Valentin J. Peter
Encyclopedia
Valentin J. Peter was a Bavaria
n-born publisher of a German language
newspaper called the Omaha Tribüne and the president of the Nebraska
chapter of the National German-American Alliance
.
s in Peoria
and Rock Island, Illinois
. In 1907 Peter moved to Omaha, Nebraska
and opened a newspaper called the Omaha Tribüne. Within several years he consolidated it with several other German language newspapers from across the state. The Omaha Tribüne became highly influential within a few years.
Peter was a devout Roman Catholic, an Elk
, and a number of social and charitable German immigrant organizations in Omaha. In November 1910 Peter founded and became the president of the Nebraska
chapter of the National German-American Alliance
. Using his position as publisher and editor of the Omaha Tribüne, Peter followed the NGAA's policy against Prohibition
and rallied against Nebraskan politicians and policies he saw as working against the distribution of alcohol.
An active businessman, Peter continued buying and consolidating other German language newspapers throughout the Midwest for several years. His dominance of the German language newspaper industry in the United States was established by the 1930s. After spending 50 years operating the only German newspapers in the U.S., Peter's company sold its final publications in 1982.
. At a NGAA he was quoted as saying,
However, following the Japanese
attack on Pearl Harbor
, Peter published a statement in his newspapers that reflected a change of heart. He wrote, "time for political disagreement about international affairs has passed" and that "all American citizens of German blood" needed to "stand behind their government."
of North Omaha, Nebraska since the 1950s.
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
n-born publisher of a German language
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
newspaper called the Omaha Tribüne and the president of the Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
chapter of the National German-American Alliance
National German-American Alliance
The National German-American Alliance, also called the NGAA or Deutschamerikanische Nationalbund, was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on October 6, 1901 by Charles J. Hexamer, who also served as its president until 1917. Operating as a federation of ethnic German associations, by 1914 the...
.
About
Born in Bavaria, Peter immigrated to the United States in 1889. Within several years he became involved with German language newspaperNewspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
s in Peoria
Peoria, Illinois
Peoria is the largest city on the Illinois River and the county seat of Peoria County, Illinois, in the United States. It is named after the Peoria tribe. As of the 2010 census, the city was the seventh-most populated in Illinois, with a population of 115,007, and is the third-most populated...
and Rock Island, Illinois
Rock Island, Illinois
Rock Island is the county seat of Rock Island County, Illinois, United States. The population was 40,884 at the 2010 census. Located on the Mississippi River, it is one of the Quad Cities, along with neighboring Moline, East Moline, and the Iowa cities of Davenport and Bettendorf. The Quad Cities...
. In 1907 Peter moved to Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
and opened a newspaper called the Omaha Tribüne. Within several years he consolidated it with several other German language newspapers from across the state. The Omaha Tribüne became highly influential within a few years.
Peter was a devout Roman Catholic, an Elk
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks
The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks is an American fraternal order and social club founded in 1868...
, and a number of social and charitable German immigrant organizations in Omaha. In November 1910 Peter founded and became the president of the Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
chapter of the National German-American Alliance
National German-American Alliance
The National German-American Alliance, also called the NGAA or Deutschamerikanische Nationalbund, was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on October 6, 1901 by Charles J. Hexamer, who also served as its president until 1917. Operating as a federation of ethnic German associations, by 1914 the...
. Using his position as publisher and editor of the Omaha Tribüne, Peter followed the NGAA's policy against Prohibition
Prohibition in the United States
Prohibition in the United States was a national ban on the sale, manufacture, and transportation of alcohol, in place from 1920 to 1933. The ban was mandated by the Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution, and the Volstead Act set down the rules for enforcing the ban, as well as defining which...
and rallied against Nebraskan politicians and policies he saw as working against the distribution of alcohol.
An active businessman, Peter continued buying and consolidating other German language newspapers throughout the Midwest for several years. His dominance of the German language newspaper industry in the United States was established by the 1930s. After spending 50 years operating the only German newspapers in the U.S., Peter's company sold its final publications in 1982.
Politics
Peter and his newspapers were strongly against American involvement in World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. At a NGAA he was quoted as saying,
However, following the Japanese
Empire of Japan
The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...
attack on Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
, Peter published a statement in his newspapers that reflected a change of heart. He wrote, "time for political disagreement about international affairs has passed" and that "all American citizens of German blood" needed to "stand behind their government."
Legacy
The business Peter used to print the Omaha Tribüne, the Interstate Printing Company, still functions today in Omaha. It is owned by Valentin's son, Eugene, who is 83 years old. The company has been located in the Near North Side neighborhoodNear North Side (Omaha, Nebraska)
The Near North Side of Omaha, Nebraska is the neighborhood immediately north of downtown. It forms the nucleus of the city's African-American community, and its name is often synonymous with the entire North Omaha area...
of North Omaha, Nebraska since the 1950s.