Life in Louisville
Germans in Louisville
According to the 1900 census, Paul Günter immigrated to the United States in 1886. By the time of his arrival, Louisville had already seen a large wave of German immigration that began in the 1830s. According to German Influences in Louisville by C. Robert Ullrich and Victoria A. Ullrich, approximately 1.5 million Germans arrived in America in the 1880s. Perhaps because of limited opportunity in the family business of photography, Paul Günter joined the millions of other Germans who sought opportunity in America in the 1880s.
Louisville's German community would have been flourshing when Günter arrived in 1886, and seeing the various trades established it's no wonder Günter chose Louisville to establish his life and career. Germans were involved in a number of trades, including manufactoring, finance, department stores, breweries, and photography studios (just to name a few). A number of Catholic and Protestant churches were also established for German-speaking residents.
Shortly after arriving to Louisville, Günter is listed as an artist with Stuber and Bro. a prominent photographic studio located at 616 East Chestnut street. By 1891, he is listed as the successor, to Daniel Stuber’s studio, another notable German photographer.
Günter residences
Günter and his family moved around quite a bit during his life in Louisville. City directories and census records seem to show a new address every few years. A few of the homes where Günter and his family lived are featured in his photograph collection, and are featured here.
Additional Reading:
- Ullrich, C. Robert and Victoria A. Ullrich, ed. Germans in Louisivlle. Charleston: History Press, 2015.
- Ullrich, C. Robert and Victoria A. Ullrich, ed. German Influences in Louisville. Charleston: History Press, 2019.