Origins & Migrations

The first few weeks (Weeks 1-3: Tuesday, May 18, 2010 through Friday, June 4, 2010) of this course are devoted to a discussion on the origins and migrations of the Dakota Germans from Russia.  The discussion will start with reflections on the required text, The Germans from Russia: Children of the Steppe, Children of the Prairie (DVD).  From this point, each participant will select three texts from the “suggested list” to review.  Each participant will post original and thoughtful reflections to the discussion board, as well as comment the reflections of others.

Required Text:

DVD – The Germans from Russia

·         "The Germans from Russia: Children of the Steppe, Children of the Prairie." United States: Prairie Public Broadcasting, Inc., 1999.  (DVD)

 

Suggested Texts (select 3 of the following six items):

 

Option #01: Article & Website  – Jean Roth & Ellis Island

·         Roth, Jean. "Ellis Island: Gateway to America." Journal of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia 22, no. 3 (1999): 13-21.  (pdf)

·   "The Statue of Liberty - Ellis Island Foundation, Inc."  http://www.ellisisland.org.  (website)

Option #02: Memoir Excerpts – Pauline Neher Deide

·         Deide, Pauline Neher. "An Introduction: Time Is Running Out." In Homesteading on the Knife River Prairies edited by Elizabeth Hampsten, 1-3. Bismarck, ND: Germans from Russia Heritage Society, 1983. (pdf)

·         _____. "Forward: Eavesdropping Behind the Door." In Homesteading on the Knife River Prairies, edited by Elizabeth Hampsten, 4-6. Bismarck, ND: Germans from Russia Heritage Society, 1983. (pdf)

·         _____."The Neher Family in Russia " In Homesteading on the Knife River Prairies, edited by Elizabeth Hampsten, 7-13. Bismarck, ND: Germans from Russia Heritage Society, 1983. (pdf)

·         _____."Uncle Fred Martin's Story: Summer: Russia to Canada by Sea." In Homesteading on the Knife River Prairies, edited by Elizabeth Hampsten, 14-25. Bismarck, ND: Germans from Russia Heritage Society, 1983. (pdf)

Option #03: Oral History – Reinhardt Hecker

·         Hecker, Reinhardt. Interview by Michael M. Miller. Bismarck, ND (8 November 1993). (website)

Option #04: Book Chapter –  Timothy Kloberdanz

·         Kloberdanz, Timothy J. "Volkdsdeutsche the Eastern European Germans: Hungry for Land, Hungry for a Home: North Dakota's 'Other Germans'." In Plains Folk: North Dakota's Ethnic History, 117-81. Fargo, ND: North Dakota Institute for Regional Studies at North Dakota State University, 1988. (pdf)

Option #05: Article – George Rath

·         Rath, George. "The Russian-Germans in the United States of North America, Preparations for Immigration." Germans from Russia Heritage Society Heritage Review 27, no. 3 (September 1997): 9-22. (pdf)

Option #06: Family History Excerpts – Ronald R. Schauer

·         Schauer, Ronald R. . "Preface." In From Neudorf, Russia to the North Dakota Plains with Johann Dockter, 1-2. Bismarck, ND. (pdf)

·         Schauer, Ronald R. . "Early Recollection of Russia." In From Neudorf, Russia to the North Dakota Plains with Johann Dockter, 3-10. Bismarck, ND. (pdf)

·         Schauer, Ronald R. "Life in the Russian Army." In From Neudorf, Russia to the North Dakota Plains with Johann Dockter, 12-15. Bismarck, ND. (pdf)

·         Schauer, Ronald R. "The Trip to America." In From Neudorf, Russia to the North Dakota Plains with Johann Dockter, 18-22. Bismarck, ND. (pdf)

Assessment Materials

Reflection Posts

1.       Read/review the material. 

2.       Submit reflection posts to the discussion board.

§         Reflect/review material

§         Stimulate discussion with colleagues

§         Effectively communicate (i.e. clean prose)

 

4 posts (DVD + 3 selected texts) x 10 points = 40 pts

Discussion (Participation)

1.       Discussion Posts

§         Stay current in the course

§         Engage in discussions with colleagues

§         Enrich the seminar experience

·   Incorporate outside material

·   Integrate optional resources

 

4 threads (DVD + selected texts) x 5 pts = 20 pts

 

Total Points: 60 pts