In 1987, Robert “Bob” Lommel translated these previously untranslated chapters of Nicholas Gonner’s 1889 book Die Luxemburger in der Neuen Welt (Luxembourgers in the New World).
Bob was an archivist and research assistant at the Stearns History Museum in St. Cloud, Stearns County, Minnesota for many years. He assisted countless visitors who were researching their Luxembourgish ancestry. Bob shared his translation with Luxembourg Legacy’s Kevin Wester in 1994 and gave permission for it to be used by Kevin and other researchers.
Bob remarked: “This was perhaps the most interesting part of Gonner’s book, and it surprised me that it was never translated. I enjoyed translating it so that others could learn these important details of Luxembourg immigration to the United States.”
Luxembourg Legacy is grateful to Bob for sharing this translation.