Einsiedeln anderswo / Einsiedeln elsewhere
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Einsiedeln Elsewhere – Immigrants and Their Descendants in Louisville, Kentucky

Between 1850 and 1950 more than 3000 women and men went from Einsiedeln overseas. Most went to the United States – many of them to Louisville, Kentucky. The city's telephone directory contains still in 2015 more than 500 names of Einsiedeln origin from Birchler to Zehnder. Today, the descendants' attitude concerning their Swiss roots is quite varied.

The knowledge and remembrances of contemporary witnesses about the earlier "Swiss community" in Louisville are disappearing more and more. It is high time indeed to recognize, document, and preserve what is still there – and thereby connect (again) the old world with the new.

"Einsiedeln Elsewhere" pursues the traces of emigrants from Einsiedeln to the Ohio River and establishes a bridge to their descendants so that the common history may be shared.

The projects pursues new ways, is cross medial – with items such as a homepage, films, a face book community, books, exhibits, and events. Ties between, and stories shared, by people of two regions separated by thousands of miles are thus becoming known and experienced.

And... the story moves on.

 

Project Highlights

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April 28, 2023

The "Kalberweidli Brothers" are on tour in the midwest as Cultural Ambassadors for Einsiedeln
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November 20, 2019

VIDEO SERIES 2019 "Einsiedeln elsewhere - Cheese and music, here and there"
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April 2019

"Einsiedeln anderswo": The book in German
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July 29, 2018

"Einsiedeln elsewhere" – Immigrants and Their Descendants in Louisville, Kentucky”. The book in English.
 

Familystories

 
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Victoria Ann (Vicky) Birchler Ullrich and Charles Robert (Bob) Ullrich

The project began in Louisville, 2006, when Susann Bosshard-­Kälin had her first encounter with Vicky and other descendants of Einsiedeln immi­grants.

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Mike A. Bisig

“We Bisigs are hard workers.” One can’t doubt the words, those of sturdy Mike Bisig in his mid-sixties. His strong hands speak volumes, they are used to tackle things.

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Dick Clements Oechsli

The brown overseas trunk carrying the label joseph ochslin le havre new=york is a proud family heirloom.

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Family Ehrler: Dominic and Michael

In Louisville the name Ehrler stands for milk & ice cream. Until the 1970s, they were Louisville’s largest independent dairy.
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Jason Fuchs

Jason Fuchs likes history and traditions. In college, he spent much time in the library to better understand the history of his own family.
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Peter Guetig

“My mother Caroline Schoenbaechler used to say to me: do it right, or just let it be! Always do a good job; then they will pay you well!”
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Jeff Haeberlin, Gruetli Helvetia Society

The Treasurer of the Gruetli Helvetia Society in Louisville welcomes us in the cozy house which he has taken over from his grandparents.
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Brigid Kaelin

Testing our luck, we searched AirBnB for lodging for our first exploratory stay in Louisville and found a neat little house in The Highlands.
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David W. Kaelin

Greetings on the farmstead at Tucker Station Road are filled with emotion. Because for the chat with the host – David Kaelin – a further guest has joined us.
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Gilbert Kaelin

Gilbert Kaelin is a farmer, he raises cattle and grows crops. His grandfather, also a farmer, emigrated in 1880 from Willerzell to Louisville.
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Irma Kaelin Raque

I meet Irma Raque for milk and doughnuts at her nice home at Lamont Road.

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Kathleen Kaelin

Therapist and Ursuline Sister Kathleen Kaelin welcomes me in her private practice office.
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Mary Anne Kaelin

The lively Mary Anne Kaelin has an interesting family history that is interwoven in many ways with Einsiedeln.

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Mike Kaelin

He is the only one of our interview partners who speaks not only High German but also fluent Swiss German.
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Milton Joseph Kaelin

The retired chemist Milton Kaelin keeps the archive of the Louisville Gruetli Helvetia Society.

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Polly, Ellen, Sarah, Judy, Karen and Joy

Six women in their best years. American, but with roots in Einsiedeln, Switzerland.
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Kathy Kaelin Oechsle (Oechslin) Lee-Jarvis

For the very first time she is outside of the US. And her first trip leads her - on a racing bike - right across Switzerland and straightaway to Einsiedeln.
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Ed and Denise Oechslin

Ed collects Swiss cowbells and is a member of the Gruetli Helvetia Society and Swiss Charity Society. He writes his name with an “n” at the end. He wanted to emphasize that fact!
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Carla Sue Schoenbaechler Allgeier Broecker

For 45 years Carla Sue Schoen­baechler Allgeier Broecker has been a columnist and jour­nalist at the Louisville periodical VOICE-TRIBUNE.
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Elmer Bernard Schoenbachler

In the rest of America there aren’t as many Schoenbachlers (Schoenbaechlers) as here in Louisville.
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Mary Rose Schoenbaechler Limb

“I am an American through and through, but to this day have also always felt still being Swiss and from Einsiedeln.”
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Tom and Greg Schoenbaechler

Father and son have set out from Louisville on their ten-day trip over the Atlantic to Europe to search for their familial roots in the monastery village.
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Marcy Walker Murdock

Marcy is the granddaughter of Emil Ochsner who was once a well-known dairyman of Louisville. She loves yodeling.
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Zehnder Family

There are quite a lot of them, and they truly stick together - the members of the “Einsiedeln” Zehnder in Louisville.
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Joyce Zehnder French

Joyce has traveled half the world and thus faces the question of her own rootedness.
 

Videos

 
“Einsiedeln elsewhere” trailer. Protagonists in alphabetical sequence: Bob Ehrler, Brigid Kaelin, Gilbert Kaelin, Mary Ann Kaelin with her brothers, Milton and Sharon Kaelin, Leo Schelbert, Ryan Schoenbaechler with her mother, Victoria Ann (Vicky) Birchler Ullrich and Charles (Bob) Ullrich.

 

“Tracing identity? Genealogy and family stories from canton Schwyz”

The 39-minute Video-on-Demand film focused on Switzerland, and on the subject of genealogy in particular.Author Claudia Steiner.

Video-on-Demand

 
“Tracing identity?” teaser, in German.
 

EAE Video Series "Cheese and music, here and there"

The concept was based on investigating the cultural and economic exchange between Einsiedeln and Louisville today. Author Claudia Steiner.

 
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August 1 celebrations in Louisville

On the afternoon of Sunday, July 29, 2018, around 200 descendants of former émigrés met for August 1 celebrations in Louisville.
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Ellen Kaelin Venhoff and Polly Kaelin Mackay

Ellen Kaelin Venhoff and her sister Polly Kaelin Mackay were overwhelmed to finally have their family tree explained to them by Annemarie Fässler.
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Kathy Kaelin Oechsle (Oechslin) Lee-Jarvis

Kathy Kaelin Oechsle (Oechslin) Lee-Jarvis recalls her first trip to Switzerland in 2016. She has been in regular contact with her relatives in Switzerland ever since.
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Mary Ann Kaelin

Mary Ann Kaelin has visited Switzerland regularly with her family, as her husband, when he was still alive, still had a close relationship with Willerzell, his place of birth.
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Don Oechsle

Don Oechsle is a qualified cheesemaker. He has never been to Switzerland, but knows that the cheese that is sold and eaten in the US has little in common with the cheese made by his ancestors from Einsiedeln.
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Brigid Kaelin

Brigid Kaelin is already well known as a musician in Louisville the region. Her style is a blend of folk, rock and country, and also includes yodeling.
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Anita and Matthias Oechslin

Anita and Matthias Oechslin from Bennau received a visit from Vicky and Bob from USA in July 2016. Susann Bosshard-Kälin from EAE was also part of this "ambush" (or rather, unannounced visit).
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Ehrlers Icecream

Ehrlers Icecream reopened just a few weeks ago in downtown Louisville. Up until about 20 years ago, the milkshakes and ice creams from Ehrlers were famous throughout the city.
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Tom Zehnder

Tom Zehnder and his wife Barbara are visited by their grandchild Jack Hughes, cousin Joan Zehnder and great-niece Lorena Zehnder.
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Joan Zehnder

Joan Zehnder felt “at home” right away when she visited Switzerland for the first time 20 years ago.
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KAELIN’S Restaurant

The reopening of KAELIN'S was made possible thanks also to the efforts of Chris Fenton – with his Irish roots – who identified the potential of the site.
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Leo Schelbert

Leo Schelbert lives near Chicago. For three decades, he was Professor of History at the University of Illinois and publisher of the SAHS Review from the Swiss American Historical Society.
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St. Meinrad Archabbey

At the St. Meinrad Archabbey in Indiana, the EAE visitors moves on swiftly to a visit to the Benedictine abbey.
 

Facts

 
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Einsiedeln

Einsiedeln: For many it stands for Catholicism, for monastery, and for pilgrimage. The place has multiple identities.
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Louisville

Louisville is the largest city in the U.S.-American state of Kentucky. Located at the border to Indiana and next to the Ohio river.
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St. Meinrad

In 1854, monks from Einsiedeln, Switzerland, founded the Benedictine community at St. Meinrad in southern Indiana.
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Overseas Migrations of Einsiedeln 1800-1950

Several hundred of thousands Swiss emigrated to America before 1950. Among them some thousand people from Einsiedeln. Why did they leave?
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Swiss Associations in Louisville

Flourishing national clubs and societies arose in many places in the USA among the European immigrants. In Louisville, Swiss immigrants also founded several such associations.
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The Kaelin-Liebert Family Bible

Karl Kaelin arrived from Einsiedeln in Louisville in 1865. When he founded a family, he bought a luxuriously made family Bible. The Bible is still there, marked by generations.
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The “Oechsli House”

People come and go, houses stay. At least some. One of them is the “Oechsli House” in St. Matthews, Louisville.
 

Authors/Team

 
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Leo Schelbert, Evanston/Chicago

Historian, and professor emeritus of the University of Illinois at Chicago claimed that he is not an expatriate but a Swiss working abroad.
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Susann Bosshard-Kälin

Journalist, author and initiator of the project "Einsiedeln elsewhere".
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Claudia Steiner

Documentary Filmmaker and Producer.
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Heinz Nauer

Dr. Heinz Nauer, Historian
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Start Team of “Einsiedeln elsewhere”
 

Project Chronicle

 
January 5, 2024

BauernZeitung

To America: The Kalberweidli Brothers on tour
October 24, 2023

Einsiedler Anzeiger

On three concerts in Chicago the Kalberweidli Boys Band enjoyed hundreds of people.
October 20, 2023

Einsiedler Anzeiger

In Louisville the Kalberweidli Boys played for the descendents of Einsiedler emigrants – with great success. And they visited big farms in the southern part of Kentucky.
October 17, 2023

Einsiedler Anzeiger

From October 12th ot 21th 2023 the Kalberweidli Boys Band were on tour in the Midwest – Article from New Glarus, Wisconsin
June 27, 2023

Einsiedler Anzeiger

Einsiedeln Culture Prize 2023 for Susann Bosshard-Kälin
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April 28, 2023

The "Kalberweidli Brothers" are on tour in the midwest as Cultural Ambassadors for Einsiedeln
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April 5, 2023

Die Kalberweidli Büäblä Band Goes West.
September 30, 2022

Einsiedler Anzeiger

At the cattle show. One of the highlights of the visit.
September 27, 2022

Einsiedler Anzeiger

"Back to the roots" - reception at the Rathaus for the whole US groupe and the relatives from Einsiedeln
September 18, 2022

Searching for Swiss roots: The program for our guests from Louisville.
August 26, 2022

Einsiedler Anzeiger

Information evening in Einsiedeln about the visit of the US guests.
August 12, 2022

Einsiedler Anzeiger

The people from Louisville come to Einsiedeln!
July 12, 2022

Einsiedler Anzeiger

Invitation: End of September 2022 descendants of emigrants will be in Einsiedeln.
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April 6th, 2022

An obituary for Professor Dr. Leo Schelbert big friend and mentor – also for the Einsiedeln Elsewhere project
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November 18th, 2020

Lecture at the Historical Society Lucerne
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January 11, 2020

Presentation in Egg
November 26, 2019

Einsiedler Anzeiger

Premiere Video series
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November 20, 2019

VIDEO SERIES 2019 "Einsiedeln elsewhere - Cheese and music, here and there"
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October 25, 2019

Louisville's historical documents in the archives of the Swiss Center of North America, New Glarus (WI)
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October 3, 2019

Irma Kaelin Raque
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October 2, 2019

Party evening: Special guest Mary Rose Schoenbaechler
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September 30, 2019

Gathering at Kaelin's
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September 30, 2019

The "Willerzeller Grundmärtels" from Wollerau meet with their relatives on the Kaelin Farm
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September 30, 2019

"Grundmärtels" from Wollerau visit the relatives in Louisville
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September 17, 2019

Oechslin ladies from Louisville in Einsiedeln
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September 12, 2019

"Einsiedeln elsewhere" in the school of Egg.
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September 5, 2019

Award for the designers of the book "Einsiedeln Elsewhere"
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August 17, 2019

Brigid Kaelin gives a concert in Einsiedeln.
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August 17, 2019

Brigid Kaelin plays on August at "music lincoln garden" in Einsiedeln.
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August 14, 2019

The website "Einsiedeln elsewhere" is entered in the digital library of the Swiss National Library.
July 5, 2019

Einsiedler Anzeiger

National Museum Forum Schweizer Geschichte, Schwyz, Panel discussion

May 17, 2019

Einsiedler Anzeiger

Various Stories of emigrants from Canton Schwyz
April 16, 2019

Einsiedler Anzeiger

"On to the New World": Vernissage of the exhibit "Switzerland elsewhere": Vernissage of the exhibit "Switzerland Elsewhere" in Schwyz.
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April 2019

"Einsiedeln elsewhere" in the exhibit of the National Museum in Schwyz
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April 2019

"Einsiedeln anderswo": The book in German
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April 12, 2019

“For example, Einsiedeln in Kentucky”. Susann Bosshard-Kälin in Conversation with Radio Bern
April 5, 2019

Einsiedler Anzeiger

To share the experiences of immigrants.
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April 4, 2019

Julie Kaelin found family traces in Einsiedeln and Euthal
February 4, 2019

Höfner Volksblatt

Emigrants from Schwyz 1850 to 1950. In Wollerau the research results found great applause.
August 17, 2018

Einsiedler Anzeiger

'Whether Swiss or American ..."
August 17, 2018

Einsiedler Anzeiger

In the USA in search for traces.
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August 3, 2018

At the Einsiedeln music festival 2018 Brigid Kaelin, a native of Louisville with Swiss roots sings and plays
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July 29, 2018

"Einsiedeln elsewhere" – Immigrants and Their Descendants in Louisville, Kentucky”. The book in English.
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July 28, 2018

As a guest in the morning Live Show WHAS-TV
July 25, 2018

Höfner and March-Anzeiger

"The more one discovers, the more one wants to know."
July 20, 2018

Einsiedler Anzeiger

Einsiedeln goes "Elsewhere": Eggerin present her book abroad.
July 10, 2018

Einsiedler Anzeiger

Moving family histories. First showing of the film "Tracing identity?"
July 5, 2018

Bote der Urschweiz

Genealogical research is Arno Steiner's hobby.
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July 5, 2018

Short film “Tracing identity?" by Claudia Steiner, July 2018 in Einsiedeln
July 3, 2018

March Anzeiger

On the trail of forebears.
July 3, 2018

Einsiedler Anzeiger

On the trail of forebears.
June 8, 2018

Einsiedler Anzeiger

After the project is before the project.
May 29, 2018

Einsiedler Anzeiger

A Kaelin invented the cheeseburger.
May 15, 2018

Einsiedler Anzeiger

Emigration from Einsiedeln to the Ohio River.

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May 2018

80/20@Kaelins at the Newburg Road of Louisville
April 17, 2018

Einsiedler Anzeiger

At the Einsiedeln music festival 2018 Brigid Kaelin, a native of Louisville with Swiss roots sings and plays.
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Early 2018

"Ehrlers' Ice Cream" – again a meeting place for lovers of ice cream

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Fall 2017

A promising economic venture had been started with the "Milchmanufaktur Einsiedeln"
November 5, 2016

Luzerner Zeitung

The tempting call of the West. After 1850 the number of Swiss emigrating to America greatly increased.
November 3, 2016

Swiss Review

SAHS Review – November 2016 – "Einsiedeln elsewhere".
October 3, 2016

Der Geschichtsfreund, 169. Bd., 2016

Einsiedeln on the Ohio River. History of the transoceanic migration in the 19th and early 20th century.
July 31, 2016

Einsiedler Anzeiger

Swiss festival in Louisville. The national holiday on the other side of the Atlantic.

July 8, 2016

Einsiedler Anzeiger

"I have the feeling that I belong here." On the bycicle to the Einsiedeln roots.
July 5, 2016

Swissinfo.ch

Presence of a Swiss village in the US-city Louisville. A multimedia project explores mutual ties.
June 14, 2016

Einsiedler Anzeiger

A piece of Einsiedeln history. An interesting informational evening about the project "Einsiedeln elsewhere in the museum Fram.
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June 11, 2016

In June 2016, the project arrives at the monastery village Einsiedeln. A hundred people attend an event at the museum Fram.
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June 2016

The multimedia project bears more wonderful fruits.
June 7, 2016

Einsiedler Anzeiger

Einsiedeln descendants in the US city Louisville. Their forebears went overseas and their descendants are still interested generations later in their Einsiedeln origins.
June 3, 2016

Einsiedler Anzeiger

Searching for traces in Louisville. Kentucky. "Einsiedeln elsewhere": Stories of emigrants create a transatlantic bridge.
November 4, 2015

Swiss Revue

Swiss American Historical Society Review, November 2015.
August 4, 2015

Einsiedler Anzeiger

After many years, in 2015 the Swiss Picnic of the Gruetli Helvetia Society was again held on the Swiss national holiday in Louisville.
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August 1, 2015

On 1 August 2015, the Swiss national day is again celebrated after many years in Louisville.

July 31, 2015

Einsiedler Anzeiger

Recently "einsiedeln anderswo.ch" went online, and on August 1, 2015 the Einsiedeln descendants of Louisville celebrate the Swiss national holiday with other Swiss.
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July 2015

The Project and the "new media"- the virtual bridge exists online: Website and Facebook page.
May 5, 2015

Einsiedler Anzeiger

Back from Louisville – with rich findings, gathered about emigrants from Einsiedeln.
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April and August 2015

The team "Einsiedeln elsewhere" arrives in Louisville.
April 8, 2015

Einsiedler Anzeiger

Tracking down Einsiedeln elsewhere. On "search for clues" in Louisville, Kentucky
March 22, 2015

THE COURIER-JOURNAL

Louisville’s ties to a Swiss Town. Author’s research discovers connections to Einsiedeln, a village near her; she will be in town in April.
March 5, 2015

Swiss Revue

Kentucky: Einsiedeln Elsewhere. Ties between a Swiss village and the Amercan City Louisville.
 

Sponsors and Supporters

 
We thank the people and institutions who have supported us generously by their suggestions and financial support – without their engagement we could not have been able to realize this large project.

Jürg, Annina und Catherina Bosshard, Leo und Virginia Schelbert, Ruedi und Iris Steck, Vicky and Bob Ullrich-Birchler, Claudia Steiner, Mirjam Weiss, Annemarie Fässler, Donald Tritt, Denise Hill Oechslin, Brigid Kaelin, Franz Pirker, Ingrid and Hansruedi Fässler-Heinzer, Ellen Venhoff-Kaelin, Marlis Schuler, Jeff Haeberlin, Milton Kaelin, Rita und Albert Lacher, Leo Blunschi, Alfons Iten AG, Maler Strüby AG, Maler Bingisser AG, Marie-Theres Gwerder, Thomas Haller, Franz Kälin, Gemeinde Wollerau, David Demack.

 
 

… and the project goes on.

We are most grateful if you will continue to support info@einsiedeln-anderswo.ch

Contact

if you are interested in supporting this project, please contact

info@

einsiedeln-anderswo.ch

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Imprint

Texts: Susann Bosshard-Kälin & Heinz Nauer, Design: Paolo De Caro, Photos: Martina Di Lorenzo, Annina Bosshard, Paolo De Caro, Clips: Martina Di Lorenzo, Movies: Claudia Steiner, Translations Annina Bosshard & Leo Schelbert, Webdesign & Coding: Ruedi Steck.

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