Smithsonian Institution The William Steinway Diary: 1861-1896
Steinway & Sons Records and Family Papers, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
Hermann Steinway
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Hermann Steinway (b. December 18, 1836, in Seesen, Germany; d. uncertain) was the seventh child of Henry E. Steinway and Julianne Thiemer Steinway and William's younger brother. He came with the family to New York in 1850. Two family letters written in the early 1850s from New York to brother C.F. Theodore Steinway, who had remained in Germany, mentioned Hermann. No further information about Hermann could be found.(1)
Hermann Steinway was born on December 18, 1836, in Seesen, Germany, the family home at the time. He arrived in New York with the family on the ship Helena Sloman in 1850; the passenger list recorded his age as 13 years.(2) He no doubt lived with the family in New York and likely was involved in the start of Steinway & Sons in 1853, although he was still young. One letter from brother Charles Steinway in New York to C.F. Theodore Steinway in Germany, undated but thought to be written in 1852, suggested that Hermann might be planning a trip back to Germany.(4) Another letter from Charles in New York to Theodore in Germany, written shortly after Charles's return from Germany and dated December 1, 1854, stated that "since Hermann will leave from here just eight days after my arrival, I will use him to send you this letter."(3) No subsequent information about Hermann could be found. It is likely that he died in the mid-1850's, although it is not known whether he died in New York or in Germany. William never mentioned Hermann in the diary.
Sources:
- Maniha, Ken, Steinway Family Genealogy
- Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1820-1897, available from Ancestry.com.
- Steinway, Charles to C.F.T. Steinway, December 1, 1854, Steinway & Sons Collection, LaGuardia and Wagner Archives, Fiorello H. LaGuadia Community College/CUNY, Long Island City, Queens.
- Steinway, Charles to C.F.T. Steinway, undated, Steinway & Sons Collection, LaGuardia and Wagner Archives, Fiorello H. LaGuadia Community College/CUNY, Long Island City, Queens.
