Ludewig's "The Literature of American Local History, now in the AED
- By Bruce McKinney
The Literature of American Local History
By Bruce McKinney
Following this brief introduction to Hermann E. Ludewig's "The Literature of American Local History; A Bibliographical Essay" is his obituary notice printed, in The Historical Magazine in February, 1857. Mr. Ludewig was a recent arrival from Germany, working in a second language, developing a bibliographical approach for the Americana field that would two decades later burst into full bloom under the steady hand of Joseph Sabin. It was Mr. Ludewig's privilege to see and seize the opportunity first. I'll let the writer of his obituary, apparently John Ward Dean, speak for himself further down the page
Mr. Ludewig's bibliography, published in 1846, is very interesting and thorough but troublesome because he does a very good but not quite a great job of compiling source material on American local history. He does it first and creates a trail that others will relentlessly improve. He delves into obscuranta that later researchers ignore in part because his sense of organization is so Alice in Wonderland-esque. He certainly belies the notion that all Germans are well organized. In that respect he may be the exception that proves the rule. Today he is so many iterations past that those who create and use bibliographies of American material may not recognize the debt they owe. They may not directly rely on Mr. Ludewig but they rely on sources that do.
What we now know is that Mr. Ludewig's bibliographical methodology would soon be transformed by men who brought a clearer sense of organization to the bibliographical enterprise. William Gowans, his contemporary and friend, was already creating careful and interesting catalogues. Joseph Sabin, the 19th century master, would impose, a quarter of a century later, standards on a field increasingly prepared to accept them. Even as Mr. Ludewig labored, many book dealers were employing techniques still in use today: alphabetic and or by-date listing, uniform presentation, citations when available and appropriate, and care to avoid duplication.
If Mr. Ludewig's format is tortured and repetitious, it nevertheless contains important, often obscure, information. He identified a great deal of material that is interesting but no longer remembered as significant. In working on this project I found countless examples of material he lists for sale on various listing sites, the prices weak, the sellers hungry and the material, upon receipt, interesting. All things considered, he exercised fine judgment.
The virtue of AE's electronic format is to impose clear organization on material that badly needs it. Today, in a database format, Ludewig's bibliography of American local history springs to life, finally free of the constraints of disorganization that plagued and harassed him. Mr. Ludewig has been gone for more than 150 years but today, the work he did and the information he prepared, now courses the internet, clearly expressed in our search results. May it always be so. If he is watching, he's happy.
Here is the first 1,000 records and a search box to examine them. Following the search box is the "in memorium" statement published in The Historical Magazine.
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Ludewig's "The Literature of American Local History, now in the AED
- By Bruce McKinney
This copy was a gift from the author.
The Historical Magazine
Vol. I, February, 1857 [No. 2.]
Hermann Ernst Ludewig
This writer, whose death was briefly alluded to in our last [issue], is deserving of more than a passing notice. He was born in Dresden, in Saxony, Oct. 14, 1809. After receiving a finished German education, he came to this country and took up a temporary residence in the city of New York. This was about the year 1842. Possessing a very active mind, he soon acquired a good knowledge of the English language.
After he made himself well acquainted with the institutions of this country, he wrote home to Dresden, giving the results of his observations. In these communications he drew parallels between the political aspects of the two countries; which, though far within the bounds of truth, gave the United States an envious elevation above his native land. His letters, being published, gave great offence to the government of Saxony. Up to this time Mr. Ludewig had intended to return to Dresden to reside; but now, being informed by letters from his friends of the effect of his political observations at home, and advised not to return, he relinquished his intention, and became a citizen of the United States. Having been bred to the law, he at once determined to commence its practice in the city of New York; and soon acquired considerable business and a wide influence among the German population of that city.
Previous to this Mr. Ludewig visited Boston, and was introduced to the writer of this notice, to whom he appeared, in every respect, one of the best specimens of humanity. He was the very picture of "health and long life;" and, to the usual inquiry as to his health, he would say, with a significant smile, "O, I am always well," while his countenance seemed to express surprise that such an inquiry should be made of one who carried so much proof of health in every feature of his face, and in every motion of his limbs.
His visit to Boston was in the summer of 1845, and was protracted many weeks. During that time the writer saw him almost daily, and he was always buoyant and active - exerting himself to learn whatever was worth knowing about the capital of New England. It was not till after this visit to Boston that he determined to settle in the United States, as before mentioned.
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Ludewig's "The Literature of American Local History, now in the AED
- By Bruce McKinney
none
On his return to New York, Mr. Ludewig passed the following summer chiefly upon Staten Island. There he retired from the heat and bustle of the great city to compile a new work relating to the United States, - a work which had no predecessor in this country. It was entitled, "The Literature of American Local History; a Bibliographical Essay, by Hermann E. Ludewig, corresponding member of the National Institute, and of the New York Ethnological Society." It was printed in 1846, but not published, being given away by its liberal author to public institutions, and to his individual friends and others who appreciated such labors. It was a bound volume of over two hundred pages. While preparing this work at Staten Island, Mr. Ludewig had the valuable assistance of the well-known bookseller of New York, Mr. William Gowans, who sent him from his extensive stock of books all such works as could aid him in his enterprise. He had previously received much assistance from the library of the Hon. Peter Force of Washington, from that of Mr. George Brinley, Jr. of Hartford, and from many other private and public collections, which space will not allow of enumeration.
Two years after, namely, in 1848, Mr. Ludewig issued his "First Supplement" to "American Local History." This was published in the "Literary World" of Feb. 19th of that year. He also issued the same in pamphlet form, though the edition consisted of only thirty copies. The nineteenth of that thirty is now before the writer. It may be observed, that this "Supplement" related entirely to the local history of the State of New York.
In this brief notice of the labors of Mr. Ludewig, reference should be made to the able Introduction accompanying his original work. It extends to twenty pages, in small type, and contains sentiments of which even a native of the country might be proud. It opens with this sentence: "No people in the world can have so great an interest in the history of their country, as those of the United States of North America; for there are none who enjoy an equally great share in their country's historical acts." And the closing sentence is in these words: "May the following repertory, as far as possible, facilitate the foundation of such an American historical library; and may it prove useful to further researches into the history of the country, which every one must love and knows how to understand it."
Mr. Ludewig spend some time at Washington before visiting Boston, and while there was kindly treated by Mr. Force, of whom he always spoke with enthusiastic respect. That gentleman readily comprehended his objects, and justly appreciated his noble and manly character, and allowed him free access to his colossal collection of works on American history. In return for the kindness of his Washington friend, Mr. Ludewig dedicated his "Literature of American Local History" to him.
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Ludewig's "The Literature of American Local History, now in the AED
- By Bruce McKinney
none
When his book was printed, he forwarded a copy to the writer of this notice, accompanied by a letter dated "New York, March 31, 1846," in which, after apologizing for a silence of several months' duration, he states as one reason for it that he had been very busily engaged upon his work, and had determined to wait till he could send a "printed excuse" for his silence. He mentions the kindness Mr. Gowans had shown him in his researches, and adds: "You know American literature so well that you can better decide upon the troubles I had in gathering the notices contained in my book than any one in the country. That my Essay is incomplete I know very well; but I give what I could give, and I think for one individual that is sufficient. The book is inscribed to our friend Force; and I can say that I feel happy to prove to this real gentleman and true American how thankful I am for his great and unpretending kindness. I printed five hundred copies, of which more than one-half have been distributed to my literary friends on both sides the Atlantic, and the greater part of the volumes to a friend of mine at Leipzig, who knowing that I was about to write such a repertory, provided for himself and several literary men copies of it, which I could not but reserve." He then mentions that he had sent to the care of the writer of this, copies of his work for the New England Historical and Genealogical Society; for the Historical Societies of Maine and New Hampshire; for the American Antiquarian Society at Worcester, and also for Dr. Webb of Providence.
In a long letter written on Sept., 1846, he incidentally mentions that he had received very kind and flattering notices of his book from "abroad," and also in the United States. He particularly mentions a letter from Henry Clay, of which he says: "I cannot say how happy I felt that just this man was so kind in appreciating all the troubles I had in collecting the notices." He mentions also that he had lately been elected a member of the New York, Georgia, New Hampshire, and Iowa Historical Societies, and of the Geological Institute.
Though actively engaged in his profession, he still carried on his literary labors, and made large collections relative to the Indians and other branches of Archaeology. To Philology also he gave much attention, and a work upon the subject, entitles Bibliotheca Glottica," was actually in press in London, and was announced to appear on the 15th of December, three days after the author's death, - which occurred as stated in our last [issue], at Brooklyn, N. Y., Friday, December 12, 1856. He left a widow but no children.
Mr. Ludewig had some property when he came to this country; and although by his profession he could have increased his patrimony, yet such was his generosity that he left very little at his death. He took a great interest in the German Emigrant Society, of which he was an efficient member for eight years.
Among the losses in the literary circle of this country, that of Hermann Ernst Ludewig will long be felt. He had a mind capable of accomplishing what few are able to perform. In estimating the amount of his labors, it should be remembered that his works were not written in his own language, and that he had to overcome obstacles with which a native does not have to contend. He was benevolent without ostentation, and felt happy in the performance of labors that he was conscious would result in good to the world. But death is no respecter of talents, nor of moral worth; and in the midst of his usefulness and the fullness of his powers this brilliant scholar has been torn away. Yet his life has not been fruitless, and his name will be cherished hereafter as that of a true benefactor of his race.
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