In the early 1870s, smallpox was widespread throughout Europe and claimed more than 170,000 lives in the German Empire alone. In response to the dire circumstances, the German Imperial Vaccination Law went into effect on April 8, 1874. This law required every child in Germany to be vaccinated before the age of three.
This certificate of vaccination is one of the most unique sources in the archives. From it we learn Emily’s birthdate, the location of the family’s residence, and that her father was a sheep farmer! Emily’s parents carried this slip of paper with them when they immigrated to Wisconsin in 1880 – proof that it was an important document at the time.
Government district of Stettin, Naugard district.
Testimony of Smallpox Vaccination.
This is evidence that Emilie Luise Auguste, born December 15th, 1873, daughter of the sheep farmer Strutz of Daarz, was vaccinated on July 4th, 1874 with good protection against smallpox lymph, and that he witnessed the ten shots that followed.
(signed) July 11th 1874
Vaccination list number 147