The Dutch American Identity: Staging Memory and Ethnicity in Comm ...

I would also like to give a special message of thanks to Iris Vander Wal at the Pella Historical Society, who provided much appreciated logistical support during my research trips to Pella, and to Don and Nelva Schreur, who provided invaluable help and advice while I was in Orange City. I would like to thank the offices of the Chronicle, Edgerton Enterprise, and Sioux County Capital-Democrat for allowing me to rummage through back issues on busy work days. All of the individuals who consented to be interviewed for this project also have my deepest gratitude for candid conversation, entertaining anecdotes, and a willingness to sit down with me for what often was an hour or more. I feel that I have made many new friends across the Midwest as a result of these interviews.

Thanks to Richard Harms, who aided in some Frisian translations.

I owe debts of hospitality to Mel and Liz De Boer, Brett and Anita Gaul, Grandpa and Grandma Lefever, and Ralph and Elaine Jaarsma.

Special thanks to Robert Hubbard, Debra Freeburg, and Teresa Ter Haar for encouragement and moral support during this writing process.

Thanks to the good people at Café Apropos for keeping me well stocked with coffee, biscotti, and wine during the bulk of this writing process.

Thanks to all of my many friends in Grand Rapids, Columbus, Washington, and beyond for providing the distractions necessary to maintaining a somewhat balanced life while writing a book.

I would not have been able to concentrate without the aid of the music of Richard Wagner, Richard Strauss, Gustav Holst, Miles Davis, Ornette Coleman, Dave Brubeck, Hong Ting, and Mike Doughty.

Finally, I extend a huge thank you to mom, dad, and Brendan for all their love and support during the many ups and downs that have been part of this process.

Earlier versions of this book (namely, its incarnation as my doctoral dissertation) were made possible by the generous support of The Ohio State University Department of Theatre Morrow Fund and by an Ohio State University Presidential Fellowship.