# Oswald Ottendorfer > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Oswald_Ottendorfer > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Oswald_Ottendorfer.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oswald_Ottendorfer > Source revision: 1348223634 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) German-American journalist Oswald Ottendorfer Member of the New York City Board of Aldermen In office January 1873 – April 1874 Member of the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York In office April 14, 1870 – 1873 Personal details Born (1826-02-26)February 26, 1826 Zwittau, Moravia Died December 15, 1900(1900-12-15) (aged 74) New York City, United States Alma mater University of Vienna University of Prague Occupation Journalist, editor Signature **Valentin Oswald Ottendorfer** (26 February 1826 – 15 December 1900) was an [American](/source/America) [journalist](/source/Journalist) associated with the development of the [German-language](/source/German_language) *[New Yorker Staats-Zeitung](/source/New_Yorker_Staats-Zeitung)* into a major newspaper. He served a term as a member of the [New York City Board of Aldermen](/source/New_York_City_Board_of_Aldermen) and as a member of the [Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York](/source/Board_of_Regents_of_the_University_of_the_State_of_New_York). He also served three times as an elector of the [United States Electoral College](/source/United_States_Electoral_College). In addition to his political and journalistic pursuits, Ottendorfer was a notable philanthropist in both Europe and the United States. Today, he is best remembered as the donor whose contribution founded the [Ottendorfer Public Library](/source/Ottendorfer_Public_Library_and_Stuyvesant_Polyclinic_Hospital) in [Manhattan](/source/Manhattan), which bears his name. ## Education Ottendorfer was the son of a manufacturer, the youngest of six children. He was sent to live with a married sister in [Brunn](/source/Brno). There he studied the [classics](/source/Classics) in the [gymnasium](/source/Gymnasium_(school)). At the age of 20, he left to study jurisprudence at the [University of Vienna](/source/University_of_Vienna), and then transferred to the [University of Prague](/source/German_Charles-Ferdinand_University) to learn the [Czech language](/source/Czech_language). ## Revolutionary See also: [Revolutions of 1848 in the Habsburg areas](/source/Revolutions_of_1848_in_the_Habsburg_areas) In 1848, he returned to Vienna, intending to finish his studies in [Padua](/source/Padua), which at that time was in the possession of [Austria](/source/Austria). However, the upheavals at that time enlisted his sympathies. Ottendorfer joined the Von der Tann volunteer corps, and briefly served in the [first Schleswig-Holstein War](/source/First_Schleswig_War). On returning to Vienna during the [Vienna Rebellion](/source/Vienna_Rebellion), he found the revolutionaries in control of the government, and joined the mobile guard as a 1st [lieutenant](/source/Lieutenant). During the storming of the city by government forces in October, he was in the [battalion](/source/Battalion) that was commanded by [Robert Blum](/source/Robert_Blum). Many of his fellow revolutionaries were captured or killed. He managed to escape. He was concealed by a friendly porter in a bookstore until the excitement subsided, and then fled to the [Bohemian](/source/Bohemia) frontier, and from there to [Saxony](/source/Saxony). He subsequently became involved in the [1849 uprisings](/source/Revolutions_of_1848_in_Germany) in [Saxony](/source/May_Uprising_in_Dresden) and [Baden](/source/History_of_Baden), after the failure of which, he fled to [Switzerland](/source/Switzerland). He briefly considered giving himself up to the government in Vienna, but was informed that would cost him his life, and so went to the [United States](/source/United_States). ## Journalism Ottendorfer on a [cigarette card](/source/Cigarette_card) On his arrival in [New York City](/source/New_York_City), he knew [Latin](/source/Latin_language), [Greek](/source/Classical_Greek_language), [Hebrew](/source/Hebrew) and several [Slavic languages](/source/Slavic_languages), but no [English](/source/English_language), and for two or three months after his arrival, he was able to earn no more than a bare subsistence. Then he found employment in the counting room of the *Staats-Zeitung*. After the death of its proprietor, [Jacob Uhl](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jacob_Uhl&action=edit&redlink=1), in 1852, the management of the paper devolved to his widow, and the services of Ottendorfer became gradually more important. He became editor in 1858 and wed Jacob Uhl's widow, [Anna Uhl](/source/Anna_Ottendorfer), in 1859. The year of his marriage, he returned to [Europe](/source/Europe), but avoided [Austria](/source/Austria), though he was assured he would not be bothered there. In 1866, he did visit [Austria](/source/Austria). He was editor and publisher of the *Staats-Zeitung* from 1859 to 1900; his wife was business manager until her death in 1884.[1] As the German-born population of New York City increased, his journal, in which he endeavored to reflect the sentiments of [German-Americans](/source/German-American), became one of the most widely circulated and influential in New York. ## Politics Ottendorfer adhered to the principles of the [Democratic Party](/source/Democratic_Party_(United_States)), but joined no political organization, and maintained an independent position. He was an advocate of [civil service](/source/Civil_service) reform, and active in promoting improvements in the [public school](/source/Public_school_(government_funded)) system. He supported [Stephen Douglas](/source/Stephen_Douglas) in 1860; he was a "Union Democrat" opposed to [Fernando Wood](/source/Fernando_Wood)'s "Peace Democrats" who were [Confederate](/source/Confederate_States_of_America) sympathizers.[1] From 1872 to 1874 he was an [alderman](/source/Alderman), and in 1874 a candidate for [Mayor of New York City](/source/Mayor_of_New_York_City). Several times he was a [presidential elector](/source/Electoral_College_(United_States)), including in [1868](/source/1868_United_States_presidential_election_in_New_York),[2] [1876](/source/1876_United_States_presidential_election_in_New_York),[3] and [1884](/source/1884_United_States_presidential_election_in_New_York).[4] ## Philanthropy Besides other charitable gifts, Ottendorfer gave $300,000 to build and endow an educational institution in his native town in [Austria](/source/Austria). On [Long Island, New York](/source/Long_Island%2C_New_York), he founded a home for aged and indigent men, and established the [Ottendorfer Free Library](/source/Ottendorfer_Public_Library) (now the Ottendorfer Branch of the [New York Public Library](/source/New_York_Public_Library) system which it joined in the 1890s[5]) on Second Avenue, New York City, at an original cost of $50,000, which was augmented by annual gifts. His wife, [Anna Ottendorfer](/source/Anna_Ottendorfer), was also a noted philanthropist. ## Later years In later life, Ottendorfer retired from active journalism on account of failing health, and spent most of his time in Europe. ## See also - [6-15-99 Club](/source/6-15-99_Club) ## Notes 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-anb_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-anb_1-1) James M. Bergquist (1999). "Ottendorfer, Oswald". *[American National Biography](/source/American_National_Biography)*. Vol. 16 (online ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 842–843. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1093/anb/9780198606697.article.1601242](https://doi.org/10.1093%2Fanb%2F9780198606697.article.1601242). (subscription required) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [*Proceedings of the New York Electoral College, Held at the Capital in the City of Albany, on the First Day of December, 1868*](https://books.google.com/books?id=jY80AQAAMAAJ). Albany, N.Y.: The Argus Company. 1868. p. 22. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [*Proceedings of the Electoral College of the State of New York: Held at the Capitol in the City of Albany, December 5th & 6th, 1876*](https://books.google.com/books?id=xRNQAAAAYAAJ). Albany, N.Y.: The Argus Company. 1877. p. 6. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** College, New York (State) Electoral (1884). [*Proceedings of the Electoral College of the State of New York*](https://books.google.com/books?id=l-FHAQAAMAAJ). Albany, N.Y.: Weed, Parsons & Company. p. 5. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** [NYC - East Village: New York Public Library, Ottendorfer Branch](https://www.flickr.com/photos/wallyg/510383386) at flickr.com ## References - [Wilson, J. G.](/source/James_Grant_Wilson); [Fiske, J.](/source/John_Fiske_(philosopher)), eds. (1900). ["Ottendorfer, Oswald"](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Appletons%27_Cyclop%C3%A6dia_of_American_Biography/Ottendorfer,_Oswald). *[Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography](/source/Appletons'_Cyclop%C3%A6dia_of_American_Biography)*. New York: D. Appleton. - Edwin H. Zeydel (1962). "Ottendorfer, Oswald". *[Dictionary of American Biography](/source/Dictionary_of_American_Biography)*. Vol. VII, Part 2. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons. p. 107. - [*Printers' ink*](https://books.google.com/books?id=O_E1AAAAMAAJ&pg=RA2-PA120). Vol. 28–29. 1899. p. 120. ## External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Oswald Ottendorfer](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Oswald_Ottendorfer). English [Wikisource](/source/Wikisource) has original text related to this article: **[Public Letter to Oswald Ottendorfer](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/en:Public_Letter_to_Oswald_Ottendorfer)** - [Portrait of Oswald Ottendorfer](http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/id?410348) (from the [New York Public Library](/source/New_York_Public_Library) Digital Gallery) - [Biography](http://www.muzeum.svitavy.cz/stale-exp/ottendorfer-library/valentin-oswald-ottendorfer/216-2/) at Muzeum Svitavy - ["Ottendorfer, Oswald"](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_New_International_Encyclop%C3%A6dia/Ottendorfer,_Oswald). *[New International Encyclopedia](/source/New_International_Encyclopedia)*. 1905. - ["Ottendorfer, Oswald"](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Encyclopedia_Americana_(1920)/Ottendorfer,_Oswald). *[Encyclopedia Americana](/source/Encyclopedia_Americana)*. 1920. Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF GND WorldCat National Czech Republic Artists ULAN People Deutsche Biographie DDB Other SNAC Yale LUX --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Oswald Ottendorfer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oswald_Ottendorfer) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oswald_Ottendorfer?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.