Mathilde Franziska Anneke
Encyclopedia
Mathilde Franziska Anneke (April 3, 1817, Sprockhövel
, Westphalia
, Prussia
- November 25, 1884, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
) was a German feminist, socialist, and newspaper editor, owner, and reporter. Born Mathilde Franziska Geisler, her first marriage to Alfred von Tabouillot, a rich wine merchant, ended in divorce. The ensuing custody battle over the children influenced her feminist views greatly.
She later married Fritz Anneke
, a former Prussian artillery officer, whom she had met in Münster
, Westphalia, and the couple began publishing a daily newspaper for the working class in Cologne
. When Fritz was jailed for his political activities, Mathilde continued to write, manage, and publish the paper until it was banned by the authorities in 1847. One year later, Mathilde started a new paper, the first German feminist newspaper, Frauen-Zeitung, in 1848. Upon his release from prison, Mathilde later travelled with Fritz during the Prussian invasion of the Palatinate, writing about it. After the Prussian victory, the couple fled Germany and emigrated to the United States
.
Upon her resettlement in Milwaukee, Anneke recreated her career as a feminist author and publisher, becoming a friend and colleague of Susan B. Anthony
and Elizabeth Cady Stanton
. In March 1852, Mathilde started the first feminist journal in the United States published by a woman, the Deutsche Frauen-Zeitung.
The Annekes were vocal opponents of slavery during the American Civil War
, and Fritz served in the Union army
, as colonel and commanding officer of the 34th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment
. The younger brother of Fritz, Emil Anneke
, was Michigan's first Republican Auditor General
.
Mathilde Anneke later founded a girl's school in Milwaukee that remained open until 1884.
Sprockhövel
Sprockhövel is a town in the district of Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.-Neighbouring places:* Hattingen* Witten* Wetter * Gevelsberg* Wuppertal* Schwelm-Divisions of the town:* Niedersprockhövel* Obersprockhövel...
, Westphalia
Westphalia
Westphalia is a region in Germany, centred on the cities of Arnsberg, Bielefeld, Dortmund, Minden and Münster.Westphalia is roughly the region between the rivers Rhine and Weser, located north and south of the Ruhr River. No exact definition of borders can be given, because the name "Westphalia"...
, Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
- November 25, 1884, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
) was a German feminist, socialist, and newspaper editor, owner, and reporter. Born Mathilde Franziska Geisler, her first marriage to Alfred von Tabouillot, a rich wine merchant, ended in divorce. The ensuing custody battle over the children influenced her feminist views greatly.
She later married Fritz Anneke
Fritz Anneke
Friedrich 'Fritz' Anneke was a German socialist and newspaper editor, owner, and reporter. He immigrated to the United States with his family in 1849 and became an officer in the Union army, and later an entrepreneur and journalist...
, a former Prussian artillery officer, whom she had met in Münster
Münster
Münster is an independent city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located in the northern part of the state and is considered to be the cultural centre of the Westphalia region. It is also capital of the local government region Münsterland...
, Westphalia, and the couple began publishing a daily newspaper for the working class in Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
. When Fritz was jailed for his political activities, Mathilde continued to write, manage, and publish the paper until it was banned by the authorities in 1847. One year later, Mathilde started a new paper, the first German feminist newspaper, Frauen-Zeitung, in 1848. Upon his release from prison, Mathilde later travelled with Fritz during the Prussian invasion of the Palatinate, writing about it. After the Prussian victory, the couple fled Germany and emigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Upon her resettlement in Milwaukee, Anneke recreated her career as a feminist author and publisher, becoming a friend and colleague of Susan B. Anthony
Susan B. Anthony
Susan Brownell Anthony was a prominent American civil rights leader who played a pivotal role in the 19th century women's rights movement to introduce women's suffrage into the United States. She was co-founder of the first Women's Temperance Movement with Elizabeth Cady Stanton as President...
and Elizabeth Cady Stanton
Elizabeth Cady Stanton
Elizabeth Cady Stanton was an American social activist, abolitionist, and leading figure of the early woman's movement...
. In March 1852, Mathilde started the first feminist journal in the United States published by a woman, the Deutsche Frauen-Zeitung.
The Annekes were vocal opponents of slavery during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, and Fritz served in the Union army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
, as colonel and commanding officer of the 34th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment
34th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment
The 34th Regiment Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 34th Wisconsin was organized at Madison, Wisconsin and mustered into Federal service December, 1862....
. The younger brother of Fritz, Emil Anneke
Emil Anneke
Emil Anneke was a German revolutionary and Forty-Eighter and American journalist, lawyer and politician . From 1863 until 1866 he served as Michigan Auditor General, the first Republican serving in that position. Emil was the younger brother of U.S...
, was Michigan's first Republican Auditor General
Michigan Auditor General
The Michigan Auditor General is the chief fiscal officer of the State of Michigan. The office was established in 1839 and has been made an electoral office in 1850. The first Michigan Auditor General was Robert Abbott, and the first elected Auditor General John Swegles, Jr....
.
Mathilde Anneke later founded a girl's school in Milwaukee that remained open until 1884.