The War Within
June 11, 2023 |
2:00 pm -
3:00 pm
$0-5
This program will be virtual only. Register here.
FREE for GAHC&M members, $5 for non-members.
Anti-German hysteria in Iowa during World War I, already manifest in 1917, reached a linguistic crescendo in the spring of 1918, and resulted in an unprecedented assault on German identity, constitutional liberties, and ultimately the extraordinary measures taken by a German-American Lutheran congregation in far northern Iowa. Wartime zealotry, countenancing no form of German identity, culminated in an edict by the governor of Iowa restricting spoken language and consequently, for some, the free exercise of their religion. In response, the parishioners of St. Peter Lutheran in rural Mitchell County gave up the use of their church and moved Gottesdienst, German worship services, a few miles north, into Minnesota, meeting in a member’s farm grove—at night! Thomas Jefferson once observed, “I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty, than those attending too small a degree of it.” On which side of Jefferson’s alternatives shall Americans in the twenty-first century choose to stand?
Based on extensive research in century-old German congregational manuscripts, period documents, and oral history gathered decades ago, “The War Within” details a largely forgotten chapter in the history of Iowa and the life of a faithful congregation, one still capable of eliciting strong emotion and providing a sobering thought-provoking lesson on which to reflect.
About the speaker:
As a youth, Russell Baldner’s early affection for the German language and history led to B.A. and M.A. degrees in History, undergraduate and graduate study in German, and a career in education, teaching in those and related fields. The presenter first conducted serious primary source historical research in the original nineteenth-century German manuscripts of his family’s ancestral German–Lutheran congregation, of which his immigrant great-great-grandfather was a founding member. Four years later, on the first of nine sojourns in ancestral Germany, Russell lived in his ancestor’s birthplace. Baldner specializes in the history of Germany, ethnic German history and genealogy; historical documents written in Kurrentschrift, an archaic, long-abandoned and seldom-read German cursive script; and Late Prehistoric Native American archaeology. A frequent public speaker, historian and writer, Baldner’s recent publications include several nineteenth-century German Lutheran historical and manuscript studies; a three-part Introduction to the Reformation and Protestantism; and a four-part research series on the Late Prehistoric to Early Historic Native American petroglyphs and pictographs of northeast Iowa.
In September 2022, Russell and wife Cathryn co-hosted “Medieval to Modern Hearts of Germany,” a two-week group tour in northeastern Germany proposed and largely designed by Baldner in conjunction with and sponsored by the University of Northern Iowa, his alma mater. Included were pre-departure orientations by Russell focusing on Germany’s history, language, and social-cultural landscape; historical lectures and commentaries while on tour in Germany; and a renewed and welcome opportunity daily to converse in the language of his heritage.
Happy World Emoji day! What emojis best represent you? We think 🧳🌲📚🍄🍫 represent us pretty well.
Collectors & Artist Talk: Fever Dreams
Hear from art collectors David and Sarojini Johnson and artist Joseph Lappie about the Fever Dreams: German Expressionism exhibition featuring German prints at the @figgeartmuseum.
The German American Heritage Center and Museum will stay open until 5 pm for visitors to view German Expressionist Prints from the Johnson Collection at the GAHC+M before heading over to the Figge for an artist talk with the collectors.
Thursday July 24th | 6:00 pm
FREE and open to the public
5:00 p.m. | Bar Open (cards only)
6:00 p.m. | Collectors & Artist Talk
Figge Art Museum | 225 W 2nd St. | Davenport, Iowa
The term "mirror with a memory" coined by Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. in 1859, refers to the early process of photography. The term`s poetic nature helps us reflect on how photographs captures a moment in time, a memory.
This is a circa 1900 photograph of the Lady Germania fountain that once stood at the gateway to Davenport, IA.
Take a moment to look at this image, what do you see? Who do you see? How does this photograph make you feel?
Sadly, the fountain was removed post-WWI in the wake of German-Immigrant discrimination. The date of the fountain`s removal is unclear. Today, a reconstructed statue by Jeff Adams honorably stands in its memory.
Unlock the world of 20th century creative visionaries at the German American Heritage Center and Museum:
Currently on display are 20th century, German Expressionist Prints from the David and Sarojini Johnson Collection. Come visit us now through December 14th to have the chance to see original works from artists like Max Beckmann and Käthe Kollwitz.
Admission is free for the entire month of July. Thank you to Cal and Jill Werner for making free admission possible.
We are open:
Tues-Sat 10am to 4pm
Sun 12pm-4pm
Closed on Mondays
Best of the Wurst was amazing! After a day of sampling and voting, this year`s winner was the Black Forest wurst from Jerry`s Market. 🌭🇩🇪
You can visit Jerry`s Market in Moline, IL to get more bratwurst and other delicious foods to take home. Visit their old-fashioned grocery store and butcher shop at
📍1609 17th St, Moline, Illinois.
Thanks to our premier sponsor, Zimmerman Honda for making this event possible. Thank you to WVIK, Quad Cities NPR and Hy-Vee for their in-kind sponsorships.
Also, a big thank you to @twinspanbrewing for collaborating with us and brewing a special hefeweizen, Hefenstein`s Monster, for our event! You can get this exclusive brew in cans at the museum gift shop. Prost! 🍻
Cans in progress for Best of the Wurst on Sunday! We will have Hefenstein’s Monster, a 5.1% abv Hefeweizen on tap Sunday during the event. Cans will be available in the gift shop to take home 🍻
16 oz, 4 pack is $14.
Museum members get a 10% discount and all purchases are tax free! ☀️
If you haven’t been to @twinspanbrewing, take a trip to the restaurant and brewery and try all of their yummy brews!
Get ready for the 8th annual Best of the Wurst sausage competition, this Sunday, July 13th from 12:00 am- 4:00 pm! Members get in free to this fun competition where you can sample local brats, purchase a variety of delicious food, enjoy an ice cold beer or pop, and vote for your favorite “wurst!” This year we will also ice cream from Here`s the Scoop to taste! Live music, ice cream, and balloon twisting are just some of the special activities we have planned. $5 entry per person, kids under 12 and members are free. Tickets are available at the door, cash or card is accepted. Take a look at some of the highlights from last year`s Best of the Wurst competition here:
GAHC members get in free to our 8th annual Best of the Wurst sausage competition, held this Sunday, July 13th from 12:00 am- 4:00 pm! Along with local Here`s the Scoop ice cream, guests can sample local brats, purhcase from a variety of delicious foods, and enjoy an ice cold beer or pop! And don`t forget to vote for your favorite “wurst!” Live music, ice cream, and balloon twisting are just some of the special activities we have planned. $5 entry per person, kids under 12 and members are free. Tickets are available at the door, cash or card is accepted. Here`s some of the fun that we had at last year`s Best of the Wurst!
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