The German Pioneer Legacy

Book excerpt: This study looks at the life and work of the eminent German-American author, poet, and historian, Heinrich A. Rattermann (1832-1923) and provides an historical legacy essential to an understanding of German-American history. He was well-known as editor of the historical journal Der Deutsche Pionier which was published by the German Pioneer Society of Cincinnati, Ohio, and is considered to be the leading German-American historical journal of the 19th century. In addition he edited Deutsch-Amerikanisches Magazin which was also important as a German-American historical journal. Born in Ankum, Germany, Rattermann emigrated with his family to Cincinnati, Ohio, and thereafter played an important role in German-American cultural affairs both regionally and nationally. This book is a re-edition of Sister Mary Edmund Spanheimer's biography of Heinrich Rattermann, which has long been out-of-print. Mary Spanheimer was a professor of German at the University of Saint Francis, Joliet, Illinois. Her biography on Rattermann is considered to be the definitive work on the topic.