An important aspect of MKI’s preservation and access mission is the conservation, restoration, and repair of historically unique materials. In addition, the MKI is striving to grow its library collections by acquiring unique materials that reflect the German American experience. This has been made possible thanks to annual generous matching grants by members of the Friends of the Max Kade Institute.
Our books are expertly restored by Grimm Book Bindery in Monona, Wisconsin. To find out more about the restoration process, read the article by Kevin Kurdylo in the MKI Spring 2023 Newsletter “Grimm Bindery Repairs More Books from MKI’s Collection.” You will find a detailed description of our restoration efforts in Kevin Kurdylo’s article in the Friends of the Max Kade Institute Newsletter, Spring 2021.
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In 2026, a generous member of our Friends organization is offering a $1,000 matching opportunity for the restoration of select books in the Max Kade Institute Library & Archives and the acquisition of rare new items . With your donation we can raise a combined $2,000 to support the MKI’s unique collections! To DONATE online click HERE and put “collection support” in the Comments field.
Or write a check out to Friends of the Max Kade Institute, with “donation for library collections” in the subject line and mail it to: Friends of the Max Kade Institute, 432 East Campus Mall, Madison, WI 53706
Collection Enhancement Goals for 2026
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In 2026, our restoration focus will be on magazines, pamphlets, and letter collections. Many magazine issues and pamphlets come to us unbound and are often falling apart. To protect them from further deterioration and make them easier to handle—and therefore more accessible—we plan to restore and bind some of these materials. A similar process is envisioned for unbound letter collections.
One candidate for this work is The American-German Review, a richly illustrated journal published by the Carl Schurz Memorial Foundation (CSMF) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from 1934 to 1970.
Another example of an item in need of restoration is a paperbound book: Benignus, Wilhelm Hermann Heinrich, 1861-1930. Klänge vom Hudson. New York: Press of John Oehler, 1901.
In addition to our preservation efforts, we strive to acquire new items that will enhance our collections. Our acquisition focus continues to be on German American businesses; innovation, science, and industry (especially printing); cultural clubs; mutual support organizations; and other areas that reflect the German American experience. Such items would also include so-called ego documents, such as letters, diaries, and journals.