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Swiss American Historical Society Newsletter

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The Swiss In Hawaii, Niklaus R. Schweizer

Swiss American Historical Society Newsletter

SWITZERLAND AND HAWAII, at first glance, seem to have little to do with each other and any connection appears coincidental. A high government official in Honolulu recently was of that opinion and many would have readily corroborated his notions.

Editor's Remarks, Heinz K. Meier

Swiss American Historical Society Newsletter

It is my sad duty to inform the members of the Swiss American Historical Society of the recent death of Emil J. Schaefer. Emil Schaefer was born on May 10, 1892, in Zurich and came to this country in his late teens. After some traveling he settled in Madison, Wisconsin, where he worked in several capacities, founded a family and became one of t he active members of a number of Swiss organizations.

The Meaning Of The American Bicentennial, Hans R. Guggisberg

Swiss American Historical Society Newsletter

People who deal professionally with historical research , historical writing or the teaching of history, tend somewhat to look down their noses at anniversaries which commemorate historical events or personalities. Why is it, they ask, that the general public suddenly seems to take an interest in history when the latter takes the shape of a roundnumbered date, while otherwise in our world so exclusively concerned with the present and the future, none but the professional historians still believe that we can learn from the past? It would not be easy to answer that question and I shall not attempt to …

A Study Of Historical Evidences Related To Lds Church As Reflected In Volumes Xiv Through Xxvi Of The Journal Of Discourses, Terry J. Aubrey

Theses and Dissertations

The material in this study is a follow-up of a thesis done by Paul C. Richards entitled, "A Study of Evidences Related to LDS Church History as Reflected in Volumes I through XIII of the Journal of Discourse." That same basic format has been employed in treating the last thirteen volumes of the Discourses.

The Discourses contains addresses delivered by General Authorities of the LDS Church and others from 1854 to 1886. Until Richards did his thesis, no one had compiled an index of those volumes that dealt exclusively with history related to the LDS Church. This study …

History And Functions Of The Aaronic Priesthood And The Offices Of Priest, Teacher, And Deacon In The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints, 1829 To 1844, Robert L. Marrott

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis traces the history of the restoration and development of the Aaronic Priesthood and its offices of priest, teacher, and deacon, from 1829 to the middle 1840s in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The major areas of emphasis include the organizational structure of the Aaronic Priesthood, the responsibilities assigned to priests, teachers, and deacons, and the relationship of the functions of the Aaronic Priesthood which are first given in Section 13 of the Doctrine and Covenants, namely the ministering of angels, the preparatory gospel, and the offering of the sons of Levi. Also included is the …

A History Of The Growth And Development Of The Primary Association Of The Lds Church From 1878 To 1928, Conrad A. Harward

Theses and Dissertations

The Primary Association of the LDS Church is an organization assigned to direct week-day religious training of children four to twelve years of age. The object of this study was to determine what factors led to the birth of the movement, how the early program developed, what its main features were, what some of the major problems were and how they were solved, who some of the prominent people were in the movement, and what were some of its major accomplishments.

Results of the study have shown that the Primary became a great influence in the lives of many young …

A History Of Female Missionary Activity In The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints, 1830-1898, Calvin S. Kunz

Theses and Dissertations

Latter-day Saint female missionary activities informally began in the early 1830's, remaining numerically unconstant until 1879, when a significant increase began. Between 1830 and 1898 over two hundred women had been involved in missionary work, laboring mostly in California, New York, Hawaii and England.

Before 1865, Latter-day Saint women did not have any official missionary status. After 1865, Church officials began the practice of setting them apart. Finally, in 1898 women were "certified" as missionaries which placed them on an equal status with their male counterparts.

Some lady missionaries performed household chores, taught school, preached sermons and presided over female …

Scrutinizing A Giant: Frisch's And Duerrenmatt's Views Of America

Swiss American Historical Society Newsletter

Ever since its discovery America has fascinated, intrigued and also repelled Europeans. And ever since in the 17th century Europeans have started to emigrate in greater numbers to North America, this land has been a puzzling giant to the transatlantic contemplator. For quite some time, the Europeans' direct experience and even their factual information was limited and, thus, the new continent was understandably prone to be mythified-be it as some sort of earthly paradise where goodness and freedom reigned, be it as a degenerated place infected by all imaginable vices of modern times. Yet even with today's array of information, …

New Hope: A Mormon Colony In Central California, Clint Mccready

Theses and Dissertations

New Hope was a small Mormon agricultural community in Central California. It was founded in 1846, by Samuel Brannan, on the hope that Brigham Young would make it the center stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The approximately twenty farmers at New Hope labored diligently under the illusion that thousands of their brethren would shortly join them. When President Young decided to settle in the Great Basin, the New Hope settlement was terminated that same year: 1847.

A History Of The Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association 1939 To 1974, John Kent Williams

Theses and Dissertations

This study will present a comprehensive study of the YMMIA from 1939 to 1974. This study includes the emergence of different programs and the changes in age groupings, as well as goals of the program. A short historical background chapter will be included to acquaint the readers with the previous growth and development of YMMIA since it was instituted.

Formal Reporting Systems Of The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints, 1830-1975, Dennis H. Smith

Theses and Dissertations

Since its organization, the Church has kept records of its members and their Church activity. The foremost means of gathering this data has been printed report forms. This thesis traces the history of formal reports used by the Church and emphasizes information on membership and vital data as well as activity in Priesthood and auxiliary organizations. Financial reports of organizations and individual persons, as well as personalized confidential reports and minutes of meetings were not used. The thesis analyzes the type of information called for rather than the statistical figures themselves.

Relf Kieser, Max Frisch: Das Literarische Tagebuch: Book Review, John F. Holley

Swiss American Historical Society Newsletter

The significance of Max Frisch's Diaries as literature is not dependent on a formal satisfaction of structural norms: it is not a art that strives for the perfection of a traditional model, but rather an attempt to move through a linguistic game ("ein linguistisches Spiel") toweard ther boundries of the expressible - toward that point at which, as Rolf Kieser puts it, the reader recognizes the significance of the white spaces between the words ("das Weisse zwischen den Worten"). In his book Max Frisch: Das literarische Tagebuch Professor Kieser bring calls " diaristisch," to the fore and, in a examination …

Plinio Martini, Nicht Anfang Und Nicht Ende: Book Review, Marianne Burkhard

Swiss American Historical Society Newsletter

Martini's book provides the reader with an insight into the harsh life in one of the least known parts of Switzerland the Val Eavona in the upper Ticino. Far removed from the more luxuriant southern landscape around Lugano and Locarno this is a world of steep dangerous mountains and poor soil, of hard work and little recompense. For generations emigration has been a part of every family's life: the older sons were forced to seek their livelihood in distant countries, thus making room for the younger children and leavng behind mourning women-mothers , sisters, fiancees and even wives. All this …

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Swiss American Historical Society Newsletter

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The Twelfth Annual Meeting Of The Swiss American Historical Society, Bruno Gujer, Leo Schelbert, Guido Schuler

Swiss American Historical Society Newsletter

The twelfth annual meeting of the reactivated SAHS was held on Saturday, November 8, 1975, at the Swiss Town House, 35 West 67th Street in New York City.

Daniela Weinberg, Peasant Wisclom, Cultural Adaptation In A Swiss Village: Book Review, Elinor Sosne

Swiss American Historical Society Newsletter

Traditional anthropological wisdom holds that peasantry as a cultural type is declining in the modern world as the social and economic conditions for its existence disappear. Modern peasant community studies, therefore, often trace the transformation that is occurring throughout the world as typically peasant communities change and new "post-peasants'' emerge .

The Impact Of Polygamy Upon The Life Of James Yorgason: A Nineteenth-Century Mormon Bishop, Blaine M. Yorgason

Theses and Dissertations

On August 2, 1875, James Yorgason, soon to be the Bishop of the Fountain Green Utah Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, took his first plural wife. In doing so he joined a rather elite group of Mormon men who were known as polygamists. Over the next thirteen years, as he built a financial empire to support them, he took five more plural wives, making him exceptional even among the elite.
But then in 1887 the Edmunds-Tucker law was passed and "The Raid" against Mormon polygamists began, the United States entered a time of monetary crisis …

The History Of The Emery Stake Academy, Paul Robert Tabone

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis is to provide a study of the early Church educational program in Southeastern Utah, especially the Emery County area. This study is to trace the growth and development of one aspect of this program from 1889 to 1922, and to lend special emphasis to the founding and location of the Emery Stake Academy, the buildings and their development, the growth of the curriculum, the enrollment, the activities, and the influence of the Academy upon the area.

Samuel Brannan: An Historical Play, Reed Davidson Turnbow

Theses and Dissertations

The play, Samuel Brannan, is the final result of a careful study of the history of Samuel Brannan. The information which has been selected to serve as the base for the plot was gleaned from the works of historians, letters written by Samuel, and individual journals. Although license has been taken with historical facts by the playwright in order to make this play theatrical, the play is based upon authentic happenings.
The play is concerned with the events of Brannan's life, his unusual successes, and subsequent failures. It also treats his character, his attitudes, his beliefs, and the factors which …

Joseph Smith As A Jacksonian Man Of Letters: His Literary Development As Evidenced In His Newspaper Writings, Walter A. Norton

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the newspaper writings of Joseph Smith Jr., the Mormon Prophet, traces his development as an American writer as evidenced in his newspaper publications, and notes the major concepts contained therein which demonstrate that Smith may deservedly be called a "Jacksonian Man of Letters."

Emerging from his youth lacking even rudimentary writing ability, Smith began his development with the translation of ancient scriptural records. Literary experiences with other scriptures, historical records, and even grammar classes augmented his development. Smith later turned his attention to frontier newspapers and served briefly as an editor. Jail confinement provided further stimulus to …

News From The President, Leo Schelbert

Swiss American Historical Society Newsletter

It is my sad duty to announce to the members of the Swiss American Historical Society that Dr. Imre de Kosinski died unexpectedly on August 17, 1975. The Society has thus lost an active and trusted member who - as former Treasurer - has decisively contributed to its successful revitalization. Dr. de Kosinski was born in Budapest, Hungary, 'Where he earned his doctorate in political science. In 1944 he left his native country and -went to Switzerland to assist the Hungarian goverment in exile. He then married Edith Nussbaumer of Basel. In 1954 Dr. de Kosinski and his family moved …

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Swiss American Historical Society Newsletter

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Swiss American Historical Society Newsletter

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A Swiss Patrician In New York City's Elite: Henri Casimir De Rham, 1785-1873, Robert H. Billigmeier

Swiss American Historical Society Newsletter

In the early nineteeth century, the Swiss who left for the New World faced the travail of a long journey over land to French ports or over land and by river vessels down the Rhine to ports of embarcation in Germany or the Netherlands. After the strenuous journey to the coast camme the hazards of the Atlantic crossing which still loomed ominously foreboding in the minds of emigrants desinted for North America. Some travellers, like Johannes and Anna Schweizer of Hemberg, St. Gallen, Brought more than the usual amount of baggage and sufferened the additional difficulties their encumbrances occasioned. The …

Some Recent Publications Of Swiss American Interest, Leo Schelbert

Swiss American Historical Society Newsletter

BAENZIGER, HANS. "Eindrucke aus Amerika und der Schweiz," Schweizer Monatshefte 55 (May 1975), 98-100.

BALMER, HEINZ. "Louis Agassiz 1807 - 1873. Der Mann und sein Werk," Denkschriften der Schweizerischen Naturforschenden Gesellschaft LXXXIX (1975), 11-20.

BALMER, HEINZ. "Edouard Desor und sein Landhaus Combe-Varin ," Gesnerus 32 (1975), 61-86.

DEUCHLER, FLORENS. "Als Kunstwissenschafter in Amerika," Neue Zlircher Zeitung No. 153 (5/6 July 1975), 43.

GUGGIS BERG, HANS RUDOLF. Geschichte der USA. Vol . I: Entstehung_ und nationale Konsolidierung Vol. II: Die Weltmacht . Stuttgart: Kohlhammer, 197) . Vol . 209 210 of Urban Taschenbucher. 319 pp.

LAENG, HANS "Der Schweizer Indianermaler Carl …

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Swiss American Historical Society Newsletter

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History Of The Swiss American Historical Society, Heinz K. Meier

Swiss American Historical Society Newsletter

5. The Last Ten Years*

The Washington meeting of October 5, 1963, was an encouraging sign of interest in the usefulness of the Swiss American Historical Society on the part of the official representative of Switzerland in this country. It did not solve any of the immediate problems, however. The society was without leadership and its activities had ceased a number of years ago. Thanks to the initiative displayed by the embassy, however, thigs were put in motion again. For one, Emil Schaefer, who had so unexpectedly been saddled with presidential responsibility again, actively looked for a person willing to …

News Of Genealogy, Heinz K. Meier

Swiss American Historical Society Newsletter

A. In Search of Ancestors: Where to Begin

We all of us harbor a particular interest in ourselves that just naturally extends to curiosity about our forebears. This inquisitiveness, when combined with the proper research procedures, can culminate in a rewarding and stimulating study: Genealogical Research.

New York Regional Meeting, Dr. Rolf Kieser

Swiss American Historical Society Newsletter

The New York chapter of the SAHS held a panel discussion on "Contemporary Switzerland in the Eyes of Young Swiss-Americans" on May 3, 1975, at the Swiss Town House. Seven panelists, all relatively recent immigrants from Switzerland, addressed themselves to written questions given them by the organizer and moderator of the meeting Dr. Rolf Kieser, First Vice President of the SAHS.