The Silent Professor: The Story of Wilhelm Lehmann (1802-1882) or Nationalism on the Run: The Experience of German Immigrants? Identity Formation
Date
2008-07-03Author
Boyeson, Matthew R.
Advisor(s)
Sanislo, Teresa M.
Oberly, James Warren, 1954-
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
My research will focus on William Lehmann (1802-1881), a German immigrant from the Prussian territory in present day Westphalia. He immigrated due to political pressure from the government, though arrived in American virtually unknown, continuing his life as a professor. He initially taught in colleges in Pennsylvania and Georgia, after which he made his way to Dodge County in Wisconsin, where his family resided thereafter. His arrival and experiences raise questions on the education systems in America, as well as in Germany, in addition to questions of cultural reception. Though his national recognition is almost non-existent, I would like to attempt to show that his impact on German reception in American is under-appreciated. To help form the discussion on his impact in America, I will use the experiences of Francis Lieber and Charles Follen. Both individuals immigrated during the same period as Lehmann, though upon their arrival, achieved a position in society that is well known still today. All three men, Lehmann, Lieber, and Follen have similar educational backgrounds, having studied at universities in Germany. They were all forced to leave Germany due to political turmoil as a result of the fall of Napoleon. They all three made their way to America, whereupon they became involved in academia. My questions will involve the differences and similarities related to these three individuals in hopes to better understand German immigration and cultural reception of Germans in America. I would also like to look into their stories in hopes of telling a more complete story of the political refugee prior to the revolutions of 1848.
Subject
German Americans--Ethnic identity.
Germans--United States--19th century.
Follen, Charles, 1796--1840.
Lieber, Francis, 1800-1872.
Lehrmann, William, 1802-1881.
German Americans--Cultural assimilation.
Political refugees--United States--History--19th century.
Immigrants--United States--History--19th century.
Permanent Link
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1793/28781Type
Thesis