SBS Swiss Benevolent Society
of San Francisco

The Swiss Experience in San Francisco - 150 Years of Swiss Consular Presence in San Francisco, by Catherine Bosshart - Pfluger, Editor.

For over 150 year, the Swiss Consulate has been present in San Francisco, offering constant support to fellow Swiss citizens and establishing close connections with the local commercial, cultural as well as the Bay Area's technological and science community. This book is a window into the activities of the Consulate from the California Gold Rush to today.

  • Get to know more about the thriving Swiss community in the San Francisco Bay Area.

  • Become familiar with the Consular achievements closely linked to San Francisco's development.

  • Learn more about those entrepreneurs of the 19th Century who acted as Consuls and as successful businessmen, bankers and philanthropists.

  • Finally, learn about the links between Hawaii, San Francisco and the Swiss Consulate.

Cost:
Suggested Donation: $20

Payment:

  • To pay with a check, please make your check payable to “Swiss Benevolent Society” and mail to: SBS, Pier 17, Suite 600, San Francisco, CA 94111.

  • or use PayPal to pay with a credit card or your PayPal account.

Table of Contents:

INTRODUCTION  
Forward
by Gavin Newsom
Mayor of San Francisco
i  
Forward
by Christian Blickenstorfer
Ambassador of Switzerland in the United States
iii  
Introduction
by Roland Quillet
Consul General of Switzerland in San Francisco
v  
Acknowledgementsvii  
 
I. SWISS PRESENCE IN THE USA - An Introduction  
Swiss Migration and Consular Presence in the USA
by Catherine Bosshart-Pfluger
1  
San Francisco - Hawai'i:
The Swiss Connection

by Niklaus R. Schweizer
11  
 
II. HISTORY OF THE SWISS CONSULATE by Erik Thiel
 
From Humble Beginnings:
Théophile de Rutté, 1850-1854
21  
The Swiss Mutual and Benevolent Society of San Francisco25  
The Vigilence Committee27  
Mistrust and Fraud - A Consul Put to Flight:
Rudolph Kellersberger, 1854-1858
29  
Banker and Consul:
Henri Hentsch, 1868-1867
31  
Swiss Military Tradition in San Francisco32  
Years of Consolidation and Change:
Francis Berton, 1867-1885
35  
Consular Communication36  
Two Homes, Two Callings:
Antoine Borel, 1885-1913
39  
Antoine Borel's San Mateo Estate41  
San Francisco is no more41  
The Consular Office: Past and Present
by Catherne Bosshart-Pfluger
 
Joy and Sorrow - The Era:
John Freuler, 1913-1934
47  
The Schwyter Case - A Concealed Affair49  
Alien Poll Tax Law51  
Bringing an End to the Makeshift:
Walter Baumann, 1934-1937
55  
Folkloristic Excursion - Intrigues and Slander56  
Hard Times:
Paul Frossard, 1937-1947
59  
The Dillier Family - Six Decades as Consular Correspondents60  
A Moving "Thank You!" to the Consulate63  
A Tragic Incident:
Hans Hurzeler, 1947-1949
65  
"A Very Swiss Event!"67  
Bridgehead to Switzerland:
Hans Gremminger, 1949-1955
69  
"Relics of the West":
August Ochsenbein, 1955-1959
73  
Terrible Plane Crash at San Carlos74  
Glamorous Years:
Max Buchi 1959-1963
77  
"Confidential Information Received"78  
Years of Business:
Jean Studer, 1963-1973

by Erik Thiel and Catherine Bosshart-Pfluger
81  
What does a Swiss Chalet look like?83  
House Warming Party at the New Residence - Souvenirs of the "Cook"
by Pius J. Kamber
86  
From Salt Lake City to Honolulu:
Eduard Brugger, 1973-1977
89  
Times of Transformation:
Otto Bornhauser, 1977-1980
93  
The Swiss Relief Society of San Francisco94  
Constant Expansion Instead of Cutback:
Max Leu, 1980-1984
97  
Improving Communication and Professionalism:
Emile Henri Bovay, 1984-1987
99  
The Image of Switzerland in the United States100  
A Change of Generation:
Pierre Jordan, 1987-1993
101  
Special Science Counselor for San Francisco103  
Growing Importance of Science and Technology:
Alfred Bahler, 1994-1999

by Catherine Bosshart-Pfluger and Paloma Martino
105  
Networking and Empowering:
Roland Quillet, 1999-2005

by Catherine Bosshart-Pfluger and Paloma Martino
109  
Memories of the Bay Area
by Arnold Koller
Former Federal Councilor
111  
 
III. THE CONSULATE TODAY  
Consular Activities
by Angelo Stucker
113  
Differences Beetween an Embassy and a Consulate113  
West Coast Trade and Commerce
by Rosemarie Levy
117  
Science and Innovation in the San Francisco Bay Area
by Christian Simm
121  
Swiss Culture in the Bay Area
by Max Grob, Catherine Bosshart-Pfluger and Paloma Martino
135  
 
 
Notes137  
Bibliography151  
Appendix155  
Book Plates, Photos, Illustrations and Graphics155  
Swiss Consuls in San Francisco158  
The Authors161  
Historical Timeline of San Francisco163 
Tax ID
#94-6052328
Swiss Benevolent Society
Pier 17, Suite 600
San Francisco, CA 94111
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