History Commons^™

Searching For A Job In The United States, Paul Grossenbacher

Swiss American Historical Society Review

It was my brother's wedding day and, since I was best man in the wedding, I took a day off from work and went to Burgdorf. Ernst Josi said, "Paul, since you go through Bern, why don't you go to the American Embassy and apply for a visa to go to America?

On Being A Wisconsin Farmhand, Paul Grossenbacher

Swiss American Historical Society Review

The winter of 1929 is long remembered for the deep snow and the cold. Highway 69 from New Glarus to Monroe was closed many times and the mountains of snow the snowplows pushed were reaching the telephone wires.

Growing Up In Burgdorf, Paul Grossenbacher

Swiss American Historical Society Review

When old age starts t:o creep up on you, start looking back. You will be amazed how many beautiful memories will come back to light. That is what I am trying to do, look back and try Ito find old memories. I was born into a family of two sisters and five brothers; no more children were born to my parents, so I stayed the youngest one and a mother's little boy. My home was the "innere Sommerhaus" on the edge of the small city of Burgdorf. Burgdorf is mostly called the door to the famous '"Emmenthal." The Emmenthal is …

Preparing For A Career, Paul Grossenbacher

Swiss American Historical Society Review

At the end of the fifth school year, we all had the opportunity to take an intelligence test and, if you passed that test, you then could go to secondary school, which is similar to high school here. Even though you were only a sixth grader, the subjects were algebra, physics, chemistry, and foreign languages. It is very important in Switzerland that one speaks several languages because in Switzerland, a country less than one-third the size of the state of Wisconsin, four official languages are spoken. About 19% speak a real good French, about 10% are Italian speaking, only 1% …

Managing A Farm In France, Paul Grossenbacher

Swiss American Historical Society Review

After the one year in French-speaking Switzerland, it was then the time for you to decide on a profession, your life's work. I wanted to go to college (which was located 15 minutes walk from my home) and study to be a civil engineer, building roads and tunnels, etc.

Keeping A Promise, Paul Grossenbacher

Swiss American Historical Society Review

Shortly after Eddy passed away, it was our silver wedding anniversary. I still remembered what I had promised Verena. We had 43 all reservations made, then we lost Eddy and we were going to cancel all of it, but our friends and our family told us we should go, it would be a good diversion for us.

Getting Married, Paul Grossenbacher

Swiss American Historical Society Review

Well, I was a farmer, and married farmhands were preferred over single men, so we talked about getting married. I sent that news back to Switzerland, but my oldest brother was not too happy about it.

Family Joys And Sorrows, Paul Grossenbacher

Swiss American Historical Society Review

Our two boys were only one year apart in age, and somehow we had to keep them busy. We bought nice accordions for each and had them take lessons.

Leaving The Farm, Paul Grossenbacher

Swiss American Historical Society Review

It was good to be back home again, but Verena enjoyed her first trip to Switzerland very much and she has made about five more trips since. She could learn where her ancestors came from. I was the owner of a farm then, and it was also the dairy which supplied New Glarus and later Monticello with milk. It was a good business, but we all really had to work too hard in those days. But we made a little money, and the day came when we could burn the mortgage.

Ii. The Lloyd's And Switzerland, Georgia Lloyd

Swiss American Historical Society Review

My mother had many reasons to be drawn to Switzerland. Her father-in-law, Henry D. Lloyd, had spent time there. Geneva was the international headquarters of the League of Nations, and also of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom of which, along with Jane Addams, she had been a founder. A member of the Board, she wanted to attend the 1926 Congress of the W.I.L.P.F. being held in Dublin. She believed spending time in other countries was part of a good education.

Iv. William Bross Lloyd In His Own Words

Swiss American Historical Society Review

1. Solidarity and Autonomy: Africa and the Swiss Example

The Swiss Confederation grew out of the loose alliance in 1291 of three communities of peasants who were underprivileged, for the most part poor, and generally scorned by the elite of the period.