WELCOME
The Max Kade Institute for German-American Studies is an interdisciplinary unit in the College of Letters and Science at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. It is dedicated to researching, preserving, and sharing the stories of German-speaking immigrants and their descendants in the larger context of global migration past and present.
Because of restoration work in our building, the Institute and the Library are currently open BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. Please contact a staff member by email, or leave a voicemail message at 608-262-7546.
Join us for our in-person and virtual events and explore our website. You can find recordings of presentations in the MKI Virtual Lecture Series, scanned images from our Library and Archives, MKI’s exhibit “Neighbors Past and Present: The Wisconsin German Experience,” our most recent virtual exhibit on “Anna Seifert: Letters in German from a Wisconsin Farm,” and much more.
Recent News
Watch Online: “Comanches, Captives, Germans: Transactions on the Texas Frontier, 1847”
Christopher J. Wickham’s and Daniel J. Gelo’s presentation on “Comanches, Captives, Germans: Transactions on the Texas Frontier, 1847,” recorded February 9, 2023, can now be watched online. Click HERE for an abstract, further information, and …
February 20, 2023
New: “Anna Seifert: Letters in German from a Wisconsin Farm”
Anna (Jagow) Seifert’s Letters to Her Son Lester “Smoky” Seifert: 1932–1942 The Max Kade Institute holds a collection of 164 letters and postcards written between 1932 and 1942 by Anna (nee Jagow) Seifert (1876–1958) to …
December 13, 2022
Watch Online: “African Voices in German-Language Publications: Slave Ship Survivors in the Atlantic World, 1739–1932” with Aaron Fogleman
Aaron Fogleman’s presentation on “African Voices in German-Language Publications: Slave Ship Survivors in the Atlantic World, 1739–1932” recorded November 10, 2022, can now be watched online. Click HERE for an abstract, further information, and a link …
November 28, 2022
Watch online: “New York’s German-Language Press in Times of Peace and War, late 19th Century to 1918”
Peter Conolly’s presentation on “New York’s German Language Press,” recorded October 13, 2022, can now be watched online. Click HERE for an abstract, further information, and a link to the video.
October 24, 2022
Help the MKI Restore Select Items from its Collections!
We are delighted to announce that two longtime members of our Friends organization are offering a. $450 matching opportunity for the restoration of select books in the Max Kade Institute Library & Archives. With your donation …
May 10, 2022- More news...