My paper about my great great grandfather Maier Zunder for my family history class is coming together in my head. I see it as a series of essays. The whole thing is bigger than is required for my certificate class and I would anticipate working on it. If I'm clever, I might be able to make each part stand on its own merits.
Introduction and afterword
I would use the remarks of Rabbi David Levy about Maier Zunder on the occasion of his special memorial service given at the Horeb Lodge of B'nai B'rith in 1906. It gives an excellent view of his character by a contemporary especial as a "sholem makor" peacemaker. This would give a larger context to the paper.
Then I see several sections and chapters each accompanied by a specific essay
such as
A. Maier Zunder was born in Furth Germany in 1829...sketchy information of Moses and Aron Zunder.
essay on conditions in Bavaria at that time, Edict of 1813, Maier did refer to this in his short history of the New Haven Jewish community
B. Maier Zunder emigrated to the US in 1848 at age 19. He came with his brothers Louis (Lazarus) who made his home in Jackson and Grand Rapids Michigan, and Seligman (who never married and worked for Maier in New Haven. An older brother Samuel preceded him.
essay on the Jews from the German states who emigrated to the US during the 'second migration" form 1820-1880. The '48ers'. Characteristics of the mostly young Jews from Germany and their embrace of America as the true land of opportunity. Maier fit into almost all of these parameters except for his strong presence in the overall German community.
C. He immediately got a job as a printer and soon was promoted. He became vice president of B'nai B'rith Zion Lodge #2 in New York City.
essay on the rise of this new organization, B'nai B'rith which gave young Jewish men a place for fraternity and community involvement.
D. Maier moves to New Haven. Samuel (with his wife Regina) had been hired by Congregation Mishkan Israel as a cantor and secretary in 1850. He became embroiled in a series of disagreements (describe them) and finally 'quit the ministry' and started a grocery in New Haven in the central 'nine squares' downtown area. Unfortunately he dies 5 months later leaving his wife Regina, and infant daughter Isabella. Regina asks Maier to come to New Haven to help with the business. He does and marries Regina in 1853.
essay on what New Haven was like in 1853 and a description of the development of the grocery into a prosperous wholesale grocery which provided an ample income for Maier and his family.
E. As Maier works hard at his grocery business and also organizes and serves as president of a bank. He raises a large family with Regina, and becomes extremely active in the community. In 1854, he sends money to Bavaria for his mother and two sisters to join him in America. Another sister Babette had arrived in 1950. Write about his children, Maier founds a new B'nai B'rith lodge (Horeb Lodge #25) which immediately becomes one of the most imjportant institutions of the Jewish Community. Regina dies in and asks him to bring over her sister Mina from Bavaria who had been deserted by her husband along with her three children. He does, incorporates these three children into his family and marries Mina in 1879. Another son is born, Reginald, in 1880. Maier is married twice but does not choose his wife either time and raises four sets of children.
Make a list of all the commissions, Boards, memberships in the community. Was there anything that this man didn't join or direct?
essay on the wedding of Delia Zunder (my great grandmother) to Charles Weil. I have a great picture plus elaborate newspaper articles on the event.
F. The Board of Education. Maier Zunder was elected and served on the Board of Education from 1868-1889. He saw this as his most important contribution. The only Jew elected, he was presented to the populace as the candidate nominated by the German American Association. Known for his hard work, he became involved in every aspect of the schools. He visited the classrooms more than any other Boar member and tackled every issue diplomatically and thoroughly, teacher training, new schools, boilers, minority communities (he insisted that all ethnic groups deserved good facilities), development of 'special' subjects such as art, penmanship and needlework. He advocated for employing school administrators such as principals. He considered every aspect of the schools as important.
In 1895, he was honored to have a new school named after him; Zunder School.
essay on his handling of the most high visibility conflict on the School Board, devotional exercises in the schools which attracted the interest of the New York Times in 1877-8.
G. Maier dies suddenly in 1901 at age 72 of gastritis during a heat wave and likely a heart attack. The obits.
Conclusion: return to Rabbi Levy's essay
OK, this is all good work but what ARE the mysteries....here are two on my mind.
1. Getta. I've been working with a genealogist who specialized in Bavarian emigration. In 1854, Maier sent 600 gilders for the travel expenses for his mother Besla and his sisters Sarah and Gretta. I have the Bavarian papers specifically identifying them. I can see his mother, Besla, in Maier's household in the 1860 census, identified as Betsy Zunder age 74. I can see Sarah (she married Ernest Feuchtwanger). But Getta? Where's Getta? I can't find her anywhere. Did she ever come??? Did she die? For awhile I tried to convince myself that she was really Babette, but no.
2. The memorial service at Horeb Lodge in 1906. I understand 'The Picture' was presented to the Lodge at that time. And David Levy gave those wonderful remarks. I found them the full text in the scrapbooks. But Maier died in 1901. Why are they having the memorial *5* years later????
I debated whether to feature this better version of "The Picture" with the frame or not. I guess I will show both.
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