Dorris Keeven-Franke
The Beginning
Subject: Giessen Emigration Society - research
journey October. 6 - 11
Date: Monday, August 3, 2009 3:12 PM
From: Peter Roloff <peter.roloff@maxim-film.de>
To: <dorris@keeven-franke.com>
Conversation: Giessen Emigration Society
- research journey October. 6 - 11
Dear Mrs. Dorris Keeven-Franke,
Let me introduce to you. We are a group of
joint artists and persons engaged in the
cultural sector (filmmakers, performers,
photographers, writers, designers, city planners,
etc.) named Reisende Sommer-Republik (Travelling
Summer Republic) primariliy based in the
city of Bremen, Germany. The activities of
the Travelling Summer-Republic are inspired
by the Giessen Emigration Society, lead by
Friedrich Münch and Paul Follen. The
2nd division – lead by Friedrich Münch – had
to stay for about 5 weeks on the small river
island Harriersand located in the Weser river
between Bremen and Bremerhaven. Finally,
the Society chartered the ship „Medora“ and
sailed to America.
We are fascinated by the utopian aim of the
Giessen Emigration Society: the Emigration
Society planned the foundation of a democratic
German state in America, an ideal German
republic. But before the Giessen Migration
Society could fulfill their dreams in America,
250 members of the Society had to cope with
their everyday life problems on the small,
boring and uninhabited island in Germany.
They had to „rehearse“ the foundation
of a state on the island on a small scale.
If they fail on the small island how could
they build a new state?
Based on this true story we ask for utopian
thoughts today. What are our dreams and visions
for a better and peaceful society today?
Since 2005 the Travelling Summer-Republic
stages conferences, film screenings, theatre
plays, readings, debates, etc. on the Harriersand
island, in the Weser region and in Berlin.
Further informations: www.sommer-republik.de <http://www.sommer-republik.de> (sorry,
in German only).
Why do we would like to get in touch with
you? Since 2004 we did a lot of research
on the Giessen Emigration Society. Now it
is time to go to the original places in Missouri!
We would like to get a broader and more detailed
picture about the Giessen Emigration Society
and their leaders Friedrich Münch and
Paul Follen. We want to visit the original
places, the museums, historical societies,
and archives. We ask: are there any descendants
of families of the Giessen Emigration Society
living in Missouri, in Augusta, Dutzow, etc.
today? Simply everything is inspiring for
us: landscapes, buildings, objects, maps,
drawings, photographies... and of course
meeting the people of the region.
We have just started preparation and research
for this „Missouri expedition“ which
will take place October 6 – 11. We
are a group of 4: writer and novelist Rolf
Schmidt, filmmaker Peter Roloff, photographer
Folker Winkelmann, and travel/research assistant
Monika Kiesewetter. We will keep record of
our journey with video and photo cameras.
Just to give an example what could be the
result: In 2008 Rolf Schmidt has written
and published a novel about the Giessen Emigration
Society on the Harriersand island: „Warten
auf die Flut“ (Waiting for the Flood).
Maybe the research journey will inspire Rolf
Schmidt to continue his writings on the Giessen
Emigration Society.
Don H. Tolzmann recommended to me to contact
you. We would like to meet you in Washington,
Missouri.
We will contact also:
Marc Houseman, Director of Washington County
Historical Society
George Bocklage, President Deutschheim-Freundeskreis,
Herrmann, Missouri
Dr. Petra De Witt, Editor „Der Maibaum“
Lois Puchta, Director Gesconade County Historical
Society, Hermann, Missouri
We very much appreciate any further informations
in advance and referrals also.
I look very much forward to hearing from
you!
Kind regards from Bremen to Missouri,
Peter Roloff
www.sommer-republik.de <http://www.sommer-republik.de>