Letter to Wilhelm Minne, German, 1848

History Trust of South Australia

Provenance This letter is dated 16 January 1848, and was written in Lonau, Germany. It is a letter to Wilhelm Minne from his sister. He migrated to Australia in the previous two years. His sister tells in the letter how sad they have been because they initially thought he died on the way to Australia. She tells how their father has died, and how she has had a baby boy, who she has named after her brother. The letter belonged to the donor's great great grandmother's family - Minnes and Siegele families who came to Australia about 1848-1855 and eventually settled at Klemzig. The objects have been passed down through the family as reminders of their German heritage. Significance The letter is a representative item of German migration to Australia in the 19th century. Description This is a sheet of cream paper with black ink handwriting on both sides, in German. The letter is dated 1848, and was written in Lonau, Germany. It is a letter to Wilhelm Minne from his sister. He migrated to Australia in the previous two years. His sister tells in the letter how sad they have been because they initially thought he died on the way to Australia. She tells how their father has died, and how she has had a baby boy, who she has named after her brother. Material Paper ink