Translating History: The Milwaukee Pabst Family Letters (1841–1887)

In 2005, about 350 letters dated between 1841 and 1887 were discovered at Pabst Farms in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. They were written in the old German Kurrent script by members of the Best/Pabst family of Milwaukee brewer fame. Now, graduate students in the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee’s German and Translation & Interpreting Studies programs are transcribing these letters and translating them into English under the guidance of Prof. Viktorija Bilić. In this presentation, Dr. Bilić will discuss different steps and challenges in the translation process. She will also share examples of the already translated letters that bring Milwaukee history to life. Register.

Central time zone | online | English