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Kretschmar Family Papers, 1934-1964

Collection Overview

Title: Kretschmar Family Papers, 1934-1964

ID: OGLMC/1562

Extent: 1.25 Linear Feet

Date Acquired: 04/29/2010

Languages: English [eng]

Abstract

The collected letters of Bruce Erwin, Wayne Arthur and Grace Mary Kretschmar document the relationship of the two brothers and their sister with their father, Otto Kretschmar.

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The Kretschmar Family Papers mainly consist of correspondence.  The letters relate daily life and local events in North Dakota during the Great Depression, while attending the University of North Dakota (both sons and daughter) and during the Second World War (Bruce in the US Navy and Wayne in the US Army Air Corps).  The correspondence dates from 1934 through 1964.  Also included are newspaper clippings, military documents, University of North Dakota materials and biographical information regarding the Kretschmar family.

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions: Open for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections.

Acquisition Source: Ted Gomes, Grand Forks, North Dakota

Acquisition Method:

Donation; 2010-2997

The collection was found in the home of Ted Gomes at 1714 8th Avenue North in Grand Forks.  According to city directories for Grand Forks, David Kretschmar lived at that address from 1988 to 1993.  David is the son of Bruce E. Kretschmar and the nephew of both Wayne and Grace Kretschmar.

Preferred Citation: (Description of Item). Kretschmar Family Papers. OGLMC 1562, Box #, Folder #. Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections, Chester Fritz Library, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks.

Processing Information: Processed by Stuart Lawrence, Intern in Special Collections, in August 2010.

Box and Folder Listing

Box 1Add to your cart.
Folder 1: Letters from Bruce and Wayne Kretschmar to Otto Kretschmar, 1934Add to your cart.
Folder 2: Letters from Bruce and Wayne Kretschmar to Otto Kretschmar, 1935Add to your cart.
Folder 3: Letters from Bruce and Wayne Kretschmar to Otto Kretschmar, 1936Add to your cart.
Folder 4: Letters from Bruce and Wayne Kretschmar to Otto Kretschmar, 1937Add to your cart.
Folder 5: Letters from Bruce Kretschmar to Otto Kretschmar, 1938Add to your cart.
Folder 6: Letters from Bruce and Grace Kretschmar to Otto Kretschmar, 1939Add to your cart.
Folder 7: Letters from Bruce and Grace Kretschmar to Otto Kretschmar, 1940Add to your cart.
Folder 8: Letters from Wayne and Grace Kretschmar to Otto Kretschmar, 1941Add to your cart.
Folder 9: Letters from Bruce and Wayne Kretschmar to Otto Kretschmar, 1942Add to your cart.
Folder 10: Letters from Bruce and Wayne Kretschmar to Otto Kretschmar, 1943Add to your cart.
Folder 11: Letters from Bruce and Wayne Kretschmar to Otto Kretschmar, 1944Add to your cart.
Folder 12: Letters from Bruce Kretschmar to Otto Kretschmar, 1945Add to your cart.
Folder 13: Letter from Mrs. L.A. Doane (mother of SGT Doane, radio operator/upper turret gunner on the missing B-24 Liberator) concerning missing military personnel to all Next of Kin, 21 August 1947Add to your cart.
Folder 14: Letter from Mary Lou (surname unknown) to Mrs. Otto Kretschmar, 10 October 1964Add to your cart.
Folder 15: Newspaper ArticlesAdd to your cart.
Item 1: Ashley Tribune, 24 June 1943 (Wayne Kretschmar)Add to your cart.
Item 2: Fargo Forum, 10 October 1943 (Wayne Kretschmar)Add to your cart.
Item 3: Ashley Tribune, 22 June 1944 (Wayne Kretschmar)Add to your cart.
Item 4: Ashley Tribune, 7 March 1946 (Grace Kretschmar)Add to your cart.
Item 5: Ashley Tribune,25 June 1946 (Bruce Kretschmar)Add to your cart.
Item 6: Ashley Tribune, 6 November 1946 (Bruce Kretschmar)Add to your cart.
Item 7: Ashley Tribune, 29 June 1948 (Bruce Kretschmar)Add to your cart.
Item 8: Ashley Tribune, 22 September 1949 (Beatrice "Betty" Kretschmar)Add to your cart.
Item 9: Ashley Tribune, 4 February 1954 (William "Betty" Kretschmar)Add to your cart.
Item 10: Ashley Tribune, 7 July 1966 (Otto and Florence Kretschmar)Add to your cart.
Folder 16: Miscellaneous ItemsAdd to your cart.
Item 1: 1939 Official Pass, Yellowstone Trail Baseball LeagueAdd to your cart.
Item 2: 1939 The American National Red Cross (Wayne Kretschmar)Add to your cart.
Item 3: Sheldon S. Pond, Agent, American Surety Company of New YorkAdd to your cart.
Item 4: W.A.Volkmann, Assistant Cashier, First National Bank and Trust Company, MinneapolisAdd to your cart.
Item 5: Harry Talbert Post No. 104, American Legion Benefit Dance, 11 November 1940, No. 4550Add to your cart.
Item 6: 1940 State of North Dakota Registration for 1940 Chevrolet Sedan (August Diede)Add to your cart.
Item 7: 1940 North Dakota Resident Hunter’s License (Wayne A. Kretschmar)Add to your cart.
Item 8: 1942 North Dakota Resident Hunter’s License (Wayne A. Kretschmar)Add to your cart.
Item 9: 1943 Otto Kretschmar’s inventory of Venturia Lumber CompanyAdd to your cart.
Item 10: 1946 University of North Dakota Alumni Review Memorial EditionAdd to your cart.
Item 11: 1964 Representative Don L. Short tickets for speechAdd to your cart.
Folder 17: Military Items of Wayne KretschmarAdd to your cart.
Item 1: Picture of B-24 Bomber Crew (lost over Yugoslavia 31 May 1944) with names, ranks, aircraft positions and next of kin names and addressesAdd to your cart.
Item 2: 14 June 1944: Postal Telegraph from the War Department reporting Lieutenant Wayne A. Kretschmar Missing in Action on 31 May 1944 over YugoslaviaAdd to your cart.
Item 3: 15 June 1944: Letter from Major General J.A. Ulio, US Army Adjutant General, confirmation of above telegram dated 14 June 1944 declaring 2LT Kretschmar Missing in ActionAdd to your cart.
Item 4: 26 June 1944: Letter from Major General N.F. Twining, US Army Air Corps Commander, informing family of the Ploesti Oil Field Raid in RomaniaAdd to your cart.
Item 5: 2 October 1944: Letter from James M. Darley, Chief Cartographer, National Geographic Society with a hand drawn map of where Wayne Kretschmar’s plane went down off the coast of Yugoslavia.Add to your cart.
Item 6: 6 October 1944: Letter from MG Ulio, no further information about Wayne KretschmarAdd to your cart.
Item 7: 22 June 1945: Letter from Captain Charles A. Schaeffer, US Army Air Corps, Personal Affairs Officer, the War Department, informing the Next of Kin about Wayne Kretschmar.  This letter confirms the determination of change of status from Missing in Action to Killed in ActionAdd to your cart.
Item 8: 25 June 1945: Personal note from the Secretary of War, Henry L. Stimson, awarding the Purple Heart, posthumously, to Wayne Kretschmar, from the PresidentAdd to your cart.
Item 9: 26 June 1945: Personal note from Lieutenant General Ira. A. Eaker, Deputy Commander, Army Air Forces, expressing condolencesAdd to your cart.
Folder 18: University of North DakotaAdd to your cart.
Item 1: 1937 Yearbook (Bruce Kretschmar)Add to your cart.
Item 2: 1946 Alumni Review: Memorial Edition (Wayne Kretschmar)Add to your cart.
Folder 19: Kretschmar Family InformationAdd to your cart.
Item 1: Venturia Golden Jubilee 1901-1951 (Wayne, Mary and Mrs. Otto Kretschmar)Add to your cart.
Item 2: Ashley Diamond Jubilee 1888-1963 (Bruce Kretschmar and Kretschmar family information)Add to your cart.
Item 3: Venturia Bicentennial and Diamond Jubilee (Mr. and Mrs. Otto Kretschmar and Bruce Kretschmar)Add to your cart.
Item 4: Venturia Centennial (Mary, William E., and Paul Kretschmar)Add to your cart.