Stewart, John, 1918-

John Stewart was born Hans Gideon Stein in Vienna, Austria, at the end of World War I. Stein recalls his childhood during the economic hardships of the postwar years in Austria, known as the First Republic. He discusses daily life at home and school, his friends and family, and his religious experiences as a Jew in predominately Catholic Vienna. In 1938, German Chancellor Adolf Hitler annexed Austria into the German Reich, installing a National Socialist government in Vienna. As the persecution of Austrian Jews intensified, Stein and his family were forced to emigrate; first to France and Switzerland, then on to America in 1939. Stein was drafted into the United States Army shortly before America enters World War II, in 1941. Through hundreds of letters home to his parents, Stein describes his wartime experiences, from boot camp to his honorable discharge, four years later. In 1943, Stein became a naturalized citizen, changing his name to John Gideon Stewart to commemorate his new life in his new country.

From the description of Memoirs of Hans Stein / John Stewart, 1918-1945 ; bulk (1941-1945) / John Stewart. (James Madison University Libraries). WorldCat record id: 63023750

John G. Stewart was born in 1918 in Vienna, Austria under the name Hans Gideon Stein.Fearing for their safety, the family left Austria for the United States soon after Hitler invaded Austria in 1938. Hans Stein attended the College of the Pacific, now called the University of the Pacific, from 1939 until he was drafted into the United States Army in October 1941. He became a United States citizen in 1943 and officially changed his name to John Stewart. After World War II, Stewart attended Columbia University from 1945 to 1948, obtaining a masters degree. Stewart taught at Harrisonburg High School from 1951 to 1958, when he was offered a teaching position at Madison College in the language department, for which he taught German and Latin until 1973.

Stewart collaborated with fellow Madison College professor and local historian, Elmer Smith, on research and conducted interviews with descendants of the German settlers in the Valley, much of which is documented in this collection. Together, Stewart and Smith established the Valley Folklore Society in the early 1960s. They compiled and published information on many folk traditions of the Shenandoah Valley Germans, including holiday traditions, food recipes, medicinal remedies and favorite pastimes.

From the description of John G. Stewart Collection, 1790-1992 (bulk 1953-1973) (James Madison University Libraries). WorldCat record id: 309145640