J.N.W. Otto Druggist, "Deutsche Apotheke"; accession 1983.3.14.
The economy of New Orleans in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries clearly benefited from a substantial German contribution. There was a German purveyor for every type of general good or service imaginable, from soap, beer, and groceries, to clothing, shoes. and makeup. Some German businesses catered specifically to the needs of the German community by importing goods that were reminiscent of the Old Country, and were hard or impossible to come by in New Orleans. J. N. W. Otto druggist and apothecary, for example, took care to advertise itself as a “deutsche Apotheke” (German pharmacy), meaning that the ingredients for German homeopathic remedies could be found there in stock. Of the 68 businesses represented in THNOC’s collection of letterheads from nineteenth century businesses, 35 were German owned. Many Germans were well known in the hotel and restaurant branches, and New Orleanians today still remember Kolb’s Restaurant and the Jung and Grunewald Hotels. Of all businesses, though, Germans held the most impressive share of New Orleans’s music trade. The Werleins, the Grunewalds, and others published sheet music, produced concerts, and sold instruments for all of New Orleans. The section of this pathfinder on music and socializing provides information about THNOC’s holdings related to these music industry businesses.
Materials on this page are divided into the following categories:
Manuscript resources
Visual resources
Library resources
Deutsches Haus Collection. MSS 609. Ca. 1058 items. The archive of the Deutsches Haus organization, including materials from preexisting groups that aligned themselves to form the Deutsches Haus. These organizations include Die deutsche Gesellschaft von New Orleans (The German Society of New Orleans), Deutscher Verein im 2. Distrikt (The German Club of the 2nd District), Der Turn-Verein (Turners’ or Gymnasts’ Society), Das deutsche protestantische Waisenhaus zu New Orleans (The German Protestant Orphanage of New Orleans), Das deutsche protestantische Heim für Alte und Gebrechliche (The German Protestant Home for the Aged and Infirm), Der deutsche Protestantische Bethanien-Verein (The German Protestant Bethany Society), Das deutsche Ev.-Luth. Bethlehem-Waisenhaus (The German Evangelical Lutheran Bethlehem Orphanage), and the Deutsch-Amerikanischer National Bund— Staatsverband für Louisiana, (The German American National Bund— Louisiana State Chapter). This collection also includes 400 volumes from the organization's lending library, as well as the Deutsches Haus Musik Archiv.
Deutsche Männer Unterstützungsverein. EL27.1988. Includes nine volumes of administrative materials from the Deutsche Männer Unterstützungs Verein (German Men’s Benevolent Organization). The DMUV is one of a number of organizations, the amalgamation of which forms the Deutsches Haus (founded in 1927). The material in this collection should be considered a compliment to the larger Deutsches Haus Collection (EL1. 1984).
Deutsches Haus Charter and Legal Records, 1927–75. 84-12-L
Correspondence, legal documents, deeds and records of the organization, compiled by Leon S. Cahn, lawyer for the Deutsches Haus.
Archive of Germania Lodge No. 46. EL2.2001. 174 items.
Minute books, receipt books, guest books, membership records, treasurer’s and secretary’s reports, books from the lodge library, and other ephemera of the Germania Lodge No. 46, Free and Accepted Masons. Earliest record in collection is from 1844, latest from 1973. Included in collection are also books from the Friends of Harmony Lodge.
Werlein’s Scrapbooks. 2005.0154. 7 items. Materials related to the productions, sales, and various activities of the Werlein’s music store from 1842–1930, 1934–67, and 1977–78. Includes newspaper clippings, advertisements, and other forms of ephemera and memorabilia.
A Garden In Florida / Leading Firms In New Orleans. Color lithograph and printed trade card by Clay & Richmond (lithographer) and Ward Brothers (printer) with view of woman in lush garden. Verso has advertisements for S. T. Blessing (frames, pictures, moldings); E. Lilienthal (jeweler); J. Gauche's Sons (house furnishings); P. Werlein (music); E. Heath (wallpaper, window shades); Singer Sewing (sewing machines); I. Danziger (tea, coffee); Souvenir of New Orleans (book of photographic views of the city); Spanish Fort (amusement park); and Barnett's (railroad ticket office). Between 1884 and 1886. Acc. No. 1958.31.29.
The Singer Manufacturing Co…/ Leading Firms In New Orleans. Color lithograph and printed trade card by Ward Brothers (printer) for Singer Manufacturing Company with view of lake scene and flowers. Verso has advertisements for S. T. Blessing (frames, pictures, moldings); E. Lilienthal (jeweler); J. Gauche's Sons (house furnishings); P. Werlein (music); E. Heath(wallpaper, window shades); Singer Sewing (sewing machines); I. Danziger (tea, coffee); Souvenir of New Orleans (book of photographic views of the city); Spanish Fort (amusement park); and Barnett's (railroad ticket office). Between 1884 and 1886. Acc. No. 1958.31.64.
Group of trade card advertisements for Isodore Danziger, A. Delpit Factory, Fairbanks', L. Grunewald, Hunters, E. Lacost, Kaufman & Isaacs, M. Lehman, Laird's, Moffat's, J. T. Shaw, and Jos. Ziegler. Color lithograph prints with various publishers. From between 1880 and 1900. Acc. No. 1996.102.1-57.
Advertisement for business at 127 Canal Street, now 715 Canal, and Grunewald Hall. Color lithograph trade card shows a girl holding a balloon and an owl sitting on a branch. Between 1895 and 1910. Acc. No. 1996.102.6; 1996.102.7.
Compliments of the Seasons 1885 / "Glockengasse 4711… Cologne.” Anonymous color lithograph and printed trade card with view of bouquet of lily of the valley. Verso: portion of calendar for the year 1885; and advertisement for German "4711" Cologne. 1885. Acc. No. 1958.31.217.
Grill Room, Kolb's German Tavern, 125 St. Charles Street, New Orleans, La. Postcard reproduced from a photograph and printed by Alphonse Goldsmith. Shows the interior of Kolb's Restaurant located at 125 St. Charles Street in the Central Business District. C. 1915. Acc. No. 1959.2.47. Other postcards showing the interior and exterior of Kolb’s German Restaurant include the following accession numbers: 1983.162.35; 74.25.41.208; 1959.2.46; 1981.350.168; 1959.2.48; 92-48-L; 92-48-L.
New Tea Room, Second Floor, Kolb's German Tavern, New Orleans, La. Postcard reproduced from a photograph and printed by Alphonse Goldsmith. Shows the interior of Kolb's Restaurant located at 125 St. Charles Street in the Central Business District. C. 1915. Acc. No. 1981.35.168.
Part of Main Dining Room, Kolb's German Tavern, 125 St. Charles Street, New Orleans, La. Postcard reproduced from a photograph and printed by Alphonse Goldsmith. Shows the interior of Kolb's Restaurant located at 125 St. Charles Street in the Central Business District. C. 1915. Acc. No. 1981.350.169.
View of dining room with tables and chairs and staircase at Kolb's Restaurant at 125 St. Charles Avenue in the Central Business District. Postcard reproduced from a photograph and printed by Alphonse Goldsmith. Shows the interior of Kolb's Restaurant located at 125 St. Charles Street in the Central Business District. C. 1925. Acc. No. 1982.55.55.
View of large dining room with tables and chairs at Kolb's Restaurant at 125 St. Charles Avenue in the Central Business District. Postcard reproduced from a photograph and printed by Alphonse Goldsmith. Shows the interior of Kolb's Restaurant located at 125 St. Charles Street in the Central Business District. C. 1925. Acc. No. 1982.55.57.
Bar at Kolbs' German Tavern. Postcard reproduced from a photograph and printed by Alphonse Goldsmith. Interior view of Kolbs German Tavern at 125 St. Charles Street in Central Business District. Shows bar, tables and chairs, murals. C. 1920. Acc. No. 1990.126.28.
Kolb's German Restaurant, 125 St. Charles Avenue between 1950 and 1973. Anonymous copy photograph. Acc. No. 1974.25.29.38.
Kolb's German Restaurant, 125 St. Charles Street between 1950 and 1973. Anonymous letterhead from menu. Acc. No. 1974.25.29.42.
Kolb's German Restaurant, 125 St. Charles Street [interior view]. Anonymous sketch from the Kolb’s menu showing the inside of the restaurant. N.d. Acc. No. 1974.25.29.41.
Drinking glass from Kolb's German Restaurant New Orleans. Printed glass by Libbey. C. 1965. Acc. No. 1984.130.7.
Kolb's German Tavern Dinner plate. Glazed porcelain with transfer print, Albert Pick & Co., Chicago (manufacturer). Image is of an eagle with crown and shield upon which is inscribed the title text. 1950s. Acc. No. 1995.43.10.
Photo of Fabacher’s Restaurant. Acc. No. 1974.25.29.33.
Check German National Bank…$50.00. Issued October 22, 1901. Corson, C.W. (delineator). Paper currency (bearer note). Acc. No. 1959.162.2.
Canton on the Miss. Pencil and Chinese white drawing. Alfred R. Waud (Draftsman) 1828–91. Street scene of Canton, Mississippi, showing college and German guest house (sign along facade reads “Deutsches Gasthaus”). C. 1871. Acc. No. 1965.68.
North German Lloyd S. S. Co. Bremen. Color lithograph trade card by Muhlmeister & Johler. View of the steam passenger ship Kaiser Wilhelm II of the North German Lloyd Line, Bremen, Germany. 1893. Acc. No. 1979.43.161
Advertisement for Fahlberg, List & Company, German manufacturer of Saccharin food product. Anonymous color lithograph trade card view of a man and woman sitting at tea; she is complementing him about how much thinner he has become since he started using saccharin instead of sugar; in the background is a view of him while still fat. Between 1885 and 1893. Acc. No. 1979.43.161.
North German Lloyd S. S. Co. Bremen. Color lithograph trade card by Muhlmeister & Johler. View of a large steam passenger ship moving past a small sixteenth-century sailing vessel; the setting is at night with a large light being beamed onto the smaller ship by the steamer; advertisement for the North German Lloyd Steamship Company of Bremen, Germany. 1893. Acc. No. 1979.43.165.
Folding card with a view of girl holding a bottle of water; vignette of the town of Rhens on the Rhine, Germany. Lithograph trade card by Rob. Leunic & Chapman. There are images of medals won by the company from 1881 to 1891. Between 1891 and 1893. Acc. No. 1979.43.168.
Boy and girl with bank books/…Commercial-Germania Trust and Savings Bank…Anonymous printed trade card with calendar for the month of August 1917 advertising the Commercial- Germania Bank at 311 Camp Street and 811 Common Street. Image from photograph of little boy and girl in clothing of the day discussing bank savings plans. 1917. Acc. No. 1982.55.120.
"I don't like those waists that button in the back"/…Commercial Germania Trust & Savings Bank…Anonymous printed trade card and calendar for April 1915 advertising the Commercial-Germania Bank at 311 Camp Street and 811 Common Street in the Central Business District. Image from photograph of baby in diaper that is uncomfortable and making him cry. 1915. Acc. No. 1982.55.121
J. Farrnbacher & Son Dry Goods, Clothing. Business form with elaborate letterhead. Acc. No. 1983.3.67.
S. J. Schwarz & Co. Importers of Fine Dry Goods & Fancy Goods. Cor. Canal & Dauphine. Business form with elaborate letterhead. Acc. No. 1983.3.23.
Wm. F. Bohne Boots & Shoes under St. Charles Hotel. Business form with elaborate letterhead. Acc. No. 1983.3.15.
J. H. Menge & Son Wholesale & Resale Dealers. Business form with elaborate letterhead. Acc. No. 1983.3.44.
Hotel Schmitt—Magazine St. Business form with elaborate letterhead. Acc. No. 1983.3.58.
Dalsheimer & Worms Notions & Gents. Furnishing Goods. New York/New Orleans (Canal St.). Business form with elaborate letterhead. Acc. No. 1983.3.1.
B. Felman— New York/New Orleans, 722 Canal St. Business form with elaborate letterhead. Acc. No. 1983.3.2.
Lewis Goldstein, Jr. Clothier & Furnisher. St. Charles St. Business form with elaborate letterhead. Acc. No. 1983.3.3.
S.&J. Katz & Co. Notions and Gents. Furnishing Goods. Business form with elaborate letterhead. Acc. No. 1983.3.4.
F. Hollander & Co. Wines, Liquors, cordials & Cigars. Business form with elaborate letterhead. Acc. No. 1983.3.11.
Henry B. Schreiber & Bro. Hay, Corn, Oats, Bran, etc. Poydras & Fulton Sts. Business form with elaborate letterhead. Acc. No. 1983.3.12.
Jac. Trautman & Co. Flour & Grain, Magazine & Natchez. Business form with elaborate letterhead. Acc. No. 1983.3.13.
J. N.W. Otto Druggist & Apothecary (Deutsche Apotheke) Cor. Rampart & Gravier. Business form with elaborate letterhead. Acc. No. 1983.3.14.
Joseph Cohn & Son (Hiram) Manufacturers of Mens’ Youths’ & Boys’ Clothing. Magazine St. Business form with elaborate letterhead. Acc. No. 1983.3.16.
B. Landau & Co. Importers of Notions, Hosiery, Ribbons… Common & Magazine St. Business form with elaborate letterhead. Acc. No. 1983.3.19; 1983.3.20.
B. Rosenberg & Sons Manufactures & Dealers in Boots & Shoes. 526 Canal. Business form with elaborate letterhead. Acc. No. 1983.3.22.
B. J. Wolf & Sons Manuf. of Jeans & Staple Clothing. 518–36 Bienville St. Business form with elaborate letterhead. Acc. No. 1983.3.24; 1983.3.25.
A. Adler & Co. Wholesale Grocers. Canal St., Cor. Peters. Business form with elaborate letterhead. Acc. No. 1983.3.35.
Jaeger & De Pass Confectioners & Dealers in Wooden & Willow Ware. Tchoup. & Common. Business form with elaborate letterhead. Acc. No. 1983.3.39; 1983.3.40.
J. H. Menge & Sons Grocers, Ship Chandlery, Railway & Mill Supplies. Business form with elaborate letterhead. Acc. No. 1983.3.45.
C. H. Miller (Successor to Miller & Dielmann) Steam Candy Manufactures, Depot for Fireworks, Agent for Calif. Wines & Liquor, Cigars. Cor. S. Peters/ Natchez Alley. Business form with elaborate letterhead. Acc. No. 1983.3.46.
J. & M. Schwabacher, Ltd. Commission Merchants Cor. Magazine & Poydras. Business form with elaborate letterhead. Acc. No. 1983.3.48; 1983.3.49.
L. N. Brunswig Exporter, Importer & Wholesale Druggist. New York/ New Orleans Cor. Tchoup. & Gravier. Business form with elaborate letterhead. Acc. No. 1983.3.51; 1983.3.52.
Hotel Vonderbank (See Hotel Schmitt/St. James Hotel) Magazine St. Business form with elaborate letterhead. Acc. No. 1983.3.59.
Ziegler’s Saloon, Bar & Restaurant Royal St. Business form with elaborate letterhead. Acc. No. 1983.3.60.
Germania National Bank. Between 1890 and 1893. Business form with elaborate letterhead. Acc. No. 1983.3.61.
The Teutonic Insurance Co. of N. O., La. Business form with elaborate letterhead. Acc. No. 1983.3.63.
Teutonia Savings Bank (Deutsche Sparbank) St. Charles St. Business form with elaborate letterhead. Acc. No. 1983.3.64.
O. Walther Builder Cor. Baronne & Joseph St. Business form with elaborate letterhead. Acc. No. 1983.3.66.
B. Feibelman & Co. Common St. (New Orleans/Baton Rouge). Business form with elaborate letterhead. Acc. No. 1983.3.68.
H. Keller’s Soap Works 528 Gravier St./Cor. St. Andrew & Howard St. Business form with elaborate letterhead. Acc. No. 1983.3.18.
Book illustrations of banks, including those of the German community. Photomechanical halftone print by L. Graham & Son, Ltd. (printer). New Building of the State National Bank, Common Street. (i)"New Building of the State National Bank, Common Street." 619–627 Common, Central Business District. (ii)Portrait of "Henry Maspero, President Traders' Bank." (iii)Portrait of "Col. J. C. Denis, President Germania National Bank." (iv)"Louisiana National Bank, Common Street." 614–618 Common, Central Business District. (v)"Germania National Bank, Canal Street." 620 Canal, Central Business District. (vi)Portrait of "N. Landry, President People's Bank." (vii)"People's Bank, Decatur and Customhouse Streets." 201 Decatur, Central Business District. (viii)"Provident Savings Bank, Camp Street." 221 Camp, Central Business District. (ix)"Bank of Commerce, St. Charles and Union Streets." 321 St. Charles, Central Business District. (x)"Teutonia Savings Bank, St. Charles Street." 327 St. Charles, Central Business District. c. 1894. Acc. No. 1984.115.25 i-x. German-Americans in New Orleans [57 portraits]. Poster by Allied Printing (printer). August 31, 1902. Acc. No. 1974.25.27.514 a,b; 2002.92.
View of plantation home by Theodore J. Lilienthal, Photographer. Stereograph photoprints mounted on board. Shows German-style architectural detail on gables, railings, windows. Shows shrubbery and trees surrounding home. Handwritten, German caption. C. 1870. Acc. No. 1988.134.22 i, ii.
Page from the book Men of Louisiana Cartooned. New Orleans Item (Publisher), February 5, 1906. Anonymous caricature of Malnor A. Shumard hovering over building of the German Insurance Co. of Freeport, Illinois. Caption reads, "Of M. A. Shumard and Co., general agents, Southern department of German Insurance Company of Freeport, Illinois. A wide-awake business man, and one who ranks high in the business and social life of the city." Acc. No. 1985.228.15.
Page from the book Men of Louisiana Cartooned. New Orleans Item (Publisher), February 5, 1906. Anonymous caricature of Cartwright Eustis in hunting clothing, holding a gun with a hunting dog in the background. Caption reads, "General manager for Louisiana of the Germania Life Insurance Co. of New York, director Bank of Orleans, director Hill Top Oil Co., and connected with Peter Hellwege and Co. Mr. Eustis is a member of the Boston and Louisiana Clubs, and an ardent sportsman." Acc. No. 1985.228.19. Print; Book illustration showing G. Ad. Blaffer, Vice-Pres. Commercial Germania Trust & Savings Bank. Anonymously published reproductive print from a woodcut by Boyle, Charles Wellington. C. 1921. Acc. No. 1997.127.40.
Designs of or Objects Manufactured of Silver. Group of 197 photographs, 2 printed drawings, and 12 original drawings of objects designed by or manufactured by the Dingeldein family of silversmiths. The images in this group were tentatively produced for reproduction in sales catalogs as most of the objects depicted have an identification number and the weight of the object in view. Notes on images are in German language. Acc. No. 1991.150.1-211.
Dingeldein Collection. Patterns, sandblocks, tools, drawings, etc. from the Dingeldein family of silversmiths. 1852–1965. Acc. No. 1982.25.1.
Dingeldein Designs. Group of 31 printed designs for the Dingeldein Collection of furniture, jewelry, and other decorative arts. 1852–1912. Acc. No. 1991.129.1-31.
Photograph of Mr. and Mrs. Otto Dingeldein. Acc. No. 1992.48.
"Dingeldein Zoo" sketchbook and blueprints related to the Dingeldein Collection. Material created by the nineteenth- and twentieth-century French Quarter manufacturer Karl August Dingeldein, including sketchbook with blueprints and “Dingeldein Zoo.” 1930–35. Acc. No. 1992.101.1-58.
Photographs, blueprints, and diagrams of Dingeldein Animals and Related Items. Material created by the nineteenth- and twentieth-century French Quarter manufacturer Karl August Dingeldein. 1930–35. Acc. No. 1992.101.58.1-40.
Four Seasons Pastry Shop to Karl Dingeldein…Four Seasons Pastry Shop sign and a wooden plaque presented to Karl Dingeldein for his service to the Vieux Carre. Between November 20, 1956, and December 31, 1970. Acc. No. 2002.108.1,2.
Nau, John Frederick. The German people of New Orleans, 1850–1900. Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1958. 25 cm. LC: F379.N5/N23 1958.
Merrill, Ellen C. Germans of Louisiana. Forward by Don Heinrich Tolzmann. Gretna: Pelican Publishing, 2005. LC: F380.G3 M47 2005
Voss, Louis. History of the German Society of New Orleans, with an introduction giving a synopsis of the history of the Germans in the United States, with special reference to those in Louisiana. Written at the request of the German Society and published by it on the occasion of its eightieth anniversary, celebrated on December 6, 1927. Louis Voss. New Orleans: Sendker Printing Service, 1927. 24 cm. LC: F380.G3/V94
Ashkenazi, Elliot. Creoles of Jerusalem. LC: F380 .J5 A7 1983
Ashkenazi, Elliot. The Business of Jews in Louisiana. LC: F380 .J5 A88 1988.
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