FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  May 18, 2007
CONTACT: Ronette Rumpca, (605) 773-6011; ronette.rumpca@state.sd.us

Immigration and Caricature exhibit opens at Cultural Heritage Center

PIERRE, SD – Immigration is a hot topic in 2007. It was just as hot a topic in pre-World War I America.

Immigration and Caricature: Ethnic Images from the Appel Collection explores how ethnic stereotypes appeared in newspaper cartoons, postcards and other printed material from the Civil War to World War I. The South Dakota State Historical Society is featuring Immigration and Caricature in the Hogen Gallery of the Cultural Heritage Center through Sept. 4.

Between the Civil War and World War I, nearly 30 million immigrants came to the United States, creating the most ethnically diverse nation in the world. Prior to this time most of America’s immigrants had come from northern Europe and quickly assimilated into the dominant English-speaking American culture. In contrast, post-Civil War immigrants came largely from southern and eastern European countries. The idea of America as a melting pot with each immigrant group contributing to a unique American culture developed. The mass migration ended after World War I when immigration laws established quotas and severely limited immigration from southern and eastern Europe and from Asia.

During the post-Civil War era, cartoonists created exaggerated images of specific ethnic groups based on shared, popular stereotypes. To modern Americans, these images are sometimes very disturbing. Not intended to reflect current attitudes, Immigration and Caricature depicts values and common attitudes of a post-Civil War America that have changed over time.

“Looking at how immigrants were historically portrayed gives our visitors an opportunity to think about how different – and perhaps not so different – attitudes are today,” said Jay D. Vogt, director of the South Dakota State Historical Society. “The ethnic stereotypes in the exhibit reflect the culture that produced them. We hope visitors will see the exhibit and think about their reactions and attitudes towards immigration today.”

The 37 framed works in Immigration and Caricature include cartoons, postcards, trade cards, and prints and lithographs. All of the images come from more than 4,000 pieces donated to the Michigan State University Museum by Dr. John and Selma Appel. The exhibit is part of the Michigan State Traveling Exhibits Program.

The museum in the Cultural Heritage Center is open 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 1-4:30 p.m. on Sundays and most holidays. Call (605) 773-3458 for more information, or visit www.sdhistory.org.