March 9, 2008
First Germans in America
400th Anniversary Celebration Jamestown and Williamsburg, Virginia April 18–20, 2008
Friday, April 18
32nd Annual Symposium of the Society for German-American Studies
Woodlands Conference Center on the grounds of Colonial Williamsburg Visitors Center
For registration information: <http://www.ulib.iupui.edu/kade/SGAS/sgasin.html>
(Only programs relating to the 400th anniversary celebration are noted below.)
8:30 Welcome by Albert Spengler (University of Virginia).
Keynote address: The German Artifacts Found at Jamestown by Beverly (Bly) Straube, FSA (senior curator, The Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities (APVA).
11:00 Session II—Germans in Virginia
“Out of love of botany,” an examination of the first German to arrive in Jamestown by Straube.
400 Years of Germans in America by Gary Grassl (German-American Heritage Society of Greater Washington, D.C.).
5:30 The SGAS Banquet will be held on Saturday, April 19, in conjunction with the 400th Anniversary Banquet (see below).
Saturday, April 19
TOUR
Jamestown Island
11:45 Special bus to Jamestown Island leaves Woodlands Hotel on the grounds of the Colonial Williamsburg Visitors Center. Or drive south from Williamsburg on Jamestown Road (Route 31) towards the James River. At the Jamestown Settlement theme park turn left to Jamestown Island. Enter the National Park Service Visitors Center, free.
12:30 15-minute introductory film.
12:45 Guided tour of the partially restored James Fort and the APVA Archaearium, with emphasis on German contributions. Tour exits the NPS Visitors Center on the route to James Fort. At the exit, NPS charges $9 or free with Golden Age Pass.
DEDICATION
Glass House at the entrance to Jamestown Island.
2:45 Special bus leaves the NPS Visitors Center for the Glass House.
3:00 Guided tour of the Glass House, free.
4:00 Dedication of the “Wayside” display at the Glass House by Dr. Klaus Scharioth, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany.
4:45 Special bus leaves for Woodlands Conference Center.
400th Anniversary celebration, First Germans in America
Woodlands Conference Center at the Colonial Williamsburg Visitors Center
Registration required. See 400th Anniversary Banquet Registration Form.
5:30 Reception in Cascades Terrace.
6:30 Welcome by Jeanne Ziedler, Mayor of the City of Williamsburg.
400 Years of Germans in America and Their Contributions to American Culture by Historian John Humphrey.
Keynote address by Dr. Klaus Scharioth, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany.
SGAS awards.
7:15 400th Anniversary Banquet with German menu.
8:15 Concert of German music from the 17th century to contemporary times by vocal & string ensemble.
Sunday, April 20
CHURCH SERVICE
King of Glory Lutheran Church, 4897 Longhill Road, Williamsburg, VA (near Route 199). Tel. 757-258-9701
9:30 German-English Service celebrating 400 Years of German Lutherans in the United States.
11:00 Kaffee Stunde
Nearest airports—Newport News (20 min.), Richmond-Williamsburg Airport (50 min.)
Lodging at Williamsburg Woodlands Hotel & Suites, 105 Visitor Center Drive, adjacent to Colonial Williamsburg Visitors Center. (Toll free 800-261-9530, mention group code MIDE08).
Other events this weekend:
Mid Atlantic Germanic Society Spring Conference, Saturday, April 19, 8:30-4:00, Woodlands Conference Center: http://www.magsgen.com/
Virginia German Teachers Spring Workshop, Teaching about German-Americans and Germans in America, Center for Liberal Arts, University of Virginia, Saturday, April 19, Woodlands Conference Center. http://www.virginia.edu/cla/resources/german.html
For further information: Dr. Albert W. Spengler, University of Virginia, Tel. 434-982-5518 or AWS@virginia.edu
400th Anniversary Banquet Registration Form
Woodlands Conference Center, Colonial Williamsburg
April 19, 2008
Registration must be received by April 7. Space is limited to 250.
If purchasing tickets for an organization, please list the name of the group on the name line and include a list of names on a separate sheet.
Name___________________________________________Spouse_______________________
Organization / Society___________________________________________________________
Street address_________________________________________________________________
City, State & Zip Code___________________________________________________________
Telephone, fax & email__________________________________________________________
Number of tickets__________x $35 = $_______________ amount enclosed.
Fee includes dinner (German menu), program, concert and booklet The First Germans in America. There will be a cash bar. If the banquet is sold out, your check will be returned to you.
Make out check payable to University of Virginia; Memo: 400th Anniv. Banquet
Mail completed registration form and check to Albert Spengler
Center for Public Service
PO Box 400206
Charlottesville, VA 22904-4206
ATTN: 400th Anniversary Banquet