A Democratic-Socialist's generous gift to the community + an effort to integrate Milwaukee's Lutherans among the German Jews, Catholics, etc. ... Because somebody's got to do it.
Saturday, December 16, 2023
"Die Hallen der Turnvereine in Milwaukee"; a forgotten history
Tuesday, December 12, 2023
Milwaukee's English or German language clippings? it's your choice.
The German language death notice is not only more comprehensive, but progressive too. It sets the scene for us: during her long illness she was provided with the Last Rights. It includes Mrs. Zach's maiden name (Golner); provides her daughters' given names separately from their husbands' names; names her daughter-in-law; and even references Mrs. Zach's siblings. It's a research and German-American cultural gem!
This is the family's paid death notice for Mrs. Zach; there was no separate obituary article written by the newspaper.
This difference between competing papers isn't always the case but it needs be understood by the family researcher looking through Milwaukee's German, English, or Polish language newspapers.
Thursday, June 1, 2023
Die Verlobung von Fräulein Nettie Lederer von hier ...
It's that time of year! Engagements and wedding announcements are just a small sample of what's found in Milwaukee's German-American press. A part of the genealogy community is obsessed with the social columns that might include engagement or wedding notices; yet they ignore wedding anniversary clippings (that requires more work!).
Spread between Milwaukee's multiple German language newspapers, reportage of nuptials is not as representative of the diverse German immigrant community as it is in smaller towns.
In 1893, while at art school in Philadelphia,
Milwaukeean Nettie Lederer (daughter of Abraham and Dorett Lederer from Forchheim, Bavaria) was engaged to artist A. Stirling Calder. The couple married in 1895 in New York. Family or friends may have called in this news accounting for misspellings. Son Alexander Calder was the result of their marriage.
The art work one of at least one these now world famous Calders is found in a Milwaukee Art Museum collection, and around the world.