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- Bert Travers Papers
Bert Travers Papers, 1941-1983
Bert Travers was born January 6, 1903, the son of James and Emma (Thompson) Travers, in Hoople, North Dakota. At thirteen, his fascination with cars began while working for N.C Olsen, Hoople banker and owner of a Model T Ford business. In 1928, Travers opened and operated a business that became Bert Travers Garage. He also farmed and continued at both until retiring in the 1970s.
Travers married Bertha (Ginder), born April 11, 1902, on June 20, 1922. They had two children, Willis and Jean. Bert Travers died August 18, 1998 in Grafton's Lutheran Sunset Home, where he had lived since March 18, 1997. He was preceded in death by his wife Bertha (May 31, 1984) and his son Willis (April 11, 1997).
Donation; 2000-2429
The Bert Travers Papers, 1941-1983, consist of seven scrapbooks. The scrapbooks were placed in chronological order and the titles given by Travers to the individual scrapbooks are noted in quotation marks.
The first scrapbook titled "Miscellaneous" is made up of newspaper articles and announcements ranging from 1941 to 1960. The book begins with the 1941 snowstorm and specifically pertains to the Red River Valley of North Dakota. Interspersed throughout are notices of World War II enlistments, deaths, and weddings of local Walsh County, North Dakota residents.
The second scrapbook titled "Miscellaneous" begins with the conclusion of World War II and Victory in Japan Day. Included are some of Travers' personal documents including V-fuel ration cards. The second scrapbook also chronicles, through newspaper articles, sports and Greek life at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks throughout the 1940s.
Scrapbook three, "Brown Miscellaneous" contains newspaper articles from 1945 to 1960. It includes wedding announcements from Walsh County as well as homecoming royalty and athletics from Central High School in Grand Forks.
The fourth scrapbook "Hunting" chronicles the 1948 flood of the Red River of the North. A majority of the articles pertain to Walsh, Pembina, and Grand Forks counties. A number of the articles are from the Grand Forks Herald and include his daughter Jean Travers, a member of the Herald's editorial staff.
The fifth scrapbook titled "Wedding Anniversary" is a compilation of newspaper articles and notices of wedding anniversaries, birthdays and family reunions from Walsh County dating from 1950 to 1983. Some prominent family names include Rand, Otto, and Flaten.
Scrapbook six "Red Miscellaneous" contains newspaper articles about Walsh County from 1965 to 1982. Some of these articles are wedding, anniversary, and death announcements.
Scrapbook seven "Red Miscellaneous" is the final scrapbook. It includes articles pertaining to historical Walsh County. Some of these include copies of photographs of family members, such as Edna Travers from 1902. Also included are newspaper articles on the induction of the Sweden, North Dakota, historical marker, signifying this ghost town in Walsh County.