St. Louis County Profile
Maggie Kramer, Emma Ries, Natalie Rausch and JT Krell
German Immigration to St. Louis:
Dr. Gottfried Duden was identified as being responsible for the influx of Germans to the Midwest, Missouri and especially St. Louis, but a noticeable concentration of them did not occur until the late 1830’s. Duden traveled to the Midwest and learned the land to write and publish his book for Germans. After returning to Germany from the Midwest in 1829, Duden published 1500 copies of his book which began the first wave of Germans to Missouri. In 1919, William G. Bek, a biographer for Duden wrote:
When the first group of Germans, known as the Berlin Society, began emigrating to St. Louis in 1832, they were all mostly well-educated and wealthy but still struggled with getting acquainted once the journey had been made. There were many obstacles on the journey itself as it was not a short one and it meant leaving everything behind. Duden’s publication of letters about the land and political freedom of the United States gave many Germans a false sense of security about their outlook once they got there. For the wealthy and educated members of the Berlin Society, the struggle and intense hard work was a new way of life which many could not handle. There was much work to be done when settling, especially for the first group of Germans, while keeping their culture close in view and highlighted as an important part of life. Given the still rich German culture of St. Louis today, it is clear they made a lasting impact.
As more groups of Germans made it over to the United States and began concentrating within a few small areas of the Midwest, there was a need for more space and open farmland, so away from St. Louis they moved for more opportunities. In the years following the original German settling of St. Louis in 1832, the counties of Warren, Franklin, Hermann and St. Charles would be predominantly German.
German Beer Brewing in St. Louis:
Breweries and beer are in the blood of St. Louis. Beer making in this city began almost around the time of its founding and in 1840 was when the German-style lager was introduced by Adam Lemp. This type of beer grew in popularity quickly and soon became one of the most popular types of beer in the United States. During this time was when German immigration to St. Louis was immense and by the 1850s about one-third of the city’s residents were German immigrants. Through their travels to St. Louis, they brought a variety of brewing skills with them which can account for a part of the large brewing industry in this city.
As the city boomed so did its brewing industry. After the termination of the Civil War, there was an emergence of new and advanced technologies and marketing strategies that brewers used to their advantage. Soon enough, there was a brewery in every neighborhood, and by 1870 there were at least 50 different breweries surrounding the city. St. Louis breweries became some of the country’s most popular and successful.
Smaller breweries began to fall and after the Prohibition in the 1920s, the brewing industry took major and detrimental hits. One of these failing breweries includes the Lemp Brewery. But, Anheuser-Busch was unique in that it continued to prosper by marketing other types of products they offered. By the end of Prohibition, Anheuser-Busch was one of two remaining breweries open in St. Louis and soon became the leading brewery in America.
Today there are many more local breweries including a success in German beer crafting which is Urban Chestnut Brewing Company. German immigrants and their heritage have had a large impact on St. Louis and its brewing industry which can still be seen clearly today.
German Press in St. Louis:
The German-language press was crucial for the further development of German culture in Missouri. An important role of the German-language press was preserving the language for the German-speaking population in the area. Another purpose of the German-language press was that it aimed to spark encouragement for the protection of immigrants.
An extremely popular German-language newspaper was Anzeiger des Westens in St. Louis, which was also the first German-language newspaper in St. Louis. It is believed to be one of the most highly circulated newspapers in Missouri, in English or German. It was one of the most successful German-language papers across the Midwest. Another historic German-language newspaper is the Westliche Post, which also had a far-reaching audience.
By having this newspaper written in German, the St. Louis German immigrants were able to read newspapers in their native language, which also catered to their interests more than the English-language newspapers might have. Unfortunately, the German-language press was targeted during the anti-German sentiment in America, and the German-language press suffered as a result. In fact, the Anheuser-Busch company in St. Louis changed part of their logo to no long display German words or imagery, in fear of facing backlash and losing customers.
The impact of the German-language press in St. Louis was long-standing and demonstrative of the rich German culture in Missouri. From the difficulties in the German-language press during the time of strong anti-German sentiment in Missouri, to the wide success of the St. Louis-based German-language papers, St. Louis has been a fundamental foreground for how German culture has shifted in Missouri.
German Culture/Anti-German Sentiment:
German culture has a long history that has had a significant influence on the world. It is particularly important in the United States, where many German immigrants have established themselves. German culture has a long history in St. Louis, Missouri, yet there have also been anti-German feeling there.
Many German immigrants started to settle in the city in the middle of the 19th century, bringing their rich cultural heritage with them. The German community developed its own schools, churches, and social clubs, quickly becoming to be a substantial presence in the city. They also established breweries, meatpacking facilities, and other industries, which helped the city’s economy.
St. Louis’s German heritage is still evident in many facets of the local culture today. For instance, German landscape architects were responsible for creating many of the city’s well-known parks, including Tower Grove Park and Forest Park. The city’s well-known beer culture is also greatly influenced by its German past, with brewers like Anheuser-Busch having a huge historical impact. Numerous festivals and events honoring German culture are also held in the city, including the Oktoberfest hosted by the German-American Heritage Society.
In spite of its contributions to St. Louis, the German population hasn’t always been welcomed with open arms. Anti-German prejudice was pervasive throughout the United States during World War I, and St. Louis was no exception. Numerous Germans in the city experienced prejudice, harassment, and a boycott of their businesses. German language instruction was prohibited, and German schools were likewise closed.
Even after World War I ended, there was still hostility for Germans. Many German-Americans were suspected of sympathizing with the Nazis during World War II, and they were once more the target of prejudice and abuse. To avoid discrimination, many Germans in St. Louis changed their names and made an effort to cover up their background.
In conclusion, it is important to recognize the contributions made by the German population in the growth of St. Louis’s culture and economy. However, the city’s history of anti-German sentiment serves as a stark warning that prejudice and discrimination can have long-lasting effects.
