German Immigrant Contributions: Resources and Activities

American Memory Collections

• The Northern Great Plains, 1880-1920
• Pioneering the Upper Midwest, ca. 1820-1910
• Touring Turn-of-the-Century America, 1880-1920
• Map Collections, 1500-1999
• Buckaroos in Paradise: Ranching Culture in Northern Nevada, 1945-1982

Suggested Primary Sources from American Memory

Photos for German Conversational Practice
• Sod House built in 1881, Willow City, North Dakota. Use with Activity 1 worksheet.
• Joseph Burkholder Family moving into their new house. Use with Activity 2 worksheet.
• Milton Meat Market: Charles Erb, Proprietor. Use with Activity 3 worksheet.
• German Couple, Milwaukee, WI ca. 1930's Use with Activity 4 worksheet.
• Herrman Monument in New Ulm, Minnesota

  Documents for Critical Reading and Note Taking

• The Minnesota guide: A handbook of information for the travelers, pleasure seekers and immigrants
• "How Wisconsin Came By Its Large German Element" from Collections of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, Volume. 12.
• Wisconsin Historical Society, Volume 12

  Maps

• Guttenberg Ia, Clayton county (Map)
• Auswanderer-karte und wegweifer nach Nordamerika.  A nineteenth-century German language map showing shipping routes from Europe to America.

  Audio Selections

• To America from Germany Martha Arriola Interview, 1978. (Real Audio or wav Format)
• Comparing German and American Foodways Martha Arriola Interview, 1978. (Real Audio or wav format)

Additional Primary and Secondary Resources
Check local holdings, including local historical society collections, for additional resources.

• Germany, Marshall Cavendish, 1997 (Fiesta series)
• Hargrove, Jim. Enchantment of the World: Germany. Childrens Press, 1994.

Learning Page Resources

• Using Primary Sources in the Classroom
• Mindwalk Activity

Lesson Resources

• Project Overview for Students
• Group Process Assessment
• Worksheets:
  • Activity 1
  • Activity 2
  • Activity 3
  • Activity 4