Back in Milwaukee

John Fea III and John Fea Sr.

A few years ago I led a Gilder-Lehrman Institute Junior Forum for the Milwaukee Public School District on the subject of children in colonial America.  I must have done something right during that visit because they invited me back–this time for a lecture on American immigration and religion. 

This morning a few hundred students–ranging from 5th grade to high school, came with their teachers to Marquette University’s Weasler Hall for the forum. 

I traced the history of both American religious freedom and American nativism, using the story of my 102-year-old grandfather, an Italian immigrant, as an illustration.  When I showed a picture of us together the students applauded. I even tried to play a clip from an oral history interview I did with him a few years ago, but, alas, the technology failed me.

I wanted the students to see how fears of new immigrants bringing new religions to American shores was nothing new.  (I talked a bit about the Milwaukee Daily American, the city’s 1850s Know Nothing newspaper).  I hope they got the message.

Thanks to Anthony Napoli and Steve Schwartz of Gilder-Lehrman for inviting me, and Michelle Wade and Jennie Eckstein of Milwaukee Public Schools for hosting me.  I am hoping I get to come back soon!

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