Theodore Kraker Papers, 1882-1995
Collection Overview
Title: Theodore Kraker Papers, 1882-1995
ID: OGLMC1317
Primary Creator: Kraker, Theodore (1920-1995)
Other Creators: Jurgens, Josephine Formaneck (1895 - 1950), Jurgens, Theodore (1895 - 1950), Kraker, Grace Jurgens (1905 - 1975), Kraker, Mark (1910 - 1987)
Extent: 15.75 Linear Feet
Arrangement: Materials are arranged chronologically by subject
Date Acquired: 10/01/1995
Subjects: Business and Industry, Grand Forks - Business, Grand Forks - Education, Grand Forks - Organizations, Religion - Catholic Church, University of North Dakota, Women's History
Languages: English
Abstract
Scope and Contents of the Materials
Collection Historical Note
Theodore Mark "Ted" Kraker was born April 7, 1920, in Wahpeton, North Dakota, to Mark and Grace Jurgens Kraker. The family moved to Grand Forks, North Dakota, in 1925. Theodore attended St. Mary's Catholic School and the Central High School, where he graduated in 1938. In 1942, he received a bachelor's degree from the University of North Dakota (UND). He then joined the U.S. Army Air Corps and served as an air traffic controller in Clovis, New Mexico, during World War II. When the war ended, Theodore returned to UND to study industrial arts education. He received a teacher's certificate in 1947. That same year, he opened his own business, Kraker's Kraft and Kabinet Kurios, in Grand Forks. The business closed a few years later. In 1948, Kraker began employment as a postal clerk in the Grand Forks Post Office, where he worked until his retirement in 1976. Kraker was actively involved in his union, the National Federation of Post Office Clerks, and in the Grand Forks Philatelic Society. He died August 26, 1995 and is buried in Cavalry Cemetery in Grand Forks.
Mark Kraker, father of Ted, served in World War I and worked at the Great Northern Railroad Company. Many relatives of Mark are mentioned in the materials including: his father, Mathias Kraker, mother, Mary Mischke Kraker, brothers, Henry and Math J. Kraker, sister, Sophia Kraker, niece, Bernice Kraker, and uncle, Frank Mischke. Grace Jurgens Kraker was the daughter of Theodore Jurgens and Josephine Formaneck Jurgens. Grace grew up in Wahpeton and later moved to Grand Forks with her husband and son. She was involved in many organizations, including the Women's Catholic Order of Forester, Lincoln Park Bridge Club, Catholic Daughters of America, St. Mary's Altar Society, and the Thursday Music Club.
Theodore Jurgens and Josephine Formaneck Jurgens lived most of their lives in Wahpeton, settling there in the early 1880s. Theodore Jurgens opened a saloon which operated from 1886 to 1890, when it was shut down by North Dakota's prohibition. He then opened a clothing store in Wahpeton with his brother-in-law, Albert Formaneck Jr. The store remained in business from 1891 to 1902.
Other people mentioned in the collection include: Theodore Jurgens brother and sister-in-law, Louis and Tina Jurgens, Josephine Formaneck Jurgens brother and sister-in-law, Frank and Anna Formaneck, Josephine's nephew and Frank and Anna's son, Henry Formaneck, Josephine's brother, Fred Formaneck, Albert Formaneck Jr.'s wife, Mary Schild Formaneck, Josephine's sister and brother-in-law, Rosa Formaneck Chezik and Joseph Chezik, Josephine's nephew and Rosa and Joseph's son, Leo Chezik, Josephine's brother-in-law, Albert Chezik, Josephine's sister, Anna Formaneck Chezik, and Josephine's niece and Albert and Anna Chezik's daughter, Vena Chezik.
Subject/Index Terms
Business and Industry
Grand Forks - Business
Grand Forks - Education
Grand Forks - Organizations
Religion - Catholic Church
University of North Dakota
Women's History
Administrative Information
Repository: Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections
Access Restrictions: Open for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections.
Acquisition Source: Rae Ann McGurran
Acquisition Method:
Donation; 95-2040
Addition via John McGurran, donation January 30, 2014 (2014-3243).
Preferred Citation: (Description of Item). Theodore Kraker Papers. OGLMC 1317, Box #, Folder #. Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections. Chester Fritz Library. University of North Dakota, Grand Forks.
Finding Aid Revision History: Existing finding aid migrated to Archon in July 2014 by Special Collections intern, Gideon Rogers. An addition to the collection was processed at this time, also by Gideon Rogers.
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Box:
[Box 1],
[Box 2],
[Box 3],
[Box 4],
[Box 5],
[Box 6],
[Box 7],
[Box 8],
[Box 9],
[Box 10],
[Box 11],
[Box 12],
[Box 13],
[Box 14],
[Box 15],
[Box 16],
[Box 17],
[Oversize Folder 1],
[Photographs :],
[All]
- Photographs :
- These photographs were separated and placed in the Photograph File Cabinets. A number of the photographs are undated. Many of the identifications were made by David Hammond of Highlands Ranch, Colorado.
- Photograph 1: Mark Kraker at 3 months old
- Photograph by W.C. Hoit, Wahpeton, Dakota Territory
- Photograph 2: Mark (baby) and Matthias (child) Kraker
- Photograph by Hingtgen, Wahpeton, Dakota Territory
- Photograph 3: Sophia Kraker at 5 years of age
- Photograph 4: Mark, Sophia, Matthias and Henry Kraker
- Photograph by Hingtgen, Wahpeton, North Dakota
- Photograph 5: Mark, Sophia and Matthias Kraker
- Photograph by Hingtgen, Wahpeton, North Dakota
- Photograph 6: Mark Kraker at First Communion
- Photograph 7: Group photograph of First Communicants (Mark Kraker is to the left of the Priest)
- Photograph 8: Henry Kraker as a child
- Photograph by Hingtgen, Wahpeton, North Dakota
- Photograph 9: Unidentified group in formal attire
- Back of the photograph reads "Kraker's"
- Photograph 10: Henry Kraker, Sophia Kraker and Grace (Jurgens) Kraker at a shrine featuring a statue of the Virgin Mary
- Photograph 11: Mark Kraker and unidentified group
- Photograph by Hingtgen, Wahpeton, North Dakota
- Photograph 12: Unidentified group at a picnic
- Back of the photograph reads "Kraker picnic"
- Photograph 13: Mary Mischke and Mathias Kraker wedding picture, May 26, 1888
- Back of the photograph: "Mama was married the 26th of May in 1888. Henry John Anton Kraker."
- Photograph 14: Firmin Kraker in U.S. Navy uniform
- Photograph 15: Grace (Jurgens), Mark and Ted Kraker, December 1960
- Color photograph
- Photograph 16: Mary (Mischke) Kraker and her son, Mark Kraker, September 1950
- Photograph 17: Firmin Kraker, October 1990
- Polaroid color photograph
- Photograph 18: Grace (Jurgens) Kraker as a child
- Photograph 19: Unidentified girl with Grace (Jurgens) Kraker
- Photograph by Hingtgen, Wahpeton, North Dakota
- Photograph 20: Louis Jurgens as a child
- Photograph 21: Grace (Jurgens) Kraker with cousin Adella Eppel, October 1889
- Photograph 22: Group photograph featuring Margaret Formaneck as a schoolteacher
- Back of the photograph: "Taken by the school. Margaret Formaneck taught on her wedding day."
- Photograph 23: First Regiment Band, North Dakota National Guard, 1910
- Postcard sent to Grace Jurgens, Wahpeton, North Dakota
- Photograph 24: Unidentified man and woman
- Back of the photograph reads "Mrs. Jurgens"
- Photograph 25: "J and T Jurgens" Family
- Photograph title taken from the back of the photograph
- Photograph 26: Grace (Jurgens) Kraker with her mother, Josephine (Formaneck) Jurgens
- Photograph 27: Rosa (Formaneck) Chezik holding infant twin daughters, Verna and Viola Chezik, 1895
- Photography by Powell, Wahpeton, North Dakota
- Photograph 28: Unidentified group photograph with Josephine (Formaneck) Jurgens on the right
- Photograph 29: "Grace Kraker in Wahpeton in her yard"
- Information from the back of the photograph
- Photograph 30: "Theo Jurgens and Grace in Florida", 1910-1913
- Information from the back of the photograph
- Photograph 31: Verna (Formaneck) Jurgens and Theodore Jurgens (taken at their winter place in Florida)
- Photograph 32: Theodore Kraker and unidentified group
- Photograph 33: Theodore Kraker
- Photograph 34: Theodore Kraker, circa 1990
- Polaroid color photograph
- Photograph 35: Rae Ann McGurran, circa 1990
- Polaroid color photograph
- Photograph 36: Mathias Kraker with Mark, Mark and Sophia
- Photograph 37: Theresa Mischke headstone at cemetery in Elizabeth, Minnesota
- Information on the back of the photograph notes that she died on November 20, 1879
- Photograph 38: Unidentified family group in formal attire
- Photograph 39: Interior of house at 408 North 6th Street in Wahpeton, circa 1900
- Information taken from the back of the photograph
- Photograph 40: Athletic team from Wahpeton High School, circa 1910s
- Photograph 41: Group of golfers, pre-World War I
- Photograph 42: Mark Kraker at work at the Great Northern Railroad office
- Photograph 43: Mabel Margery Long at four months of age, October 1925
- Photograph 44: Louis Jurgens (son of Theo Jurgens and Verna (Josephine) Formaneck)
- Photograph 45: Unidentified female young child
- Photograph by Lee's Studio, Grand Forks, North Dakota
- Photograph 46: Unidentified group outside of a home
- Photograph 47: Unidentified group of people at a dinner party
- Photograph 48: Three unidentified people in a cornfield
- Photograph 49: "Louise Berrus claim in shanty in South Dak"
- Information from the back of the photograph
- Photograph 50: Large group of young children on the steps of St. Aldabert's Church, Wahpeton, North Dakota
- Photograph 51: Jurgens and Formaneck Clothing Store, 1898
- Photograph 52: Matt Gillen Bottling Works, Wahpeton, North Dakota
- Photograph 53: Matt Gillen Bottling Works, Wahpeton, North Dakota
- Photograph 54: Matt Gillen Bottling Works, Wahpeton, North Dakota
- Photograph 55: Matt Gillen Bottling Works, Wahpeton, North Dakota
- Photograph 56: Grace (Jurgens) Kraker
- Photograph 57: Unidentified young girl
- Photograph 58: Unidentified man
- Photograph 59: Unidentified man
- Photograph 60: Unidentified infant
- Photograph by Schroeder's from Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Photograph 61: Two unidentified young children
- Photograph from Theo J. Hingtgen, Wahpeton, Dakota Territory
- Photograph 62: Two unidentified young girls
- Photograph by John Kastenholz, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Photograph 63: Two unidentified young girls
- Photograph by F.W. Streit, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Photograph 64: Two young boys
- Photograph by John Kastenholz, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Photograph 65: Unidentified young boy playing a piano
- Photograph 66: Unidentified baby
- Photograph 67: Unidentified young woman
- Photography by J. Kremer, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Photograph 68: Unidentified family
- Photograph by John Kastenholz, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Photograph 69: Possibly Mary (Formaneck) Schild
- Photograph by William Miller, West Bend, Wisconsin
- Photograph 70: Unidentified couple
- Photograph by O.F. Main, Avoca and Lone Rock, Wisconsin
- Photograph 71: Joseph and Rosa (Formaneck) Chezik Wedding, January 5, 1878
- Photograph by Soren Johnson, Fergus Falls, Minnesota
- Photograph 72: Frank Formaneck and Annie Lawrence Wedding, circa 1877
- Photograph 73: Barbara (Formaneck) Morris and James Peter Morris
- Photograph by Theo J. Hingtgen, Wahpeton, Dakota Territory
- Photograph 74: Joseph Formaneck (1850-1921)
- Photograph 75: Unidentified boy
- Photograph by Hugo Broich, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Photograph 76: Unidentified man
- Photograph 77: Two unidentified young children
- Photograph by Theo J. Hingtgen, Wahpeton, Dakota Territory
- Photograph 78: Unidentified young child
- Photograph 79: Unidentified young man
- Photograph 80: Unidentified woman
- Photograph 81: Unidentified woman
- Photograph 82: Unidentified woman
- Photograph 83: Probably Dr. Frederick Formaneck
- Photograph 84: Probably Dr. Frederick Formaneck
- Photograph 85: Two unidentified men (possibly Joseph Formaneck on the right)
- Photograph 86: Unidentified child
- Photograph 87: Albert J. Formaneck and Anna (Stetina) Formaneck
- Photograph 88: Two unidentified men
- Photograph 89: Probably one of the sons of Albert and Anna Formaneck
- Photograph 90: Ida, George and Josephine Formaneck (children of Joseph and Barbara (Schmidt) Formaneck)
- Photograph 91: Two unidentified children
- Photograph 92: Unidentified child
- Photograph 93: Two unidentified children
- Photograph 94: Probably Anna Formaneck (married Albert Chezik)
- Photograph 95: Unidentified baby
- Photograph 96: Unidentified girl
- Photograph 97: Probably Rose Formaneck (married Joseph Chezik)
- Photograph 98: Unidentified baby
- Photograph 99: Unidentified girl
- Photograph 100: Unidentified group
- Photograph 101: Probably Theo Jurgens and Josephine (Formaneck) Jurgens
- "Souvenir of San Gabriel Mission, San Gabriel, Calif."
- Photograph 102: Probably Theo Jurgens and Josephine (Formaneck) Jurgens
- "Souvenir of San Gabriel Mission, San Gabriel, Calif."
- Photograph 103: Unidentified couple
- "Souvenir of San Gabriel Mission, San Gabriel, Calif."
- Photograph 104: Probably Theo Jurgens sitting
- Photograph 105: Louise (Gassen) Formaneck and Albert Jacob Formaneck
- Photograph 106: Anna (Stetina) Formaneck, Josephine Formaneck, and Albert Formaneck, circa 1870
- Photograph 107: Unidentified child
- Photograph 108: Theodore Kraker in military uniform
- Photograph 109: Mark Kraker in military uniform
- Photograph 110: Mark Kraker in military uniform
- Photograph 111: Mark Kraker
- Photograph 112: Unidentified young man
- Photograph 113: Mark Kraker
- Photograph 1: Mark Kraker at 3 months old
Browse by Box:
[Box 1],
[Box 2],
[Box 3],
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[Box 6],
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[Box 8],
[Box 9],
[Box 10],
[Box 11],
[Box 12],
[Box 13],
[Box 14],
[Box 15],
[Box 16],
[Box 17],
[Oversize Folder 1],
[Photographs :],
[All]