Objekt des Monats
Jedes Objekt in der Sammlung des Deutschen Auswandererhauses erzählt eine ganz persönliche Auswanderungs- oder Einwanderungsgeschichte. In dieser Rubrik stellen wir Ihnen jeden Monat ein anderes Objekt vor – eine Fotografie, ein Dokument oder ein persönliches Erinnerungsstück.
February 2023
Radio program (annotated) ‘German Radio Hour’, 1959
Historical context
For the twelfth time, World Radio Day will be celebrated on February 13, 2023, this year under the motto ‘Radio and Peace’. The United Nations proclaimed this international day in 2012, referring to the year 1946, the founding year of United Nations Radio (UN Radio).
This day aims to highlight radio as one of the most widely used media worldwide today and its unique possibilities for showcasing diverse opinions and voices. This year, radio as a means to promote peace will be in focus. It professionally informs and moderates conflicts, thus supporting democratic opinion formation and preventing possible escalation. It provides space for conversations and contributes to the community of entire communities. The special significance of radio is evident through its long-standing international use and the broad spectrum of its audience.
Short biography
In August 1930, Hannelore Mabry (née Katz) was born in Chemnitz. After completing her high school diploma in 1947, she attended the municipal acting school in Bonn as a scholarship student. This was followed by various artistic activities and acting engagements. In 1956, she married American Paul Mabry. At the end of 1956, Hannelore Mabry decided to emigrate to Boston. She and her daughter Cosima from her first marriage set out together. In the USA, Hannelore Mabry worked under her stage name Loreley Katz as a speaker for the radio program ‘German Radio Hour.’ According to her daughter, Hannelore Mabry was ‘not happy’ in the USA and decided to return to Germany in 1958. After some time, Hannelore Mabry reoriented herself and began studying at Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich in 1966. In 1971, she published her thesis titled ‘Weeds in Parliament’ on the significance of women’s parliamentary work. She founded the Women’s Forum Munich e.V. and became the editor of the magazine Frauenforum – Voice of the Feminists, later called Der Feminist. This is regarded as the first nationwide feminist magazine in the Federal Republic of Germany. Later, she also organized and accompanied various public actions, such as the Munich Cathedral occupation in a call against violence. In 1988, Hannelore Mabry, along with nine other people, founded the association for the promotion of the Bavarian Archive of the Women’s Movement. The goal of the association is to promote scientific work related to the women’s movement. Hannelore Mabry passed away in 2013 in Munich. She was a feminist, pacifist, and single mother. Her daughter Cosima Wolter left parts of her mother’s estate, Hannelore Mabry, to the German Emigration Center.
Significance of the object
The program “German Radio Hour” (Deutsche Radio Stunde) initiated by WGBH based in Boston is created for the benefit of the local German-speaking community and students of German studies. The Radio Hour is broadcast exclusively in German, featuring content such as interviews, lectures, and reports. Additionally, cultural events in the region are announced through the broadcaster. The radio program annotated by Hannelore Mabry provides insights into her migrant daily life. “Music Until Early Morning,” hosted by Hannelore Mabry, is broadcast late at night between 0:10 – 5:50 AM. Although she manages to find a job as a radio presenter in the USA, this document also clearly illustrates how challenging it must have been for Hannelore Mabry as a working mother in her new environment. The object demonstrates how radio provides support within migrant communities, can offer employment for non-native speakers, and highlights the everyday hurdles that migrants must face.
The German Emigration Center is also regularly featured on the radio. You can listen to more about migration history at this link:
https://dah-bremerhaven.de/hoeren
You can tune in to the program from 1959 with “Take the A Train” by the Hazy Osterwald Sextet at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaOBYdD7Qxw
Happy Swinging!
Do You Also Have …
… a story of emigration or immigration in your family that you would like to share with the German Emigration Center together with the related objects and documents for its collection? Then please contact Dr. Tanja Fittkau by phone at +49 471 / 90 22 0 – 0
or by e-mail at: t.fittkau@dah-bremerhaven.de