henrymielke

Miss Mielke (LOC)

from The Library of Congress

• TVL1970 said:

  Henry Mielke, Shopkeeper and prominent member of the "Gold for Iron" ("Gold fur Eisen") organization. Those supporting the Kaiser and German cause received iron rings in exchange for gold, jewels, and other valuables to be used to pay for the German war effort. His daughter Henrietta (b. June 14, 1897 - d. ?) is also photographed presumably with a person giving to the effort in Mr. Mielke's phonograph and camera shop located on Second Avenue at the corner of 87th Street. See also: See: query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F40B12F7385916738... THE IRON RING IS WORN BY 10,000 NEW YORKERS OF GERMAN BLOOD For the Sake of the Fatherland These People Are Giving Their Gold and Other Valuables in Exchange for the Historic Ring of Loyalty. October 14, 1914 New York Times "LOYALTY to the Fatherland to evidence, gave I, in troublous time, gold for this iron." One hundred years ago many German women were wearing rings of iron engraved with this inscription. These were the rings issued during the Napoleonic wars, a "troublous time," indeed, and they signified that the wearer had pledged her gold or her jewels in the cause of Germany. Today over ten thousand in New York City are wearing iron rings engraved with this same inscription. It has been done so quietly that the public has not realized it. Yet since the first of September there has been a steady stream of the Germans of this city to a little kodak and phonograph shop far up on Second Avenue. Here the women have been bringing their jewels, their heirlooms, the men their watches, their musical instruments and money, to receive in return their iron ring. See also: A biographical sketch about Henry Mielke (including a photo) in Schlegel's German-American families in the United States ..., Volume 2, By Carl Wilhelm Schlegel, American Historical Society (1917). books.google.com/books?id=CnATAQAAMAAJ&lpg=PA363&...

• Arden said:

  TVL 1970: Thank you for telling us about the interesting context for these two photographs and for providing your sources of the New York Times and the biographical article on Henry Mielke in Schlegel's German-American families which includes a photograph. We will add some of the details to the image description when we update.

• Art Siegel said:

  This is very likely the ring that Herr Mielke was giving out in 1914: www.warrelics.eu/forum/imperial-germany-austro-hungary/ir...

• peter buotte said:

  Hello from Maine. My famiy arrived here from Bavaria Germany due to WWI. We have a family heirloom phonograph delivered by the Mileke shop in NYC. The delivery postcard is pristine condition. The business address listed on the card is Second Ave and *East 86* street, not 87th, unless the business moved?. Best regards.