About
The second program in our U.S. Semiquincentennial series features historian Dr. Luke Ritter in a compelling exploration of how 19th-century Missourians “invented” an immigration crisis long before modern debates over the border. Drawing on newspapers, political rhetoric, and community records, Dr. Ritter examines how anxieties surrounding German, Irish, and other immigrant communities were shaped, amplified, and used to advance cultural and political agendas.
By highlighting the gap between perception and reality, this talk reveals how fears of demographic change, religious difference, and shifting loyalties helped craft a powerful narrative of crisis—one that still resonates in contemporary American politics. Inventing Immigration Crisis in 19th-Century Missouri challenges audiences to reconsider the state’s past and the nation’s present, asking what it means when societies repeatedly frame immigration as an emergency—and who stands to benefit.
The Kellerman Foundation proudly welcomes Dr. Luke Ritter, Ph.D. as part of our ongoing Speaker Series in preparation for America’s 250th celebration of freedom. His presentation, Inventing Immigration Crisis in 19th-Century Missouri, continues our commitment to meaningful historical reflection ahead of the nation’s 2026 Semiquincentennial.
Dr. Luke Ritter is Assistant Professor of American History at St. Louis Community College – Forest Park. He is the author of Inventing America’s First Immigration Crisis: Political Nativism in the Antebellum West (Fordham, 2021) and the editor of American Conspiracism: An Interdisciplinary Exploration (Routledge, 2024).
This program is made possible through The Kellerman Foundation’s grant award from the Missouri Humanities Council, titled From Colonies to Cape Girardeau: 250 Years of Independence, a contribution to Celebration 250 Missouri.
We look forward to sharing Missouri’s unique contributions to the pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness through a series of events leading up to the culminating celebrations in June 2026.
Thank you for supporting our mission to preserve and promote the history, heritage, and legacy of our communities.
