Finding Your Roots on PBS

Just a reminder that the hit show from PBS, Finding Your Roots, is returning Tuesday, 03 October, 2017 at 8 PM. This season host Henry Louis Gates, Jr. will explore the family trees of celebrities including Ted Danson, Mary Steenburgen, Bernie Sanders, Tea Leoni, William H. Macy, and Bryant Gumbel.

A Brief History of German Language Newspapers in Albany

The majority of newly minted German immigrants were either unable to or unwilling to read English language newspapers; therefore the immigrant press became the easiest and most important method of maintaining cultural ties with former homelands and with fellow Germans residing locally.  Foreign language organs helped preserve native languages and cultural heritage.  The German language press and literature reflected much of what was occurring in American society and served ultimately to advance the accommodation of the German-born to that society.[1] For many years the German-language press not only was the most numerous among the foreign-language papers of the United States, but the most ably edited and the most widely read.[2] In 1914 of the 1,300 foreign-language papers published in the United States, 537, or forty percent, were German.[3] The German press became interested primarily in local problems and particularly in the cultural and social activities of the German societies in their communities.[4] Thus, local social, musical, and dramatic activities were reported in detail. At the same time, German language newspapers and publications served as important sources of information about local politics; of seven thousand copies of the Albany City Record, detailing the proceedings of the Common Council and city government, published every week at the turn of the century, three thousand were printed in German.[5] This naturally occurred because German was considered a second official language in Albany.

The survival of the German press depended upon the extent that German-Americans retained their interests in the social and cultural life of their people.[6] In the beginning of the twentieth century, German immigration to America virtually ceased when compared to the number of Germans that immigrated to the United States in the 1850s and 1860s.  Earlier immigration refreshed bonds to the Vaterland on a yearly basis through the arrival of new German immigrants. Regrettably, the German language press in the United States began to falter and decline, despite its own attempts at revitalization, by reporting on national issues.  Unfortunately German immigration did not keep pace with German-American mortality.  Many second generation Germans saw themselves as American and lacked the conscious self-identity of being German.  Historian John A. Hawgood illustrated this point,

As the older German-stock died off, the younger generation of Germans discontinued the use of the German language in their own homes.  They ceased to subscribe to German language newspapers, magazines, and periodicals, and confined themselves to the English language newspapers, which had, found their way into all but the strictest German-American homes.[7]

A plan to reinvigorate the German language in Albany was suggested in early 1908.  A proposal was devised by the pastors of Albany’s German churches, who sought to promote the study of the German language by having German taught in all of the city’s schools where German children attend.  As the Times Union reports,

The pastors claim that the German language is falling into disuse among the present generation of German descended residents.  Many of the younger people, although they can understand the language when it is spoken in the home, they can neither read nor write it.[8]

A special German language teacher needed to be hired at $800 per year, who would then visit each school on different days.  The German pastors conferred with German-American Mayor Charles Henry Gaus, who approved the plan, but stated the city’s Board of Education must give authorization to finalize the proposal.  

The Board rejected the proposal as being too costly to both the school district and the students.  They held that it might hinder the pupils’ comprehension of the English language.

To keep pace with English-language news organs and to hold and attract new readers, many German-language newspapers appeared to become more American than German.  Many articles were printed in both German and English.  They began to report on national issues, the activities of Congress, as well as local news.  Another device used by the German-American press to hold its readers was the promotion of German-Americanism as a self-conscious identity among German-Americans as participants in a sub-society that was expressive of a superior culture.[9] Therefore, after the turn of the century cultural chauvinism became the norm.  Many extremely chauvinistic German ideologies resembled the beliefs of the ultra-nationalistic Pan-German League in Germany.  The practice of exaggerating the German contribution to American history became even more quixotic.  Assertions such as the Germans had nearly single-handedly saved the Revolution in 1776 and the Union in 1861 were transformed into lessons from the past to inspire and guide the present day immigrants to exercise an equally strong influence in shaping the destiny of the nation and the community.[10]

1886 Albany City Directory Advertisement

The first German language daily evening newspaper in Albany was the Albany Freie Blätter.  It was first published in June 1852 by Augustus Miggael.  

Its offices were located at 44 Beaver Street.  The Albany Common Council considered the Freie Blätter as one of the three official city newspapers.  The city allotted printing patronage to the Freie Blätter from 1874 to 1896, and in 1893 the Freie Blätter received $1,253.37 from the city.[11]  The other two newspapers were the Albany Argus and the Albany Evening Journal.  The organ had a Democratic platform from which “many a hard political battle was fought.”[12]  The paper ceased to exist in 1913 with a circulation numbering 2,480 copies when it merged with the Albany Herold.  The Freie Blätter was not published on Sundays, but the Sonntagsgast was printed between 1885 and 1897 as the Sunday edition of the Freie Blätter.  The Sonntagsgast held independent views.  Between the years 1898 and 1909 the Albany Freie Presse was printed as a supplement to the Albany Freie Blätter.  The author of this work discovered an obscure German newspaper or periodical that was also printed in Albany, the Albany Volksblatt.  It was first published in 1856 by George Herb.[13]

1889 Albany City Directory Advertisement

Albany’s second German language newspaper was founded by Jacob Heinmuller on May 1, 1868- the Albany Herold.  It was first printed on February 11, 1869.  The organ was located at 346 Broadway and was run as a daily morning paper with no Sunday printing.  The newspaper’s printing ran on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  As time passed, the circulation estimates for the Albany Herold greatly increased; (see Table IV.)  The paper had Republican views.  The Sunday edition of the Albany Herold was printed as the Sonntags Correspondent.  It was printed between 1885 and 1911.  In 1913 the Albany Herold and the Albany Freie Blätter merged, and their union produced the Herold und Freie Blätter.  In 1915 circulation numbered one thousand papers; but unfortunately the newspaper ceased to exist in 1920.  

1915 Albany City Directory Advertisement

World War I hammered the final nail into the coffin of Albany’s Deutschtum.  Another German newspaper was the Taeglicher Albany Herald.  It was first published on October 10, 1871, as a daily.[14]

Table IV: Circulation Estimates for the Albany Herold[15]

Year	Total Circulation Estimate
1875	400
1880	680
1890	1000
1900	2162
1910	2000

Yet, another German language newspaper in Albany was the Albany Sonntags Journal.  The paper was founded by Charles Hildebrandt.  It was first published on May 11, 1887, and ran weekly until 1911.  

1894 Albany City Directory Advertisement

A note in the Albany Argus congratulated the Sonntags Journal for entering its fourth year as “an able, well managed newspaper, admirably adapted for the needs of our German fellow citizens, bright and newsy and bearing all the qualities of well deserved popularity.”[16]  Between the years 1890 and 1903, the paper held Democratic views and later changed to Republican tendencies from 1904 to 1911.  Unfortunately as time passed, the Sonntags Journal did not increase its circulation; its circulation shrank; (see Table V.)

Table V: Circulation Estimates for the Sonntags Journal[17]

Year	Total Circulation Estimate
1890	2700
1900	2500
1910	1800

Regrettably, the German newspapers from Albany were not kept.  They appear to have been disposed of after reading; today only a few miscellaneous copies remain. 

German Publishing Company, 13 Beaver Street

---

[1] Robert Henry Billigmeier, Americans from Germany: A Study in Cultural Diversity (Belmont: Wadsworth Publishing Company, 1974), p. 121.

[2] Wittke, The German-Language Press in America, pp. 6, 209.

[3] O’Connor, German-Americans, p. 360.

[4] Wittke, The German-Language Press in America, p. 237. Rippley, The German-Americans, p. 165.

[5] Rabrenovic, Community Builders, p. 41. John McEneny, “The Melting Pot,” in Experiencing Albany: Perspectives on a Grand City’s Past, ed. Anne F. Roberts and Judith A. Van Dyk (Albany: State University of New York Press, 1986), p. 34. Times Union, July 6, 1986, Supplement, 57:1.

[6] Wittke, The German-Language Press in America, p. 220.

[7] Hawgood, The Tragedy of German-America, p. 290. Wittke, The German-Language Press in America, p. 222. Guido A. Dobbert, “German-Americans Between New and Old Fatherland,” American Quarterly 19(4): 669.

[8] Times Union, March 29, 1908, 4:2.

[9] Frederick C. Luebke, “Three Centuries of Germans in America” in Germans in the New World: Essays in the History of Immigration (Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 1990), p. 171. Melvin G. Holli, “Teuton vs. Slav: The Great War Sinks Chicago’s German Kultur,” Ethnicity 8(4): 423.

[10] Dobbert, “The Disintegration of an Immigrant Community,” pp. 92-93.

[11] Reimer, “Ethnicity in Albany, N. Y., 1888-1908,” p. 49.

[12] Reynolds, Albany Chronicles, p. 616. Times Union, April 25, 1914, 4:1. n. a., Geschichte der Deutschen in Albany und Troy, p. 101.

[13] Howell and Tenney, eds., History of the County of Albany, N. Y., p. 377.

[14] Ibid., p. 378.

[15] Karl J. R. Arndt and May E. Olson, German-American Newspapers and Periodicals, 1732-1955: History and Bibliography (Heidelberg: Quelle & Meyer Publishers, 1961), pp. 313-314.

[16] Albany Argus, May 18, 1891, 4:3.

[17] Arndt and Olson, German-American Newspapers and Periodicals, 1732-1955, pp. 313-314.

Albany History Race 2017

Coming up this weekend, Saturday, 30 September, is the fourth annual Albany History Race 2017; sponsored by the Albany Public Library. We participated in last year's race taking first place and also in the previous year's race taking third place. This year we are unable to participate. The event is a lot of fun! Check it out!

The following information is cut from Albany History Race Facebook page.

The Fourth Annual Albany History Race is an Amazing Race-style afternoon scavenger hunt for history experts, novices, & visitors interested in learning about Albany's past!

The event is free & no prior knowledge is needed. This year, to support the efforts of the future Albany Firefighters Museum, Albany Public Library is partnering with Albany firefighter Tim Blaney & City Historian Tony Opalka, who are researching the history of the Albany Fire Department. All locations visited in the race will have connections to the fire department & historic Albany fires.

*Here's how YOU can participate & win:

- Make a team! All teammates must fit in ONE car. You provide the car.

- Meet at the Albany Heritage Area Visitors Center (25 Quackenbush Sq.), not the library, at 2pm on Saturday, 9/30 to receive clues directing you to historic locations in Albany.

- Plan the quickest route to visit the locations that afternoon.

- Hop in your team's car, race to the spots, & document your visit with your cell phone camera or digital camera.

- The final stop is the Albany Distilling Company’s new bar (75 Livingston Ave.), where teams that complete the race will get pizza. Stay to purchase your own drinks. The fastest teams to arrive will win Albany themed prizes!

**The starting location for this event is the Albany Heritage Area Visitors Center (25 Quackenbush Square).**

To sign up, have only ONE member of your team register by clicking the ticket link. For more details, please email localhistory@albanypubliclibrary.org or call (518) 427-4376.

Overstretched

Lately, for many reasons I have not been able to post to this blog. Having a full plate is usually good but sometimes we can overstretch ourselves. I have been wrapped up in too many things all at once. Work had me scheduled for numerous extra shifts. We hosted a large Oktoberfest party for family and friends. Home remodeling projects were in the mix also. The evening before Oktoberfest I gave a presentation at the Historic Society of Esquatak and have another lecture planned on October 7th for the New York Palatines to America German Genealogy Society. The kids had to be brought here and there. It was discovered that one of my great great great grandmothers, Caroline Gertrude Rifenburgh, is descended from 1710 Palatine immigrants to New York. Sources and data on this will obviously need to be verified. Finally, numerous trips to the dermatologist resulted in two procedures where melanoma and basal cell cancers were cut from my face and neck. Photos are purposely omitted. Thirty plus years of working outside finally caught up to me. Cemetery work will now include the application of sun block. Things are now slowing down and getting back to the old routine therefore blog posts should become regular again.

Upcoming Rensselaer County Genealogy/History Programs

The following programs were listed in today's Rensselaer County Advertiser newspaper.

Oakwood's 16th Annual Evening at the Earl Benefit

Thursday, October 5th - 5:00 - 8:00 PM - $65 pp.

Do you walk your dog in Oakwood Cemetery? Do you use Oakwood's roads to jog or run for fitness? Do you ride your bicycle there or walk your baby in a stroller. Maybe you love photographing Oakwood's beautiful tomb stones or wildlife or you enjoy the variety of birds and plants found there. Or maybe you just love the serenity of the peaceful grounds and ponds.

How have you shown your appreciation? Did you know that Oakwood Cemetery is private property and public is allowed to do all these activities only because of Oakwood's generosity? You can express your support by purchasing tickets to our October 5th benefit. "Evening at the Earl" is a lively fundraiser with catered hors d'oeuvres, delicious wines and fun for all, held in the gorgeous rooms of the Gardner Earl Chapel. Get ready for an evening of food, drink, merriment. Sip another glass of wine while you and your friends join in hot competition, bidding on exciting Silent Auction baskets. Proceeds support the ongoing restoration of this historic cemetery and its National Historic Landmark Earl Chapel. Call 1-800-556-6273, leave your name, phone & how many people. Pay on arrival. Credit cards accepted.

Troy Irish Genealogy Society Free Genealogy Look-Up Session

The Troy Irish Genealogy Society is sponsoring a Free Genealogy Look up Session at the North Greenbush Public Library on Wednesday, September 20. Bring your questions about how to trace your family tree or what you are trying to find out about a specific ancestor. Let the Society's experienced members help you to discover more! Please make an appointment by calling the library at 518.283.0303. Thirty-minute appointments are available from 4:00 to 7:00. Don't miss this chance to have your family genealogy questions answered. The library is located at 141 Main Avenue in the North Greenbush Municipal Building.

Oktoberfest Brings Bavaria to Nassau

Nassau's Village Beautification Committee presents a traditional Oktoberfest celebration on Sunday, September 24th, at the Village Commons Park on John Street, just off US Route 20. The event runs from 12 noon until 4 PM and features traditional German foods, beverages, and entertainment.

Inspired by European harvest festivals, the Oktoberfest menu will include a variety of tasty treats including an array of locally made German sausages, vegan bratwurst, imported German sauerkraut, potato salad,and made as you watch potato pancakes. All food is available for take-out.

What's an Oktoberfest without good beer? That question is  answered with a broad selection of both imported German beers and fresh and local ales from Nassau's own S & S Farm Brewery. Musical entertainment will feature Nassau's own Bavarian Barons, a traditional German brass band found in the the village over 50 years ago.

Admission is free and will take place under tents rain or shine. Guests may bring their own lawn chairs if they wish. For additional information, go to www.nassau12123.com or call 518.766.2291.

Historical Talk on Albany's German Community

The Historical Society of Esquatak is opening their 2017-2018 program series with a lecture on Albany's German community on Friday, September 15, 2017 at 7 PM at the Schodack Town Hall.

Christopher White will present a lecture on Albany's once vibrant German-American community before and after Europe's Great War.

The Schodack Town Hall address is 265 Schuurman Road, Castleton-on-Hudson, NY 12033. It is located across the street from Tractor Supply Company on Routes 9/20.

Esquatak has a presence on the Internet with
Esquatak's Facebook Page
Website

Monthly meetings take place at venues located in Schodack and Nassau. Please refer to the Program Schedule for exact locations.

Esquatak's Mailing Address:
The Historical Society of Esquatak
P.O. Box 241
East Schodack, NY 12063 

Fall Harvest & History Fair

An article from last week's Rensselaer County Advertiser newspaper reads:

Fall Harvest & History Fair Returns
The Town of Nassau Historic Preservation Committee will present the annual Fall Harvest and History fair on Saturday, September 23rd, from 11am to 4pm at the Chandler Young VFW Post located at the corner of US Route 20 and Lyons Lake Road in Nassau. Reflecting Nassau's past and present agricultural heritage, the theme of the event will be "Family Life on the Farm" and "Nassau's One Room School Houses."

The free event will provide many children's activities including a colonial-era "Dames School", hands-on butter making, historical games and pumpkin painting.

Presentations include "Family Life on the Farm", given by Rensselaer County Historian, Kathy Sheehan at 11:30am and "The One Room School House" given by committee member and Nassau native Alice Goebel at 1pm.

With assistance from the Nassau Committee on Farming and Agriculture, local farmers will be on hand offering their harvest goods for sale. Additionally, community groups and historic organizations will have displays. There will be free food, refreshments and entertainment for all. Please join us! For more information, e-mail Town Historian Melody Howarth at: melzbelles@aol.com.

Greenbush Historical Society Programs

The Greenbush Historical Society will present two upcoming historical programs at the East Greenbush Community Library. One in September and the other in November. Details and information are below:

Greenbush Historical Society presents the Constitution- Then and Now
Sunday, 9/17, 2pm-4pm
Ken Kiser will discuss the origins of the Constitution and how it has changed through the years. Registration begins 8/21.

Greenbush Historical Society presents Sears Roebuck Homes
Sunday, 11/12, 2pm-4pm
Mary Ellen Sullivan will discuss a time when home could be ordered from a catalog. Many of these homes still exist in the area- find out if you live in one. Registration begins 10/9.

Both of these programs require attendees to register.


For further information please contact:
East Greenbush Community Library
10 Community Way, East Greenbush, NY 12061
Phone: 518.477-7476
Web: www.eastgreenbushlibrary.org

Raising a Fallen Obelisk

This weekend my father and I finished raising a small obelisk that sunk, became un-level, and then toppled over in the Evangelical Protestant Cemetery. This project was filmed and then edited into a 5 minute video. The creation of the video was a three part process. A clip from a November 2015 begins the film. Next we begin the restoration project but then realize that we cannot safely finish because the legs on lifting tripod are too short. About 4 weeks later we completed the project when I brought my longer tripod legs.

Reminder: Family Search Microfilm Rental Ends This Week

Just a reminder that after 80 years of microfilming records, the Latter Day Saints is discontinuing its microfilm rentals this week on Thursday, 7 September 2017. Due to the costs of reproducing and mailing microfilms this loaning system is ending.

The LDS has already digitized over 1.5 million of their existing microfilms and those images are now searchable on the Family Search website. The remaining microfilms are projected to be digitized by 2020.

Future record acquisitions by the LDS will immediately digitized.

MyHeritage DNA, Houston, & Hurrican Harvey

For anyone who has submittted their DNA to MyHeritage for testing, your samples are safe, I read. Yes, Harvey dumped an unprecedented amount of water on Houston. MyHeritage uses the Family Tree DNA (FTDNA) labs for DNA processing and is located in Houston. I read that the DNA labs are on the 8th floor of an office building and are completely safe. However DNA results may be delayed due to employees being unable to commute to work because of the flooding.

End of Summer

End of Summer is upon us and now it is time to play catch-up. Vacations, kids, doctors, work, OT work, cemetery work, and life in general means you are always busy. Thankfully this blog allows me to schedule articles to post whenever I choose. Many times I get moments of inspiration where I can write numerous articles in advance and have them automatically post. Hint: I have been busy and away from posting but will be back into the swing. BTW the first of the month was a couple of days ago. Back-up your data.