Newberry Library - Raster, Hermann - Correspondence to Margarethe Raster (wife), Hermann Raster family papers, 1881

Raster, Hermann - Correspondence to Margarethe Raster (wife), Hermann Raster family papers, 1881

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Open book Raster, Hermann - Correspondence to Margarethe Raster (wife), Hermann Raster family papers, 1881

Title Raster, Hermann - Correspondence to Margarethe Raster (wife), Hermann Raster family papers, 1881

Creator Raster, Hermann, 1827-1891

Date 1881

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 Clippings, Correspondence, Diaries, Manuscripts, Photographs

User-Contributed Transcription Freitag, 9. Septbr. Morgens Ich habe ganz vergessen, zu schreiben, wie sch��n und billig ich die Schnupft��cher finde.��nnchen wird Dir nat��rlich selbst deswegen schreiben. Da sie jetzt wieder inden Kindergarten geht, so wird sie nur Sonnabends oder Sonntags ans Briefeschreiben kommen. Sie schm��kert jetzt "Betty u. Toms" von Nieritz und ist ganz versessen darauf,wollte es sogar gestern Nachmittag mit in den Jeff. Park nehmen und dort lesen,statt sich zu tummeln. Es ward nat��rlich nicht gestattet. Walther ist sehr artig, namentlich auch darin, da�� er ��ber die strenge Di��t,der er unterworfen ist, nicht einmal murrt,oder neidisch wird. Wir essen jetzt sehr oftWassermelonen, die vortrefflich sind, und die uns vortrefflich bekommen; aber nie f��llt es dem Kleinen ein, auch nur mit einer Miene Verdru�� dar��ber zu zeigen, da�� er nicht mitessen darf. Dasselbe gilt von geh = plant,s��en Kartoffeln, Lima = Bohnen, Birnen pp, die ihmalle verboten sind. Es w��rde schwer sein, einen zweiten Jungen zu finden, der in solchen Dingen so folgsam w��re - Seine abendlichen Bauch = Anschwel[lungen]

Transcription Status Needs review

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 147

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 1781px × 2741px 27.97 MB

Filename 998784178805867_mms_raster_box_008_fl_147_033_001.tif

Unique Identifier NL11CJZY

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