Letters from America: Cleveland Germans in the 19th Century

The Shaker Historical Society & Museum announces a presentation with author Claire Gebben who will discuss her research “Letters from America: Cleveland Germans in the 19th Century” along with her book The Last of the Blacksmiths.

Lecture & Book Signing with Claire Gebben
Sunday, April 12, 2015 at 3pm
$5 Non-Members; Free for SHS Members
RSVP to Ruth at 216-921-1201

A few years ago, author Claire Gebben received a fantastic surprise when her relatives in Germany discovered old letters in their attic written by her ancestors who were German immigrants to Cleveland, Ohio. The discovery led to the historical novel The Last of the Blacksmiths (Coffeetown Press, 2014), based on the true story of Michael Harm, a young blacksmith who travels from the Bavarian Rhinelands to pursue an artisan way of life. To research the novel, Ms. Gebben embarked on a journey that included four days of intensive blacksmithing and a month-long stay in the German Rhinelands. In her powerpoint presentation she’ll share research adventures, the little-known historical influence of Cleveland Germans, and genealogy tips she picked up while writing the book.

About the Author
Claire Gebben was born and raised on the southeast side of Cleveland in Moreland Hills, Ohio. She is of German and Scottish descent, but notes that the Germans of her family were more meticulous record-keepers. After earning a BA in Psychology from Calvin College, she worked as a newspaper columnist, newsletter editor, and ghostwriter -- all the while raising a family and pursuing her first love of writing. In 2011, she earned an MFA in Creative Writing through the Northwest Institute of Literary Arts on Whidbey Island, WA. Ms. Gebben’s stories, articles and essays have appeared in Family Chronicle Magazine, Northwest Primetime, The Fine Line and elsewhere. She currently lives in the Pacific Northwest. The Last of the Blacksmiths is her first novel. Visit her website at http://clairegebben.com