New and Returning Research Assistants Provide Support for Father-and-Son Project

German-Canadian Studies is continuing work on its Father-and-Son project with help from three undergraduate research assistants: Michayla—who you might remember from one of our previous posts—Dylan and Rohit. In the first phase of the project, they will search for, analyze, and summarize primary sources, such as autobiographies, memoirs, correspondence and oral histories, as well as existing works on the history of fathers and sons in Canada and elsewhere. They will contribute these analyses to a database, which will be made public and accessible to other researchers at the end of the project. We asked them to introduce themselves and share their reasons for joining the project:

Michayla: “I am excited to assist with research, and look forward to working with GCS. I am a fourth year Honours Political Science student, with a strong interest in history and research. I am most excited to develop a better understanding of how German immigration has shaped Canada and continues to have a cultural impact in our country.”

Dylan: “Hello! My name is Dylan and I am a fourth-year Sociology undergraduate student, with much of my research interests revolving around class conflict and contemporary labour issues. Outside of academia, my passions include video editing, reading and writing, and travelling. As a second-generation Filipino immigrant, several aspects of the German-Canadian Studies 20th century research project really resonated with me. I’m very grateful to be one of the research assistants for this project, and I look forward to honing my research skills, as well as contributing to a holistic understanding of immigration in the past, present, and future.”

Rohit: “My name is Rohit Gupta and I recently graduated with a Bachelor of Art (Honours)–Psychology. Since the beginning of my post-secondary education, research have intrigued me with different theories and statistical insights. As a first-generation immigrant, I am very interested in how different cultures and values unfold in Canada, like German-Canadian Studies, which focuses on German fathers and their relationship with their son. I hope to strengthen my current research skills and learn from diverse project members.”

Mr. Edward Henseler, former agronomist from Cologne, Germany and his son, Ulric, 5 years old, St-Thomas de Caxton, Québec, 1962. (Library and Archives Canada, PA-186362. Click here for more info)

The Father-and-Son project explores the relationships between fathers and sons throughout the 20th and 21st century, in English and French-speaking Canada. Focusing on German immigrant fathers and their Canadian-born sons, it asks how their relationships evolved during periods of dramatic change, such as the Great Depression, the Second World War, and the Cold War. How did the newcomers to Canada, in particular in their roles as fathers and sons, navigate changing social and cultural landscapes? The project is funded in part by a three-year Insight Grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) as well as the Chair in German-Canadian Studies and the University of Winnipeg.

We are looking forward to making progress on this project alongside our research assistants, each of whom contribute unique perspectives and valuable insights to their work. They will have the opportunity to expand their individual research skills and branch out into new topics of study, participating in group interpretation meetings and knowledge mobilization outcomes.

Interested in joining our research team? Keep an eye out for future opportunities on the UWinnipeg career portal!

Father-and-Son Project Welcomes Three New Research Assistants

The Father and Son project at German-Canadian Studies is excited to welcome three new research assistants: Michayla, Jeanette, and Brendan. Over the coming three months, they will analyze and document primary and secondary sources that speak directly to the experience of immigrant fathers and their Canadian-born sons. We asked them to introduce themselves:

Michayla: “I am excited to assist with research, and look forward to working with GCS. I am a fourth year Honours Political Science student, with a strong interest in history and research. I am most excited to develop a better understanding of how German immigration has shaped Canada and continues to have a cultural impact in our country.”

Jeanette: “My name is Jeanette and I am in my third year of the Integrated Education Program majoring in Geography and with a minor in German. I have a particular interest in travelling, experiencing new cultures and languages, and exploring the outdoors, which all contributed to my choice of degree. I am looking forward to joining the German Canadian Studies research team, because as a German-speaking Mennonite, it is important for me to better understand the German culture in Canada, its origins, and its effect on Canadian history. As a research assistant I look forward to reading and learning about the history my family is a part of.”

Brendan: “I enrolled in the 4-year History Hons. program in 2022. I have enjoyed my courses in United States and European History and have learned many skills from my professors in the areas that I am passionate about, such as learning about 20th century America. What I most enjoy about my job at GCS is applying research techniques and gathering information about the project, feeling involved in a greater purpose, and I hope to apply the skills I am learning into a future job where research is a priority.”

The Father and Son project explores the relationships between fathers and sons throughout the 20th and 21st century, in English and French-speaking Canada. Focusing on German immigrant fathers and their Canadian-born sons, it asks how their relationships evolved during periods of dramatic change, such as the Great Depression, the Second World War, and the Cold War. How did the newcomers to Canada, in particular in their roles as fathers and sons, navigate changing social and cultural landscapes? The project is funded in part by a three-year Insight Grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) as well as the Chair in German-Canadian Studies and the University of Winnipeg.

In the current first phase of the project, researchers search for, analyze, and summarize primary sources, including autobiographies, memoirs, correspondence, and oral histories as well as what other scholars have written about the history of fathers and sons in Canada and elsewhere. They contribute to a database that will be made public and accessible to other researchers at the end of the project.

The University of Winnipeg’s Work-Study program provides undergraduate students with opportunities for professional growth alongside their studies. The program allows them to dive into a new research subject area and learn about conducting paid research.

We are looking forward to working with our new research assistants during the winter term, to build the project’s knowledge base, to expand their individual research skills, and to give them the opportunity to branch out into new topics of study. After all, research is not just about the work – it can also foster personal growth and build a deeper understanding of how to access research effectively.

Interested in joining our research team? Keep an eye out for future opportunities on the UWinnipeg career portal!

The Life and Times of Wilhelm Fahrer

Imagine an interviewer approached you today and asked you to tell your life story: what would you say?

As GCS’ former project assistant, a key part of what I did was process Oral History interviews, particularly life story interviews, which emphasize the whole of one’s life rather than centering on a specific period or theme. Many of the interviewees were German migrants who discussed their experiences during the Second World War and the postwar period, and their arrival and early life in Canada.

I find life story interviews fascinating, because they reveal much about lived experiences and the way we form narratives about the past as we become further removed from the events themselves.

But consider the enormity of attempting to sum up a lifetime of moments— and what if you have never told all or parts of your story before? It’s understandable, then, that these interviews can range from just a few hours to many hours over multiple sessions; it all depends on the individual and what they decide to share.

Not long ago, I finished processing a particularly interesting interview with “Wilhelm Fahrer” (a pseudonym due to copyright,) conducted by Alexander Freund in Edmonton, Alberta in 1996. What struck me first was the sheer multitude and variety of experiences Fahrer chose to share during his interview—conducted over two sessions and about six hours—and his excellent storytelling ability. He spoke at length about his training and duties as an officer and lieutenant in the German armed forces between 1943 and 1945; his close combat with Red Army soldiers and resulting injury in 1944; and experiences which shaped his youth and years abroad in the United States and Canada.

Fahrer was interned at an American prisoner-of-war (POW) camp in 1945, and it was there that he learned more about ‘America’; he was taken in by the idea of the freedom and independence, both personal and financial, he thought he might find there.

When the American occupation ended, Fahrer was transferred to a British POW camp. Upon his release and completion of his Oberschule education, he enrolled in the Pädagogische Hochschule in Kiel. Through the university’s partnership with Bethel College, a Mennonite post-secondary institution in the United States, Fahrer studied abroad for two years and gained new perspectives on faith, freedom, and identity. Being German in the United States so soon after the end of the Second World War was at times a difficult experience. Through personal research, including a visit to the Hoover Library in California, Fahrer was able to learn about the war from different perspectives and gain a broader understanding of its consequences.

Fahrer returned home to Germany and completed his Jugendarbeit (volunteer work experience) with Mennonite organizations in Berlin and Hamburg. But he felt the pull to move to North America, where he saw a better, more stable future and more opportunities for adventure and growth which were not present in Germany during that period. The United States was not the destination this time, however; the family had settled on Canada, which was calling for foreign labour, particularly in the farming and lumber industries.

In 1952, Fahrer, along with his parents and older sister, immigrated to Leamington, Ontario sponsored by the Canadian Christian Council for the Resettlement of Refugees (CCCRR) and the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC.) They worked on a Mennonite family’s farm, where Fahrer had a contract, but were unable to adapt to their employer’s much stricter observance of Mennonite values and the contract ended early. Fahrer, being the sole provider, took on odd jobs as a labourer and salesman to support his family. He later returned to university, received his teaching doctorate, and worked as a professor until his retirement.

This brief glimpse into a lifetime full of memories emphasizes just how detailed life story interviews can get. These interviews offer so much insight into the perspectives of each interviewee—how they view the world, how they render the past, and what they deem worth telling—and hold so much value in shaping the stories of the future. Fahrer’s story resonated with me because of his ability to convey truly difficult experiences in a matter-of-fact, sometimes even lighthearted way, and his conversational manner makes this interview a fascinating one to listen to and read.

Stay tuned for Wilhelm Fahrer’s interview, which will be available at the University of Winnipeg’s Oral History Centre in the near future. Want to learn more about Oral History in the meantime? Visit the Oral History Centre’s website here and check out www.whattheycanteachus.ca to read and listen to the stories of four German immigrant women who came to Canada in the 1950s.

Oral History: On this day in 1993…

While working on the final review of the Identity in Immigration collection, a series of Oral History interviews conducted by Dr. Alexander Freund, the Chair in German-Canadian Studies, I noticed two big milestones worth sharing.

On this day—September 28^th—in 1993, Dr. Freund conducted an Oral History interview with Elisabeth “Lisa” Schwabe in Vancouver, B.C.

Elisabeth “Lisa” Schwabe at Lenkurt Electric (later Microtel, subsidiary of GTE), 1983

A little bit about Lisa: she was born in Kassel (West Germany) in 1923. She attended high school, one year of business school, one year at a women’s college and then contributed to the work service during the Third Reich. She trained as a technologist at Siemens in Berlin from 1941-1943 and worked in that field before immigrating to Vancouver in November 1951. She wasn’t able to work as a technologist there because it was seen as an ‘unfit position’ for a woman, so she had to go into domestic service in West Vancouver for five months. She then worked in low-paid factory jobs before getting married in September 1953. She stayed home for three years to attend to her sick child, born in 1954. Her husband died in 1957, just three years after their marriage, and by that time she had returned to the paid workforce and worked on the assembly line of an electronics factory. After her husband’s death, she was promoted to the role of technician.

Today is the 30^th anniversary of Lisa’s interview, and despite the distance from the original context, many of the topics discussed within are still relevant today. She shares many details about her lived experiences, including state violence in the wake of the Second World War; gender-based discrimination in Canada which prevented her from working in her field of expertise; and what it meant to be German in the context of Canadian society.

Another milestone we’re commemorating happened earlier this year. On April 28^th, Lisa Schwabe celebrated her 100^th birthday. When her family reached out to us to mark this special day with her, we were so glad to be able to contribute to it with a bound copy of her interview transcript and a card signed by all GCS staff.

Elisabeth “Lisa” Schwabe with only great-grandson, Leo. “The Past and the Future look deep into each other’s eyes.” 2023. Photo provided by Monica Schwabe

Thank you, Lisa, for letting us celebrate you and tell your story!

Lisa’s interview, even 30 years on, is still a valuable resource for research on many different topics. That’s why we’ve featured her interview on What they Can Teach Us, our trilingual educative website. Listen to and read excerpts of Lisa’s interview here.

News from the Archive: Günther Sickert Collection Goes Live

At GCS, we’ve been working to create our very own archive of German-Canadian personal documents that will be part of the larger University of Winnipeg Archives. It is a slow-moving, time-consuming process: once a collection is received, much of the work involves analyzing, describing, cataloguing, and safely storing each record. But thanks to the diligent efforts of former GCS staff Karen Brglez and Claudia Dueck, and a few finishing touches by me, our first collection is now available for in-person access!

The Günther Sickert Collection is a compilation of curated records showcasing Sickert’s and other community advocate’s activities within and contributions to the German-Canadian community between 1890 and 2012. They were donated in 2015 to the Chair in German-Canadian Studies at the University of Winnipeg by Sickert’s wife, Gerda. These records provide invaluable insights into the points of connection that helped German migrants navigate Canadian society while maintaining and celebrating their cultural heritage.

So, who was Günther Sickert?

Photo of Günther Sickert, German Society of Winnipeg, n.d.

Born Karl August Günther Sickert on May 16^th, 1928 in Ober-Mittelebersbach, Saxony, Günther Sickert was the oldest of five children. Parents Dr. Rudolf and Elfriede Sickert (née Nicke) moved the family to Neschwitz, in the eastern part of Saxony, in 1932. Twenty years later, Sickert immigrated to Winnipeg, Canada, following the loosening of restrictions for German migrants declared in 1950. He sought ways to connect with German culture and language in his new home, joining the German-speaking congregation at St. Peter’s Evangelical Church and becoming a member of the German Society of Winnipeg in 1954.

(English): “The board of the German Society of Winnipeg 1957
From left to right seated:
G. Sickert, M. Kuss, Frau H. Schattner, K. Schmidt, Frau G. Oelkers Jr., G. Windisch, G. Retzlaff;
Standing: W. Hohenberg, H. Jaekl, H. Müller, H. Hikade; H. Pacher, M. Spenner, G. Vetter, A. Beckmann.”

Four years later, Sickert married Gerda (née Worgull), who had emigrated from Germany to share a life with him; they were together for 57 years. Sickert had a successful career as a personal and small-business accountant, beginning in 1962 and spanning over 50 years. He and Gerda ran this small business from their home, and through their success, were able to provide a good life for their family.

Over the years, Günther Sickert made meaningful contributions to the German community in Canada, particularly in Manitoba, serving in various positions at the German Society of Winnipeg, including two terms as president. He is known for helping to establish the Camp Neustadt campground at Lake Winnipeg and facilitating the work of core club groups: The German Society Choir, the Mardi Gras Group (Der Treue Huzar), the FC Germania soccer team, the German Society Brass Band, the German Society Theatre Group, and the St. Hubertus Jagd and Angel Verein (Game and Fish Association). He also co-founded Villa Heidelberg, an independent living facility for seniors, and lent key support to the Kildonan Park Witch’s Hut. For his efforts in promoting, funding, and advocating for the German community, he received the Citizenship Award from the City of Winnipeg, as well as the Bundesverdienstkreuz from the Federal Republic of Germany.

Handout describing Kildonan Park Witch’s Hut, n.d.

Sickert’s personal interests included stamp collecting and reading – favourite topics included history, geography, and other non-fiction, but also mystery novels. He liked hearing people’s stories and learning more about their background. In 2015, at the age of 87, Günther Sickert passed away at the Victoria General Hospital.

Hand-drawn map titled “Canadians of German Origin. Concentr. areas in the Prairie Provinces 1961, in proport. to the total population.” n.d.

Though Sickert is no longer alive, he leaves behind a legacy of culturally rich, carefully maintained records. His collection is spread across 18 boxes, many of these containing scrapbook pages of mainly original newspaper clippings detailing important events and news updates from both Canadian and German sources, such as the one below.

“Der Kanadische Pass” (translation: The Canadian Passport); scrapbooked newspaper clippings, 1958

The order of the collection remains largely unchanged from how it was received in 2015, save for some photographs and maps, which were moved to larger boxes to be stored flat for conservation purposes. By maintaining the original order, we hope to preserve the essence and intention behind the collection of these records. The full description of the Günther Sickert Collection along with a detailed finding aid can be found here.

We are excited for this collection to go live and encourage anyone interested in learning more about the history of German immigration in Canada and about Günther Sickert’s work with the German community in Manitoba to email archives@uwinnipeg.ca and set up an appointment to view the collection.

Do you have personal documents, such as diaries, letters, or photographs, that you would like to donate to the archive? If you would like to learn more about what kinds of documents you can donate, and how you can protect your personal data and rights, please contact Angela Carlson, Project Assistant in German-Canadian Studies, at 204.988.7683 or an.carlson@uwinnipeg.ca.

Sources

• Günther Sickert Collection, University of Winnipeg Archives
• Günther Sickert obituary: Guenther Sickert Obituary – Winnipeg, Manitoba | Neil Bardal Funeral Centre (neilbardalfuneralhome.com)

Photos of the collection taken by Angela Carlson