An important aspect of MKI’s preservation and access mission is the conservation, restoration, and repair of historically unique materials. This has been made possible thanks to an annual generous matching grants by members of the Friends of the Max Kade Institute, which on average has allowed us to invest over $1,000 a year on restoration efforts.
In 2024, 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 we can raise a combined $900 to support the MKI’s unique collections! [scroll down to see a list of items considered for this year’s restoration effort]
To donate online click HERE and put “book restoration” in the Comments field.
Or write a check with “donation for book restoration” in the subject line and mail it to
Friends of the Max Kade Institute
432 East Campus Mall
Madison, WI 53706
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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.
A Few Examples of Collection Items Considered for Conservation in 2024
- Kenkel, Friedrich Albert Philip. Der Schädel des Secundus Arbiter. Die Geschichte eines Seelenwanderers. Chicago, Ill.: the author, 1898. [Friedrich Kenkel was born in 1863 in Chicago to Heinrich and Albertine Voll Kenkel, 48ers who were active in the German American theater. Friedrich Kenkel was a Catholic who worked for social reform, especially during his tenure as Director of the Central Bureau of the German Catholic Central-Verein.]
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Lambert George and Home and Foreign Relief Commission. Indien das Schwer-Heimgesuchte Reich. Das Buch enthält eine vollständige Beschreibung der Pest, Teurung und des Erdbebens von 1896-97. Einschliesslich einer genauen Beschreibung der Linderungs-Arbeit durch die “Home and Foreign Relief Commission.” Elkhart, Ind.: Mennonite Publishing, 1898. [Account by the Mennonite Home and Foreign Relief Commission about the situation in India, 1896–97]
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Schmauk, J. G. [Johann G.] Deutsche Harmonie, oder Mehrstimmige Gesänge für deutsche Singschulen und Kirchen. Enthaltend: Eine kurze Anleitung zum Gesangunterricht und Selbstbelehrung, über hundert der beliebtesten Choral- oder Kirchenmelodien der protestantischen Kirche, vierstimmig ausgesetzt; drei und vierstimmig ausgesetzte Chorgesänge mit deutschem Text, und vierstimmig ausgesetzte Chorgesänge mit deutsch und englischem Text. Philadelphia, Penn.: W. G. Mentz, 1847. [song collection for German American singing schools and church choirs]
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Schüth H, ed. Leitfaden und Uebungsbuch beim Deutschen Sprachunterrichte in Elementarschulen. Neueste Auflage. New York: F. Pustet, 1892. [Reader for German language classes at elementary schools]
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Singer, Michael, ed. Jahrbuch der Deutschen in Chicago und im Staate Illinois für das Jahr 1917. Chicago: Singer, 1917. [Includes an overview of the war in Europe and the political situation in America, especially as it concerns German Americans.]
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Struve, Gustav, 1805-1870. Geschichte des Mittelalters. Erstes Buch. Vom Jahre 476 bis 1095. Zweites Buch. Vom Jahre 1095-1291. New York, N.Y.: Gustav Struve, 1853