Representative Herman Paul Kopplemann

Herman Paul Kopplemann (May 1, 1880 – August 11, 1957) was a United States Representative from Connecticut and a member of the Democratic Party whose congressional service spanned the years 1933 to 1947. Born in Odessa, Ukraine, then part of the Russian Empire, he immigrated to the United States in 1882 with his parents, who settled in Hartford, Connecticut. Growing up in Hartford, he attended the city’s grade and high schools, entering public life from a background shaped by both his immigrant experience and the civic culture of his adopted community.

After completing his schooling, Kopplemann engaged in business as a publishers’ agent for newspapers and magazines beginning in 1894. This early work in the publishing and advertising field brought him into contact with local businesses and civic leaders and helped establish his reputation in Hartford. His involvement in local affairs and his growing prominence in the community led naturally to a career in public service and elective office.

Kopplemann’s formal political career began at the municipal level. He served as a member of the Hartford city council from 1904 to 1912, a period of rapid urban growth and modernization. During his tenure on the council, he rose to a leadership role and served as its president in 1911. His work in city government focused on the administration and development of Hartford’s municipal services and infrastructure, and it laid the foundation for his later service at the state and national levels.

Building on his municipal experience, Kopplemann was elected to the Connecticut State Senate, where he served from 1917 to 1920. His years in the state legislature coincided with World War I and the immediate postwar period, a time when state governments were grappling with economic adjustments, veterans’ issues, and social change. His service in the State Senate further enhanced his profile within the Democratic Party and prepared him for national office.

Kopplemann was elected as a Democrat to the Seventy-third, Seventy-fourth, and Seventy-fifth Congresses, serving from March 4, 1933, to January 3, 1939. His initial election brought him to Washington at the outset of the New Deal, and he contributed to the legislative process during this transformative period in American history. As a member of the House of Representatives, he participated in the democratic process and represented the interests of his Connecticut constituents during the Great Depression. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1938 to the Seventy-sixth Congress, temporarily interrupting his service.

Returning to national office, Kopplemann was elected to the Seventy-seventh Congress and served from January 3, 1941, to January 3, 1943. His second period in Congress coincided with the nation’s entry into World War II, and he again took part in shaping federal policy during a critical era. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1942 to the Seventy-eighth Congress. Kopplemann was elected once more to the House in the Seventy-ninth Congress, serving from January 3, 1945, to January 3, 1947, thereby completing five terms in office between 1933 and 1947. His final term covered the closing months of World War II and the beginning of the postwar period. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1946 to the Eightieth Congress.

In addition to his legislative career, Kopplemann held important state-level administrative positions. He served as chairman of the State Water Commission and of the Metropolitan District Commission, roles that reflected his longstanding interest in public works, infrastructure, and the management of essential resources for the Hartford region and the state of Connecticut. These positions allowed him to continue influencing public policy and regional development after his congressional service.

Herman Paul Kopplemann died in Hartford, Connecticut, on August 11, 1957. He was interred in Emanuel Synagogue Cemetery in Wethersfield, Connecticut. His career as an immigrant, local official, state senator, and five-term U.S. Representative placed him among the notable Jewish members of the United States Congress and marked him as a significant figure in the political history of Hartford and the state of Connecticut.