Oral History Project:
Immigration from Germany into the United States, 1945-1975
Between 1945 and 1975, a generation of German immigrants came to the United States from a country that had just been defeated in a war it had started, and that had committed one of biggest crimes in world history; the immigrants came from a nation that was watched closely and suspiciously. Some of the immigrants were Jews who had survived the concentration camps, others had family members which probably had supported the Nazis. In time, the newly founded Federal Republic of Germany became an ally of the US, and a member of NATO. But what about the immigrants‘ stories?
This project is an oral history investigation into the issues of German post-war immigration into New York and Pennsylvania. It brings together undergraduate students and senior citizens from university towns or the students' home communities who were first-generation immigrants from Germany. Through private, one‐on‐one conversations, facilitated by a list of central questions, students research personal and family biographies, the immigrants‘ reasons for coming to the States, the economical situation then, and the challenges and opportunities for integration. How did the community react to the newcomers? How did either side actively try to make the process of integration easier? Did the newcomers form communities of their own? How was the language barrier handled? What were the attitudes of the locals toward the new immigrants, especially those from Germany? Was there harassment? From which point on did they feel fully accepted, and when did they start thinking of themselves as Americans? And what is their relationship to their home country today? Do they consider it different from that of other immigrants?
Students will work with their conversation partners independently, supported by their home institutions and/or faculty at Binghamton University. A workshop on November 19/20 at BU will introduce the participants to the history of German immigration into the United States and interviewing methods and techniques. (Seating is limited, travel support for outside students is available.) There will also be a blog that all participants can use to share their experiences and get support. There will also be assistance for finding conversation partners.
Participants can receive credit for this project by either signing up individually for it with a faculty member from their home institution (independent study), or by taking a winter course (online) with German Studies at Binghamton University.
Workload: A transcript of 2-3 oral histories is expected from each student, plus a summary that puts the conversations in context with the results of the workshop and further readings that will be provided. Expectations will vary with the way students receive credit, though. This could easily be extended into an honors project, for instance.
Results will be made available to the public through a website and a small exhibition that will travel through some of the communities portrayed. Great for resumes!
Questions? Want to sign up?
Email Prof. Harald Zils: hzils@binghamton.edu
More information will be made available here shortly.