In 1776, the US proclaimed its independence. It was not until 1817 that Austria's Emperor Franz I ordered the establishment of a Consulate in the US, which led to the arrival in 1820 of the first Consul in New York City. This book describes when, where, and why 53 Consulates of Austria (-Hungary) were established in the US from 1820 to the present. It describes the Consuls, their daily work, and challenges, including pan-Slavic activities before 1914. The book offers a glimpse at the living conditions of immigrants and migrant workers who came to the US from the Empire before World War I, reflecting the sentiment (1911) that in no country the foreigner, and particularly the uneducated foreigner, is more in need of protection than in the United States. (Series: Forschungen zur Geschichte des osterreichischen Auswartigen Dienstes - Vol. 4)