Abstract
ABSTRACT Established to nourish and showcase the vibrancy of German-American ethnic, scholarly, and cultural life, the library and archive of the German Society of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia have long served as artifacts of identity, politics, and intellectual discourse in one of the United States' largest cities. The library's opulent reading room showcases the central role of literary and cultural pride in German-American life. This article analyzes a pivotal era in the history of the German Society, its library, and its archive—between roughly 1887 and 1920—when burgeoning German ethnic pride came face to face with challenges posed by interethnic tensions, and, eventually, shifting geopolitical alignments culminating in the First World War. Study of the construction of the Society's headquarters and library reading room, along with examination of the contents of the library and archive, reveals that the Society operated as a crucible for evolving understandings of German-American ethnicity and republican citizenship.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
