Rev. A.A. Schmirler Papers, 1900-1980

Rev. A.A. Schmirler Papers

Printer-friendly |

Collection Overview

Title: Rev. A.A. Schmirler Papers, 1900-1980

ID: OGLMC779

Primary Creator: Schmirler, Albert A. (1914-1982)

Extent: 8.75 Linear Feet

Date Acquired: 09/10/1982. More info below under Accruals.

Subjects: History - General, North Dakota, Religion - Catholic Church

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The Rev. A. A. Schmirler Papers, 1900-1980, are divided into nine series:

Series 1: Correspondence

Series 2: Financial Records

Series 3: Religious Records

Series 4: Educational Records

Series 5: Historical Publications

Series 6: Historical Research Materials

Series 7: Family History

Series 8: Photographs

Series 9: Oversize

Collection Historical Note

Albert A. Schmirler was born 23 February 1914 in Edgar, Wisconsin, the son of Anton J. and Louise M. (Gartmann) Schmirler. A.A. Schmirler came to North Dakota in May 1942 when he was ordained as a Catholic priest in Fargo by Bishop Aloysius Muench. Father Schmirler served as a priest in several North Dakota parishes until his death in 1982.

Schmirler 's education began with the study of classics at Salvatorian Seminary in St. Nazianz, Wisconsin, from 1929 until 1935. He studied philosophy from 1935 to 1937 at St. John's Seminary in Collegeville, Minnesota, and theology at St. Francis Seminary in Wisconsin from 1937 to 1939. He also studied theology at St. Paul Seminary in Minnesota from 1941 to 1942, after which he was ordained as a priest.

Schmirler's first assignment was to serve as assistant pastor in Rugby, North Dakota, from 1942 to 1946. He also served as pastor of the parish in Blumenfeld, North Dakota, until 1951. After this post, he served in parishes Page, Munich, and Enderlin until 1972. That January, he became Special Historical Research Assistant at North Dakota State University in Fargo. In September, Schmirler was assigned to St. Benedict's Church in Wild Rice, North Dakota. Following this position, Schmirler returned to Ruby to become pastor of the Little Flower Parish. His final posting was as pastor of St. Luke's Parish in Vesleyville, North Dakota. Father Schmirler died there July 23, 1982.

Subject/Index Terms

History - General
North Dakota
Religion - Catholic Church

Administrative Information

Repository: Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections

Accruals: John Bye of the NDSU Institute for Regional Studies donated additional material in May 2000 (2000-2433).

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

Acquisition Source: Father Anthony J. Richard, Minto, North Dakota

Acquisition Method: Donation; 82-1030

Preferred Citation: Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections, Chester Fritz Library, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks.

Processing Information: The collection was reprocessed in February 2020. Unidentified and miscellaneous photographs, as well as photographs from other archives, were removed from the collection.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Correspondence],
[Series 2: Financial Records],
[Series 3: Religious Records],
[Series 4: Educational Records],
[Series 5: Historical Publications],
[Series 6: Historical Research Materials],
[Series 7: Family History],
[Series 8: Photographs],
[Series 9: Oversize],
[All]

Series 8: Photographs

Box 7

Folder 21: Photographs 1-20

Photograph 1: Rev. A.A. Schmirler
Photograph 2: Family of Assif Munyer, Rugby, North Dakota
Photograph 3: Group of Syrians in Rugby, North Dakota: See Minot Daily News, 15 March 1975 for more details
Photograph 4: "Summer school, Blumenfeld, showing first rectory" (from back of photograph), 1958
Photograph 5: "Summer school, Blumenfeld, showing second (last) rectory" (from back of photograph)
Photograph 6: "Indian Mounds at Wintering Heights, 1951" (from back of photograph)
Photograph 7: "Indian Mounds at Wintering Heights, 1951" (from back of photograph)
Photograph 8: Agnes Church, Hunter, North Dakota, 1953
Photograph 9: Frank Gardner's House in Fargo, 1912
Photograph 10: Catholic Priests at the Dedication of the Peace Garden, 1934
Photograph 11: Railroad Car that Brought Lumber to Grace City, North Dakota (from back of photograph), 1912
Photograph 12: Locomotive that Brought Lumber to Grace City, North Dakota (from back of photograph), 1912
Photograph 13: "Track Being Laid Thru Grace City" (from back of photograph), 1912
Photograph 14: "Track Being Laid Thru Grace City" (from back of photograph), 1912
Photograph 15: Fowler & Banks Livery and Exchange Stable, Sheldon, North Dakota
Photograph 16: Catholic Church, Page, North Dakota (postcard), 1951
Photograph 17: Wayne and Clayton Shauer (Sheldon, North Dakota), Supporters of Presidential Candidate Franklin Roosevelt, 1932
Photograph 18: Aerial View of Sheldon, North Dakota, prior to 1900
Photograph 19: Fowler & Banks Livery and Exchange Stable, Sheldon, North Dakota
Photograph 20: Fowler & Banks Livery and Exchange Stable, Sheldon, North Dakota

Folder 22: Photographs 21-40

Photograph 21: Aerial View of Sheldon, North Dakota
Photograph 22: Railroad Depot (probably in Sheldon, North Dakota)
Photograph 23: Businesses (probably in Sheldon, North Dakota)
Photograph 24: Sheldon, North Dakota, School
Photograph 25: St. Leo's Church, Casselton, North Dakota
Photograph 26: "Welcome Bishop Driscoll" Banquet
Photograph 27: "Welcome Bishop Driscoll" Banquet
Photograph 28: "Welcome Bishop Driscoll" Banquet
Photograph 29: "Welcome Bishop Driscoll" Banquet
Photograph 30: "Welcome Bishop Driscoll" Banquet
Photograph 31: Railroad Track Being Laid in Grace City, North Dakota (from back of photograph)
Photograph 32: "The Old Ed Pierce House at Lake Alfred" (from back of photograph)
Photograph 33: Rev. A.A. Schmirler
Photograph 34: Chippewa Authentics (Building), Belcourt, North Dakota
Photograph 35: Church of St. John
Photograph 36: Norbert Bushee and Father Vitres Bisbee, O.S.B., of Bisbee, North Dakota (?) (from back of photograph)
Photograph 37: Father Al Zimmerman, Karlsruhe, North Dakota
Photograph 38: Father Hildenbrand, Sister Vita Nirmaier, and Cora Helen Daunhauer (?) (from back of photograph)
Photograph 39: Unidentified Church in Dunseith, North Dakota, 1965
Photograph 40: Oil Rig, Emmons County, North Dakota

Folder 23: Photographs 41-53

Photograph 41: Grain Elevator in St. Joseph, North Dakota, 1980
Photograph 42: (Abandoned) Blumenfeld Church, Blumenfeld, North Dakota, 1980
Photograph 43: Queen of Peace Convent, Belcourt, North Dakota, 1965
Photograph 44: Father Alphonse Cormier, Oriska, North Dakota, 1955
Photograph 45: St. Paul Seminary, Class of 1942: Rev. A.A. Schmirler in the lower right
Photograph 46: Rectory, St. Michael's Church, Fort Totten, 1980
Photograph 47: Bordulac, North Dakota, Catholic Church
Photograph 48: Mr. and Mrs. Carl Schmidt, Balfour, North Dakota
Photograph 49: "Leaving the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation" road sign, 1965
Photograph 50: Sister Fidelis and Miss Lane, 1965
Photograph 51: Vesleyville Church, 1970
Photograph 52: "C.W. Dickinson Delivering Deerings, Page, N.D. 1901"
Photograph 53: Page, North Dakota, before 1893

Department of Special Collections
Digital Finding Aids