Steuben Day Parade
The Steuben Day Parade in September celebrates German Americans, in honor of the Revolutionary War hero. General Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben had been honored by New York State and had been the subject of various celebrations, but anti-German sentiment during World Wars I and II prevented city-wide celebration.
A "Cavalcade of German Americans" was celebrated in 1958 and the annual Steuben Day Parade was commenced that year and in 1959.
Steuben's September birthday is the same date as the signing of the U.S. Constitution, so it is also called "Constitution Day" or "Citizenship Day."
6 September 1936, New York Times, pg. N5:
STEUBEN DAY SEPT. 17
Fete to Mark Establishment of
Legal Holiday In This State
The first official Steuben Day, in honor of General Frederick William von Steuben, will be celebrated on Sept. 17, the birthday of the Revolutionary War officer. On that day the Steuben Society of America will give a dinner and ball in the Hotel Astor to mark the culmination of efforts throughout the past decade to establish a legal holiday in New York State on General von Steuben's birthday.
In the struggle of the American people for independence Baron von Steuben served as inspector general of the armies of George Washington, and as drillmaster for the commander-in-chief molded the raw Colonial recruits and organized the American Army.
6 September 1953, New York Times, pg. 3:
Governor Dewey today proclaimed Sept. 17 Citizenship Day and Steuben Day in New York State. He noted that Congress had marked the date to commemorate the signing of the Constitution on Sept. 17, 1787. The date also marks the birthday of Gen. Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben, a Prussian who aided Washington's forces at Monmouth and Yorktown.
11 September 1956, New York Times, pg. 37:
Governor Harriman today proclaimed Sept. 17 Steuben Day in New York State in honor of Gen. Frederick Wilhelm von Steuben, a hero of the Revolutionary War. Sept. 17 is the 220 anniversary of Steuben's birth.
26 August 1959, New York Times, pg. 30 ad:
IN YORKVILLE, don't be surprised if you happen onto a rehearsal for the German-Austrian Steuben Day Festivities, on September 19.
20 September 1959, New York Times, pg. 82:
PARADE OF 15,000
HONORS STEUBEN
200,000 Line 5th Avenue
to Watch March - Start
Delayed for the Mayor
By MICHAEL CLARK
To the music of forty bands, 15,000 German-Americans paraded up Fifth Avenue yesterday afternoon. It was General von Steuben Day, and the weather was sparkling clear.
Billed as the second annual "Cavalcade of German-Americans," the parade included forty-seven floats, many of them depicting contributions of German immigrants to the building of America.
(...)
The Steuben Day Parade - resumed as an annual event last year after a lapse of forty years - honors Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben, Prussian-born general in the American revolution.
30 September 1961, New York Times, pg. 28:
Steuben Day marchers
Parade Up Fifth Today
A "Cavalcade of German Americans" was celebrated in 1958 and the annual Steuben Day Parade was commenced that year and in 1959.
Steuben's September birthday is the same date as the signing of the U.S. Constitution, so it is also called "Constitution Day" or "Citizenship Day."
6 September 1936, New York Times, pg. N5:
STEUBEN DAY SEPT. 17
Fete to Mark Establishment of
Legal Holiday In This State
The first official Steuben Day, in honor of General Frederick William von Steuben, will be celebrated on Sept. 17, the birthday of the Revolutionary War officer. On that day the Steuben Society of America will give a dinner and ball in the Hotel Astor to mark the culmination of efforts throughout the past decade to establish a legal holiday in New York State on General von Steuben's birthday.
In the struggle of the American people for independence Baron von Steuben served as inspector general of the armies of George Washington, and as drillmaster for the commander-in-chief molded the raw Colonial recruits and organized the American Army.
6 September 1953, New York Times, pg. 3:
Governor Dewey today proclaimed Sept. 17 Citizenship Day and Steuben Day in New York State. He noted that Congress had marked the date to commemorate the signing of the Constitution on Sept. 17, 1787. The date also marks the birthday of Gen. Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben, a Prussian who aided Washington's forces at Monmouth and Yorktown.
11 September 1956, New York Times, pg. 37:
Governor Harriman today proclaimed Sept. 17 Steuben Day in New York State in honor of Gen. Frederick Wilhelm von Steuben, a hero of the Revolutionary War. Sept. 17 is the 220 anniversary of Steuben's birth.
26 August 1959, New York Times, pg. 30 ad:
IN YORKVILLE, don't be surprised if you happen onto a rehearsal for the German-Austrian Steuben Day Festivities, on September 19.
20 September 1959, New York Times, pg. 82:
PARADE OF 15,000
HONORS STEUBEN
200,000 Line 5th Avenue
to Watch March - Start
Delayed for the Mayor
By MICHAEL CLARK
To the music of forty bands, 15,000 German-Americans paraded up Fifth Avenue yesterday afternoon. It was General von Steuben Day, and the weather was sparkling clear.
Billed as the second annual "Cavalcade of German-Americans," the parade included forty-seven floats, many of them depicting contributions of German immigrants to the building of America.
(...)
The Steuben Day Parade - resumed as an annual event last year after a lapse of forty years - honors Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben, Prussian-born general in the American revolution.
30 September 1961, New York Times, pg. 28:
Steuben Day marchers
Parade Up Fifth Today