Newberry Library - Anna Sophie (later Anna Hercz) Raster diary, 1886

Anna Sophie (later Anna Hercz) Raster diary, 1886

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Open book Anna Sophie (later Anna Hercz) Raster diary, 1886

Title Anna Sophie (later Anna Hercz) Raster diary, 1886

Creator Raster, Hermann, 1827-1891

Date 1886, 1897-1898

Place United States

Language German

Subjects Forty-Eighters (American immigrants), German Americans, Germans, Newspaper editors, Newspaper publishing

Summary The bulk of this collection consists of correspondenc--professional, personal, and family. Many of the letters in the collection are in German, written by prominent German-American and German editors, professors, diplomats, singers and authors. There are also letters in English from important Chicagoans covering topics such as the fledgling Chicago Public library, immigration laws, the Chicago Board of Education, anti-temperance and the Republican Platform. Many of Raster's letters to his family have been translated, including those that reveal his experiences and feelings as an immigrant in New York City and during the aftermath of the Chicago fire in 1871.

Biographical/Historical Note German immigrant "Forty-Eighter," editor of New York Abendzeitung and Illinois Staats-Zeitung. Hermann Raster was born in 1827 in Zerbst, Germany. He graduated from University of Leipzig in 1846 and the University of Berlin in 1848. In 1849 he took a job as the stenographer of the Anhalt Legislature. Raster took part in the revolutions of 1848, writing passionately against church and monarchy. He was forced to flee to America with fellow revolutionaries to escape prison. Raster arrived in New York in July 1851 and first found employment as a farmhand near Tioga, PA. He left for Buffalo in the spring of 1852, accepting the position of editor for the Buffalo Demokrat. His journalistic reputation grew quickly and in February of 1853, Raster was made editor of the New York Abendzeitung, the most influential German-language paper of the time. In 1867, Raster accepted the position as editor for the Illinois Staats-Zeitung in Chicago, where he remained until his death. Raster died in July 1891 in Silesia, Germany where he had traveled for his poor health. His third wife Margarethe and their three children, Anna, Edwin and Walther survived him. Raster was influential in leading the German-American switch to the Republican Party in 1856, swaying German public opinion via his pro-union, anti-slavery articles in the German press, and promoting the personal liberty (anti-temperance) cause.

Extent 6.2 linear feet (10 boxes, 2 oversize boxes)

Format Diaries

User-Contributed Transcription book cover

Transcription Note This document was transcribed by volunteers as part of the Newberry Transcribe crowdsourcing initiative.

Archival Collection Title Hermann Raster papers

Link to Catalog View finding aid | View record

Call Number Midwest MS Raster Box 8 Folder 135

BibID 998784178805867

Rights Status No Copyright - United States

Contributing Institution Newberry Library

Newberry Open Access Policy The Newberry makes its collections available for any lawful purpose, commercial or non-commercial, without licensing or permission fees to the library, subject to these terms and conditions.

IIIF Resource Type Canvas

Size 1639px × 2257px 21.20 MB

Filename 998784178805867_mms_raster_box_008_fl_135_001_001.tif

Unique Identifier NL11CIGR

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