Our beloved German-American
Subject(s): German Americans, Politics and culture
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Illustration showing a well-dressed, stereotypical German man sitting in a chair, reading a newspaper with the headline “American Politics” through large spectacles labeled “Made in Germany.” He is smoking a cigar through a large holder, and the typical German beer stein next to him is labeled with the logo of Hofbräu München. The caption reads, “He would have a happier time if he looked through American-made spectacles.”
Comments and Context
This cartoon can be seen as an illustration of Theodore Roosevelt’s oft-stated arguments against “hyphenated Americans,” although no specific speech or article prompted the drawing. It is interesting because Puck began its life, in 1876, as a German-language weekly. Its founder and chief cartoonist, Joseph Keppler, and many original staff members were immigrants from Germany or Austria, or first-generation immigrants. The English-language version commenced in 1877 and the German edition continued until August of 1897. Celebration of its racial and cultural heritage (for instance, championing German operas over Italian operas) never dissuaded the magazine from advocating assimilation. Another cartoonist had a hand in this drawing or its concept, but the initial “D” cannot provide an answer to the identity.
Collection
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
Creation Date
1900-05-09
Creator(s)
Period
Governor of New York (October 1898-1900)
Repository
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division
Page Count
1
Record Type
Image
Resource Type
Rights
These images are presented through a cooperative effort between the Library of Congress and Dickinson State University. No known restrictions on publication.
Citation
Cite this Record
Chicago:
Our beloved German-American. [May 9, 1900]. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o275435. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Keppler, Udo J., 1872-1956. Our beloved German-American. [9 May. 1900]. Image.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. March 12, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o275435.
APA:
Keppler, Udo J., 1872-1956., [1900, May 9]. Our beloved German-American.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o275435.
Cite this Collection
Chicago:
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-prints-and-photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. March 12, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-prints-and-photographs.
APA:
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-prints-and-photographs.
