Immigration > United States > Lincoln, Nebraska
Lincoln, Nebraska
Lincoln, Nebraska, was one of the largest settlement areas for Volga German immigrants arriving in the United States and perhaps the largest settlement of people from the colony of Norka.
An excellent article, Life in the Russian Bottoms: Community Building and Identity Transformation among Germans from Russia in Lincoln, Nebraska, 1876 to 1926, by Kurt Kinbacher, is available from the Journal of American Ethnic History (Winter 2007 issue). The article traces the social history of Volga Germans in Lincoln, Nebraska, during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with particular emphasis on families from Norka and Frank.
The German Evangelical Lutheran Friedens Church (540 D St.) was founded in Lincoln, Nebraska, in 1907. The design of this neo-classic revival building was influenced by churches in Balzer, Frank, and Norka.
The History of the German-Russian Colony in Lincoln by Hattie Plum Williams (1909) provides several references to settlers from Norka. An excerpt from her June 1909 University of Nebraska dissertation follows:
An excellent article, Life in the Russian Bottoms: Community Building and Identity Transformation among Germans from Russia in Lincoln, Nebraska, 1876 to 1926, by Kurt Kinbacher, is available from the Journal of American Ethnic History (Winter 2007 issue). The article traces the social history of Volga Germans in Lincoln, Nebraska, during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with particular emphasis on families from Norka and Frank.
The German Evangelical Lutheran Friedens Church (540 D St.) was founded in Lincoln, Nebraska, in 1907. The design of this neo-classic revival building was influenced by churches in Balzer, Frank, and Norka.
The History of the German-Russian Colony in Lincoln by Hattie Plum Williams (1909) provides several references to settlers from Norka. An excerpt from her June 1909 University of Nebraska dissertation follows:
These people, of whom there are about 4,000 in the city (Including "beet fielders"), are Germans, not Russians: they are Teutons, not Slavs; they are Lutheran and Reformed, not Greek Catholics. To be sure they and their ancestors lived in Russia for over one hundred years and they came here directly from the realm of the Czar whoso bona fide citizens they were—but they never spoke the Russian language, never embraced the Greek religion, never intermarried with the Russians, and many of their children never saw a Russian until they left their native village for the new home in America. They despise being called "Russians" just as an Italian resents "Dago"; a Jew, "Sheeny"; and a German, "Dutchman". Ask them where they came from and most of the children and not a few of the grown people will say, "Germany". If you pursue your questioning as to what part of Germany, they will tell you "Saratov" or "Samara" - two governments in the eastern part of Russia on the lower course of the Volga river.
Sources
Kurt E. Kinbacher, Immigration, The American West, and The Twentieth Century: German from Russia, Omaha Indian, and Vietnamese-Urban Villagers in Lincoln, Nebraska (University of Nebraska: Lincoln, 2006).
Sallet, Richard. Russian-German Settlements in the United States. Fargo: North Dakota Institute for Regional Studies, 1974. Print.
Williams, Hattie Plum. History of the German-Russian Colony in Lincoln. Diss. Thesis (M.A.)--U of Nebraska (Lincoln Campus)--, 1909. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print.
List of Norka immigrants in Lincoln, NE census of 1912-1914
Sallet, Richard. Russian-German Settlements in the United States. Fargo: North Dakota Institute for Regional Studies, 1974. Print.
Williams, Hattie Plum. History of the German-Russian Colony in Lincoln. Diss. Thesis (M.A.)--U of Nebraska (Lincoln Campus)--, 1909. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print.
List of Norka immigrants in Lincoln, NE census of 1912-1914
Last updated December 7, 2023