Pomeroy Babel Defiance
World War I; Babel Proclamation; Council of Defense; German Language; Anti-Germanism; Religion; Babel Defiance; Telephones; Informants
Wattonville informs on German-language use over telephone and in religious services.
Edwin Wattonville
N/A
State Historical Society of Iowa, Des Moines, Iowa
5/30/1918
N/A
N/A
N/A
Letter
English
TEXT
Box #14, Council of Defense, Governor's Office: Harding, Research Group #43, S61/07/05
1918-05-30; Pomeroy, Iowa; Calhoun County
Original Copy of Babel Proclamation
World War I; Babel Proclamation; Council of Defense; German Language; Anti-Germanism; Proclamations; Foreign Languages; Religion; Telephones
Governor Harding issues resolution proclaiming English the sole acceptable language for use in public in Iowa. Public, namely, meaning also church and educational services.
William L. Harding
N/A
State Historical Society of Iowa, Des Moines, Iowa
5/23/1918
N/A
N/A
N/A
Proclamation
English
TEXT
Folder #2, 1918 - , Box #20, Governor William L. Harding: General Correspondence, S61/06/06
1918-05-23; Iowa; Des Moines, Iowa; Polk County
Babel Rescinded
World War I; Babel Proclamation; Council of Defense; German Language; Anti-Germanism; Postwar; Religion; Enforcement; Telephones; Education; Armistice; Loyalty
Proclamation announcing rescindment of Babel in light of peace.
William L. Harding
N/A
State Historical Society of Iowa, Des Moines, Iowa
12/4/1918
N/A
N/A
N/A
Proclamation
English
TEXT
Folder #2, 1918 - , Box #20, Governor William L. Harding: General Correspondence, S61/06/06
1918-12-04; 1918-05-23; Des Moines, Iowa; Polk County
German Over Telephone in Bouton
World War I; Babel Proclamation; Council of Defense; German Language; Anti-Germanism; Telephones; Informants
Telephone operator informs on German-language use over phone
Mrs. Dennis Smith
N/A
State Historical Society of Iowa, Des Moines, Iowa
1/6/1919
N/A
N/A
N/A
Letter
English
TEXT
Box #15, Council of Defense, Governor's Office: Harding, Research Group #43, S61/07/05
1919-01-06; Bouton, Iowa; Dallas County;
Enforcing Babel
World War I; Babel Proclamation; Council of Defense; German Language; Anti-Germanism; Telephones; Enforcement
Response to letter writer regarding difficulty of enforcing Babel.
William L. Harding
N/A
State Historical Society of Iowa, Des Moines, Iowa
3/13/1918
N/A
N/A
N/A
Letter
English
TEXT
Box #15, Council of Defense, Governor's Office: Harding, Research Group #43, S61/07/05
1918-03-13; Perry, Iowa; Dallas County
Informing on German-Language Use over Telephone Line in Adair County
World War I; Babel Proclamation; Council of Defense; German Language; Informants; Telephone; Anti-Germanism
Report over foreign-language use on telephone. It is unclear whether the language is German or "Swiss."
Carl P. Knox
N/A
State Historical Society of Iowa, Des Moines, Iowa
6/8/1918
N/A
N/A
N/A
Letter
English
TEXT
Box #13, Council of Defense, Governor's Office: Harding, Research Group #43, S61/07/05
1918-06-08; Stuart, Iowa; Adair County; Switzerland; France
Concerns from Switchboard Operator
World War I; Babel Proclamation; Council of Defense; German Language; Anti-Germanism; Telephone
Switchboard operator calls in, saying she knows of German usage on phone line. How to enforce?
Mrs. Ernest Bittner
N/A
State Historical Society of Iowa, Des Moines, Iowa
1/26/1919
Mrs. Amel Lippert; Mrs. Norman Lund
N/A
N/A
Letter
English
TEXT
Box #13, Council of Defense, Governor's Office: Harding, Research Group #43, S61/07/05
1919-01-26; Shellsburg, Iowa; Benton County; Newhall, Iowa; France
German in "Public"
World War I; Babel Proclamation; Council of Defense; German Language; Anti-Germanism; Telephone
Confusion over what constitutes "public" versus "private" use of German. Here pertaining to a "thrashing crew?"
Unknown
N/A
State Historical Society of Iowa, Des Moines, Iowa
11/19/1918
N/A
N/A
N/A
Letter
English
TEXT
Box #14, Council of Defense, Governor's Office: Harding, Research Group #43, S61/07/05
1918-11-19; Ogden, Iowa; Boone County
Language and Telephones
World War I; Babel Proclamation; Council of Defense; German Language; Anti-Germanism; Telephone
Writer wonders how to stop use of German over telephone lines.
Unknown
N/A
State Historical Society of Iowa, Des Moines, Iowa
6/6/1918
N/A
N/A
N/A
Letter
English
TEXT
Box #14, Council of Defense, Governor's Office: Harding, Research Group #43, S61/07/05
1918-06-06; Butler County; Shell Rock, Iowa
Effect on Telephone Exchange
World War I; Babel Proclamation; Council of Defense; German Language; Anti-Germanism; Business; Telephones; Low German
The business angle: owners of telephone exchange ruminate on business consequences were local German speakers not in need of phone lines.
G. E. Meyer
N/A
State Historical Society of Iowa, Des Moines, Iowa
6/24/1918
N/A
N/A
N/A
Letter
English
TEXT
Box #14, Council of Defense, Governor's Office: Harding, Research Group #43, S61/07/05
1918-06-24; Aplington, Iowa; Butler County