The Names of John Gergen: Immigrant Identities in Early Twentieth-Century St. Louis

The Names of John Gergen explores the converging governmental and institutional forces that affected the lives of migrants in the industrial neighborhoods of South St. Louis in the early twentieth century, focusing on the compelling story of its eponymous subject. It suggests that identity at the level of the individual was both more fragmented and more fluid than twentieth-century historians have recognized, subject to a variety of forces that often pulled migrants in multiple directions.

Format: Hardback
Length: 360 pages
Publication date: 30 October 2022
Publisher: University of Missouri Press

Benjamin Moore's exploration of migration, memory, and identity is rooted in the yellowing scraps of a young migrant's schoolwork, rescued from a boarded-up house. The Names of John Gergen delves into the converging governmental and institutional forces that shaped the lives of migrants in the industrial neighborhoods of South St. Louis in the early twentieth century. These migrants, primarily Banat Swabians from TorontÁl County in southern Hungary, were Catholic, agrarian, and ethnically German.

Between 1900 and 1920, the St. Louis neighborhoods inhabited by these migrants witnessed efforts by civic authorities and social reformers to counter the perceived threat of foreignness by attempting to Americanize foreign-born residents. Simultaneously, these neighborhoods witnessed the strengthening of Banat Swabians' ethnic identities. Traditionally, scholars and laypeople have understood migrants in terms of their aspirations and transformations, particularly their journey toward Americanization. However, John Gergen's experiences and those of his kin suggest that identity at the individual level was more fragmented and fluid than recognized by twentieth-century historians.

These individuals were subjected to a multitude of forces that often pulled them in multiple directions, complicating their sense of self and belonging. The Names of John Gergen sheds light on the complex interplay between governmental policies, institutional practices, and individual experiences, challenging the prevailing narratives of migration and identity. It emphasizes the importance of recognizing the multifaceted nature of identity and the diverse forces that shape it, providing a deeper understanding of the experiences of migrants and their communities.

Weight: 333g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780826222275