A new course co-taught by Prof. Kristin Kopp and Prof. Sean Franzel on German immigration to the US and Missouri recently visited the newly built State Historical Society of Missouri. Students got an introduction to the archives from Laura Jolley, assistant director of manuscripts (pictured) and Sean Rost, oral historian, and are researching specific objects in the archive of relevance to the cultural history of the state.

We looked at printed and handwritten objects, including teaching aids, scrapbooks, and print periodicals (including one “German-American Youth Magazine” (deutsch-amerikanisches Volksblatt) for teens that praises the moderate consumption of beer [!]). The students will be working with experts in the history of Missouri and immigration throughout the semester.