many school. Another nearby church became a cultural center; all Germans a threat to their liberties, Once again, the response formal religious services, at least in this area, were prohibited. was emigration, this time primarily to North America. Soon my father received an ominous message from his brother: Eventually, the tsar's government modified its position on Do not send any more letters. By then, contact with foreigners military participation by allowing civilian service, and so most was viewed with suspicion. Mennonites decided to stay. About a third of Russia's Perils of Terror and War Mennonites, however, looked for new opportunities in During the brutal 1930s, Stalin's terror policies and America's heartland. For my great grandfather, this event deliberately created starvation led to the systematic elimination presented an economic opportunity. When the village of of millions of people, including many Germans throughout the Alexanderwohl decided to move en masse to Kansas, he Soviet Union. In recent years, this massive tragedy has been selected this moment to buy two farms in what must have repeatedly documented. An early analysis by Robert Conquest, seemed a deserted village in Russia. his startling Harvest of Sorrow, showed how dekulakization, The decades following this major exodus have often been systematic destruction of the peasantry, collectivization of described as the "Golden Age" for Germans, including agriculture and industry, deliberately-planned starvation and Mennonites, in Russia. Indeed, it was that for much of Russia, terror led to the death of more than 14.5 million people. At first, as the vast empire moved to become more industrialized and this account was dismissed as exaggerated. With glasnost and prosperous. The first World War, followed by revolution, civil perestroika, however, even Izvestia, the government daily, war, and famine, however, shattered the promises of better reported in 1988 that this figure was too low. In the same year. times. During the war, as the Russian armies sustained Soviet National Television ran a documentary equating Stalin staggering losses, the tsar’s government—an ominous with Hitler.10 foreshadowing of 1941, issued savagely anti-German decrees. The numbers are numbing, but what did this mean at the The defeat of Russia, however, prevented the full family level? A typical incident occurred in the Pleshanovo implementation of these policies. In the ensuing revolution and colony near Orenburg. Secret police came to a home, and civil war, many German colonies were part of the battle arena, demanded that the father in the family go with them. His wife and some colonies suffered brutal treatment and plunder. When and children never saw him again. Some three decades later, a measure of calm returned in the early 1920s, many Germans after Khrushchev had denounced the Stalin terror, the family hoped for a return of the prosperity and tranquility of pre- requested an explanation of what World War I days. Indeed, for a brief period, the new order gave
5 Perils of a Journey had happened to their father. Then they finally received their answer. region by the end of the summer.”15 In July 1992 an agreement In a letter to my cousin, the KGB gave the following sobering sketchy between Russia and Germany stipulated that Germany would allocate facts: DM 200 million to resettle Germans in various areas, including the "Your father was arrested by the NKVD for participation in a Saratov region."' Public opposition to the creation of German counter revolutionary group and for conducting political administrative regions, however, was so swift and strong that the propaganda against the state.... On 11 September 1937 he was Russian press deplored the "vehement" and "chauvinistic" opposition to sentenced to death, and executed on 15 September 1937.... On 24 any recreation of the Volga Republic.'7 Similarly, when some efforts to October 1967, the decree of the presidium of the regional court in establish a German autonomous unit were explored in the Orenburg Orenburg established his innocence... Please accept our regrets."'' region, the public response again was strongly negative.18 Thus, despite promises of help from Germany and a positive, In conclusion, the official report stated that the victim's record had although rather ambivalent Russian government position, the prospect been reconsidered, and he had been found innocent. Only in recent of creating new homelands for Germans in Russia did not create years have many of the innocent victims been exonerated—but how optimism in the minds of the Germans in Russia. Many continued their does a government make amends for such policies of deliberate terror, efforts to immigrate to Germany. In September, 1992, the Russian of such systematic murder? press reported that "the number of those urging the restoration of the Although the coming of war to Russia, first in 1940, then in 1941, German republic on the Volga is declining. The demand was supported changed some aspects of Stalin's terror, for the Germans in Russia, by 74 percent of the delegates to the first German Congress (October there was no reprieve. First accused of collaboration with the enemy, 1991) and only by 38 percent of the delegates of the Second Congress then forcibly deported to distant regions, Germans in most parts of the (March 1992).” 19 European area of the Soviet Union were confronted with forced labor, At the same time, it should be noted that there was limited success and often with starvation and death. The widespread suffering is in establishing some German administrative districts. In the Altai area, reflected in scores of narratives written by survivors. between Omsk and Novosibirsk, such a district was created after a The Perils of the Present public referendum, held in June 1991, supported this endeavor. Thus, Only very slowly after the conclusion of World War II did the the village of Nekrasovo was given its earlier name, Halbstadt, and Germans in Russia regain some of the rights they had lost in 1941. In made the district administrative center.20 A similar "German National 1964 the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet annulled that part of the Region," Asovo, was created near Omsk. It should be noted, however, 12 1941 decree that had branded the Volga Germans traitors. This was that the situation here was far different from what had occurred in now described as a despotic act that reflected Stalin's personality cult. European Russia. Here there was no deportation in 1941, and so the No restitution, however, was mentioned, and when in 1965 a group of descendants of the original settlers could retain their traditional homes. Germans in Russia asked for the restoration of the Autonomous But even in this situation, as a reporter noted, the "restoration of the Republic of Volga Germans, they were told, "We need the Germans in German national district in the Altai Territory... failed to stop the the uncultivated region of Kazakhstan and in the coal mines of emigration of local Germans to Germany.” 21 13 Karaganda. Conclusion In the succeeding two decades, a two-pronged effort to change the Today, the future of Germans in Russia remains uncertain. With so situation of Germans in Russia gained considerable strength. many already living in Germany, and more waiting to come, the Repeatedly, the government of the Federal Republic of Germany asked belated Russian government efforts to keep them in their present that Germans be given greater freedom to emigrate. With the coming location will probably have only limited success. Some will, no doubt, of glasnost and perestroika, what had been a trickle of people moving remain because of family ties; some will stay because they regard from Russia to Germany became a flood. By the end of 1996, some themselves as culturally Russian or because they cannot speak German; one and one-half million Germans had moved from the former Soviet others will continue to hope that conditions in Russia will improve. 14 Union to Germany; indeed, the number became so large that But we also need to ask, "How do we keep alive the story of our Germany decided to impose tighter restrictions on this influx of people? How do we remind ourselves and persons living in Russia and immigrants. At the same time, discussions about setting up German Ukraine today of our past?" Elsewhere in Europe numerous monuments administrative regions showed some promise, but soon reflected to victims of oppression and terror stand as solemn reminders, but growing pessimism. On 25 April 1992, Izvestia reported that "A where national district will in all probability be formed in the Saratov
6 Perils of a Journey are the monuments for the Germans in Russia, those almost 5. Geheimes Staatsarchiv Preussischer Kulturbesitz [Gsta PK], Berlin, I. forgotten victims of Stalin's terror? Hauptabteilung, Generaldirektorium, Westprcussen und Netzedistrikt, CIX, no. Perhaps we could devise some form of memorial placed in 1, vol. II, 15. strategic centers such as Odessa, Saratov, and Zaporozhye to 6. Gsta PK, ibid., I. 7. A government report from Marienwerder stated that "einige Mennonisten remind the world that massive wrong must not be ignored. In Familien sich heimlich aus dem Lands schleichen," Gsta PK, August 22,1788, the former West Prussia, for example, persons interested in 40, 41. keeping alive memories of difficult times have placed several 8. Ernst Regehr, Geschichts- und Predigertabelle der Mennonitengemeinde plaques in churches, have worked with local friends to preserve Rosenort (Tiegcnhof, 1939), 7. a cemetery, and have helped to add a display in a local 9. In 1991 I contacted the University of Dnepropetrovsk, as well as the archives in that city. After some correspondence, I established contact with a doctoral museum. Another project calls for the preparation of teaching student, Dmitri Meshkov, whom I asked to prepare an overview of focal materials for schools. Are these possibilities for us as we seek archival materials related to German Russians. 1 also asked him to search for to increase awareness of our past? documents that would show where my ancestors had lived. His research provided documents tracing my family directly to Heubuden in West Prussia. Notes Relevant archival documents are in my possession, and are drawn from collections in Odessa, Dnepropetrovsk, and Zaporozhye. 1. Memoirs of Cornelius Klassen (in the author's possession). 10. The San Francisco Chronicle, August 4, 1988. 2. The English text of the tsarina's sweeping invitation is found, almost in toto 11. From a copy of a letter sent to A. A. Pankratz, 12-30-89, by the KGB in George Vernadsky, Ralph T. Fischcr, et al., A Source Book for Russian Administration, Orenburg Region, USSR, (in the author's possession). History From Early Times to 1917, vol. 2 (New Haven and London, Yale 12. Volk auf dem Weg: Deutsche in Russland und in der GUS, 1763- University Press, 1972), 250-251. Another version can be found in Karl 1993 (Stuttgart: Landsmannschaft der Deutschen aus Russland, Stumpp, The Emigration from Germany to Russia in she Years 1763 to 1993), 20. 1862 (Tubingen: published by the author with the cooperation of the 13. The German Tribune, 18 December 1988, 12. American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, n. d.), 15-18. 14. Volk auf dem Weg, Januar 1997, 13; ibid., Marz 1997,2. 3. Declaration des Edicts vom 3. July 1789, und des darauf Bezug nehmenden 15. September 23, 1992. [Paragraph] 28 des Kanton-Reglements vom 12. Febr. 1792, wegen der 16. Soviet Press Digest, July 14 1992, 1 Befugniss der Mennonisten, Grundstuecke zu erwerben. State Archives, 17. Soviet Press Digest, September 1,1992. Gdansk, 363/1393, 1-7. 18. Personal interviews by the author in the Orenburg area. 19. Neues Leben, No, 39, 6, as reported in the Russian Press Digest, 4. For those who would accept the invitation, Trappe promised land, military September 23, 1992. exemption, and a list of other privileges. See David Rempel, "From Danzig 20. Russian Press Digest, January 30, 1992. to Russia: The First Mennonite Migration, Mennonite Life (January 1969), 21. Russian Press Digest, January 30, 1992. 8-27.
AHSGR members who were born in Russia
Page 7
UNITE YOUR FAMILY WITH THE BERLIN DOCUMENT CENTER RECORDS
Marianne Wheeler
This is a story of two families. Jakob Sauter was born in Waterloo, South Russia, in 1889. Karl Sauter was born in Waterloo, South Russia in 1891. Jakob Sauter and his family came to America in 1903. Karl Sauter came to America in 1958. These two families should have a similar life story. While the Sauter's struggled with establishing their homestead on the prairies amid drought and severe winters in North Dakota, the other family faced the ravishes of the communist regime and the terrorism of the Nazis. What happened to the Sauter’s who were left behind in Russia? No one knew. All anyone could do was speculate. Reichsfuehrer SS Heinrich Himmler was put in charge of the creation of the German Immigration Center. This office, during years Jakob Sauter's Family 1939 to 1945, facilitated the resettlement of hundreds of thousands of racially inferior. people from eastern and southern Europe identified as ethnic Germans. Biographical information was collected on over 2.9 million The movement and resettlement of these people was not the result of individuals. Of that total approximately 570,000 were Germans living personal decisions. Individual choices were of little importance. Non- in the Soviet Union, also including the Bessarabian area. Arriving Germans in the formerly Polish territories were forced to abandon groups of ethnic Germans were first registered and photographed. their homes and these evictions occurred without prior warning. The Persons above the age of fifteen were registered individually and whole more murderous SS operations used essentially the same process. The families were processed together where possible. An inventory was office, commonly referred to as the EWZ, used an elaborate set of taken of their property and compensation was generally granted for racial criteria to control both immigration and naturalization, and some items left behind in the country of origin. Each person was direct the flow of settlers into annexed territories slated for complete subject to a health and racial examination to determine those worthy of "Germanification." Initially the EWZ did not have a fixed central settlement inside the Reich borders. The results of these examinations headquarters. Satellite offices were created in Poland in response to generally determined the outcome of subsequent decisions regarding the changing situation resulting from the arrival of successive waves the award of German citizenship. Officials clarified the question of of immigrants. These offices operated during wartime conditions, naturalized citizenship only after the process of political evaluation conducting intensive interviews while absolute and total chaos reigned was completed. The officials then interviewed the immigrants and outside of its doors. The work of the EWZ was one element of a vast decided both the nature and place of their future employment. program of racial imperialism and genocide, a program that was However, the overriding consideration in these examinations was race supposed to continue for decades after final German victory. The rather than skills, education, or language fluency. Those identified as EWZ provided a training ground for those involved in the subsequent being of the "highest racial quality" were generally classified as "0" or "resettlement" of Jews, gypsies, and others considered to be Ost-Falle meaning that they could be a living part of the Germanification of eastern border areas. Those of "lesser racial Marianne (Sauter) Wheeler lives in Yukon, Oklahoma. She has quality" were generally classified as "A" or Altreich-Falle, fit only for researched her family since 1977. She graduated from NDSU in Fargo, resettlement in Germany proper and were not allowed to settle in North Dakota, with a B.A. in English and a minor in history. She helped racially sensitive border regions. The screening process involved three organize the Central Oklahoma Chapter of AHSGR in Oklahoma City. She has served on the national Genealogical Committee for AHSGR to four hours. Out of 771,000 ethnic Germans registered by January of and was the convention chair for the Oklahoma convention in 1986. In 1944, approximately 403,000 were resettled in occupied areas, more 1985 she wrote a hook on the Sauter family. She has been active in than 70,000 allocated to jobs in Germany proper, 18,000 were rejected local genealogical groups as an officer and is a frequent speaker. for resettlement and
came available at the National Archives II at College Park, Maryland, after the transition of control from the United States to Germany. Three of these EWZ record groups researched will be explained. E/G Kartei This group contains almost three million alphabetically arranged cards that served as the centralized file [Kartei] to access all ethnic Germans caught in the Nazi net. This group was named EWZ-57. Every person received a EWZ number. Many of these cards also contain a photograph of the applicant. Karl Sauter's Family Once your surname is found in the indices, it is easy to locate your name on the microfilm; then they are arranged by given 279,000 were still awaiting settlement or still being processed. name. There is a generic soundex available using Phonetic The U.S. Third Army captured the vast majority of these Guide SSEM 62XX. In addition to the personal information, documents in these collections in Bavaria near Nuremberg in health problems can also be noted, relationships, other family April of 1945. Approximately 70,000 to 80,000 documents members living within the same household, physical were lost or destroyed prior to the American's arrival. In descriptions, parents' names and other siblings' names can be January, 1946 the documents were transferred to 6889 found. An interlocking system using the EWZ numbers can also Document Center in Berlin. The records from the Berlin be used to find other relatives, those living together as a family Document Center were in the custody of the U. S. Government and relationships established. The card is dated and location of until the reunification of Germany. the camp is named. After completion of my Sauter book in 1985, I visited my Antrage great-uncle Henry Sauter in Carson, North Dakota. He showed There are more than 400,000 applications [Antrage} in this me pictures taken of Sauter’s in Germany in the 1940s. No one collection. They are organized by country and then by seven knew his or her relationship to us. This was the first information regional subgroups. The series pertaining to the Soviet Union that indicated any contact had been made with the Sauter’s with over 110,000 files is the EWZ-50 and includes some of the since before World War I. The family had four little girls. I was most exciting information of all. The files contain three- told they had eventually come to America and visited North generation charts, naturalization applications and certificates, Dakota in the 1950s. The picture remained in my unknown passports, and even handwritten life stories, "Mein Lebenslauf," Sauter file until 1990 when I received a letter from San Jose, by the applicant. Another series of interest is Romania, EWZ- California, from Lillian Kantor. She was the third little girl in 51 with over 82,000 files. These cards are also arranged the picture above. We corresponded and visited one another, but alphabetically by surname and given name. There are indices to we did not know how we were related. Only that we were. these surnames similar to the EWZ-57. Lillian was raised for some time with her grandmother, Barbara Stammblatter (Fliehmann) Sauter in Russia. Karl Sauter, her father, born in This series is referred to as the EWZ-58. The only way you the same village of Waterloo in South Russia as my grandfather can access this group is to use the EWZ number found on the Jakob Sauter, had escaped the slave labor camps by posing as a EWZ -57 or 50 applications. The significance of this is that it is Russian living in a Russian town. Their family was a part of the arranged by geographic area. Areas were given blocks of movement of Germans from South Russia into Poland. With the numbers. Some of the earlier cards, especially for Bessarabian entrance of the Allies into Europe and the anticipation of the villages, even were assigned blocks of numbers for each German army's defeat, Karl Sauter decided to flee to the West. village. If you cluster these EWZ numbers together, then order His mother urged the family to go on without her because she these microfilms, you will find other villagers, for example did not want to slow them down. Her life was almost over, and from Waterloo on the same film. Therefore, you can find she wished to return to her homeland to raise vegetables and women who have married and are filed with their husband's flowers. That did not happen, rather she was sent to Siberia. She name living in the same village you are researching. Once you died there and is buried in an unmarked grave. The family have their card you can discover their maiden name. For successfully escaped to the West. example, by this method, I was able to find some of the sisters Last year eight record groups comprising 8,600 rolls of of my great-grandfather's nephew that remained in Russia. Now microfilm opened a whole new avenue of research for researchers have more names to use in order to identify any genealogists. The microfilmed copies of these records be living relatives today. On the roll of microfilm I examined, just about all of them had photographs with the applications. 9 Berlin Document Center
A new family photograph album can be created using these pictures. tersburg records and Emil's identification, I was able to prove who was Uses of this Collection in Research in the picture. His half sister, Katharina Margaretha Edelmann, who If there is no desire to unite the family in the Americas to the had married Jakob Morhardt, raised my great-grandfather. Her children families that remained in Russia, then these records are of no use to a were in the EWZ records and her daughter had married Georg Sauter. researcher. But if there is more than just a mild curiosity to discover Now I am related to Emit twice, on both his father and his mother's more family descendants, then this is exactly what is needed to make side. the connection. Just as the St. Petersburg records link our families Search for Orphans back to Germany, these documents link our families to the present. Emil had a brother whose children were orphaned in the war. Most families have been separated since before the war and few have Without their exact birth dates it was impossible to find them. Now the been able to establish relationships to those in Russia or Germany Red Cross database can be accessed and a search can be made for these today. These records will help bridge the gap created from the lack of children. The family sought to find them for over thirty years. information since World War I. Photograph Matches Last July, I visited Washington, D.C., and with the gracious help In our unidentified Sauter file, we had another family that sent of Allyn Brosz went to the National Archives II. Allyn showed me their information and included old family pictures, and these Sauter’s how this collection could be used to benefit research. Since that time were living in Berlin, Germany, They were originally from Waterloo the mysteries solved and relationships proven, photographs identified and contacted Lillian seeking to know if they were related to her. In the and the possibility of reuniting our Sauter relatives was incredibly EWZ records, I found the family and proved their relationship to us, exciting in a way that cannot be explained. This past year research led used our pictures and matched the photograph on the cards to ultimately back to Germany to the early 1600s. But a greater thrill was to find the identify these people. possibility of reuniting the Sauter family once again that was separated Claiming Pensions ever since 1903. These original records housed in Berlin today are not accessible by Examples of Research in the EWZ Records the public. I understand that a barbed wire fence surrounds the building Tying EWZ Records to the St. Petersburg Records and dogs are in the yard. Emil was extremely interested in his card so I viewed the EWZ-57 film that contained the Sauter’s. One of the that he could prove his birth date and German naturalization in order to first applications I discovered was Barbara (Fliehmann) Sauter with a receive a German pension. He came to Germany five years ago from photograph. Amazingly, the card after her card had been made for her Russia. He was extremely pleased to have the proof he needed, but deceased husband of fourteen years. Then, there was the proof I surprised that we had these records open to us and he did not. needed. Her husband's parents were named with his mother's maiden Lost Relatives Found name listed. This tied the St. Petersburg records to the EWZ records Could I find out what happened to the Sauter’s who remained in and proved my exact relationship to Lillian. I ordered that microfilm. I Waterloo? Our family Bible showed my great-grandfather had a brother copied all the Sauter’s from Waterloo and only had two families that and three sisters whom he left behind. These records were verified once could not be proven. By going forward and backward between the the St. Petersburg microfilm was available. Johann Sauter who EWZ and the St. Petersburg records I could almost prove all Sauter’s remained in Russia had at least one son who wanted to go to America from Waterloo and their relationships to each other. It seemed with the Sauter’s and their friends, the Scheerer’s. When I collected all incredulous that the Nazis created cards for deceased family members, the Waterloo Sauter’s from the EWZ cards, there was only one picture but logical in that this helped Barbara's family prove their 100 % that resembled anyone in our family. I wanted to prove this man German ethnicity. All of Lillian's cousins, aunts, and uncles found in belonged to us. His EWZ card stated his parents were Johann Sauter these records were deported to Siberia. The look on their faces was and, coincidentally, Christine Scheerer. The St. Petersburg records one of devastation, and Lillian recalled and relived painful memories when she saw the film. Solving Family Relationship Mysteries Family pictures were taken in Russia and could not be identified. Lillian took these pictures to Germany with her to see whether or not her cousins now emigrating from Russia to Germany could recognize them. Her cousin Emil immediately said that one of the photographs was of his grandmother Morhardt. By using the EWZ cards, St. Pe-
Johann Sauter
during that time and who could be the father of Johann. Since Lillian's grandfather Georg Sauter lived beyond 1884 and my Georg Sauter died in 1874, this established the Johann in my family Bible was the Johann in these records. Finally, I found my great-grandfather’s brother’s son. I then combed all the records from EWZ-50, 57, and 58 trying to find each and every record created for Johann Sauter, son of Johann Sauter and Christine Scheerer. I hit a jackpot. I found in addition to his photograph, his life story, his passport, his naturalization record, his three-generation chart the same information for his wife and his children as well. He had a grandson born as recently as 1941. I then went on to do this same search for Johann's sisters and their families as well. The possibility of finding living relatives increased daily. I copied all of these cards out of the records and sent a letter of inquiry to Germany searching for them and their descendants. Just a few days before coming to this convention, I received the long awaited letter from Germany giving me their information concerning my family found in the EWZ records. I received the addresses of three of Johann and Christine Sauter's children. If I can make contact with them, I plan to go to Germany and visit them. Conclusion contained an 1884 marriage record for them in Worms, a In this past year since I looked at these records, I found neighboring village. Matching all the EWZ records to the St. many uses for this information, and just touched the tip of the Petersburg records and creating family group charts on all the iceberg. This is by no means a definitive discourse on the uses families identified just about everyone. I had not considered of the EWZ documents, only an appetizer to tempt the avid the Sauter’s in Worms, but in an effort to make everyone fit researcher and family historians of German Russian descent. somewhere I had to find out who these people were in Worms. What we felt to be true, these records made a reality. The Sauter’s settled in Waterloo and Johannestal. But by 1884 These records provided the information to reunite the families their descendants moved to different villages. I overlooked of Jakob and Karl Sauter. Kari's family story is a part of the Wilhelmina Sauter's birth record two months before the sad saga of German families torn from their homeland, marriage of Johann and Christine. The Wilhelmina Sauter's relocated in Poland, who fled to freedom and journeyed to birth record proved the relationship. Surprising, the record of America to finally be reunited with their kinsmen after two the birth contained much more than the usual information. It generations of broken ties. Truly the Germans value the stated that Wilhelmina's parents were Johann Sauter, son of immortal bond of family. It is my privilege to introduce Kari's the deceased Waterloor Georg Sauter, and Christine Scheerer, daughter and my dearest cousin Lillian (Sauter) Kantor. daughter of Georg Scheerer of Worms. My research showed that there were only two Georg Sauter's of Waterloo who lived
11 Berlin Document Center
How to Find the Berlin Document Center Records Location: National Archives II 4th Floor, James Kelling 2. Brosz, Allyn, "Using the Records of the Berlin Document 8601Adelphi Rd. Center for Genealogical Research," Clues, Vol. 2,1996. College Park, MD 20740-6001 Step-by-Step Process in Researching BDC Records Available for purchase: 1. Look up your surname in the index for the EWZ-57. The prefix National Archives Trust Fund Board for all the microfilm in this series is A-3342-EWZ57 followed by the P.O. Box 100793 Atlanta, GA 30384 individual roll number. The individual roll number is found much like 1 -800-234-8861 order with credit card looking for a name in the phone book, e.g. my Sauter name is on the microfilm number A-3342-EWZ 57 R 0101. Indices to EWZ Series 50, 57, 58, and 62 record donated to: 2. To purchase a record, call 1-800-234-8861 with a credit card AHSGR number and give the microfilm number A-3342-EWZ57 R0101. Wait 631 D Street Lincoln, NE 68502 2 to 8 weeks for delivery. Cost is $34 per roll. 3. If the family or families are found, then precede to the next Card file to check current German addresses: level of records, the EWZ-50. Look up your surname in the index the Heimatortskartei same as above. The prefix for all of these microfilms is A-3342- Kirchlichcr Suchdienst-Amtlich EWZ50. My Sauter name was found on roll number H013 and also anerkannte Auskunftsstelle H014. The microfilm to order would be A3342-EWZ50 H013 and Rosenbergstrasse 50 A3342-EWZ50 H014. See no. 2 and order film. 7000 Stuttgart 1 4. The next level of research would be to order the Stammblatter. Deutschland This is organized by EWZ number, which is found on the EWZ-57 and EWZ-50 cards. Remember that blocks of numbers are used for Suggested Reading 1. Walth, Richard H., Flotsam of World History: The Germans geographic areas. Cluster your numbers from the previous microfilms from Russia between Stalin and Hitler, A Publication of the Institute and see the numeric pattern. The prefix for this series is A3342-EWZ for Culture and History of the Germans in Eastern Europe. University 58. Johann Sauter's EWZ number was 941462. Then I ordered the of Dusseldorf, Vol. 5, Rev. ed. April 1996. microfilm number A3342-EWZ 58 H014.
Some of AHSGR's Life Members attending the 28th International Convention.
Page 12
ANNUAL REPORTS Report of the Executive Director
Kathy Schultz This report will highlight Headquarters activities from the 1996 1824-1825; Appointment of a new pastor for Neu Freudental, Minneapolis Convention to the 1997 San Jose Convention. 1839-1840; Resettlement of Evangelical colonists from Krasna Please read all the materials contained in your Convention to Katzbach, 1824-1825; Foreigners residing in colonies but not packet. These will provide you with additional information not registered on the revision lists, 1834-1835; Permission to a contained in this report. Prussian emigrant to establish a soap factory in Tarutino, 1825; 1997 SAN JOSE CONVENTION: The 1997 Convention Returning colonists to their own colonies after they have has been a challenge and a learning experience as all moved to other colonies, 1814-1820; Dividing the Bessarabian conventions are. We repeat the successes and do our best not to colonies into two parishes, 1819; Construction of an office repeat those experiences that were failures, we learn from our building for the Gross Liebental office, 1819-1841; Issuance of mistakes. The original hotel selected for the San Jose internal passports, 1812-1821; Debts of Hoffnungstal colonists, Convention was sold and the needed ballroom space was 1830-1832; a new cemetery for Gross Liebental, 1824. converted into sleeping rooms. While the Hyatt Hotel might not Much of the material in these files is in German, but most be as large as we would like, AHSGR is fortunate to have all of it is in Russian. Due to restrictions placed by the archives, the space for its convention. AHSGR and GRHS cannot provide photocopies of the files, I would like to thank John Gress and Arthur E. Flegel, but translation of the material has begun, and these translations Convention Co-Chairs, for all their hard work and dedication, will be published in AHSGR's Journal, the appropriate village and the many California volunteers who are giving of their time newsletters, and GRHS's Heritage Review. and talents this week. Our deepest thanks to Mr. Wahl for opening the door to 1998 CONVENTION: The 1998 Convention will be held these archival treasures. in Wichita, Kansas 14-21 June 1998. The Broadview Hotel, 400 3. Frank: A German Colony on the Volga has been West Douglas Avenue, Wichita, Kansas 67202, will be the site received from Dr. Igor R. Pleve, Saratov State University, of the convention. Ms. Jean Carr is the Convention Saratov, Russia. The material used for the basis of this Chairperson. An invitation has been sent to Mrs. Elizabeth monograph consists of the family lists of 1798 and the census Yerina, Director of the Engels Archives, Engels, Russia, to be revisions of 1811, 1816, 1834, 1850, and 1858. The census the convention guest speaker. material compiled in 1775, after the Pugachev rebellion, did not CIS RESEARCH PROJECT: include the colony of Frank, and the revision compiled in 1788 1. Attempts to purchase research materials from various has been lost. Approximate dates for some of the censuses are: archives in Ukraine (Zhitomir, Odessa, Kherson, Nikolaev, and November 1798, October 1834, August 1850, and January Dnepropetrovsk Archives) have not been successful. The 1858. This will aid in calculating ages of some of those listed in Odessa Archive has been closed for an inventory to all the censuses. "professional" archivists, and RAGAS has been unable to do GENEALOGY. The Genealogy Research Department any research on site. Other archives are interested in completing continues to be busy assisting members with their family individual research and not copying entire files. It appears the genealogies. Through the generosity of AHSGR members and situation may be opening up soon, and AHSGR should again be chapters, the genealogy department has received a number of able to purchase materials. family charts (written and on computer disk), obituaries, and 2. Dale Wahl of Bremerton, Washington, has had great genealogy information from Russia. success in procuring from the Odessa archives several exciting Most recently Kimberly Scheett and Tracy Lauritzen files about the Black Sea German colonies, and he has shared Wright have completed many genealogy projects. To name a these files with AHSGR and GRHS. The files cover many few—the Village File inventory is available and used to assist aspects of life of the Black Sea colonists, including: Marriages researchers in obtaining available information for their village. of colonists of the Beresan District 1816; Marriages and The Passenger Ship List Index has been completed and is transfer of households in the Beresan District, 1816- searchable on computer. 1817;Checking land boundaries of the Liebental District, 1824- The staff at Headquarters has been collaborating to develop 1833; Fifty families from Basenheim, Wuerttemberg, to settle internship opportunities for university students in and around in Kherson or Bessarabia, 1820-1829; Welfare in the colonies Lincoln. This project will be completed in time for the fall in Bessarabia, 1821-1822; Settlement in the Odessa area of enrollment. An intern would be able to complete emigrants from Baden,
Annual Reports 13 13 Annual Reports many projects the Headquarters staff are unable to undertake. You will We are living in the age of technology, and we're moving find in your convention packet a list of frequently asked questions AHSGR into the future. (FAQ's) of the Headquarters genealogy department. This list will be Kathy and I had the honor of attending the GRHS convention last published on the Internet. July. This has resulted in a working relationship between our two The AHSGR Computer Committee, in conjunction with the organizations. volunteer assistance of Dr. Roger Ehrich, is continuing to develop a I also attended the Great Lakes Council meeting in September and new genealogy database. This project should be completed in time for the Kansas Round Up in October. the Wichita Convention. I would like to thank Kathy and the entire staff for their hard MEMBERSHIP: work for not just the Board members but also the entire membership. I Dues: Thank you for renewing your 1997 dues, and to some of want to express my personal thanks to them for making my job as you for upgrading your membership status. The 1996 year-end total President much easier. was 4842. Year-end membership total for 1995 was 4886. As of 1 July On Wednesday we had what I hope will be the start of a new 1997, the membership total is 4845. We are already over our 1996 tradition. The Board of Directors and Foundation Trustees met with year-end figure. Congratulations to everyone! Keep up the good work. the Village Coordinators. We hope this will allow for further meetings Life Membership: Many members took advantage of the life as we work together to build a bigger AHSGR. membership before the increase to $750.00 effective 1 February 1997. Thank you, members, for continuing to support AHSGR. At the end of 1996, AHSGR had 865 life memberships. As of 1 July 1997, AHSGR has 950. This is an increase of 85 new life Report of the Chapter Presidents' Council memberships. New Chapters: AHSGR may be adding two new chapters by the John Stuertz of the Lincoln Chapter called the meeting to order. A 1998 Wichita Convention. Members in the Victoria, Canada, area is prayer was given and a sign-up sheet was circulated. still forming, and a small group in Indiana has expressed an interest in There was a review of the previous minutes. starting a chapter. Nominees: There was discussion of nominees to the Boards. It Southwest Nebraska Chapter: This chapter notified Headquarters was agreed the chapters and districts will help encourage nominees of its dissolution and their chapter treasury funds of $217.54 were from the local level. When a candidate volunteers to work at his own deposited in the AHSGR general operating fund. expense, he does not need competition. The bylaws require a ballot and HEADQUARTERS' STAFF: 1 would like to thank the staff, Jo bylaws changes can be combined with the mailing of the ballot for Ann, Rick, Kay, Kim, Corey, Tracy, Maria, Justin, and Christine, for voting by the membership. their hard work, dedication, and support. Along with the staff, I would Membership: There was discussion of Life Memberships. Only like to thank the Society and Foundation Board members for their the interest earned will go toward operations of the Society. dedication, and the many volunteer hours they contribute. A special There was a request for a list of members from the Heritage thanks to the Lincoln Chapter volunteers for their many hours of Center every two months, because new members have a tendency to volunteering at Headquarters. Last, but not least, I want to thank each send in dues directly and the chapter wants to be kept up-to-date. There and every one of you for your support of AHSGR. was a request to provide a space on the dues remittal envelope to This is an outline of the past year at Headquarters. The Newsletter include the chapter name. This would eliminate wondering what you receive with your Journal is designed to give you quarterly chapter the member belongs. updates on Headquarters activities. Please feel free to contact Programs: John Stuertz circulated a brochure on the memorial Headquarters should you need further information or if we can assist service program in Lincoln. you. Rick Rye gave an excellent presentation on his trip to Russia and can possibly do this for other chapters. Report of the President of the International Society Dues: The dues will increase to $50 effective 1 January 1998. The average increase in costs per year at the Heritage Center is 6 percent. Donnette Sonnenfeld Revenues increase less than 1 percent per year. The annual budget is It has been a busy year for the Board of Directors. We've had a $300,000, and it costs $60 to service a member. number of issues to address throughout the year. I'm pleased with the Chapter Newsletters: Some chapters do not have newsletters. A progress and the work of the Board over this past year. They are your newsletter is important and gives ideas to other chapters. representatives.
14 Annual Reports
Combined Meeting of Chapter Presidents and event for all those attending. Board Members Be it resolved, that the convention attendees wish to express thanks to the convention Co-Chairs, John Gress and Arthur Flegel, the convention committee members, the nine California chapters, and the Foundation President, Paul Hile, thanked all for donations to the California District Council, and its president, Herman Janzen. Endowment Fund and explained that major changes in management The convention attendees also wish to thank the staff of the Hyatt have taken place. A professional audit will take place very two years. San Jose Airport, who have been helpful and accommodating; and the He encouraged continued donations to the Endowment Fund so the people of San Jose for our enjoyable time in their city. goals can be met in the future. Resolution Number 3 In the absence of AHSGR President Donnette Sonnenfeld, Nancy Whereas, the American Historical Society of Germans from Bernhardt Holland expressed the need for chapters to designate a Russia has been dedicated to preserving our German-Russian Heritage person as "historian" who will collect the local information. since 1968. The question was asked if the membership gets a chance to vote Whereas, our AHSGR Heritage Center has been established and on dues increase. The bylaws state the Board adopts any increases, not functioning in Lincoln, Nebraska, since 1983. the membership. Whereas, the great amount of work of the Society could not take It was suggested old issues of the Journal and Clues be donated to place without the hard work and dedication of our headquarters staff at public libraries, school libraries, and nursing homes. Give them to the Heritage Center. possible new members or to your grandchildren. Be it resolved, that the members of AHSGR internationally, and It was agreed the new dues rate will make it hard to attract new especially those attending this convention, wish to express our thanks members and retain those on fixed incomes. It was suggested chapters for a job well done, to Executive Director, Kathy Schultz, and our subsidize those members who cannot afford a membership. AHSGR staff members. An ad hoc fund-raising committee consisting of members of both Resolution Number 4 boards will be working with a professional person to prepare a plan for Whereas, AHSGR is the oldest and largest organization in the fund-raising. Americas dedicated to the preservation of the history, heritage, and genealogy of the Germans from Russia. Resolutions Committee Whereas, we as members are interested in the perpetuation of our John Schleicher Chair; Ella Reese; Marianne Wheeler organization for our children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews, etc. Be it resolved, that AHSGR reaffirms our commitment to Resolution Number 1 collecting history, genealogy information, archival materials, folklore, Whereas, 22 July 1763 is the date of the manifesto of Catherine oral histories, artifacts of material culture, and to the preservation of the Great, inviting all persons to settle in the Russian Empire, and these materials at our Heritage Center, along with respecting the granting them special privileges. historical neighborhood and historic district in which our Heritage Whereas, 6 November 1917 is the date of the Bolshevik Center is located in Lincoln, Nebraska. Revolution, a result of which was over seventy years of pain, suffering, and death for the German-Russian people. Membership Report Whereas, October 1968 is the date of the formation of the Compiled by Kay Koch, Membership Secretary, American Historical Society of Germans from Russia. Headquarters Staff Be it resolved, that chapters and individuals be encouraged to commemorate these special dates of remembrance important to the From its beginning in 1968 to the current twenty-eighth German-Russian people, and to identify and commemorate other dates convention in San Jose, California, the American Historical Society of of local, regional, national, and international importance to the Germans from Russia has become an international organization German-Russian people; and that the month of July be designated as respected by German-Russians and their descendants. Historians, Germans from Russia Heritage month. libraries, genealogists, and researchers from around the world Resolution Number 2 recognize the work done by our Society and our promotion of the Whereas, the 28th International Convention of the American history and culture of the Germans from Russia. Many hours of Historical Society of Germans from Russia, in San Jose, California, has dedication by volunteers, chapter presidents, and board members have been an educational and enjoyable helped 15 Annual Reports Colorado Springs - 3 Columbia Basin -4 maintain this vital organization. Denver Metropolitan - 41 The membership of AHSGR is a vital part of our Society. The Edmonton & District - 1 number of members indicates a positive increase by June 1 of this year Flint, Michigan -11 in comparison to last year. There is still an interest in starting chapters Florida Sun coast - 3 in many parts of the United States and Canada. Through the information Fox Valley of Wisconsin - 2 available on World Wide Web, we are gaining new members and many Golden Empire - Bakersfield - 6 inquiries about our Society from people around the world who have not Golden Gate - 32 had knowledge of our organization. This progressive step into the Golden Spread - 7 computerized world will certainly bring about increased membership Golden Wheat - 36 and shared knowledge of the Germans from Russia. Greater Seattle - 36 Greater Sheboygan - 10 A comparison of membership totals: Greater Spokane - 6 June 1, 1997 4,802 December 31, 1996 4,842 Heart of America - 3 June 1,1996 4,650 December 31, 1995 4,886 Heritage Seekers of SW Kansas - 5 June 1,1995 4,723 December 31,1994 5,471 Homestead - 1 June 1,1994 5,120 December 31. 1993 5,502 Kansas City Area - 9 Lincoln, Nebraska - 90 A comparison of membership groupings: 6-01-95 6-01-96 6-01-97 Lodi, California - 11 277 316 418 Melon Valley - 1 New Members Life 852** 859** 949** Midlands- 6 Members $50 141 69 66 Mid-Nebraska - 6 Contributing $100 27 11 10 Mt. Diablo - 8 Sustaining Yearly 3,411 3,376 3,337 Nation's Capital Area - 13 Renewals Exchange 15 19 22 Nebraska Panhandle - 10 North Central Washington - 2 4,723 4,650 4,802 North Star of Minnesota - 24 Non-Renewals 48 670 578 Northeast Kansas - 9 Northeast Nebraska - 1 *includes deceased life members Northern Colorado - 34 **does not include deceased life members Northern Illinois - 30 Oklahoma Harvesters - 2 5 States leading in New Memberships: Olympic Peninsula - 7 6-01-96 6-01-97 Oregon - 56 Oregon Cascade - 5 1. California 51 1. California 81 Platte Valley of Nebraska - 0 2. Colorado 43 2. Colorado 52 Post Rock - 12 3. Washington 31 3. Washington 32 Rainier- 13 4. Nebraska 23 4. Kansas 30 Regina & District - 2 5. Kansas 14 5. Nebraska 26 Sacramento Valley - 27 Saginaw Valley - 29 Life Memberships by Southeastern Wisconsin - 14 Chapters: Arizona Sun - 7 Southeastern Wyoming - 4 Big Bend - 9 Southern California - 34 Blue Mountain - 12 Southwest Michigan - 6 Calgary - 6 Sunflower - 8 Center of the Nation - 1 Utah - 2 Central California - 37 Ventura- 3 Central Coast - 4 Yellowstone Valley - 7 Central Oklahoma - 6 Non-Chapter Area - 158 Central Washington -14 Colorado High Plains - 3 Total Life Members: 949 This total does not include deceased life members.
16 Annual Reports Washington - 452 West Virginia - 2 Membership by States, Provinces, and Countries Wisconsin - 153 June 1, 1997 Wyoming - 58 Alabama - 8 Washington DC - 12 Alaska - 9 APO AE - 4 Alberta - 76 Argentina - 3 Arizona - 82 Austria - 1 Arkansas - 6 Botswana -1 British Columbia - 30 Brazil -2 California- 910 Cyprus - 1 Colorado - 555 France - 1 Connecticut - 9 Germany - 15 Delaware - 1 Israel - 1 Florida - 49 Mexico - 1 Georgia - 10 Russia - 4 Hawaii - 8 South Australia - 1 Idaho - 31 United Kingdom - 1 Illinois-143 Total: 4,802 Indiana - 29 Iowa - 46 1997 Membership Contest Kansas - 311 We once again continued the new member contest for Kentucky - 4 rewarding the chapters with the most new members. There were Louisiana - 5 four categories based on size. The winners were; Maine - 1 1-40 members: Fox Valley Chapter Manitoba - 16 41-80 members: Arizona Sun Chapter Maryland - 31 81-160 members: North Star Chapter Massachusetts - 10 161+ members: 2 way tie: Northern Colorado Chapter and Michigan - 190 Southern California Chapter Minnesota - 173 We also awarded certificates to the chapters with the Mississippi - 3 highest percent of renewals in the early renewal contest. The Missouri - 48 winners were: Montana - 61 1-40 Members: Melon Valley Chapter Nebraska - 410 41-80 Members: Flint, Michigan Chapter Nevada - 23 81-160 Members: Southeastern Wisconsin Chapter New Hampshire - 2 161+ Members: Central California Chapter New Jersey - 11
New Mexico - 15 Non-Member Statistics New York - 19 * 1996 figures from 11/96; figures through 1 July 1997 Newfoundland -1 North Carolina- 17 North Dakota - 36 Ohio - 27 Oklahoma - 97 Ontario - 21 Oregon - 253 Pennsylvania - 23 21% Rhode Island-1 Saskatchewan - 34 22% South Carolina - 6 South Dakota - 45 Tennessee - 9 28% Texas - 106 Utah - 32 36% Vermont - 1 Virginia - 44
17 Annual Reports
Membership/Public Affairs Committee (M/PAC)
to the future by introducing, at the chapter level, ideas, suggested Jim Weibert, Chair; John Schleicher, Vice-Chair; Ermadean Haas; procedures, and tools which will improve member retention. Dr. Robert Janke; Phyllis Kaiser; Lee Kraft; Betty Lamb; Kenneth Larson; Hal Lust; Helen Bernice Madden; Gary Reifschneider II. Membership Recognition M/PAC will continue the Distinguished Service Award program. The first few years have been a continuing learning experience for John Schleicher continues to lead this program. John has recently the Membership/Public Affairs Committee (M/PAC). M/PAC is the upgraded the criteria format for the nomination and selection process, result of a 1996 restructuring of three previous committees: which was originally developed by Lee Kraft. 1. Membership Approval was granted by the Society Board of Directors to 2. Public Relations, Publicity, and Marketing implement a new recognition program: the AHSGR Chapter Service 3. Chapter Organization Award. This program will seek nominations of chapters, whose All of the previous committee functions are maintained in the new members have worked together to produce an exceptional product, M/PAC structure. The current committee consists of eleven hard- which advances the mission of AHSGR. John Schleicher will lead this working and effective people. program. As directed by our President, Donnette Sonnenfeld, the M/PAC A Certificate for High Member Recruitment is on M/PAC's committee set near-term goals to address "declining membership," and agenda. The committee will develop the certificate and guidelines and the need to "promote both member growth and public awareness of encourage chapters and/or district councils to manage the program. AHSGR." In addition our President has defined eleven essential work III. Membership Growth activities for the M/PAC Committee to focus on. M/PAC is exploring to more effectively use chapters, district To meet this challenge, we work towards quick and effective councils, the Internet, and other means to increase AHSGR solutions requiring little or no funding. Our aim is to ensure members membership. will: Work is in progress to develop a National Membership Campaign • Gain greater trust and confidence in all phases of AHSGR. utilizing a digitized telephone directory with over ninety million names • Better embrace the purpose, goals, and mission of the AHSGR and addresses. This directory, with the aid of a computer, will be organization, compared to AHSGR's surname list to create a large file of potential • and take greater pride in their individual memberships. members. From this large file, we will be able to develop a variety of Also, we aim to: population statistics and mailing lists. Jim Weibert will lead this • Build an even better AHSGR image, and • Increase public awareness of our organization, its purpose, goals, project. Bob Freeman has provided an excellent "Self-Help and mission. Genealogy" package idea as a means to fund the National Membership Over the past two years, and thanks to your hard work as well, our Campaign. The Denver Metropolitan Chapter and North Star of membership population has stabilized. This successful first step to Minnesota Chapter have made tentative offers to fund a trial of the control our "declining membership" leads us to the second step: campaign in their areas. Member growth in AHSGR through national and worldwide To develop some serious thinking about member recruitment, and recognition. An ambitious, challenging program for M/PAC and each to have some fun and laughs, Art and Cleo Flegel and Bob and of you! Margaret Freeman wrote a script for a comedy playlet titled "Vat, No This past year we launched into our work in five major areas, Berocks"! The Central California Chapter provided some editing of the seeking near-term solutions to our immediate problems—simple, script and designed a backdrop for the playlet. quick, low/no cost solutions. To make these solutions work, we must IV. Chapter/District Council Growth all embrace and participate in the mission of our Society. Two potentially new chapters are in various stages of forming: I. Membership Retention Victoria, Canada, is working on establishing a chapter. A small group We are striving to build greater trust, pride, confidence, and in Indiana has expressed interest in establishing a chapter. image. The Southwest Nebraska Chapter, I am sorry to report, has notified Last year M/PAC worked to develop a membership foundation to AHSGR Headquarters of its dissolution and deposited its treasury build the future on. This year we are building funds into the AHSGR general operating fund. V. Public Affairs: Internal and External M/PAC is working to raise awareness of AHSGR in the public domain.
18 Annual Reports the persons who served on the Genealogy Research/Service Committee for their helpful and dedicated service. Each one M/PAC and the Board of Directors moved to sell a represents a valuable resource of expertise—authors, complete set of 1798 Volga Census Records, at a price of researchers, teachers, business personnel, computer specialists, $2,500, to the Latter-Day Saints. The records are restricted to use only at the Salt Lake City, Utah, LDS Research Center, and the legal profession, and administrators. The Committee tries to are not to be distributed and/or reproduced in any form. Those provide leadership and guidance for individual members and wishing to purchase any part of the Census Records will be chapters to begin and continue pursuits of family histories, and directed to AHSGR Headquarters. to share these through AHSGR in Lincoln, Nebraska. Family The Society Board of Directors approved a proposal by group sheets need to be submitted whenever there are changes. Gary Reifschneider to use the video A Light in the Darkness, at Each chapter is encouraged to name a genealogy chair so that no cost to AHSGR and for a limited time in 1998 as an incentive tool to attract new members to join AHSGR in we can work together in accomplishing our goals. targeted areas. In addition, AHSGR will provide M/PAC At the 1997 Convention in San Jose, California, there were $2,000 from the video sales profit to pay for developing an many opportunities for meeting in workshops with consultants AHSGR awareness marketing program and some advertising in and developing expertise in computer technology. Leaders in the same targeted areas. each area gave generously of their time to provide assistance. The AHSGR Motto Contest, which was announced in the Genealogy chairmen who were present at the Convention met Society newsletter, was cancelled as a result of the with the Genealogy Committee to share information and present disappointingly low response—only three entries. A letter was questions. Sherrie Stahl presented information about the use of sent to participants explaining the cancellation and thanking computers and using a home page for each chapter. Tracy him or her for their spirit, time, and effort. Lauritzen Wright from the Headquarters staff met with the VI. Future Work Committee and brought information about the work of updating M/PAC subcommittees were established to address the records and providing information that is requested from the essential AHSGR work. Work tasks to develop and maintain: files. There are some new projects that will be in operation, Chapter Operations and Procedures Manual: Helen Bernice possibly the use of college students as interns, which will be Madden and Dr. Robert Janke. helpful in the detailed research that is needed. The Committee Chapter and Regional Organization Development Manual: extends appreciation to the Headquarters staff for the many Phyllis Kaiser, Kenneth Larson, and Betty Lamb. hours of dedicated service that is provided to the members and Exhibits and Literature for Chapter and Regional Use: visitors. John Schleicher and (open position). As individuals we need to look for opportunities to Presentation Material for Public and Educational Use: challenge young people to develop an interest in pursuing John Schleicher and Jim Weibert. family research. As Gil Axt said at one of the Board meetings, As I conclude this annual report to the general assembly, "If you want your children to continue genealogical research of the Membership and Public Affairs Committee offers two the family, put the information you have gathered on a disk and challenges to each member and family unit: hand it to your child." 1. Seek out and bring into AHSGR at least one new The National Archives in Washington, D.C., and its member by year's end; and branches throughout the country, continue to be a valuable 2. Work within your chapter to set a manageable stretch resource for genealogical research, either for those coming to goal to increase your chapter's membership for the coming year. Washington in person, or through the mail. Patricia Eames on M/PAC and You—Working Together and Making a the National Archives staff, who spoke at the Convention Difference. Symposium in Minneapolis in 1996, and accompanied Vladislav Soshnikov to the Convention, continues to be a focus point with RAGAS (Russian-American Genealogical Archival Genealogy Research/Service Committee Service). Information may be obtained by contacting this organization at: 1929 - 18th Street, N.W., Suite 1112, Olinda Brown, Chair; Bernice Elledge, Vice-Chair; Samuel Dreith; Washington, DC 20009; e-mail:[email protected]; or Milton Harms; Dr. Wilmer Harms; Robert Schaefer; Alton Sissell; TEL/FAX: 011-372-6320-747. Sherrie Stahl; Hildegard Wasnick, and Helen Wozniak Some of our members have discovered genealogical information among the captured German documents now It has been my privilege to serve as Chair of the AHSGR available at the Berlin Document Center (BDC) located at Genealogy Research/Service Committee during 1997 and to have a Archives II in College Park, Maryland. The presentation by part in planning, together with Art Flegel, Chairman of the Marianne Wheeler at the Genealogy Symposium resulted Convention, the Genealogy Symposium. I also want to thank
19 Annual Reports The Chair thanks the Committee members for their dedication and from extensive research (in person), which she shared with the work, and extends a special thanks to the Editor, Christine Clayton. membership. These documents are all in German. One of the volunteers at the Archives, Rita Scheirer, is available to perform Historical Research Committee research and translations. She can be contacted at the following address: 2328 - 19th Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20009. The cost is Nancy Bernhardt Holland, Chair; Helen Bernice Madden, Vice-Chair; nominal. I will also continue to be a contact person for the National Olinda Brown; Ermadean Haas; Wilmer Harms; Kenneth Larson; Archives while I am a volunteer on duty in the Genealogy Department. Leona Pfeifer; John Schleicher; Helen Wozniak On behalf of the Committee, may I extend our appreciation to the three presenters at the Genealogy Symposium: Marianne Wheeler, The Historical Research Committee has the huge (and rewarding) Rick Rye, and Dr. William Wiest. Also, appreciation is extended to the responsibility of overseeing the CIS Archival Research Project, the California Co-Chair-men and their wives—Art and Cleo Flegel and Aussiedler Project, the material culture collection, and individual John and Frieda Gress—the California chapters, and the many research projects that preserve the heritage of the Germans from volunteers from the entire state and council, and to the Headquarters Russia. The Committee continues to collect and to encourage the staff from Lincoln, Nebraska, under the leadership of Kathy Schultz, collection of art and artifacts, folklore and recipes, articles and Executive Director. interviews, translations and books, and to (morally) support the work of researchers such as Dr. Wilmer Harms, who is preparing a book on Editorial and Publications Committee German-Russian escapees to Harbin, China, which should be completed this year. Leona Pfeifer, Chair; Dr. Nancy Bernhardt Holland, Vice-Chair; This is a day to rejoice. Materials we had once thought long Rosalinda Kloberdanz; Dr. George Kufeldt; Gary Reifschneider; Dr. destroyed have come to light in Russian and Ukrainian archives and Wayne Rosenoff have been made available to us. Persons with connections to the villages of Kolb and Frank have particular cause for elation today since During the past year the Editorial Committee authorized the Professor Igor Pleve of Saratov has provided complete census revisions following books for resale by AHSGR: for the years 1798, 1816, 1834, and 1858. These materials have been 1. Sabina 's Dream by Mary A. Bartholomew. prepared by the Society and are available in the Convention bookstore. 2. Flotsam of World History, the Germans from Russia between Even those without personal connection to these villages will not only Stalin and Hitler by Richard H. Walth. share our joy, but also have their own cause for rejoicing soon. This 3. Alla Lizzie by Helen Eichstaedt. week the Society established a new working relationship with 4. A// Things Decently and in Order; and Other Writings on a Professor Pleve. He will continue supplying census materials from the Germans from Russia Heritage by Edna Boardman. original colonies—just wait a bit; your village is coming—and will 5. My Family Tree Workbook, Genealogy for Beginners by furnish us with newly discovered materials concerning early Rosemary A. Chorzempa. emigrations from Russia to the United States. The Committee also authorized the reprinting of five hundred We continue our working relationship with RAGAS researcher hardcover copies of The Emigration from Germany to Russia by Karl Vladislav Soshnikov and have committed funds to support an extended Stumpp. research visit to CIS archives by staff member Richard Rye as soon as A former decision to prohibit advertising in the Newsletter was arrangements can be made. We expect him to locate much information rescinded and the Committee moved to allow advertising for an of historical and genealogical importance. established fee. But our work for AHSGR is not only with papers, but also The Committee also approved the advertising of the video, A Light in the Darkness. with people coming out of Russia. The poignant lines from the To conserve funds the Committee decided to publish only one traditional hymn "Jesu geh' voran" sung by Arthur Flegel at the issue of Clues. On the other hand, to generate funds, a one-page Convention: "Fuhr' uns bei der Hand/Bis ins Vaterland" [Lead reminder of how a member can help AHSGR by remembering the us, by Your hand, to the Fatherland] have for many of our organization in a will or as an insurance policy beneficiary was people become literally true. After decades of persecution, after approved by the Committee and will appear as the last page of the surviving unspeakable hor- Journal. Also approved by the committee were two fund-raising projects: the publication of a picture calendar for 1999 and AHSGR playing cards.
20 Annual Reports rors with families ripped apart, many Germans have been able - Articles of Incorporation dated 25 March 1974. - Application for Recognition of Exemption under to leave Russia to return to their earthly Fatherland. But 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code dated 17 June 1974. Germany has altered greatly since they left 250 years ago and - Internal Revenue Service letter dated 10 September 1974. they again face discrimination and hardship. We cannot neglect - Internal Revenue Service letter dated 17 November 1975. our people in Germany. The Aussiedler project exists to collect IFAHSGR Bylaws. information from these recent émigrés and to reunite their AHSGR Bylaws. scattered families. Policy and Procedures detailing the purpose, objectives, duties of the Trustees and Members; functions of the President, [And if I may add a personal note, I know what joy that can Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Executive Director. The bring. This summer my family was blessed with a visit from a procedure of elections; the duties of the Fund Raising, relative we didn't know we had, a charming twenty-one-year- Nominations, and Building committees. old who had recently immigrated to Germany from Kazakhstan Endowment Policy with amendments. with her family. She is the great-granddaughter of my Grants Policy. grandmother's elder sister—not a close relation in other groups, Finance: perhaps, but to German Russians who, as my grandmother said, Trust Agreement - Firstier Bank Investment Policy. keep their relatives, like their yeast, to "letzte Lappje vom elfte' Acknowledgment of Contributions of $250 or more. Geback" [to the last loaf of the eleventh baking]—close enough Assignment of Memorial Gifts to Society and Foundation. for family ties, close enough to love.] Budget Procedure. We do need your help. We need your financial Letter dated 5 December 1995 to Firstier Bank authorizing contributions to keep our researchers working in the CIS and signatory only of Executive Director on checks written for less Germany and we need your energy and time to collect than $3,000. information, to interview elders, to transcribe and translate Memo dated 20 February 1996 authorizing the materials already collected, to help reunite families, to aid us as establishment and maintaining of checking accounts at First we continue the important work of preserving a record of the Bank. past because History is the Heart of our Heritage. Forms included are Registered Agent, Nebraska Biennial REPORTS TO THE INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION report, Colorado Biennial report, IFAHSGR/AHSGR Lease agreement (buildings rental), IFAHSGR/AHSGR Lease agreement for administrative services, Fidelity Bond, and a Bylaws And Operations Manual Committee report of property owned by IFAHSGR. Rosemary Larson, Chair; Betty Loesch, Ruth Rasch
During the past year the Committee has been working diligently on the Policy and Procedures Manual for the Foundation, The documents that should make up this Manual are as follows:
23
Page 23
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD
John Schieicher, Membership/Public Affairs Committee
The International Distinguished Service Award honors those who have the University of Hawaii for graduate work in sociology, aided by made exceptional contributions of their time and service to our funds from a graduate assistantship. There I met my husband, Bob, at Society. The Membership/Public Affairs Committee selects nominees. Graduate Club." The names of winners are held secret until announced at the Margaret Zimmerman and Robert Freeman were married on 13 convention. September 1952, in Honolulu, Hawaii. Margaret writes, "Bob and I were married in graduate school, and then went to live in Cambridge, Margaret Zimmerman Freeman Massachusetts, where Bob continued his studies at Harvard. We lived Our honoree and recipient of the Distinguished Service Award this in Lexington for several years, had a son, William Prescott, and evening is Margaret Zimmerman Freeman. I am very pleased that returned to California to live near Bob's parents. Bob took a job with Margaret was able to be here with us this evening. System Development Corporation, and we settled in Santa Monica, Margaret Ann Zimmerman was born on 17 June 1929, on a farm where we lived for thirty-six years, and thirty-five in the same house. near Monticello, Iowa, the daughter of Arend George Zimmerman, and Another son, George Aman, was born in Santa Monica. After our two Emma Aman Zimmerman. The Zimmerman family was originally sons were in school, I took the necessary courses for a teaching from northern Germany, and the Aman family from the German credential at the University of Southern California, and am now retired Gluckstal Colonies in Russia. As with every good genealogist, after twenty-three years in the Santa Monica Elementary Schools. In Margaret has written about her own life, to share this information and 1986, Bob retired from SDC." her memories with her children. Much of what I share with you this "Growing up among my father's north German family," Margaret evening about Margaret is in her own words. Margaret writes, "I was continues, "there was little contact during the depression and the war born on an Iowa farm, where I spent my early years in the corn fields, years with mother's Germans who lived in the Dakotas. It was not until attended rural school, and did all the things growing up that were much later . . . when we attended an AHSGR meeting in 1978, that I typical of the 1930s and 40s. The church, which my grandparents had really began to learn about my rich heritage in the Germans from founded, was over the hill on the same section as our farm, and we Russia. One of the greatest things was to discover all this before my lived on part of the land that Grandfather Zimmerman had been able to mother died. We attended conventions for several years together, and I purchase with his hard work and frugal ways. Born to older parents, was able to put the history book on the Aman family in her hands who were each the youngest child born late in life to their parents, the before she died. Incidentally, that was the first family history computer fifty-eight cousins on the Zimmerman side and the fifty-eight cousins printed book in the library of either AHSGR or GRHS." on the Aman side, with the exception of two, were all older than my Margaret's husband. Bob, wrote about her, "Like most Germans sister and I. We did not lack for playmates or activities, and a goodly from Russia, Margaret is a doer. From her very first discovery that part of this activity was work." there was a local AHSGR chapter interested in the German-Russian Margaret remembers, "At threshing time, when the hired man ate heritage, she undertook the challenge of finding people and bringing elsewhere with the threshing crew, Mother would cook Kase Knipfle them to meetings. She found Germans from Russia at work, at school, for herself and her nieces. Of course, we always had Kuchen with and even in the grocery store, and invited them into her home to find prunes and apples, absolutely delicious. Our food likely had the out about their people, and to generate interest in AHSGR, and get Germans from Russia seasoning, which I never thought much about. them to chapter meetings." And, of course, we ate borscht, which we called vegetable soup." Bob continues, "Margaret was soon elected to the AHSGR Margaret continues, "At the age of twelve, my confirmation year, International Board of Directors, and just as quickly heading up a we moved into the town of Monticello, where I participated in many committee focused on expanding members' knowledge about their activities in high school. After that I attended a small girls' school, ancestors, which in her case came from the Black Sea. Seeing the Shimer College in Mt. Carroll, Illinois, and then went on, with the help promise of giving all German Russians more contact with their ancestry of scholarships, to Linfield College in Oregon. From there I went to through participation in all of the resources available, she was soon
24 Distinguished Service Award a regular member of several local chapters, and other opinions, and even though she has not been on the board for a organizations, such as GRHS and the Landsmannschaft der number of years, she is nationally recognized and known for her Deutschen aus Russland in Germany." continued good works in behalf of the Society. Besides Bob goes on to say, "Among the members of these everything else, everyone loves her as a friend, a confidant, a organizations, her letter writing, personal visits made to connect leader, a teacher, a mother, a doer, and a person that one can relatives with each other and with their ancestry, is legendary. look up to with a German-Russian heritage!" And she began to average more than a dozen letters per day and Along with Margaret's service on the AHSGR Board of many phone calls, even while carrying a full teaching load in Directors, as a village coordinator, and co-chairperson of the the public schools. Seeking to reach this large group of village coordinators, she has served at the chapter level, on the interested researchers, and to also increase their participation in California District Council, and as Treasurer for the California AHSGR, this remarkable daughter, whose mother was the District Council. Margaret and Bob belong to the Southern German-Russian, and her husband not one at all, jointly began California Chapter, and as well as to the Golden Gate Chapter, taking her mother to the conventions and to visits of her and other chapters in California. John Gress notes that, childhood home in the Dakotas, where she by that time had "Margaret and Bob are the focal point of most everything that located dozens of cousins, some of whom her mother had not happens in southern California regarding AHSGR and German- seen in fifty years." Russian genealogy, every problem is a challenge (for them). Bob continues, "In another attempt to reach a larger group There is hardly ever an AHSGR meeting of any importance of members than she could accommodate by letter and anywhere in California that they aren't a part of." telephone, this researcher and a few other enthusiasts began It gives me great pleasure to present the 1997 AHSGR publishing a newsletter about their own group of colonies, the Distinguished Service Award to Margaret Zimmerman Glueckstal Colonies, which has become a model for village Freeman. The award reads, "American Historical Society of research. Margaret has been co-chairperson, with Carol Harless, Germans from Russia, Distinguished Service Award, presented of the Village Coordinators, and one of AHSGR's most to Margaret Zimmerman Freeman, July 26, 1997, San Jose, steadfast supporters." California. This award is given in recognition of the exceptional Friend and fellow AHSGR board member John Gress wrote and meritorious service which Margaret Zimmerman Freeman of Margaret, "There is one person, in the name of Margaret has given to the Society; and for her positive influence on the Freeman, who can not go for more than a few minutes without Society in the advancement of its goal and purpose of the speaking, thinking, or doing something in behalf of her preservation of the heritage of the Germans from Russia." German-Russian Heritage. She has served willingly on the national board, and is respected for her
Margaret Zimmerman Freeman with her husband Robert after receiving the Distinguished Service Award.
Page 25 BEGINNING OF VOLGA-GERMAN EMIGRATION TO AMERICA
Dr. Igor R. Pleve Translated by Richard Rye
One of the most unexplored areas in the history of Germans from the merous part of the emigration. Their religious persuasions were against Volga region is the beginning of their emigration to the United States. carrying weapons and military service. For instance, Mennonites were In this speech I am going to highlight some problems of this period that considered as an official church. By paying fees and giving funds, they belongs to the middle 1870s. could officially avoid to serve in the Russian Army. At the same time, According to the Law of 1871, when all Volga Germans had been Baptists were considered dissidents and did not have the right not to given equal rights with the rest of the rural population of Russia, they serve. could leave Russia within ten years, if they were not satisfied. Before Economically speaking, the emigrants were the poorest groups 1874 only one Volga German, named Lissmann, took this opportunity. among the German colonists with the exception of a few more He was from the Doenhof colony and was married to the Russian prosperous. Orthodox woman named Pelageya Nikitina. It caused some tension in In the main, the Volga Germans approved of military service. So, the neighborhood, and as a result, he decided to leave for America. only a small part of colonists with the specific religious doctrines In the beginning of 1874 the number of such decisions had (Baptists) had been motivated to emigrate by the implementation of significantly increased. The first one came from Balzer. On 22 May universal military service in Russia in 1874. For the rest it was only a 1874, thirty-seven colonist from Kolb filed applications for beginning. emigration. The local authorities were worried, especially when they 2. The Office of Guardianship for foreign settlers, the main received ten additional petitions only seven days later. protector of colonists, had been liquidated: It caused some speculations What were the main reasons of mass emigration? that the government would force Volga Germans to Join the Orthodox First, I would like to underline the difference of the Volga- Church. Those rumors were especially effective among small religious German emigration in the middle 1870s from the later period, which groups, not officially recognized, and among the Catholic population. started at the end of the nineteenth century and finished by the First The Polish priests played the most provocative role in this process, World War. I would determine that the last one was caused by some especially when the Polish Riot had been suppressed. However, bishop economical reasons, such as shortage of land, years of poor crops plus Zottmann rejected this opinion. letters and money from relatives for settling in America. As a result, 3. Colonists were afraid that in ten years they would not be able to random emigration took place from all Volga colonies. leave Russia at all. The situation in the beginning of the 1870s was quite different. 4. The years of poor harvest in the beginning of the 1870s led to First only a few colonies were involved; Balzer, Kutter, Beideck, impoverishment among Volga Germans. Messer, and Norka. Here are the reasons that caused the emigration 5. The Russian government withdrew so-called Resettlement during this period: Capital. This fund had helped colonists during harsh years. In addition, 1. In 1874 the universal military subscription was implemented people had to support the already eliminated Office of Guardianship among all Russian citizens including German colonists. It happened to for Foreign Settlers for five more years paying 22.5 kopecks tax be the main reason to leave Russia. The primary analysis shows that annually. the different religious groups that had been separated from the main These five reasons all-together provoked the beginning of the Evangelical-Lutheran Church, such as Baptists, formed the core and Volga Germans' emigration to America. most nu- Analysis of the 1874 situation has shown that the process of emigration developed most actively in the Balzer colony, where this Dr. Pleve is a professor of history at Saratov State University. He movement began and more than half of all inhabitants expressed presented this paper at the AHSGR convention in San Jose, California. willingness to move to America while all colonists in Bauer and Richard Rye is the Translations Coordinator at AHSGR Headquarters in Lisanderdorf were preparing for emigration. By June 1874, one Lincoln, Nebraska. hundred families from Norka also expressed their willingness to immigrate to America. At the same time, a different situation developed in the Ust-Kulalinsk and Ilavlinsk region, where there were
26 Volga-German Emigration no colonists willing to emigrate. any job, they demanded from the administration to provide Mass departure in spring and in summer of 1874 had been them with money for their journey to America. After delayed, for colonists were waiting for return of their negotiations with Russia, the Prussian government decided to representatives sent previously to America. Almost all colonists allow to let through only those who had 150 rubles per adult hoped that the US government would support them in moving and 75 per child. For many, this decision turned out to be the in and settling. These hopes turned out to be in vain. One could obstacle that they could not overcome, for one could not rely rely only upon oneself. This is why in the fall of 1874 only upon help of the United States Government. twenty-five people left the Saratov region and none left the Some young people used the opportunity to immigrate to Samara region. the United States not for their settlement there, but to avoid Procedures of obtaining permission to leave were fairly military draft. In 1876 Saratov Governor Galkin-Vraski was simple. One would submit an application to the village very upset when he learned that some of those who emigrated administration, which would then be considered during the in 1875 and obtained American citizenship returned to their village meeting. If all taxes were paid and there was no debt, villages and continued their farming, not paying taxes and one could get an approval from the villagers. One then could avoiding military draft. By the end of the year these colonists submit the papers to the higher administrative level, which were deported. subsequently would issue the so-called dismissal release. After In the meantime, more and more colonists were preparing that one would submit a petition to be released from Russian for emigration. Many considered emigration to South America. citizenship and to request the passport from the governor of the Colonists of Balzer (Alexander Rais and Heindrich region. All this would take two months. Scheideman) asked the embassy of Brazil in St. Petersburg if Local authorities would try to persuade Germans not to Brazil would be willing to accept some colonists from Russia leave for America. The Saratov governor even submitted a on the same conditions as Catherine II. The Brazilian proposal to the Russian government to adopt a law that would ambassador, Baron von Alexander responded that the Brazilian give Germans permanent ownership of their land parcels, which government was ready to accept colonists into the Brazilian would improve the economy and would stop the emigration. Empire. He also suggested supporting four representatives to However, one could not stop the emigration. The book travel to Brazil so that they could explore the region. written by a former resident of Balzer, Schwabauer, who The letter of the Brazilian ambassador had been distributed emigrated to America in 1875, created an enormous reaction among the colonists, especially the Catholics, who expressed among colonists. After reading this book, not only young their willingness to emigrate right away. In May of 1876, a people (reservists), but also whole families expressed their meeting of 30,000, mostly poor colonists willing to emigrate willingness to immigrate to America. from the Saratov and the Samara region was held in Balzer. Bremen and Hamburg steamship lines conducted active After sending four representatives to Brazil many simply promotion among colonists. Representatives of the lines offered stopped working and began to sell their belongings. their help in emigration during the winter of 1875-76. Most By 1876, 4,000 in Norka and 6,690 in Kamenka expressed active among these representatives was a Prussian citizen their desire to emigrate. The Russian consul in Brazil raised (Mitzdorf), who visited the Saratov and Samara regions several concerns regarding emigration to Brazil, where most times during 1876 and 1877. populations were extremely poor. There were people among the colonists themselves who Mass emigration continued until the middle of the year of made their business helping colonists in submitting and 1878. By 1879 emigration diminished, especially after the preparing the emigration papers. return of some disillusioned colonists from Brazil. The unusual During 1874-75, four hundred people left the Saratov climate, devastation, and hunger in Brazil forced them to return region, among them: eighty-nine from Norka, seventy-three back home. Despite the fact that, according to Russian law, from Kutter, forty-nine from Balzer, thirty-six from citizenship would be denied to those who had abandoned it, the Lisanderdorf, thirty-one from Moor, twenty-nine from Dietel, administration did allow those returning to live in their native twenty-eight from Beideck. villages. The main obstacle for colonists was lack of funds. In Until 1886 there was no especially strong emigration 1874—75 many people left without sufficient funds for such a among Germans of the Volga region. After that time, waves of journey. They hoped to earn the rest during the journey. emigration continued until the beginning of the World War I. However, when they arrived in Prussia and could not find
27 THE GERMANS IN RUSSIA: THEIR PRESENT SITUATION (AND THE ROAD TO THE FUTURE) Eugen N. Miller Translated by Ursula Moessner and edited by William M. Wiest
media was still subject to censorship) to today—this could be called Introduction the present time of the Russian Germans. Members of the older, or no What is "Heimat" (Home)? (A German longer young generation, who up to that point had been without Song) political rights, after forty years of imposed silence, finally received the opportunity to regain their national rights. Earlier during the 1960s and A neighbor's little boy asked me 70s some German delegations had visited Moscow and were received yesterday: by government officials (they were brave people because at that time it Tell me, what is "Heimat"? What does it was dangerous). However, that was only a futile begging for human mean, pray say? rights. Now, suddenly, independence was a reality. But without political I answered him as follows: proceedings (and where in God's name should those come from?) My child, please listen close. The church on the many big mistakes were made. A group of activists went to Saratov slope is Heimat and so is the sound of its bell. and, without hesitation, demanded: To reestablish immediately the Heimat—is consolation for sorrow. It keeps you German Volga Republic with its former boundaries, to return houses safe in the morrow. and goods, to introduce German as the national (regional) language, to establish German schools, etc. Where the neighbor greets you—that's Heimat and so is where Actually, the demands were just, but politically as well as friends will meet. Heimat is where people love you. It is blessing tactically, unwise, because the public and especially the party officials for keeps. of Saratov and Volgograd, had not been prepared for such a situation. On the contrary, the communist nomenclature saw the danger of losing And comes the time many key positions, were the German Republic to be reestablished. when you must leave Heimat Do not forget. This fear resulted in severe agitation against the Germans. The Because in foreign darkness Germans recognized their mistakes and tried to make amends, but Heimat is light in the eve. unfortunately it was already too late. The anti-German movement (under the secret leadership of communist party officials) gained Heimat is where someone remembers you. Heimat is strength and continued for several years, until the call "for the where love embraces you. Heimat is consolation for reestablishment of the German Volga Republic" gradually died down. all your pain. On life's journey it keeps you safe. The second big mistake consisted, on the one hand, in the inability of the Russian Germans to establish farsighted, well thought through The Present populist guidelines that are absolutely necessary in political life, and, In daily life man is usually preoccupied with himself. The past on the other hand, in the inability of the Russian Germans to make touches him only in theory. For him the future (without himself) is intelligent compromises—an equally important part of successful vague—and the present is valued only in regard to his own person. politics. For example, the leadership of the Society of the Soviet Ergo: Egocentrism, and that not only with regard to infants. German Wiedergeburt (Rebirth), an organization which had been The time-span from the confusing end of Perestroika (that is, established in March, 1989, unfortunately gave the government of the from 1988-89 when in the USSR one was finally allowed to express USSR an ultimatum which could do nothing but fail: "If the German what one thought, although the mass Republic were not to be reestablished by 1 January 1992, the Wiedergeburt would organize the total emigration of all Soviet Professor Eugen N. Miller is the Editor in Chief of the weekly newspaper Germans to Germany." Nachrichten //i Ulyanovsk, Volga region, Russia. The third bad mistake had its roots in the communist
28 Germans in Russia: Their Present Situation past—the belief in inherited, unlimited centralism. Local this was the reality. And this is why, according to international organizations were expected to follow the statutes and direction conceptions of nationhood, the lower Volga region— within the of the Moscow Wiedergeburt. In the area of Ulyanovsk the local borders of the German settlements from the eighteenth to the Wiedergeburt organization exhibited its own initiative, which twentieth century—is the original land of the Volga Germans. received praise by Gorbachev in April, 1990 while he was The third point is that there were prominent Germans in the visiting Nizhniy Tagil (Ural region). Following this the history of Russia, such as: the historian F. P. Adelung, F. leadership of Wiedergeburt in Moscow sent its emissaries to Schiller from the Volga Region, Admiral Fabian Gottlieb von Ulyanovsk with the purpose of discontinuing the idea of Bellinghausen, General Field Marshal, P. Ch. Wittgenstein, establishing German settlements in this region. In this they philologist Wostokow (actually Ostenek), poet A. A. Delwig, succeeded splendidly, the Decembrists W. K. Kuchelbecker and P. I. Pestel, seafarer Like a chain-reaction the disunity, which divided the A. J. von Krusenstern, artist K. Bruellow, cyberneticist A. I. Germans, spread from Moscow to Saratov, Omsk, Novosibirsk, Berg, the man of the enlightenment, R. Sorge, botanist G. etc. and paralyzed the German movement for a long time. The Meister, musician S. Richter, General E. I. Totleben, writers I. I. people felt the futility and a mass exodus to Germany began. Chemnitzer and D. I. Fonwisin (von Wiesen), rocket designer F. Even so, much that was positive resulted, especially from the A. Zander, Lieutenant P. P. Schmidt, member of the academy 0. Wiedergeburt congresses held in Moscow, It came as a big J. Schmidt, and many others. surprise to many to suddenly learn that many Germans lived in This compelling evidence, however, has had little effect. To this immense country, Germans who, it was now revealed, had the Russians all the above-mentioned are Russian personalities. shared joy and sorrow together with their Russian compatriots. Let me give you just some examples: German encyclopedias The Past cite A. J. Krusenstern as a "Russian admiral of German Politicians, writers, and scholars have cited the following descent," while Russian encyclopedias name him simply as a evidence to prove that the Germans had the right to live in "Russian mariner, admiral." German encyclopedias refer to Russia as equal citizens, and that they had a right to autonomy "Wilhelm Karl Kuchelbecker, born 21 June 1797 in Petersburg, in a certain region on the Volga (where they had established died 23 August 1846 in Tobolsk (Western Siberia), Russian themselves since the end of the eighteenth century); poet of German descent, Decembrist," In Russian 1. In the year 1763, the Russian government had invited encyclopedias, however, the entry is simply "Russian poet, Germans to come to Russia. Decembrist." Others are likewise treated simply as Russians, 2. The Germans had transformed the barren steppes on the without notation as to their origins. Among these are F. P. Volga into arable land. Adelung, P. Ch. Wittgenstein, A. Ch. Wostokow (Ostenek), P. 3. The history of Russia has many exceptional people of I. Pestel, and others. Most of the above-mentioned Germans, German descent, who made important contributions to the however, were not Volga Germans. By the way, the [self- development of Russia. described] "Father of all Nations," the Georgian Joseph Point 1—the invitation—seems indisputable. The Dzhugashvili (Stalin), at the end of the Second World War used settlement of the lower Volga Region (around the towns of to use the expression, "We Russians...." Samara, Saratov, Kamyshin, and Zaritzyn) started after Empress The Future Catherine II had issued the manifesto of 22 July 1763, which The member of the Russian academy A. J. Sobolevski promised governmental protection to and an invitation for the often cited the words of Gottfried Hermann (1772-1848): "Duae Germans to come to Russia. (Her first invitation that of 2 res longe sunt difficillimae—lexicon scribere et grammaticam" December 1762, had not received much of a response.) Then on (Two things are especially hard—to write a dictionary and to 19 March 1764, new regulations were issued regarding rights to write a grammar). It seems that to predict the future is also very landed property, which included the land to be settled as well as difficult. the amount of land which each farmer would receive. In view of Today the Germans in Russia are a most heterogeneous all of this, it is an indisputable fact that the Volga Germans had group. In the nineteenth century we were mostly farmers, and received the legal right to settle and stay in this area. people came in contact with other nationalities only through It is also indisputable that the above-mentioned Volga trade. But today we have representatives in all branches of the Germans settled the barren steppes, and established and nation's economy. With respect to culture and politics we are developed new villages and towns. Through unity and quite diverse. We live in the village and also in cities. Most of determination for more than 170 years, they preserved the us no longer know the German language. Further, we are split German language, German customs, and German manners— into two large segments: One wants to go to Germany (and and the territorial unity remained. This is as it was— frequently this desire is kept 29 Germans in Russia: Their Present Situation as eating, drinking, working, sleeping, educating the children, secret), the other wants to remain in Russia. This causes the and cleaning the house. There is no other way—this we can see Russian-German people to behave like a thundercloud after the clearly. We build houses for Germans who do not speak, nor rain. In addition, we are divided into three unequal parts: One desire to speak the language, Simultaneously one would have to part occupies itself with politics; others are looking for practical follow a certain direction in social movements in pursuit of the results [regarding improvement of the German situation] (on the German ethos (value structure), one which has a scholarly Volga or in Siberia); and the third part does not want to concern foundation and is not in the service of political or populist itself with the German situation. They know they are Germans goals, but live as if they were Russians. With this I would like to end [this part of my In this situation, when years go by without anything being presentation}—but my story is actually only beginning. accomplished, good advice is difficult to get. Even to start The Present II anything is difficult—especially do I realize this when I discuss The German Cultural Center Freundschaft in Ulyanovsk and the plans with a friend one day, and find out the next day that he is editorial staff of Nachrichten have the intention to produce a video already in Germany. entitled "The Volga Germans at the End of the Twentieth Century." But life goes on. There is no sense in being paralyzed At a time when the German minority in Russia is more and because, basically, the Russian Germans are no worse off today more subject to reduction by dispersion, assimilation, and than all the other Russians are. But, for those who want to emigration, there are enthusiasts, mainly scholars from Russian- remain German, something should be done, the sooner the German circles, who would like to preserve the history of the better. Russian Germans from the beginning, and especially in the I see the following possibilities: eighteenth to twentieth centuries. The Academy of Russian If everything remains as it is today, when we can initiate Germans that was established several years ago in Moscow has changes with governmental support, then the near future will therefore decided to publish a three-volume Russian-German mean complete assimilation. Perhaps small islands of German encyclopedia. An organizational committee was established, a culture will be preserved. However, German courses on search was undertaken for scholars from all over Russia who Sundays, two hours a month of [German] TV, one hour of could do this complicated work, and the countryside was weekly German radio—do not a mother tongue make. It is divided into four regions (west, center, Volga, and Siberia). The largely self-delusion, because a language is a phenomenon that enterprise has already started. A significant listing of authors, remains in one's mind only when spoken daily. However, we who live in the above-mentioned regions, was compiled. The do not have to become too pessimistic. Our ancestors lived organizational committee is in contact with most of them and likewise in Russia for centuries, and they were happy and has proposed articles for the encyclopedia, on such topics as respected members of society as long as they were industrious people, societies, events, etc. At this time, a list of topics is and used their intelligence. being compiled, which will be discussed in the future. All this The other alternative is quite complicated. I am not certain seems to us to be important and good. it is even realistic at this time. I am referring to the possibility We, from the German Cultural Center Freundschaft in of the preservation of a German ethos in Russia. Ulyanovsk and the editorial staff of Nachrichten also would For this alternative to be realized it would be necessary to tike to make a contribution to this endeavor. We have decided have relative unity among the most active segment of the to produce a video entitled "The Volga Germans at the End of Russian Germans, and they would have to be ready for the Twentieth Century." An encyclopedia describes events in a compromises. Then, there is the problem of money: Political written form—we would like to round out this picture visually liberty is impossible without economic freedom. We need the and show how the people go about their daily routine. entrepreneurship of the Russian Germans. Where is it? How Of course, many difficulties present themselves in the long do we want to remain dependent on the government to pursuit of this endeavor. We want to show life as it realty is. build houses for us, when our ancestors two hundred years ago We want to show the objective truth, the difficulties, and the achieved everything themselves? complications—not just pretty pictures. The Russian Germans In addition, we need to be informed. Our leading live in a huge country, and they live largely dispersed. The personalities happily call conferences, congresses, seminars, Volga region itself is extensive. The video will have to show etc. However, nobody takes the trouble to keep the Russian villages and towns, as well as the political, social, cultural, and Germans informed on a daily basis about the results. It is personal aspects of our life. Russian Germans do not live in a obvious that this must be done with the help of newspapers. vacuum, and so we must include other nationalities as well. All But nothing is done and the status quo remains. this requires time and work, and above all, money. And as These three alternatives that I have just outlined have to be everybody knows, money is approached simultaneously, just as one has a daily routine, such
30 Germans in Russia: Their Present Situation very scarce in Russia. We announced this project, the video, at the Third Congress the Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic of Volga Germans. of Volga Germans in April this year. We also invited those After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, they were called present to participate in the project. Several of the guests and "Russian Germans," but in Germany the inclination is more and deputies have already agreed to do just that, including people more toward calling them "Russlanddeutsche" (or "Germans like Irina Belenina from Samara, Viktor Dick from Kazan, from Russia"), Because of the increasing number of mixed Eleonora Sheleztishkova, Ludmila Volochova and Nelli marriages after World War II (about 70% of all marriages), a Tretyakova from "Staraja Sarepta" (Old Sarepta), Iraida paradox has arisen. The number of Germans in Russia is not Kharitonova from Vodnoye-Buyaoratshnoyc, Erika Lobanova lessening despite the flood of emigration. from Toliatti, Alexander Miller from Orsk, Hilda Nuss from In addition to the Germans, a large number of Russian Jews Pokhvistnevo, Nikolai Pyatin from Rovnoye (Seelmann), Irina are also emigrating. They are emigrating not only from Russia Romanovskaya and Christel Surkova from Pensa, Albert but also from Ukraine, Belorussia, and the other former Smailov from Marxstadt. In addition the following regions are republics; whatever republic they come from they are still called being considered: Astrakhan, Novosibirsk, Omsk, Orenburg, "Russian Jews." Although mixed marriages have occurred less Tamov, Tyumen, Volgograd, Altai, Bashkiria, and others. among Jews, they hardly speak their national language It is certain that we will not receive funds from (Yiddish) any longer, and maybe even less so than the Germans governmental institutions for our project. We mentioned this speak German. Therefore, we might conclude that for both problem during the Congress, and immediately two people— groups the problem is not emigration per se, but repatriation. one from Saratov, the other from Kazan—offered to help, once Similar to the Russian Germans, the Russian Jews know that if we showed them the written version of the project, "The Volga extreme conditions reoccur in Russia and the other former Germans at the End of the Twentieth Century." We thanked republics, they could not rely on any trustworthy socio-political them for the offer and with lightening speed did what they protection. asked, sending it by fax from Ulyanovsk on 8 April 1997. It is known that Germany is the only government that Unfortunately, so far we have not heard from them. presently accepts a large number of emigrants. With this gesture Still, we have not given up hope. If the project is not Germany hopes to make amends for her guilt, which stems from feasible, as we have envisioned it, we will be forced to include the time of Fascism during the Hitler regime, only those villages and cultural centers, which at least partly It should be remembered, however, that during the time cover our travel expenses. The films, of course, will show what when the Soviet Union still existed and when the barriers to the hosts wish to show. emigration were horrendous, the first emigrants were received Emigration Problems in Germany almost like heroes. Immediately, they received DM At present many Russian Germans are emigrating from 1,200, because they had been deported and had lived in prisons Russia. Russia does not keep statistics on this, but in Germany and concentration camps. Since the families of the emigrants they do. According to their figures about 1.5 million Russian usually had many children, the amounts were often considerably Germans have immigrated into Germany since 1987. Every year more, up to four or five thousand (or even more) deutsche 200,000 to 210,000 arrive in Germany. There the German marks. This enabled the immigrants immediately to purchase a émigrés are called Spataussiedler (late returnees), and these late car and often a house as well. They could assimilate relatively returnees have the right, according to German law, to immigrate rapidly and find good jobs. into Germany until the year 2005. Today the German Today, the situation has changed. According to the 1979 government is trying to limit the flood of immigrants. New USSR census, about 2 million Germans lived in the USSR. At regulations have been introduced, for instance, a language this time about 1.5 million Russian Germans already live in examination, requiring many Russian Germans to have to study Germany. Suddenly, it has become apparent that many more the language to receive permission to immigrate into Germany. Germans lived in the former Soviet Union—about three to four According to the statistics every other person (50% of the million, or even more. This [discrepancy] may be explained by Russian Germans) has petitioned to immigrate into Germany. the fact that during the census in 1979 many Germans hid their Back in the eighteenth century their ancestors were truly nationality (ethnicity); they recorded themselves as Russians, Germans who immigrated to Russia where they received the Ukrainians, etc. One could reprimand them for that. However, description, "colonists": “Volga colonists,” "Crimean colonists," one must understand the situation at that time. Many could not "Volhynian colonists," etc. The Bolsheviks called them "Soviet endure the moral and political pressure to which the communist Germans," with the special definition of "Volga Germans" system subjected them. Today, on the other hand, for many the because of the existence of social-economic situation is also unacceptable. And there is the
31 Germans in Russia: Their Present Situation
lure of rich, wealthy Germany, so many are searching for that drop of in Russia in 1991 prejudices and a patronizing attitude would no longer German blood—reaching back as far as to the seventh generation of be tolerated by people with dignity. their ancestors, in addition, the number of mixed marriages and their In reality the authors of the appeal were correct—the strong offspring continues to increase the number of Russian Germans discrimination against Russian Germans in Russia did not cease at the considerably. end of World War II, Russia has legally recognized the results of these Large numbers of immigrants can only be beneficial to Germany. discriminations, and the number of schools that taught the mother Workers came to Germany, people came, and that improved the tongue (German) has decreased to nothing. Further, according to the demographic situation considerably. (One usually forgets that the appeal, the Russian government is responsible for the forced population in Germany is aging.) Many smart and talented went to assimilation, a result of the forced deportation and arbitrary settlement Germany. But who remains in Russia? of the Germans to the Asiatic part of the USSR after the outbreak of One could believe that Russia will be impoverished. One can, World War II in 1941. Also, the appeal emphasized that in Russia however, surmise that in place of the émigrés other immigrants will economic and political instability brings with it the risk of a return to follow. This is how it has been in Russia for a long, long time. And so dictatorship, the effects of which could be fatal for the Russian it will be in the future, because in principle, the country has not Germans. Further, they argued that the majority of the Russian changed. Russia is immense, and it contains many riches in flora, Germans still live in areas of deportation with little opportunity to learn fauna, and mineral resources, the German language. Also, the current economic crisis in Russia will not continue The petitioners' intent was well meaning. However, the question forever. Everything in its time. Many have decided to leave Russia arises, who is helped by such appeals, the signers of the appeal or the forever. They leave their houses, and once in Germany, try to get their Germans in Russia? relatives to leave Russia as well. They have taken leave from Russia As already mentioned, Wiedergeburt gave the Russian forever. Their new life will be forever connected with Germany. government an ultimatum in the early 1990s regarding the There is, however, another segment of Russian Germans—and reestablishment of the Volga German Republic. The results were that is actually the larger part. They go to Germany with the desire to disheartening. The government did not care about the ultimatum, and return to Russia someday. They are going to Germany to survive the everybody who wanted to, and was permitted to do so, immigrated to current difficult time in Russia. One cannot fault them. Germany. It led to a split in the Wiedergeburt organization, and the Our home was always Russia. Before 1941 nobody who lived on leader of the organization left Russia and found employment in a the Volga thought of emigration. Even after World War II only a few foreign country. The people who lost because of this political move are did so. Time brought many burdens. And not everybody could live the average Russian Germans. They are left to their own devices, and without unfulfilled dreams. that has not changed until today. There is only one "Heimat." That is where one was born. Where Today, the Russian Germans receive help only from the German one lived during one's youth. Where during wintertime one inhaled the government. The Russian-German organizations in Moscow are in frosty air. Where one wandered in the summer forest, and where one's actuality only bogus. And the people in Germany who signed the ancestors are buried. appeal did not help us when we asked them. There is only one "Heimat"—there cannot be a second, or third— Therefore we have established the Saratov-Ulyanovsk Writer's it is inconceivable. Union of Russian Germans. When this was accomplished one of the Light and Shadow in Germany undersigned [signatories] went to the Deutsche Welle (radio and TV) Early in 1997 a group of Russian-Germans writers, journalists and and told them the organization was stillborn. artists in Germany sent an appeal to the German government regarding When that stillborn organization made attempts to establish the the hardships of those Russian Germans who remained in Russia. The anthology Morgenstern none of the signatories wanted to be mentioned majority of the Russian Germans in Russia were hardly aware of this as author. That is the situation. action, although one would think that after the democratic reversal Man is mortal. When he dies, his world dies with him In our logic, humanity is immortal. A scholar once said: One ought to leave the problem open; don't come to hasty conclusions. Because life goes on...
Page 32 RECENT GENEALOGICAL FINDS IN UKRAINE
Richard Rye
To preface this report, I must state that it is somewhat Fond 59, op. 1, delo 6443, 15 sheets. 25 April-30 August scrambled, because there is so much information in these 1771, passport for pastor Wilde from Saratov, who is visiting archives, that it is overwhelming, and my mind wanders when I German colonists, with his comments and reports. This file try to remember all I saw, learned, and experienced. clearly demonstrates that there was extensive early contact I arrived in Kiev at 1:30 P.M. on 7 April 1997, where between the two areas. Vladislav Soshnikov of RAGAS met me at the airport by the Fond 442, op. 784, delo 1, 68 sheets. 1833-1837. File on tour agency representative and Vladislav and I had previously those German colonists displaced by the Polish revolt, who made arrangements to meet in Kiev, where he had secured were exiled to Prussia and who then went to America. appointments for me with the central archive authorities and Fond 442 is very interesting in many respects, because it is with the central oversight committee of the Ukrainian archives. the records of the military governor of the Kiev, Zhitomir, and He proved an invaluable resource. Podolia provinces, and dates from the early 1850s through the We arrived at the hotel at about 2:30, which made it too 1870s. It contains large numbers of police surveillance files and late to meet anyone at the archives, so we went there the first reports on foreign residents, including tickets for foreigners thing the morning of 8 April. Vladislav introduced me to the leaving the country in several periods, exit passports, lists of head of the research division of the Central State Historical Germans and colonists entering and leaving the country in Archive, who gave me a full tour and explanation of the several periods, requests to settle on state lands in Volhynia, archive's facilities. those colonists and Germans returning from the Saratov region Central State Archive, Kiev after the Polish revolt, colonists and Germans accused of It is indeed an education to walk into a Ukrainian archive antigovernment activity (from areas throughout Ukraine and and find that there is more material on a particular subject (in Bessarabia), Germans of Volhynia who refused Russian this case, German colonists) than one could have imagined. citizenship, lists of Germans who were refused entry to Russia, Equally educating were the comments made by the archive and many other reports. There are quite often very personal workers, who gave me a quick lesson in reading censuses, details about drinking habits, sexual activity, political church registry books (there are seven German church registry affiliations, lists of colonists and foreigners attending union books for Lutheran churches in or near Kiev, for the period meetings, "antigovernment agitation," where to get a good from the 1860s to 1915), and the general status of foreigners in German meal, etc. These surveillance officers were nothing, if Russia before 1915. The archivists were quick to point out that not thorough. There are also requests for establishment of a there were many more Germans in Russia than just colonists. colony in the southeast region, "near the border." They stated that, in fact, that colonists made up less than half There is a fascinating file, No. 317, from 1893, regarding the Germans in Ukraine. A quick perusal of one of the church the closure of a photography shop in Rovno, owned by colonist registry books demonstrated the extensive interaction between Martwig/Hartwig, who was taking photographs too near the "German colonists" and "Russian residents of foreign border, and was also engaged in making pornographic post citizenship." cards. Other files contain the weekly reports of colonists The archive workers are most pleasant and cooperative. passing through customs in Volhynia in 1835. One file, No. After exchanging official greetings and pleasantries and 1932, contains 791 sheets, giving colonists names and points of receiving my official pass to the archive, I spent most of the origin. morning looking through the card catalog, which is extensive, Also, the following files from other collections are of and easily accessible to those who read Russian and Ukrainian. particular interest: From my examination of the sections on "colonists" and Fond 493, op. 1, delo 90, 572 sheets, 1874-1884. List of "Germany" in several collections [fondy], I learned that there German colonists holding land under special rights in the are many very interesting files, such as: Ostrog district. We have virtually no information on German colonists in this area in southwest Ukraine. Fond 707, op. 210, delo 89 (sheets not specified). The Richard Rye is Translations Coordinator at AHSGR Headquarters in school records of the German colonists' school at Dunaevtsy, Lincoln, Nebraska. He gave this report on his trip to Ukraine at the Podolia, 17 March 1890-5 April 1905. This includes listings of AHSGR convention in San Jose, California. the names of all the students and their parents' names.
33 Genealogical Finds in Ukraine
Fond 1153, op. 1, delo 116, 13 sheets. 5 April-4 June suses are good starting points, they are not comprehensive. 1913. File on the attempts of German colonists to excavate In fact, the archivists maintained that there were more land on the shore of the Prut River, Bessarabia, to establish a "residents of foreign citizenship" than there were colonists. colony there. They felt this was true in the Volga region as well. This clearly Fond 707, op. 296, delo 68, part II. 152 sheets, 1896. explains why some people are not found on census lists. Complete description of the German Baptist colony of Novaya, Census records for the Kiev oblast are not held at the Zhitomir district, Volhynia. Central Historical Archive in Kiev, but in the oblast [region] Fond 59, op. 1, delo 4963, 23 sheets, 6 June-7 September archive. The director of this archive will permit absolutely no 1767. Germans and other foreigners invited to be colonists in genealogical research, only very limited historical research by Ukraine, or "New Russia." "recognized" scholars, and absolutely no photocopying. All these files can be easily researched, but it is not yet Because this particular archive is an agency of local possible to have them photocopied or microfilmed. The Central government, the Central Historical Archive does not have any Historical Archive of Ukraine has only one small copy influence here, and the State Archive Committee is reticent to machine, and it is exclusively "for staff usage." They are more interfere. The director is an elderly woman who is extremely than willing, however, to have someone sit and hand-copy the protective of "her" archive. material, for a fee, of course. One of the archivists showed me Church registry books, or "metrical books" tend to be quite a report she was working on, extracting material on a Schultz sketchy. Many are not available, and those available are often family from the German church registers. She did all the fragmented or for only certain years. It was only in the 1860s extraction work by hand, then she would type a report on an that churches were officially required to keep such registers. elderly Macintosh. Many of these church registers have been lost, through various Some of the microfilm equipment I was shown was historical processes. Many more exist but are completely donated by the LDS church (I was told), and was extremely inaccessible. For example, only seven volumes of church old, having a black lacquer crackle finish. The archivist, Olga registers exist for all the Lutheran churches in the Kiev region, Muzychuk indicated the films they had obtained from this and these are for only 1869 through 1915. They are wonderful equipment were of substandard quality. They also have other books, listing both "residents of foreign birth" and colonists. microfilm equipment, which appeared to have been They are clear, and easy to read, but they cannot be manufactured in East Germany, but supplies for this equipment photocopied. Many church registers actually exist, but are in the are almost impossible to obtain (lights, spares, etc.), so it is hands of the Agency for Registration of Civil Acts, or ZAGS. rarely used. They are in serious need of new equipment. These offices do not release information to genealogists. If you I had time to review the card catalog for only the two can prove you are a direct descendant, you do have the sections mentioned above. A cursory examination of the possibility of obtaining such things as copies of birth listings in the sections on land usage revealed untold wealth. certificates, death certificates, etc., but only after lengthy These are the files indicating who owned or farmed what land, examination and completion of several official forms. how and to whom the village land allocation was made, etc. The ZAGS offices retain civil records for a nominal period There are extensive lists of landowners, renters, hired hands, of seventy years, before the records are turned over to the requests for permission to build houses, barns, stables, where to archives, but there is some "flexibility" in determining the dates plant trees, anything to do with how the land was used. More of the seventy-year period. One interpretation commonly held in time needs to be spent in evaluating the land use records. the Zhitomir ZAGS is that they can retain a record for seventy A Note on Censuses and Church Registry books years after the death of the individual listed in the last entry, The archivists were very quick to point out that the church rather than seventy years after the entry was made. registry books and censuses are inadequate for either Central Archive Directorate of Ukraine genealogical or historical research. The purpose of the census Vladislav Soshnikov made an appointment for me to meet was primarily for establishing a tax base and for determining with the committee, which oversees the archives of Ukraine. land allocation. If a particular foreigner or colonist was not a While control has been turned over to local archives in Russia, land holder or farmer, or otherwise held no title to land, he/she Ukraine still retains central control. The director of the may not have been listed in the census. If he/she was, they Department of Information is Dr. Georgii Volodimirovich might have been listed not as colonists, but as meshchanye Papakin, who is one of the most influential members of the [middle class], member of a guild, or some other such archival directorate. He was very careful to explain the current category. This is particularly true in the 1858 census. And as Ukrainian archival system. While he sets policies about who stated above, not all Germans (or other foreigners) were can research in an archive, what archival materials will be classified as colonists. While the cen- accessible, and the general administration 34 Genealogical Fins in Ukraine partial reply. Several of the archive workers can speak, read, of the archive, he does not get involved in the financial aspects. and write in English, so there is no problem in communication, That is all negotiated locally, due to varying conditions in each Throughout Ukraine and Russia, genealogy is somewhat of the archives. When I explained the problem we have had suspect. It is something that the archives have not yet come to with Mrs. Chentsova in Dnepropetrovsk, he quickly showed me terms with, but they are getting better, as they realize it is a the law, which specifies that only whole fondy cannot be copied source of income. However, it is still easier to get work done or duplicated, but entire dela, or files, can be copied. The only when it is in a "historical" context. restriction is that many materials are in such poor condition Odessa Archive Chat they cannot be photocopied or microfilmed. In such cases, The situation in the Odessa archives was discussed at archival workers can be commissioned to hand-copy or extract length. The archive is beset with internal political struggles, material. some caused by Dr. Eisfeld, but most caused by themselves. Dr. Papakin has extensive contacts and training in all Officially, the archive is closed to "commercial entities" such as aspects of archival affairs, and has written a number of articles RAGAS, but individuals, such as Sergei Yelizarov and Elvira for Avotaynu, the Jewish Genealogical Society publication. His Plesskaya, have been allowed to do "personal" research by desk is a forest of documents, correspondence, and matters such "private" arrangement. This is not illegal, immoral, or fattening. as ours. He stated that he would be happy to write to Mrs. This has absolutely nothing to do with Vladislav Soshnikov Chentsova, and encourage her to cooperate with the Society. He being a Russian, rather than Ukrainian. Dr. Papakin explained explained that he could not interfere in her financial that there is considerable debate in archive circles in Ukraine arrangements, but could influence her to sell material to us. He and Russia regarding the activities of "commercial" firms. Their explained that Dr. Alfred Eisfeld, who has convinced her not to legal systems have yet to define the responsibilities government sell copies of material to AHSGR, has caused the problems we entities such as archives have toward commercial firms. This have had with her. Dr. Eisfeld's name came up quite often when does not cast any aspersions on anyone, it just explains the discussing problems with the various archives. problems of an emerging economy. The director of the Odessa According to one archive worker korruptsia [corruption] is archive. Dr. Victor Malchenko, is a personal friend of both besetting the archives of Russia and Ukraine today. People skim Papakin and Soshnikov, and Dr. Papakin assured me that off the top, set outrageous prices, and prevent the archives from Vladislav would have no future problems in Odessa, other than earning the money due the archive, those that everyone is having with this particular archive. I then commissioned Vladislav Soshnikov to reestablish the In fact, the Odessa archive was scheduled to be closed for order with Mrs. Chentsova and the Dnepropetrovsk archive, as inventory for quite some time, because their guidebooks and well as order several similar census files from the Kherson inventory sheets were originally prepared in 1941. About two archive. Dr. Papakin suggested that Vladislav chose several years ago, it was discovered that a researcher had stolen two files from the Dnepropetrovsk order, rather than the whole small files, so this was used as an excuse to close the archive. thing, because Mrs. Chentsova might find that more palatable. The archival workers, then totaling about twenty-seven, did not Dr. Papakin repeated that he would advise Mrs. Chentsova to want to spend all their lives lifting and carting each individual comply with our order. file, so many of them quit. The archive is currently Dr. Papakin, a very nice and capable man, also expressed understaffed, and struggling to complete their inventory. They concern over the publication of archival materials. He is still do not have any sort of adequate inventory or listing of extremely sensitive about having anything published without what has been stolen from 1941 until now. It is estimated that it approval from the central archives. He is expressing the usual may take another year before the process is complete. Russian or Ukrainian fear that this material will be sold for Zhitomir Oblast Archive large amounts of money, but the archives will not receive its The Zhitomir archive is one of the nicest in Russia or due. He is very concerned that much of the "priceless heritage Ukraine. The building was constructed in the late 1980s, and is of Russia" will be sold on the open market. Of course, he is quite convenient. It is staffed (but understaffed) by some of the happy to discuss negotiations for copyright licensing and fees. nicest, most competent people. They are eager to cooperate, and The Department of Information of the Central State will provide any service within their power. But they do not Historical Archive is the agency, which accepts orders and have a hard currency account, so payment for services must be requests for information. They have hard currency accounts, so in local currency, in place. can accept payment and mail out the materials. Due to the The current director of the archive is scheduled to retire at limited number of available workers, orders can take some time month's end [April 1997], and no replacement has yet been to process. They try to reply within three month, with at least a named. This unfortunate fact may color future functioning and negotiations with this archive, but I remain
35 Genealogical Finds in Ukraine very optimistic. The current director of services in Zhitomir, Yedina Delo 20: Colony of Rosovka. Yakovlevna Samolyuk, is one of the most delightful and competent Delo 39: Lists of German colonies of the Zhitomir uyezd people I have met. She is enthusiastic about her work, well informed, [district], listed on the map. 15 sheets. and very well organized. She has started a card file of German Fond 67, op. 2 colonist’s surnames, based upon inquiries. If a particular person has Files 31 through 1085 in this collection are individual files noting written or come to the archive with a request for information on a property seized from German colonists, 1915 through 1919. Each file particular surname, she enters the information on a card, what contains from 7 to 40 pages, with comprehensive inventory of information was found and where, and what were the results of the property, location, names of colonists, etc. This is touched upon in the search. As a result, she has a wonderful quick-reference system. She listings in the newsletter (Brent Mai has been preparing this listing for currently has between 5,000 and 6,000 surnames so listed. publication), but these are the detailed files. For example: Again, there is a mind-boggling amount of information available Delo 81. About the forcible seizure of property of Friedrich in this archive! They sat me down in the reading room with the Adamov. Bergstrasser, colony of Vydumka, Zhitomir district. inventory books, and let me look to my heart's content. Because time February 29, 1916. 26 sheets. was limited, I didn't have the opportunity to examine as many files as I Delo 647. Same, the community land of the colony of Solodyri. did in Kiev, but here is a totally brief and inadequate notation of some Delo 651. Same, the colony of Staraya Buda. of the items I found: Delo 864. About the forcible seizure of property of Gottlieb Gottfriedovich Janke, colony of Korotyshchskaya Luga. Fond 61, op. 1: Delo 543, List of foreigners and colonists taking the oath of Delo 872. About the forcible seizure of property of Florentina citizenship. Kazimirovna Janke, 14 desyatma of land in the colony of Horodiszcze, Delo 732, 1909-1911, File on establishment of the German 14 sheets. colonists "Evangelical Christian True Church of God." Other surnames in this opis are Wahne, Welk, Werner, Forath, Fond 183, op. 1 [one of the fonds of the land records] 1904-191, Weiss, Wolf, Ficht, Eichhorn, Appel, Auch, Arendt, Auch....l didn't delo 12, File on those serving in the war with Japan. have time to write them all down. Fond 70, op. 3, delo 4, 163 sheets. 1865. Information about those Fond 58, op. 1, 1840-1866. Volhynia Chamber of State Property. persons under police observation in the Volhynia province, including A large collection of files on property seized from German colonists Germans. during the Polish revolts. Fond 70, op. 1, delo 70. The Chancellery of the Governor of 1858 Census Volhynia. This opis contains many files on passports issued to The Zhitomir archive has the complete census for this district for German colonists. The file on Wilhelm Warnecke, 28 March-25 April this period, but because of its very poor condition, it cannot be 1861, contains 3 sheets, for example. photocopied or microfilmed. The archive will do individual research Fond 107. Land use records, 1867-1919, including registers of from the census, also. The staff is in the process of rewriting, indexing, colonists. and typing out the entire census, so access will improve. It will take much time, however. Fond 109, op. 1 This fond contains many, many files regarding seized lands of Lutheran Church Registry Books, Zhitomir German colonists from 1915-1919. Included are the following The local ZAGS office released sixty-six volumes of Zhitomir colonies: district Lutheran church parish registry books to the archive in Delo 9: Yagodenki, Stebnitzy, Zakomor'ye, Rishevka, January. The LDS church has not microfilmed these books, and they Lesovshchina, Veselovka, Kholosno, and others (total of 13). have not yet been inventoried or put on the reading shelves in the Delo 10: Alexandrovka, Borki, Kutuzovka. archive. Processing will be completed sometime in June, at which time Delo 11: Torczyn, Brushki, Solyansky Mlynok, Sofievka, others AHSGR will be provided a listing of all the parishes and (total of 8). congregations present in these books. The archive provided me with Delo 12: Vyshnyakovka, Viktorinka, Maryanovka, Yosefin, others photocopies of two pages from the Heimtal parish register, as an (total of 12). example. Delo 13: Yanovka, Liski, Osovka, Novaya. According to the workers in the Zhitomir archive, it is quite Delo 14: Baryatin, Budiszcz. possible that the "missing" church registry books in other regions are Delo 15: The acts of sequestration. still held by the local ZAGS offices, so there is still hope that they may turn up from time to time.
36 Genealogical Finds in Ukraine some five stories. The reading room is adequate, well lighted, Abrupt End to the Trip with ample natural light. Storage and shelving are somewhat At 3:00 A.M. on 11 April, I awakened to the effects of a crude, but adequate. Finding aids are reasonable, and massive kidney infection, which has now been diagnosed as accessible. The workers are well trained and conscientious, and caused by a food-borne pathogen. I was taken to the American there are only about seven available to do research. The Medical Center in Kiev, and given the choice of remaining at remainder are involved in the administration of the archive. their clinic for several days at a cost of $6,000 to $10,000, or Similar situations exist throughout the archive systems of return to Lincoln for treatment. In no case would I have been Russia and Ukraine. allowed to continue on. The travel agency was very caring and Also, many of the archives do not have hard currency helpful in getting me back to the United States. They went accounts, so cannot even mail out the material they might find. above and beyond in their efforts to ensure that I was The Central Historical Archive in Kiev is an exception, and is comfortable and received the best care. easy to work with, as long as you can tell them what to look for When it became obvious that I could not continue with the and have the time to wait. Dr. Papakin stated strongly that the trip, Vladislav telephoned Mrs. Yerina at the Engels archive for hard-currency situation for other archives is being carefully me, and spoke with her for several minutes. Vladislav will give investigated, and he hopes for resolution within the next few Mrs. Yerina the invitation to speak at the AHSGR Wichita years. He stressed that he is more than willing to handle convention. She indicated she is looking forward to the event, requests from individuals themselves doing legitimate research, and assures AHSGR that her presentation will be "the very reputable agencies such as RAGAS, but not "commercial most interesting," bandits" or disreputable scholars. He only asks patience and Summary consideration. It is all there. Yes, there are holes, omissions, and errors. A final note: The distance between "Ukrainian" and Some files on some individuals are lacking, and not everyone "Russian" is growing slightly, but it is still a very small will find exactly what they want. But the archives are willing to distance, one which most of the archive workers I met felt was provide information, within the structure of their current insignificant. Very few of the records compiled before 1917 are situation. The archives are woefully understaffed, underfed, and in Ukrainian. Those compiled in Ukrainian in the Soviet period often in poor condition. But the people I met are helpful, [1917-1990] are subject to debate, because the Ukrainians still knowledgeable, intelligent, and want to work. It is not easy to haven't completely figured out which form of their own get material from the archive, primarily due to language. It is language they speak. And almost all the official records of that quite easy to gain access to the materials when you can read the period were kept in Russian, anyway. language. There are physical and political reasons that some Recommendations files and materials cannot be photocopied or microfilmed. AHSGR has access to Russian and Ukrainian records, and There are great impediments placed by interfering individuals must make a concerted effort to establish long-term who appear to have some sort of selfish vested interest in relationships with all the archives involved. One short, aborted preventing AHSGR from obtaining copies of records. Much of trip by a single individual is a start, but only the briefest of this appears to be profit-motivated, but much of it is still a starts. AHSGR must first of all make a firm commitment to mystery. obtaining copies of records. Without a firm sense of The majority of the problems are simply because of internal commitment, all efforts will be wasted. The materials are there conflicts and misunderstandings within the archives themselves. in the archives, and are accessible. The archivists still do not have enough exposure to western Of course, this translates into money. There is a very thinking to comprehend why people are interested in genealogy simple reason people like the Mennonites, Date Lee Wahl, Karl or history. They have not yet achieved a state of mind, which Lacher, Die Glueckstal, and others are getting material out of allows them to permit Westerners access to what has for so the various archives; they are paying for it. They went to the many decades been off-limits. They still think that copies of archives, looked at the inventory lists, and said, "This is what their documents will be sold for high prices for publication, and we want. How much is it?" And you can see the results the archive will not realize any financial benefit. They are still yourselves. suspicious of Westerners who do not speak their language. Paid AHSGR staff could be sent to work with the archives, They have immensely serious problems with storage and but this would be extremely expensive. Legitimate, independent preservation of materials. It is not uncommon for archival contractors such as RAGAS, Istok, and others can be utilized, workers to pencil (and even pen) notes on original materials, but their work is often slow and expensive, There are just too Why can't AHSGR get things from the archives? Let us few workers to do high-volume production of copies of records. consider the Zhitomir archive as an example. The building is of Individual members who have the financial resources to travel fairly new (mid 1980s construction), decent construction, of to places of ancestral settlement can be used as couriers or messengers, provided they
37 Genealogical Finds in Ukraine have the interests of AHSGR as a whole at heart. The greatest current If support of honest people like Vladislav Soshnikov can aid the impediment to obtaining copies of records are personal greed and self- Society, then such support must continue and increase. If those partial aggrandizement, what I call the "I got mine" syndrome. Is this really in to Dr. Pleve want to continue working with him, then they must share the best interest of AHSGR? their rewards with the rest of the Society. The Society would do well So AHSGR must continue to correspond, in writing and by to send an official letter, in German, to Alfred Eisfeld, and ask why he electronic mail, directly with the archives. The archives crave this direct has not published material so essential to the Society's members, why contact. They need this contact in order to survive, to preserve these he hasn't kept his promises. documents. AHSGR must utilize its status as a nonprofit, AHSGR also needs to establish contact with research noncommercial entity in promoting contact with the archives. AHSGR organizations, such as IREX, to investigate the possibility of grants must convince the archives that cooperation with the Society will result and funding for research. This would be of great benefit to those in in mutually beneficial long-term contact. The "quick-and-dirty-I-got- the Society who are involved in higher education, college, and mine" syndrome must be totally eliminated. And over and over again, university publishing, etc. Again, this is just sharing. Sharing, sharing AHSGR must maintain official, constant contact with the archives in costs, sharing in rewards, is the only way any of this material can themselves, constantly reminding them that the Society is not out to be obtained or preserved. This is just the beginning of the process. cheat the archives or steal materials. I cannot stress this enough. Will you allow it to continue, to grow, to develop? Will you make that Individual members who have the resources to visit the archives could commitment to truly preserving and perpetuating your unique heritage be dispatched as couriers or "official representatives." Tour groups for your grandchildren, their great-grandchildren? could function as courier bases for the procurement and ordering of material.
The Bookstore was a busy place. Photo courtesy of John Cress, Convention Co-Chair.
Page 38
THE LIFE OF THE GERMAN WOMEN IN RUSSIA
Leona Wasinger Pfeifer
When I read the convention program, I saw that my topic for that he did not even take the time to write out her full name. this panel was "The Life Histories of Pioneering Women in Only when she encountered problems with the processing of her Russia." When I thought about the definition of the word papers prior to coming to the United States, did her brother tell "pioneer", I realized that, except for a few intermittent periods her why the officials could not find an Elizabeth Debus. She of comparative tranquility, the German women were all considered this just another slap in the face. Her father made her pioneers, so 1 am going to speak not so much about individual work much harder than her younger brothers, praised them for histories, but rather address in more general terms the lives of their work, but never gave any credit to Lizzie. the German women during different time periods. She feared her father so much and loved him so little that, Beratz, in The German Colonies on the Lower Volga, when he died an accidental death when Lizzie was nine years describes the misfortunes and sufferings of not only the women, old, she did not grieve for him and shed no tears at his funeral. but of all the first colonists to arrive in Russia. He speaks about With no means of support, her mother was almost forced to the lack of housing, the earthen huts in which they had to live, remarry. The rule, German, Russian, or the church, dictated that the homesickness they experienced, the typhus-like disease a widower who remarried could keep his children, but a widow which afflicted so many during the early years and, in some who remarried could not. Because of the additional land they cases, wiped out entire families. These colonists, the first to would acquire, several uncles were more than happy to take accept Catherine's invitation to relocate in Russia, were Lizzie's brothers, but because she was a girl no relative wanted pioneers in the truest sense of the word. However, as they her. She was finally taken in by Mr. and Mrs. Schreiber, total became acclimated to their new home and environment, the strangers and from a different village. overall conditions among the colonists improved, but women Thus, Lizzie was completely separated from her family. were still expected to work long hard hours. The day she left home. Lizzie cried and begged her mother not Joseph Linenberger, who was born in Russia in 1838 and to send her away, but her mother simply pressed a white died in Kansas in 1911, wrote in his manuscript about the role handkerchief into her hand and said she had no choice but to let of the German women in Russia during this time period. The her go. That was the last time Lizzie saw her mother, but the women were expected not only to do all of the household handkerchief remained a source of comfort and when she chores, such as provide meals, spin the wool, patch the passed away in 1969, it was placed in her hand and buried with garments and sew clothes for the family, but they also planted her. tobacco, which they tended in the fields before it was harvested, Lizzie soon realized that the Schreiber’s took her in because cared for the garden, and weeded the potato fields and they needed a servant to take care of the rapidly growing watermelon patches. During the tobacco drying time, the family. Mr. Schreiber demanded instant obedience and was women, along with their five to twelve year old children, equally as authoritative as her father, so life with her new worked as late as midnight to clean the tobacco by removing the family would not be any better than with her own. When a weeds. In the morning, as early as four o'clock, the women had beautiful, handmade, white baptismal dress was used only when to milk the cows, and feed the calves, pigs, and chickens. When a son was born, but not for any of the five daughters. Lizzie the men harvested their wheat, rye, and oats, by cutting it with a realized that girls in the Schreiber family were as unimportant scythe, the women were again in the field to tie it into the as girls in her own family. bundles. Shortly after her eighteenth birthday, Lizzie overheard the The story of Alla Lizzie provides us with a good picture of Schreiber’s discuss her marriage and several days later Mr. the male-dominated, male-oriented German-Russian family and Schreiber informed her that George Maser, a young man from the low esteem in which women were held. Alla Lizzie was her home village, would come to take her to church. When born in 1879, the oldest child of John and Elizabeth Debus. Lizzie objected to this arrangement, Mr. Schreiber angrily said, Because male children brought land to the family, they were a "You will meet him and you will be nice to him." Later that treasure, but girls were just another mouth to feed. So Lizzie day. Lizzie was told that all arrangements had been made for was, from the moment of her birth, a disappointment to her her to marry George. The night before the wedding, Mrs. father, in fact, so much so Schreiber took Lizzie for a walk to talk to her about marriage. When Lizzie asked, Leona Wasinger Pfeifer from Hays, Kansas, served on AHSGR's Board of Directors for many years. Most recently she was Vice-President of the Society and Chair of the Editorial and Publications Committee.
39 The Life of the German Women in Russia
"What is going to happen on my wedding night?” Mrs. The publication (Unglaublich, Unbegreiflich und Schreiber replied, "He will have his way with you, you will Ungeheuerlich is a collection of sorrowful, heartrending life belong to him, you will be his from now on and you should stories of Germans in Russia at this time. Jacob Wedel portrays always obey him." Alla Lizzie soon realized that George Maser through his sculptures what he experienced as an eleven year was a wonderful, caring man and her marriage was indeed a old boy, when the women and young girls were removed from happy one. In her story she thanked God more than once for their families and forced to work in the trudarmiya. There is the blessing her with such a good husband. young mother who has to leave her children in the care of the However, she was still subjected to hard labor, in the house old, sickly grandmother. The four-year-old, wearing his father's as well as in the field, had sixteen children, and her husband, overshoes, struggles through the mud and hangs on to his like the other men in her life, made all the decisions. For mother. Even the three-year-old gets away from her example, in 1898, with just enough money for one ticket from grandmother and runs to her mother. With unbearable grief, the the sale of his property, George left his family in Russia and, young woman covers her face, Then there is the mother whose under the sponsorship of his sister and her husband, sailed for six year old daughter holds on to her dress, stomps her feet and America, where he immediately found work. A year later, he cries, "Mamma, Mamma, don't leave us. Without you we will sent prepaid tickets to bring his family, as well as his mother, to die." Jacob Wedel says, "These and similar scenes are Nebraska where they built a house, and by Lizzie's standards constantly in my mind. I will never forget them. My conscience lived quite happily. But by January of 1908, George had requires me to let the world know the truth about the past." become quite dissatisfied with his work on the railroad and in Several other women tell of the humiliation and abuse that the sugar beet fields and saw a dream of owning land vanishing. they and especially the young girls endured at the hands of the Letters with glowing reports about the rich soil in Michigan work leaders in the trudarmiya, when these leaders threatened prompted George to visit his brothers there. After about four the young girls by yelling, "We will see to it that you dogs will months, he sent train tickets for all of his family to join him. never give birth to more pups." In too many cases, that threat Upon their arrival George informed Lizzie that he had became reality and the girls were never able to experience the purchased forty acres of land and they would now live in joy of motherhood. Many survivors never recovered from Michigan. A bewildered Lizzie listened and suddenly realized malnutrition, freezing, and overwork. that she would have to give up her home and never see Yes, the life stories of these pioneer German women in Nebraska again. Yes, Alla Lizzie did indeed follow the Russia from 1941 to well beyond the end of World War II were instructions of Mrs. Schreiber. During all of her married life, indeed ungiaublich, unbegreiflich und ungeheuerlich she unquestioningly obeyed George and followed him wherever [unbelievable, incomprehensible, and atrocious]. And even he decided to go. today for many women who are now back in Germany, their The deportation period of 1941 was without doubt the most lives are not trouble-free. As one woman so aptly explained, "In difficult period for the German women in Russia. A pioneer is Russia we were persecuted and neglected because we were one who decides to leave his home for uncharted territory with Germans, and in Germany we are shunned and rejected because the hope of improving his situation, knowing that in the process we are not Germans.” he will encounter difficulties and possibly danger. But the German women during this period were against their will Bibliography brutally uprooted and cruelly and inhumanely transported to Bachmann, Berta. Erinnerungen an Kasachstan. Wuppertal, 1982. unfamiliar territory where many died; those who survived now Beratz, The German Colonies on the Lower Volga. tell about a life of hard tabor, ridicule, torture, physical and Eichstaedt, Helen. Alla Lizzie. Kennedy Associates, Inc. 1995. Harfst, Gisela and Arnold Harfst. Unglaublich, unbegreiflich, emotional abuse, unfit housing, lack of food, and starvation. ungeheuerlich. Uberlebende Russlanddeutsche berichten und erzahlen. Delcnhorst, 1994 Linengerher, Joseph. Grandfather's Story. Szekely, Gisela. Lasst sie selber sprechen. Berichte russtanddeutscher Aussiedler.Ullstein, 1990.
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ONE HUNDRED AND TEN YEARS OF VOLGA GERMANS IN FRESNO Diana Bell
In the beginning, there were ten families of Germans from In the San Joaquin Valley and Fresno area, these are well- Russia, who arrived in Fresno, California on 19 June 1887. known names even today. These people started the population On 8 May along with 219 other immigrants, they had left growth of Fresno and the surrounding area by leading some the villages of Straub and Staht am Tarlyk, on the Wiesenseite 35,000 Germans from Russia to immigrate here. As reports of the Volga River, journeying westward traveling by wagon, filtered around the world, momentum reached the peak years train, and boat through Poland, East Prussia, and Brandenburg during 1909-1920. to Bremen, Germany, the port of embarkation. When they While many thousands of Volga Germans had migrated to docked in New York, they intended to go to Lincoln, Nebraska. the United States prior to 1887, few had reached the Pacific Fifty-two days later, on 19 June, thirty-one of these pioneers Coast or the San Joaquin Valley. According to John Conrad arrived at the old Southern Pacific Railroad Depot in Fresno, Metzler, one of the first, he and a number of the prospective California. Of these thirty-one men, women and children, nine settlers had been in communication with an agent, Missler by were of my family tree. My great-grandfather Kerner's brother name, of the Nord-Deutsche-Lloyd Steamship Company, from and two of my grandfather Nilmeier's uncles brought their Bremen, Germany, who recommended the "fertile lands" of the families to this great San Joaquin Valley to seek a better life for San Joaquin Valley of California. Whether the agent actually themselves and scout for other families in their home villages in knew of conditions in California or merely booked the Russia. I, for one, am very, very happy that my relatives decided immigrants across the United States for the added revenue, may to come to Fresno. never be known. The steamship line arranged for all details and According to Alex C. Nilmeier of Fresno, his grandfather made Fresno the destination. Philip Nilmeier had become acquainted with a Jewish salesman Most of them arrived with very little in goods or money, on board ship. He was a man of the world who believed the San but with a willingness to work hard, to achieve a home and a Joaquin Valley had great potential as an agricultural area. Philip living for their families by honest means. Nilmeier was able to convince ten families to change their They came with the clothes on their backs, a few rubles in destination from Lincoln, Nebraska, to Fresno. In 1919, he said their pockets, a Bible, the German Wolga-Gesangbuch, Starck's that certain articles in a little booklet, setting forth the Prayer Book, and a few other items of importance. Also, owing attractions of Fresno County, for working people, also induced a debit to someone back in Russia for advancing the ship fare, him to break away from the homeland. which was about $200. Their great faith in God gave them the From the village of Straub came: John Carl Kerner and wife, courage to face a strange land, unknown language, to start all Elizabeth Rudolph Kerner, and daughter, Elisa; Christian Karle over. These hardy German immigrants had but one resolve—to and wife, Maria Christina Wulf Kerner; Michael Karle and wife, be independent, to own land, practice their chosen religion, and Christina Elizabeth Andreas Karle; Mrs. Sophia Elizabeth to raise their families to be good citizens. Metzler, and children, John August and Christine Margaret; Upon arriving in Fresno, with no previous arrangements John Conrad Metzier and wife, Maria Christina Rudolph having been made, they were very lucky to be met by Mr. Metzler; John Daniel Steitz and wife, Catherine Seifert Steitz. Zumkeller, Mr. Green, and Mr. Goldstein. These three early-day From the village of Stahl am Tariyk came: John August Germans operated small businesses and went out to greet them Berg and wife, Catherine, and children, Maria Catherine, Peter and see if they could help with lodging and work for our ten and Henry; Philip Nilmeier and wife, Maria Catherine, and families. Imagine the delight of our people to be greeted by the children, John Peter, Conrad, and Adam George and Philip German language in this strange land. Nilmeier. The three men helped feed the hungry immigrants and From the steppe came Conrad Mehling, Jacob Mehling and found them lodging for the night, Mr. Goldstein had a two-story wife, and two children. rental house for some of them to live in and helped find jobs for the men folk in the country. Philip Nilmeier started to work for Diana Bell is the President of AHSGR 's Central California Chapter in Fresno, California. him the next morning, carrying brick, and hod. The following is from a transcript of an interview with John Conrad Metzler: "My wife and I found lodging with a saloon-keeper,
41 Volga Germans in Fresno who was German. On my second day in Fresno, in company The first spare money went back to Russia to pay for their with a friend, I went downtown in search of work. A passage over, the next to buy a home of their own and representative of the local water company, who made signs to eventually to buy farms. A major trait of thrift helped them to us and handed us each a pick and shovel, soon approached us. get ahead. The depression of 1893-1895 saw a decline in real- Then, going into the street, he marked off a square and estate values. Hundreds of farms were lost through foreclosures motioned for us to dig. We soon uncovered some pipes, which but because they were very frugal, the Germans were able to the official examined and then told us to cover again. The idea buy or lease property at deflated prices at this time. Laborers of water being piped into homes and buildings was entirely new became landowners. to us, for never had we seen anything like it in the villages of The first immigrants moved into a poor section of Fresno, in Russia. We worked all day uncovering pipes after which we the southwest part of town. Attracted by their countrymen, returned the tools to the office and each received a silver dollar. subsequent immigrants quite naturally gravitated to this same We looked at the dollar and then remembered the pitiful wages area. Since they were Germans from Russia, other townsmen in Russia, and we felt we had come to the right spot. All during referred to this area as "Roosian or German Town." This area that summer, we worked at odd jobs and earned as much as $10 was bounded by other ethnic groups; Italian, Armenian, to $12 dollars a week." Chinese. Regardless of how dilapidated the area you had to Another immigrant, John Carl Kerner, had been planning to drive through, suddenly, south of Ventura Avenue, there was a leave Straub even before May of 1887. At a meeting of the distinct change, which was noticeable to even a casual observer. community in Straub, in March, the members of the colony, Homes were painted and in good repair, lawns, and yards were gave permission for John Carl and his family, to go abroad. neat and clean, driveways swept. Clean, honest, and Fresno County had a real-estate boom going in 1887, and it hardworking people. It was joked that if a leaf fell, they took may have been due to copies of one of the two newspapers then turns rushing out to pick it up. (Some say that was their evening in existence, or one of their real estate propaganda publications, entertainment.) which reached the hands of people on the Volga, or, more The pattern of living in Fresno was vastly different from probably, fell to the offices of the steamship lines. The that of the Volga River country. Lumber was plentiful and Southern Pacific Railway Company was also a strong influence cheap, the climate mild, if warm at times. As soon as land was in offering exceptionally low fares for immigrants and purchased, homes were built. Usually a small frame house, operating cars of a special type for migrating home seekers. which was added to, as the family increased, and money became They needed railroad workers, also. available. Whether all their time was spent farming or they Tragedy struck within the first month after their arrival. worked in the city and farmed out in the countryside, they came Many of the children were stricken with a virulent type of into close contact with other ethnic and native-born people. A measles. Seven of the children died. Dr. Chester Rowell, who huge step in the direction of assimilation was taken. Most played an important role in the development of Fresno, became parents wanted their families to become "Americanized" and to the friends of the Volga Germans, although he had a limited speak English, as soon as possible. knowledge of German. He took care of the funeral and burial Other changes in the family life-style came into being. arrangements. Due to a fire that destroyed the registry office, Where the son used to bring his bride home and all lived under the families were not able to later place monuments over the the same roof, within a generation, young people who desired to graves in Potter's Field. Thus, the first Volga-German follow the American pattern, established homes of their own immigrants lie in nameless graves. Only two adults of the immediately after marriage. While living in Russia, they kept to original band were alive in 1947, and only one remained in themselves. But here in Fresno, they learned English and 1948. became citizens of the United States. The first and second Although Fresno was having a real-estate boom, our generations seldom married outside their ethnic group, but the Germans were poor and were unable to buy lots at this time. following generations intermarried with other nationalities. Work was plentiful in construction, viticulture, and fruit Of sports distinctly Russian-German brought to this packing. They followed the crops around, the whole family country, only one, pigeon fancying has survived. John Conrad working at picking, cutting and drying apricots, then on to the Metzler, one of the first immigrants, arrived with a cage of peach harvest, finally came the grape harvest. While mother prized pigeons. Later immigrants thought enough of their birds picked grapes, often the smallest children slept under the to bring them to America also. For sixty years, German grapevines. The type of work was not important so long as they Russians and their descendants have avidly followed the sport. could make a living. At the 1948 Fresno County Fair, pigeons of German Russians won seven of the first eight places.
42 Volga Germans in Fresno
Peter Bitter, who died just this year, was an avid pigeon fancier. Egypt, the Kings River irrigates more land than any other river Of course, you all have heard similar stories about your in the world. own hometowns in the early days. Roy Spomer, of Madera, In 1871, Leland Stanford and associates saw this lush green California, has written about the German influence in the area in the valley and decided to locate the new depot here for history of Fresno County and many articles have been printed in the extension of the Central Pacific Railroad (later known as the AHSGR Journals and Newsletters, and the Cross Church Southern Pacific R. R). Anniversary book is a major source of information to many in Other Germans made their mark early on as well. The first Fresno. county postmaster was Otto Froelich. The first store merchant Our great country and towns were built on the sweat and was James E. Faber. The first restaurant owner was A, J. labor of immigrants from many countries. Our ancestors worked Maassen. Mr. Shultz and Mr. Roemer established the first very hard so that we could live in this modern world of today. saloon. A. J. Maassen well dug the first water. Otto Froelich From time eternal, parents have always wanted a better life for and Charles Barth established the first bank in 1874. In their children than they had. I sometimes think that we should November 1873, there were sixteen buildings, including the send our children back to working in the fields, grow our own woodsheds, in the city of Fresno, The first brick building was food, etc. Teaching the basic work ethics to our children is very still standing in 1956. important. It is getting very scary these days, seeing what the In the 1875 census, there were four hundred whites and two children are doing to themselves and others. Just watch the hundred Chinese in the city. Until the mid 1880s there was no daytime talk shows to get a good scare! Where do they find all organized government, no sanitary facilities, no street these weird people? These same people are living next door, improvements, and no public services. Into this small city, came driving in our streets, sitting on our juries, perhaps going to our my ancestors in 1887. schools, or roaming the neighborhoods in gangs. Even though John Eastwood was born in Scott County, As with most villages or towns, Fresno was nothing much Minnesota, in 1857 of Dutch parents, without his heritage of to start with. It took farsighted men to dream and invent and put engineering and water, he might not have heeded the call "to go into reality the means to build the San Joaquin Valley into the west, young man" and move to Fresno, which the Southern "bread basket" that it is. Located in the heart of the Great Pacific Railroad was touting as the "garden spot" of the West, Central Valley, very near the center of California, Fresno is a At first, his skills were utilized in building logging window into the heartland, the richest agricultural region of the railroads, flumes, and log ponds for the emerging timber state. Transformed from aridity by large-scale irrigation, this industry around Shaver Lake. When Fresno became a city, he water-dependent landscape has been the fastest growing region became its first city engineer, and surveyed roads and of California. supervised construction of streets. He was appointed chairman John C. Fremont first came through this area in 1844. of the "100,000 Club," whose goal was to boost Fresno's California became a state in 1850. The first religious service population to that number from the 10,000 citizens it had at the was recorded in Fresno County at Fort Miller, on 21 October time. 1855. The California State Legislature, in April of 1856, created There was only one problem: Fresno needed water to a new county, to be called Fresno. On 9 June 1856, the first prosper. "Food grows where water flows" according to signs board of supervisors was elected by 319 votes out of a total of near Shatter, California, on Highway 99. five hundred residents in the county. I wish that the voter There was ample underground water, but it had to be turnout in this day and age was as high. pumped and there was no available source of power, except for In 1860, a German syndicate, which became known as the ineffective hand and steam pumps of the day. Fresno needed San Joaquin Valley Land Association, headed by William S, more than the small, gas-fired, steam-generating electric plant, Chapman, acquired 80,000 acres at $1.80 per acre, between the which could not even power all the city's streetlights. San Joaquin and Kings Rivers, In 1868, one member of the He organized the San Joaquin Electric Company and syndicate, A. Y. Easterby took possession of a large portion of refined his ideas for power development— a hydroelectric plant this land, which became the city of Fresno. Fresno was the generating 1,400 horsepower. On 14 April 1896, Eastwood "child" of Easterby. He had the honor and credit for being the silenced his critics when his wife pressed the magic button and "father of modern irrigation." The members of this German the San Joaquin Electric Company made history and began organization left a giant imprint in the history of Fresno City generating power, years ahead of any other power plant, with and County. the longest transmission line in the world. In its day, it was a In 1871, Moses J. Church diverted water from the Kings project rivaled only by the construction of the Panama Canal. River into the Fresno area to irrigate 2,000 acres of wheat. Fresno was electrified, long before many other major Except for the Indus River in India and the Nile River in Californian cities. "He is the unsung 43 Volga Germans in Fresno hero of hydroelectric development in Central California," said Mansion and Park. During World War II, we had a riding stable Ed Steen of Fresno, a retired National Forest Service employee and had barbecues and hayrides from our ranch to Kearney and historical adviser to the great historians, Will and Ariel Park. Real scary in the dark and with screeching peacocks at the Durant. park giving a great excuse for the boys and girls to cuddle The history of Fresno in the San Joaquin Valley is the together. history of water. Massive statewide water systems and The first notice of raisins, in California history, was in 1863 irrigation-dependent farming, draining and reclaiming of Tulare at the State Pair. The pioneer vineyardist in the Fresno area was Lake and Basin, construction of major dams and canals, F. T. Eisen. He first planted grapes in 1872 and in 1873 he "making the desert bloom," and ongoing "water wars" have planted his first raisin vineyard of twenty-five acres. His first transformed Fresno and the area, leaving almost no evidence of dried raisin crop in 1876 was by accident, caused by extreme what was once a semiarid environment. This "man-made" heat. He sold them in San Francisco as a "Peruvian delicacy." environment has given this region the distinction of being the In 1878, Miss M. F. Austin, a schoolteacher from San Jose, richest agricultural county in the nation. The San Joaquin bought a young vineyard from Bernard Marks, a Central Colony Valley is the most productive agricultural area in the nation. founder, and extended it into a one hundred acre parcel. She Heat, Smog, and Valley Fog originated the first fancy raisin pack and made her first shipment Life was lived according to the weather, sometimes cold, of ten boxes in 1878. Other prominent names during that time wet with fog, oft-times very warm, which made for good that added to the promotion and growth of the grape and raisin growing of crops. We are more comfortable now, with air industry were: Robert Barton, a German-born nobleman, August conditioning, but smog is the downside of living in this great Weibe, H. Voorman, W. S. Chapman, Minnie Eshleman, A. B. valley. Living is not always easy even in these modern times. Butler, George Malter, Joseph Goodman, George Eggers, Another important invention that greatly influenced the Frederick Roeding, W. H. Zoothout, William Forsyth. shape of agriculture in the Fresno area was the small earth- In 1874, the farmers outnumbered the cattlemen, so the moving device invented in Selma, in 1872, by Abijah McCall courts passed the "no fence law," which required the cattlemen and Frank Dusy. In June 1885, a patent was issued for this to fence their own pastures instead of the farmer fencing his scraper and it was developed to its full potential by Fresno cropland. As a result of this law, the growing of wheat made blacksmith James Porteous. The Fresno scraper was used for tremendous gains, and made California the largest wheat digging the first canals in the valley and later was used in land growing state in our country, for several years, around 1875. and railroad construction. Soon it was used all over the world. The Russian Germans had brought the Russian "red" wheat It was used extensively in the building of the Panama Canal. seeds with them. That wheat was used to great effect and France used it for railroads in Syria, the Russians in the Far benefit to the United States and the nation's farmers. Water and East, and the British in South Africa and India. James Porteous the "no fence law" made all this possible. Currently, Fresno was credited with forty-six inventions, most of which had to do County agribusiness generates twenty million dollars a year. with farming equipment that was very important to the farmers All these things took place just a few short years before the of the Fresno area. arrival of the Germans from Russia, on 19 June 1887. They The history of Fresno is dotted with enterprising men and were ten families consisting of ten men, nine women, twelve women, many German names among the list. Large land children. All the men were farmers except one, Kerner, who holders in the early days were: Miller and Lux, Bernard Marks, was a carpenter. At the time, Fresno was considered a desert fit Otto Froelich, Isaac Freidlander, M. Theo Kearney, S. A. only for pasture and worthless for agriculture. Water made the Miller, Gustav Herminghous, Henry Roeding, Thomas Fowler, difference! These first Germans and the many thousands that and A. Y. Easterby. followed them, were bound to prosper with hard work and M. Theo Kearney, known as the "Prince of Fresno" and the honesty. They would work at anything. Many worked in the "Raisin King of Fresno," was an agent for the German raisin and fruit packing houses, in construction of streets, sewer syndicate, and had his headquarters on 6,000 acres on the west tines, sidewalks, cellars, etc. Many worked for the railroads. To side of Fresno. His home still remains and is the headquarters start, Fresno was more primitive than the villages they came for the Historical Society of Fresno, and is set in the midst of from. The extreme heat caused some fruit to bake before they Kearney Park where many people enjoy the space and ripened. The desert heat sometimes reached 130 degrees in the peacefulness of the country, A long time ago, when 1 was shade. Today, we only have 110 degrees for about a week or young, we had a ranch on Kearney Boulevard and my father, two during the summer. Vivian Stanley Buckland, worked for Fresno County. His job Through their prudence and perseverance, they ush- was to clean up under the palm trees and oleander bushes of this ten-mile driveway to the Kearney
44 Volga Germans in Fresno ered in the wine, fruit, and raisin industries. When the process of all the inventions that we now take for granted. depression came in the 1890s, the frugal Germans who had Electricity, indoor plumbing, automobiles, planes, TV, been saving, could buy good land cheap because the large computers and worldwide communications with Internet. landowner was willing to sell. Many of the Germans now I've only been around sixty years and even I know that moved out of "Roosian Town" to their new twenty acres. This some of these things were not always around, but when I heard all happened because of three factors: the colony system of land a seventy-five year old friend mention that his mother came to development, the establishment of surface water for irrigation, California in a covered wagon, I found it hard to believe, as if I and the arrival of frugal hard working Germans from Russia. was in a "time warp." I admit that I am spoilt. I like most of the By 1900, the population of Fresno was about 12,000 and many modern conveniences: cars, electricity, computers, microwaves, moved out into Biola, Kerman, Sanger, Reedley, Selma, TV, and I certainly do not miss the outhouse way over at the Dinuba, Fowler, thereby building the Greater San Joaquin other end of the yard. (Frankly, I would never make it way out Valley agriculture system of California. It was established there there, these days, unless I started early.) was an excess of 100,000 Germans from Russia living in the You know, I was expecting to speak before a group of close vicinity of Fresno in 1970. "older people," today, when I stole this joke from the New Businesses still in operation in 1997 are: Fresno Ag Wrinkles Show in Fresno last month. You might all be too Hardware, established in 1876 by James Porteus, owner- young to appreciate these facts of becoming mature: "You know inventor; Penny Newman Grain Co., which began as Kutner- you are old when your body parts hurt when they are working! Goldstein in 1878; the Warner Jewelry Co., still run by the If they don't hurt, they aren't working!” — "You know you are founding family since 1880; the Stephens & Bean Funeral old when you go to Las Vegas and look for, and find, slot Home of the 1880s (they had the first motorized hearse in the machines for senior citizens — instead of three cherries, it has United States); Hobbs Parsons Produce of 1892; Twining raisins, apricots, and prunes. They get you one way or another." Laboratory established by Dr. Frederich Twining in 1897; and It took an enormous amount of hard work, courage, and the Danish Creamery Co. of 1895. faith for our ancestors to go from Germany to Russia, to survive The city population in 1989 was 350,000 and the all of the problems in Russia, and then to start all over again in metropolitan area was 500,000. the United States. Faith in God is what helped them survive and In 1924, California produced 90% of the production of to prosper. raisins in the United States—Fresno County produced 81 % of Lutheran, Catholic, Mennonite, or Jewish, the church was that total. The larger farms, mostly with the labor of Germans revived, built, and grown with the devoted underground faith in from Russia who were extremely tough and strong, did the their God brought forward into the new land. They were free to original raisin packing. The Rosenberg Brothers became the practice their religion and in doing so created a goodly number leaders of the raisin packing industry, followed by Guggenheim of churches, here in the Fresno area: and Bonner Packing. During the early 1920s, the raisin acreage The Free Evangelical Lutheran Cross Church (now known reached 600,000 acres. Sun Maid Growers Association reached as the Cross Church), St. Paul's Church, Emmanuel Lutheran 90% of the San Joaquin Valley production. Then came the Church, Salem Evangelical Free Church, Zion Congregational prohibition law of 1918 to 1934, Then came the depression. Church, Third Congregational Church, Ev. Lutheran Wartberg Foreclosures were the norm and the population of Fresno Church, Biola Congregational United Church Of Christ, and dropped from 80,000 to 50,000 from 1920 to 1928, because of many other churches for different groups of people. the one crop economy of the area. Bonner Packing Co. is the The Cross Church was the first one organized on 15 March oldest existing raisin packing plant in California. Charles G. 1892, with eighty-five members. In 1895, the first brick church Bonner's maternal grandfather was C. J. Wolters, a German was built, expanding in 1914 to a new building and was moved from Bremen and his stepfather, Mr. Locan, was of German three blocks, on giant rollers, taking six months to move, just to origin also. make room for a highway on-ramp. That building still stands in We must also mention the raisin industry's modern method what was "Roosian Town" and is now used as an African- of advertising: "The Dancing Raisins." TV brought these American Church. The current Cross Church was built in 1968, dancing raisins to the world, and they are now a collectors' in northwest Fresno. This church has lasted, in one form or item. another, for 105 years. Their anniversary books are great I must admit to having a difficult time with information on genealogical resources for the Fresno area. That's where I found Fresno during the later years, after the beginnings of the 1850s pictures of relatives I never knew existed until I started through 1930s. No one has written a history of the years from volunteering at the Central California Chapter's Library and 1940 to 1997, following the path of the Germans from Russia. Museum, Many of you have lived through the
45 Volga Germans in Fresno about five years ago. born in Russia, had lived through the building and growth of The Cross Church also founded a senior citizen's facility Fresno and into the modern life style we now enjoy. They had called "Twilight Haven." It houses regular apartments, seen it all—it is mind-boggling to think what they have lived minimum care beds, and nursing care. Many of our senior through. members have used and are still living in this facility. The The honor roll of those born in Russia reads as: Amalie Biola Church Just celebrated their seventy-fifth anniversary. Krell Bischel, Gottlieb Borgardt (celebrating his one-hundredth The Emmanuel Lutheran Church celebrated their one- birthday in December l997), Alexander Dupper, Henry Deis Jr., hundredth anniversary in 1990. The Evangelical Zion Marie Geringer Fleming, Rudy Geringer, Henry Haas, Henry Congregational Church purchased land in 1900 for $450.00 and A. Haar, Fred Heppner, Emilie Heppner, Etta Huntley, Jake the church was built with labor donated by the thirty-eight Janzen, Peter Lehman, Marie Heizenreder Lehr, Rosalie members. Geringer Meisner, Heinrich Martin, Marie Christine Ostergard, The Edison Social Club was founded in 1921 and survives David Pfister Jr. (current second vice-president of the Central today as a popular and ongoing German-based social club and California Chapter), Fred Roth, Linda Haas Smith (volunteers rental hall business. at the Library and hosts the annual membership picnic at her Businesses also came into being during the early years, home) Marie Bitter Schneider, Mollie Schiebelhut, Henry many passed down through the family to exist today. There are Bauer, Anna Haupt Axt, Mollie Brase Henderson, Katherine names such as: Schwabenland, Rau, Scharton, Krum, Hartman, Schilling Frehling, and Dorothy Yada Heinrich. Grill, Rudy, Gleim, Busick, Steitz, Pries, Herdt, Weigandt, The Central California Chapter of AHSGR was started on Steigtitz, Ruppel, Bopp, Axt, Pearlman, Roth, Schmall, 13 July 1971, in the home of Ray and Christine Schwabenland Geringer, Wagner, Hyde, Kemmer, Martin, Marks, Schneider, in Fresno. Also attending were Norman and Joyce Bitter, Diel, Kister, Nilmeier, Kerner. Emma Shepard, JoAnn Kleim, and Ralph Hoff. By the end of There are all types of businesses: Danish Creamery Assn., 1971, we had thirty-eight paid members and these were Horn Photo Shop, West Fresno Drug Co., Rudy's Pharmacy, designated charter members. Henry Dermer, Wasemiller Dry Goods & Shoe Store, Rest Our current membership is 299 with ten members who Haven Chapel, Heinie's Inn, Steitz's Market, Reitz Cash were born in Russia. We have forty Life Members. We Market, Laubhan's Dry Goods, Roth Bros. Groceries, Schamm celebrated our twenty-fifth anniversary, in July 1996. & Steitz Used Car Dealers, Wagner's Place, Walter Smith & Our chapter was chartered at the convention in Boulder, Sons, Riese Bros, Steitz Bros. Battery and Auto Repairing, The Colorado in 1972, only a few years after AHSGR was Kerman News; A German-English Newspaper, Diel Bros., organized. Distributors, Rosenberg Packing Shed, Roeding Fig and Olive, Our chapter hosted the 1974 International Convention in Roma Winery, California Packing Co., Nilmeier's Meat Fresno. In October of 1975, we began fund-raising to purchase Packing Co., Philipp Nilmeier's West Side Feed and Livery. a permanent home for our chapter. Our first annual Oktoberfest And, Jacob Nilmeier, known as "The Bone Doctor" of or Heritage Day was held in 1976. This great yearly event is "Roosian or German Town." our main fundraiser and has kept our Library-Museum open for We seemed to have had the food and drink businesses the public, promoting the ideals and goals of AHSGR. We have covered. Of course, most of the other professions were covered had attendance, as high as 2,000, with most tickets sold in also: Farmers, ranchers, doctors, lawyers, teachers, advance. accountants, clerks, bankers, and college professors. Fresno Just like your home chapters, we held "broda dinners", Pacific University is a Mennonite college with a great bake sales, made noodles and more noodles, garage sales, made genealogy library. Fresno State University named "Bieden Berocks, etc. We are still making noodles every other month Field" after Pete Bieden, a baseball coach. and are sold out three months in advance and make and sell We also have German representatives of the people in all around 6,000 Berocks, twice a year. All of this is done with the levels of government: city and county councilmen such as Ken same perseverance as when our ancestors first arrived. Steitz; past Fresno mayors: Ted C. Wills, Gordon Dunn, Floyd We participated in the Bi-Centennial Parade and Pageant in Hyde; retired judge Eugene Krum (who is our newest Life Fresno and parades in outlying towns, winning seven trophies Member); current judge: James Quashnick, who moved here with our eight-by-thirty-foot trailer float, promoting the from North Dakota; county officers, state and national Germans from Russia. representatives and congressmen: Walter Berg, George Kerber; Our chapter was incorporated on 30 June 1977. We were Richard Lehman. proceeding in our goal of collecting genealogy, maps, church In 1987, when the Central California Chapter celebrated records, books, etc. Our members, under the direction of Selma the one-hundredth anniversary of the arrival of the first Wulf, spent three years copying the Fresno Germans from Russia in Fresno, those members who were
46 Volga Germans in Fresno
City and County records on birth, deaths, and marriages. annual Oktoberfest, make our noodles, hold garage sales, collect Declarations for citizenship were copied and bound into books. papers and cans for recycling, and show visitors through our These are a very valuable resource for our genealogy research. museum to promote our heritage. We began collecting quite a few items of museum quality. In 1988, our chapter helped host the Sacramento Adam Meisner built some beautiful display cases, and the International Convention, as we are helping here at the 1997 Legler family donated many pieces of furniture and artifacts for San Jose Convention. Of course, being a modern, upbeat, active our museum. chapter, we now have two computers to contain our growing In 1981, we were ten years old and held festivities to collections of over 250 family trees and Fresno City and County celebrate the event. We continued to write family histories, vital statistics, funeral home records, to help print out the local making village maps of Lauwe, Stahl am Tarlyk, and and CDC newsletters and keep the membership roster current. Warenburg, and the German Chorus was in great demand Our member Betty Muradian wrote, and we sell, a book on entertaining various groups. the village of Kukkus. Other members, such as Ruth Diel In 1982, the Investment Committee reported that it was Jensen, also have written family histories and various works of time to look for land and a building to house our fast growing interest to all Germans from Russia. collections of genealogy information and museum items. In In 1994, we started refurbishing our building with a new December, we held the key to our new home: an old firehouse roof, paint job outside, and spruced up our sign, put new that we purchased from the City of Fresno. on West and Shields flooring and paint in the kitchen. We are planning on doing Avenues. some remodeling in our museum once this convention is over. Of course, as with any recycled building, business, or In 1995, we became the AHSGR West Coast Repository, home, you start with a renovation program: plumbing, painting, housing the duplicate collection of obituaries and family group carpeting, office furniture, telephones, etc. Our very generous cards that Art Flegel had gathered in his home. Our second members donated many of these items and many hours of labor computer, is for Internet research and e-mail. With our fax to us. machine, e-mail and of course, snail mail, we can process Dedication of the Central California Chapter of AHSGR research requests from all over the country, You may come in Library and Museum was held 14 August 1983. How very and do your own search of our files or contact us to look for a proud our members were. Our new American Flag came from particular bit of information for you. We just purchased a Congressman Richard Lehman and had flown over the nation's computer program that claims to translate from English to capital. Those also in attendance were: Fresno City Mayor, German (this looks good) and from German to English (this Daniel K. Whitehurst, Fresno City Councilman, Ted C. Wills, doesn't look "so gut"—we'll have to do a little more studying on and AHSGR Board member, Alex Dupper. this part of it), We have over one hundred books and manuscripts that So, if you come through Fresno, or need a bit of were donated to our Library by Emma Schwabenland Haynes, information, contact us for help. That's what we are here for. If as well as many other books of family genealogies and the you want to send us a copy of your genealogy, we would be history of our people. In 1986, a Life Membership was happy to put it into our computer. Send it via ged.com, if you purchased from AHSGR, for our Chapter Library, so we have a computer or send paper copies and I will key it into the continue to receive all the Journals and Clues to stock our computer for you. It will keep me busy and out of mischief. shelves. Our members continue to donate time and labor to One hundred ten years ago, my German from Russia keep us open. We do not charge an entrance fee and our ancestors first came to Fresno, and here I am, President of the members volunteer on a weekly basis to show visitors around Central California Chapter of AHSGR. and to help our full-time volunteer staff of David Foth, JoAnn Just remember, the cream comes to the top. Thank you. Kleim, and myself, to get the work done on time. With a permanent building, we store supplies for the Page 47
LISTING OF DONATIONS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE Elaine Frank Davison Raymond Pfau AUSSIEDLER PROJECT Blanche Fritz S. Martin Sauer $200.00 or more Brian & Verna Goral Frank Schlegel Mrs. Philip Kehling Richard & Sarah Hammerstrom Charles & Betty Schmoll $100.00 or more John Kisner Mr. & Mrs. Leonard Mr. & Mrs. Herbert Babitzke $50.00 or more Helen Madden Schnegelberger Dottie Wiederhold-Momany Dottie Wiederhold-Momany Donald & Dorothy Skwark George & Mary Tuck Lawrence & Karen Penner Kathleen Schrieber Svoboda George Edward Vaiko Wilma Schmidt Pat Wegner $25.00 or more $50.00 or more Albert & Virginia Weigel Mr. & Mrs. Henry Heckman Mr. & Mrs. Henry Alt, Jr. Lucille Whitman Mr. & Mrs. Gerald McCracken Norma Somerheiser David Aul Eldon & Betty Woodhall Robert & Kathy Wolf N. A. & Barbara Bretz Up to $25.00 Up to $25.00 Allyn Brosz Mayo Flegel Mr. & Mrs. James Amen Alexander Damm James & Trudy Klein Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Chonuskie Carolyn Dumler Mr. & Mrs. William Lackman Ruth Gabelhaus Margaret Freehling Wesley George DONATIONS TO THE SOCIETY Mr. & Mrs. Ed Herstein Mr. & Mrs. Howard Guenther Mr. & Mrs. John Lebsock Robert Heinrich $5,000.00 or more Shirley & Robert Marks Mr. & Mrs. Richard Holman Dr. & Mrs. Wilmer Harms John & Pauline Maul Lois Klaus $2000.00 or more Mr. & Mrs. Hermann Reifschneider Mr. & Mrs. Leland Kraft Robert Meininger Ruth Schultz Mr. & Mrs. Robert Lackman Lydia Robinson Delores Schwarz $1,000.00 or more Mr. & Mrs. Jake Sinner Lillian Larwig Bill Svoboda Jim Patzer Central California Chapter Clara Wertz Mr. & Mrs. T. G. Potter Flint, Michigan Chapter Sissell Family Trust Golden Wheat Chapter CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE C.IS. Arlene Walker Kansas City Area Chapter PROJECT Beverly Weber Northern Colorado Chapter $500.00 or more Wesley Volkenant Mr. & Mrs. Ed Rau 1996 Convention offering $25.00 or more $800.00 or more Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Flegel William Bernhardt Frieda Nickel Kansas Roundup offering Olinda Brown $600.00 or more Eva Jean Saldin Catherine Clark Greater Seattle Chapter $300.00 or more Southwest Michigan Chapter Mr. & Mrs. Herbert Babitzke Donald & Shirley Clowser Marlin & Nathalie Nelson Kathryn Cousins $500.00 or more $200.00 or more Mr. & Mrs. A. Bruce Cropper Mr. & Mrs. Herbert Babitzke Blue Mountain Chapter Marvin Dinkel Dr. & Mrs. Robert Janke Ruth Ormsby Mr. & Mrs. Norman Dudek Northern Illinois Chapter Dr. & Mrs. Robert Janke Robert & Margaret Freeman Saginaw Valley Chapter Glenn Sitzman Mr. & Mrs. Herb Schillereff $100.00 or more Lois Howard Emma Archer Mr. & Mrs. Donald Keison Wilma Sellin Anna Baker Arthur Kiesz Dr. Joe L. Wheeler Dr. & Mrs. Timothy Kloberdanz $400.00 or more Mary Koch Don Herzog Lodi, California Chapter Mr. & Mrs. J. Paul Hile Jerry McInnis $300.00 or more Mr. & Mrs. Richard Meyer Debra Khouri Chris & Mary Mills
48 Donations Kermit Karns Sally Frank Caskey Mr. & Mrs. Eugene Kiefel Central Oklahoma Chapter Lincoln Quilters Lois Klaus Laurie Confer Charmaine Mohr Adam Klein Mr. & Mrs. William Cook, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Gus Reese Harold & Irene Klenke Larry Crouse $200.00 or more Herman Klippert Rich & Charline Davies Ursula Armstrong Dr. & Mrs. Raymond Koch Joanna Deines Erika Barton Victor Koleber Ms. Florence Diercks John & Marie Bauer Mr. & Mrs. George Kufeldt Harold Dreiling Mr. & Mrs. Harold Beck Mr. & Mrs. Loys Lamb Drury Family Blue Mountain Chapter Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Lehr Carolyn Dumler California District Council Mr. & Mrs. Gerhardt Less Bernice Elledge Central Washington Chapter Mr. & Mrs. Gordon Leth Emma Enright Denver Metropolitan Chapter Betty Loesch Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Flegel Joseph Falkenstein Dr. Martin T. Mansfield Mr. & Mrs. Henry Gorr Norma Gerber Philip Maxeiner Lloyd Gottschalk Clarence Gramm Bernice Meade Linda Hagman John & Frieda Gress Mr. & Mrs. Richard Meyer Robert & Sally Hahn Edwin Hablitzel Joyce Montoya Virginia Wede Hamblett Dr. Harold A. Kwast Gloria Morgan Lucille Hedges Ronald Miller Oklahoma Harvesters Chapter Lloyd & June Hoagland Oregon Chapter Sandy Norris Elfrieda Kober Idleman Leona Pfeifer North Star Chapter Anneliese Johnson Ron & Dodie Rotherham Magdalene Lebsack Novak Mr. & Mrs. W. S. Johnson Diane Sheridan Daryl & Thelma Plager Dan Keller Dr. & Mrs. Nyal Scheuermann Phillip Pope Mary Koch Southwest Nebraska Chapter Herb Poppke Cecilia Kraft $100.00 or more Gary Reifschneider Mr. & Mrs. Alexander Kruse Nancy Andrich Cleta Darlene Rogers Lillian Larwig Anna Baker Arnold Schroeder Lodi, California Chapter Ed & Marie Bandey A. Schuetz Joy Lopez Diana Bell Mr. & Mrs. Robert Smith Mr. & Mrs. James Marshall Mr. & Mrs. Leonard Brehm Mrs. W. Jean Smith P. S. Maxeiner Alan Brill Mr. & Mrs. Don Sonnenfeld Ruth Mayor Stephen Brilz Southeastern Wyoming Chapter Bill & Jan Merrill Evelyn Cedergren Southern California Chapter M. L. Morgenstern Center of the Nation Chapter Cecil & Norma Stangle Ken Moss Ruth DeNault Rachel Sullivan Barbara Muller Willis Jack Finck Leo Temple Robert Muntz Mrs. Don Forke Natalie Vasen NE Assoc. of German Teachers Raymond Frank Mr. & Mrs. Victor Weber Kristi Neece Henry Fritzler Mr. & Mrs. Donald Weidenbach Lydia Neighbor Robert Fromm Emma Zitzer Margaret Neufeld Mary Froscheiser $50.00 or more Fritz Olenberger Mr. & Mrs. Robert Fuller Arizona Sun Chapter Anne Oweis Carolyn Gerhard Mr. & Mrs. Fred Bauer Delbert Pfeifer Carol Gersmehl Frederick W. Becker Otto Popp Sandra Haberling Richard Benert Post Rock Chapter Mrs. Lester Harsh Mr. & Mrs. Henry Bitter Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Rempel Jeff Heimbuck Mr. & Mrs. Herbert Bolte Emilie Rics William Hemple Becky Breiwick John Ruppel Mr. & Mrs. Ed Herstein Olinda Brown Helen Sanders Shirley Holmes George Schauermann Arliss Klausen Hoskins
Donations 49 Don Schell Erv & Shirley Erdahl Katherine Marks Rudy Schmick Val C. Fabricius John Marten Charles & Betty Schmoll Hedwig Fehirwary Ronald Martin Edwin Scheuermann Mr. & Mrs. Phillip Freehling Thelma Martin Mr. & Mrs. Oscar Schroeder Fred Freidenberger William & Helen Schwab George Frich Mrs. Amelia McDonald Marilyn Seevers Barbara Gerber Jerry McInnis Laura Simon James Gessele Fred & Esther Meininger Mr. & Mrs. Donald Skwark Glueckstal Colonies Research Robert Meisner C. G. Smick Association Ernest Miller Southeastern Wisconsin Chapter Golden Gate Chapter Jacob & Kristine Miller Roland Spomer Alice Graham Sherrie Stahl Great Lakes Council Lorraine Miller Robert L. Van Noy Greater Spokane Chapter Harr Mohrlang Leah Walz Mr. & Mrs. Charles Green Mt. Diablo Chapter Charlotte Ware Emily Griffing Lillian Mutschinszky Mrs. Wallace Weaver Marc & Shirley Halversen Carl Olenberger Donald Weinmeistcr Mrs. Helen Haymaker Oregon Chapter Raymond Weitz Lydia Heck Joe Werth Mr. & Mrs. Walter Heckenlaible Phyllis Pearce Florence Wertz David & Mary Heflin Esther Pennington Justice & Mrs. Byron White W. E. Hegele Rachel Pribbeno Lucille Whitman Shirley Bennett Heiliger John & Elizabeth Randoll John Whittington Rosanne Henry Ruth Rasch Marlene Woodworth Leo Herber M.D. James Raugust $25.00 or more Frederick Hessler Frances Amen Isabell Higgs Molly Ann Rimerman Shirley Arendt Jean Hunter Dr. & Mrs. Wayne Rosenoff Augustana College, Center for Mary Jacobs Lilly Roth Western Studies Lydia Jesse Mr. & Mrs. Russell Ruhl Arnold Baltzcr Phyllis Kaiser John & Molly Rupp Phyllis Barnes Reinhold Kaldun Marilyn Saunders Victor Bastron Lawrence & Della Kiesz Robert & Bonnie Beall Harold & Elsie Kilthau Robert Schaefer Katherine Becker Reinhold Klein John Schleicher Katherine Benzel Dr. & Mrs. Timothy Kloberdanz Rev. George Schissler William Bernhardt Connie Knight Mr. & Mrs. Morris Schneider Mr. & Mrs. Harvey Bidlack Shirley Knippenberg Dr. & Mrs. Sol Schneider Mr. & Mrs. Robert Brandle Herman Kopp Randal Schoesler Frieda Brulotte Lydia Kraft Ruth Eckhardt Cluckey Mr. & Mrs. Donald Kromarick Ted & Lydia Schreiber M. H. Cook Robert Kromm David Schultheiss Ella Curtis Lillian Larson Walter Schuppe Edna Dalhaimcr Fred & Irene Lebsack Delores Schwartz Edward Deines Victor Leiker Mary Schwartz Harry & Ruth Dill Robert Lenhardt Mr. & Mrs. Jake Sinner Joe & Eva Distel Anna Lesser Greg & Jackie Dockter Mrs. Joseph Liebsack Charles Smick George & Shirley Dorn Mary Lies Jan Snider Patricia Eames Margaret Little Richard Spooner Orvan J. Edmonson Mr. & Mrs. David Llank Ernest & Thelma Sprenger Sandra Elder Catherine Lumbard Elmer Stricker H. Elaine Engel Milton Mai Dr. Harley Stucky Eldora Urbanski Westey Volkenant Katharina Walker Mr. & Mrs. Willard Walker Lillian Weber J. Melvin Williams Mr. & Mrs. Delmar Wohlgemuth
50 Donations Lola Wilkins Helen Finck Charles & Ruth Williams Alex & Katie Frank Marlene Woodworth Lawrence Wittman John David Frank Marvin Yakel Gladys Wyatt Henry & Amalia (Schneider) Fritzler Don Yost Edna Zindler Reuben Gabelhaus Robert Zarr Irma Zitzer M. Delene (Reich) Geistlinger Up to $25.00 Agnes Job Gerhard Mr. & Mrs. James Amen CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE MAI J. Gottlieb Geringer Samala Brown LIBRARY CHALLENGE FUND Mary (Ehrlich) Geringer Mr. & Mrs. Doug Cohen $1,000 or more Dr. William Gerringer Edward & Clara Deines Brent Mai Victor Greenwalt Maryls De Vries $100.00 or more Alexander & J. Emma (Kinkead) Gress Grace Freye Arliss Klausen Hoskins Wilbert Christian Griess Mr. Henry Friesen Mr. & Mrs. Jacob Grossman Wayne & Vera Greenwood WE HONOR IN Sally (Selma) Guisinger Mr. & Mrs. Howard Guenthner MEMORIAM Helen Fox Habel Mr. & Mrs. R. Edward Hall Conrad & Anna Amen Evelyn Harding Herman Herdt Henry & Katherine Amen Harold Heidenreich Leonard & Ann Herrman Jacob & Anna (Brungardt) Amen Jacob G. Heidinger Gloria Zeiler Johnson Jacob R. Amen Pete Heinrich Jacquie Jones Thel Amen Harold & Celia Heiser Carrol Kaatz Johannes Bader John Hemple Diane Kajikuri Robert G. Bafus Esther Henke Laverne Kautz John & Mary Bahm Margaret Hergenrader Mr. & Mrs. Mark Kelley Fred Bauer Katherine Beck Hess Harold & Bessie Kinas Henry Bauer Ruth Mary Hessler Harold & June Klenke John Bechthold Mary G. Hetterle Jacob & Lydia Kraft Marvin Bender Charlotte Teresa (Alles) Hill Robert Long Wilber Bender Paul Hoff Ruth Long Katherine Albert Bennett Jacob & Marian (Weber) Hoffer Vernon Long Samuel & Bertha Bernhardt O'Tilla Hoffer Ruth Ludwig Andres & Kathryn Bihn Lydia Eckhart Holman Mrs. Ruth McLain Alice F. Bullock John & Anna Marie Huber James & Cora Mentink Betty Bullock Geb Jacob Bertha Miller Alex Campbell Mrs. Amalia Jurkschot George Nahley Lawrence Clark Edward Kaiser Leroy Nikolaisen Hilda Colvin Jacob Karst Mr. & Mrs. Harold Nooitgedacht Peter & Charlotte Damm Keberle Families Doris Olson Jack C. Deines Philip Kehling Joan Redmond Ann Derksen Henry & Anna Graf Keller Mr. & Mrs. Hermann Reifschneider Conrad & Elizabeth Derr Family The Kerner Family Margaret Robertus Raymond R. Dewald Magdalena Kiefel Ella Mae Salley Joseph Doherty Alex & Harry Kildaw Harley Schander Agatha Dreiling Gustav Kissler Alexander Schneider Rita Dreith Peter & Elizabeth Klauano Joseph Schwan Dan Dumler Ethel Kletzbeacher Delores Schwartz Erna England John A. & Molly Klippert Lisa Schwartz John Erbes, M.D. Katherine Klippert Mrs. Erma Shipley Helene Erickson Leonhardt Klippert Darlene Smith Bertha (Yost) Ernst Wilhelm "Bill" Knaub Catherine Steinbucher Fred W. Fahrnbruch Robert Knippenberg Deborah Vause Falkenstein Families Lottie & Selma Vosika Harry Voth
51 Donations Walter Sanborn Irene Welch Gotthilf & Emma Sauer Sister M. Corneila Werth Amelia Roseness Knudson Ed Scheidt John Wertz Emil & Amalia Kober Louise Fichtner Scheiner Elsie Lorenz Whittington Anna Koch Mr. & Mrs. George Scheuermann Samuel Wiederhold Benjamin Koch Mary Schield Eugenia Hildennan Williams Henry Koch Joshua Schiffman Conrad & Katherine Winter Johann G. & Katherine E. (Dietz) Koleber George Schinske Henry P. Woederholdt Cornelius Koop William "Bill" Schneidmiller John Yakel Chester Kotecki Emilie Meller Schoenhals George W. & Elizabeth Yost Jacob Kraft Lydia Schultheiss Lena Meier & Martin Zarr (Zerr) Arthur Kramer Eleanor Schuppe Mollie Klemm Zeiler Mark Kramer Hannah Schwab John & Elizabeth Krieck Jacob & Elizabeth Schwab This list is compiled from memorials received Conrad Kromm Marie Seevers at Headquarters. We apologize for any errors Conrad L. Kromm Arthur Seibel or omissions. Please contact Headquarters if Lela & Marie Kromm Harold Serr corrections need to be made. Mollie Krug Pauline (Huttentocher) Sieber CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE George Lackman George Fredrick Sigmund FOUNDATION Isabella Lana Conrad & Elizabeth (Roh) Sinner Harold Larson Raytha Hempel Smick (Schmick) GOLDEN DONORS Reuben Lebsack Ann Smith $1,000 or more Fred Lehr Robert Smith Mr. & Mrs. Phil Freehling Dave Lesser Alex & Catherine Spomer Golden Gate Chapter Joseph Liebsack John & Elizabeth Spomer Dr. & Mrs. Timothy Kloberdanz Mary Look Fred J. Spreier Linda R. Magstadt Richard & Amelia Stang SUSTAINING DONORS Ruben Maier George & Marg Steinmetz $100.00 or more Natalie Flegel Marcos Conrad & Anna Keib Stenzel Hannah Deines Fred Markus Walter J. Stenzel Mr. & Mrs. Jake Sinner Christian Martin Ruth Stoll Mr. Jack Sittner John & Lydia Martin Robert Stone H. D. & Lydia Wildermuth Laura Michel Laura Strackbein Adolph "Dusty" Miller William George Striegel SUPPORTING DONORS David J. & Lydia Miller Henry Temple $50.00 or more Sarah Morasch John & Emile Tietz Flint, Michigan Chapter Florence Muntz Betty (Elizabeth )Younger Fredericka Oster Charity Volkenant LAMPLIGHTERS $25.00 or more Rupert Pfannenstiel Mary Wacker Golden Wheat Chapter John H. Pfeifer Sarah Wacker Jack Pflugrath Awalt & Emelia Walker HELPFUL DONORS Amelia Piening George Walker Up to $25.00 Betty Pope Marie Walters Mid-Nebraska Chapter Sam Popp Henry Walz Ruth Stoll Glenn E. Pribbeno Benjamin Peters Ware Theodore Purcell Stanley Wasnick CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE ENDOWMENT FUND Hilda Rau Carl Weber $1000.00 or more Jacob & Ama (Becker) Reich John & Frieda (Alt) Weber Dr. & Mrs. Wilmer Harms Marie (Dellos) Reich Henry & Emma Wede Lincoln, Nebraska Chapter Robert Reichel Edward Roy Wegner Ruth Rasch George Reiter Peter & Elizabeth (Hofmann) Henry & Elizabeth Robertus Weickum Virgil Rose Carol G. Weinmeister Henry & Katherine Roth Melvin Weitz John & Molly Rupp 52 Donations Up to $25.00 Mr., & Mrs. John Randoll Mr. & Mrs. George Bowman Mr. & Mrs. Henry Reifschneider $800.00 or more Albert Lind Mr. &. Mrs. William Schwab Mr. & Mrs. Jake Sinner Ruth Midcap Ruth Stoll $500.00 or more Sara Frank Neal John Wertz Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Flegel Mr. & Mrs. Hermann $25.00 or more Mr. & Mrs. J. Paul Hile Reifschneider Mr. & Mrs. John Daniel Northern Colorado Chapter Ruth Rice Charlotte Dingman Victor & Lillian Weber Lydia Slonksnes Mr. & Mrs. George Dorn $300.00 or more Kathleen Friesen Mr. & Mrs. Herbert Babitzke CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE Donald & Henrietta Gleason Gary Maser Cole FOUNDATION MASTER PLAN Sadie Hand Kathy Johnston CHALLENGE FUND Harold Hoppe Dr. & Mrs. Raymond Koch $4,000 or more Gottfried Horst $200.00 or more George Miller Ruth Kahre Denver Metropolitan Chapter $1,000.00 or more Lorraine 0. Kniert $100.00 or more Marlin & Nathalie Nelson Joseph & Marie McCutchan Mabel Benscoter Magdalene Lebsack Novak Marie & Clarence Olson Leonard Brehm $600.00 or more Phyllis Pearce Robert & Marcine Deife Calgary Chapter Emma Popp Orvan Edmonson $500.00 or more Norma Somerheiser Peter Geringer Dr. & Mrs. Wilmer Harms Marie Wurster Lucille Gustafson Southeastern Wisconsin Chapter Up to $25.00 Herbert Hardung $200.00 or more Dorothy Chase Joe & Daisy Hardung Denver Metropolitan Chapter Erv & Shirley Erdahl Laverne Hartung Mr. & Mrs. J. Paul Hile Louis Fabrizius Mt. Diablo Chapter Janice Trenary Chester Feil Nation's Capital Area Chapter $100.00 or more Harold Fritzler Anna Reynolds Mr. & Mrs. William Held, Jr. Samuel & Ruella Funner Dr. Jerome & Janice Siebert Fred Hofferber Geoffrey Graham Mr. & Mrs. William Schwab Kermit Karns Betty Greenemeicr Carrie Scott Lois Klaus Penny Kishman Mr. & Mrs. Robert Smith Philip Maxeiner Anne Klug Donnettc Sonnenfeld Mr. & Mrs. Charles McDonald Mr. & Mrs. Bill Long Harold & Emma Stoll NE State Historical Society Don & Johanna Meisner Wesley Volkenant Nebraska Panhandle Chapter Lorraine Miller $50.00 or more Preservation of Lincoln Association Mr. & Mrs. C. Ray Mortensen Brian & Verna Goral Walter Schaneman N. Mueller John Kisner Frieda Scheidt Wayne & Betty Pauley Maria MacTavish Dr. Jacob & Lillie Wagner Esther Pennington Mr. & Mrs. James Marshall $50.00 or more Margaret Robertus $25.00 or more Mr. & Mrs. Ralph Bachwich Larry Roggenbuck Leonard & Eleanor Bartel Samuel Dreith Joan Schwisow Ruth Dill Brian & Verna Goral Eldora Urbanski Henrietta Geringer John & Sue Groh Beverly Weber Archie & Ruth Huber Ruby Groh James Zeiler Elvera & Glenn Maxwell William Hergenreter Rev. Christopher Zugger Alvina Parduhn Lisa Hiatt Verna Ochs Rhorer Duane Mattheis We apologize if there are any errors or Southern California Chapter Robert Neff omissions. Please contact Headquarters if Mr. & Mrs. Dan Walker corrections need to be made. Alice Winchester Page 53
WHEN WE WERE YOUNG
Gil Axt, Foundation Trustee
As the years pass, we think of "when we were young," of the many have done well. things we could have done and the many things we should have done. One of the most important things is leaving a legacy for the many There are three kinds of people in this world: those who make it generations to come. The foundation endowment fund needs to grow. happen, those who wished it could happen, and those who asked what How does it grow? Well, the easy way is to write a (large) check. That happened. extra life insurance policy you have, be it large or small—why not Your Foundation is asking that we make it happen. Over the years, make AHSGR the beneficiary? Recently, at the annual convention, a when we were young, we had a goal in mind: raise the family, own our good idea surfaced, an annuity program. If you check your most recent home, educate the children, and prepare for retirement. This takes a financial statement of the Foundation, you will find that we had an span of over forty years. Now is the time to ask: What do I need for annuity program at one time. Why not bring it back alive? With this myself, my family, especially grandchildren, and how can I help this investment vehicle you have a return on your funds, but Just think how very important organization known as The American Historical Society quickly the endowment would grow with this program. Why not think of Germans from Russia? This is my heritage. What should I know big—like $10,000.00 or more? about my family from Russia, or what should I know about the many Review your summer 1997 Journal, seeking what would best fit Germans living in Russia? We have heard of the many hardships over into your own financial program regarding the "Six Ways for You to the years that our people have endured, and remember that they were Give." Your Foundation endowment is the backbone of the Society for also young when they entered Russia. And many were young when the future. they saw the light and opportunities to come to America and Canada. Keep in mind that the life of our heritage is the future. We can They only learn about the past with the help of the dollars we have invested in AHSGR.
Arthur E. Flegel family. END OF VOLUME 20, FALL 1997