Dr. Richard Frank Papers, 1900-1995
Collection Overview
Title: Dr. Richard Frank Papers, 1900-1995
ID: OGLMC1328
Primary Creator: Frank, Richard (1900-1995)
Extent: 1.25 Linear Feet
Date Acquired: 04/00/1996. More info below under Accruals.
Subjects: Holocaust, University of North Dakota - Faculty
Languages: English
Abstract
Scope and Contents of the Materials
Collection Historical Note
Richard Frank was born October 7, 1900, in Stuttgart, Germany to Stefan and Berta (Weissenburger) Frank. At the age of 2, the Franks moved to Brussels, Belgium, where they lived until Richard was 18. They had to flee Brussels and move back to Germany due to the German Army's invasion in World War I. Frank attended and graduated from Technische Hochschule, Stuttgart, Germany in 1921 with a focus in Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany in 1925. From 1925 to 1939, he worked as an industrial chemist until the spread of Nazism caused him to leave his job because of the political situation in Germany.
During the days of November 9-10, 1938, Frank and his family experienced Kristallnacht, the Night of Broken Glass. This event marked the first of many violent acts committed by Nazis against German Jews. During those nights Nazi storm troopers came to the Frank home, demanding the youngest male of Jewish heritage come with them. Although Frank was the youngest Jewish male in the home, he escaped arrest because he was ill and in bed. In Spring 1939, only months before the war broke out and Jews were stripped of all citizenship rights, he left for America. In 1941, Frank successfully helped his sister, Erna, flee Germany for the U.S. He was unsuccessful however, in helping his parents. They were transported to a concentration camp in Eastern Europe where they died, probably in 1943.
Frank lived in Milwaukee until 1948, where he worked as a Research Chemist for Harnischfeger Corporation. In 1948, he came to the University of North Dakota as an Assistant Professor of Chemistry. In 1956, he was promoted to an Associate Professor. He married Mary Margaret French, head of the Grand Forks Public Library, in 1957. He retired from the UND Chemistry Department in 1968.
He was very active in the community and at UND. He was a member of the American Chemistry Society, Sigma Xi, and the American Association of Advancement of Science and Chairman of the Speaker's Bureau. At UND, he was on the University Committee on Recruitment for College Teaching and the Scholarship Committee. He introduced the Experiment in International Living and judged numerous science fairs. He also published several books in the field of Chemistry.
Richard E. Frank died March 1, 1995, at the age of 94.
Subject/Index Terms
Administrative Information
Repository: Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections
Accruals: Additions were received from Mary Margaret Frank on: July 30, 1996 (97-2104); February 22, 1999 (99-2311); April 29, 1999 (2000-2444); August 17, 2006 (2006-2848); and November 2006 (2006-2869).
Access Restrictions: Open for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections.
Acquisition Source: Mary Margaret Frank, Grand Forks, North Dakota
Acquisition Method: Donation; 96-2066
Preferred Citation: (Description of Item). Dr. Richard Frank Papers. OGLMC 1328, Box #, Folder #. Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections, Chester Fritz Library, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks.
Finding Aid Revision History: Finding aid added to Archon in September 2014.
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Box:
[Box 1],
[Photographs :],
[All]
- Photographs :
- Separated and placed in the Photograph File Cabinets
- Photograph 1: Berta Weissenburger Frank. Date unknown. Taken before Richard Frank emigrated to the United States.
- Photograph 2: Duplicate of #1.
- Photograph 3: Stefan Frank with three other subjects-two women, one man. One of the women is his cousin Rose Neuwahl. Dated 24 March 1921.
- Photograph 4: Berta and Stefan Frank. Taken in Cannstatt, Germany, in 1900 (the year they married).
- Photograph 5: Duplicate of #4.
- Photograph 6: Portrait of Berta Frank. Date unknown. Probably taken sometime between 1900 and 1902.
- Photograph 7: Additional portrait of Berta Frank. Date unknown. Probably taken sometime between 1900 and 1902 as well.
- Photograph 8: Berta Frank with son Richard (approximately age two). Dated 1902.
- Photograph 9: Erna Frank (born 1906) as an infant. Date unknown.
- Photograph 10: Richard and Erna Frank as children. Dated 1907.
- Photograph 11: Richard Frank as a young boy. Date unknown.
- Photograph 12: Portrait of Prof. H. Wieland of the University of Freiburg. Date unknown. Probably taken between 1921 and 1926.
- Photograph 13: Photograph of Prof. Wieland delivering a lecture. Date unknown. Probably taken between 1921 and 1926.
- Photograph 14: Richard Frank at work in a laboratory, probably in Freiburg. Date unknown. Probably taken between 1921 and 1926.
- Photograph 15: Three pictures of Richard Frank at work cutting wood at Multen in the Black Forest, as well as a certificate from the Head Forester for the Schönau Forestry Office stating that Mr. Frank performed his duties well (see enclosed translation). Dated 11 October 1923.
- Photograph 16: Family picture of Stefan and Berta Frank with their children Richard and Erna. Dated Easter of 1932.
- Photograph 17: Additional family picture of Stefan and Berta Frank with their children Richard and Erna. Date unknown.
- Photograph 18: Stefan and Berta Frank. Dated 1941.
- Photograph 19: Three portraits (one as a young couple, two later in life as individuals) of Else-Goldman-Mailänder (1901-1975) and Ernst Mailänder (1895-1974). Includes a short note from Rodolfo Mailander (presumably their son). Dates unknown.
- Photograph 20: Picture taken by Richard Frank during his trans-Atlantic voyage to the U.S. Dated 1939.
- Photograph 21: Additional picture taken by Richard Frank during his trans-Atlantic voyage to the U.S. Dated 1939.
- Photograph 22: Additional picture taken by Richard Frank during his trans-Atlantic voyage to the U.S. Dated 1939.
- Photograph 23: Additional picture taken by Richard Frank during his trans-Atlantic voyage to the U.S. Dated 1939.
- Photograph 24: Dr. Richard and Mary Margaret French Frank on the occasion of their wedding, 1 August 1957.
- Photograph 25: Dr. Richard and Mary Margaret French Frank on the occasion of their wedding. Also in the picture: Dr. French (bride's father) and Erna Frank (groom's sister). 1 August 1957.
- Photograph 26: Dr. Richard and Mary Margaret French Frank on the occasion of their wedding. Left to right: Carl Fitcheimer (groom's cousin), Erna Frank (groom's sister), Mary Margaret French Frank, Dr. Frank, Dr. French (bride's father), and Townsley French (bride's brother). 1 August 1957.
- Photograph 27: Dr. Richard and Mary Margaret French Frank on the occasion of their wedding. Left to right: Erna Frank (groom's sister), Dr. French (bride's father), Mary Margaret French Frank, minister, Dr. Frank, unidentified man, and unidentified woman. 1 August 1957.
- Photograph 28: Dr. Richard Frank with a group of University of North Dakota dignitaries. Front row, left to right: Dr. Frank, and Dr. Ernest Coon. Back row, left to right: Ben Gustafson, Dr. Connie Nelson (VP of Academic Affairs), Dr. Leo Paquette (Abbott Lecturer), and Dr. Thomas Clifford (President, UND). Dated January 1980.
- Photograph 29: Portrait of Dr. Richard Frank. Date unknown.
- Photograph 30: Dr. Richard and Mary Margaret Frank on the occasion of Dr. Frank's 90th birthday. Apparently celebrated at the Federated Church of Grand Forks. Children of the congregation visible in background. Dated 7 October 1990.
- Photograph 31: Dr. Richard Frank walking on a beach with a camera. Date and location unknown.
- Photograph 32: Tree in unknown location. 1938
- Photograph 33: "'The Rock and the Tree'- Taken at Crater Lake, Oregon. A wavy line, three times repeated, makes the harmony of this picture." 1953
- Photograph 34: "Thistles grow in Germany too." 1938
- Photograph 35: "Oak Lawn Church, a historic site of the Northern Valley- until a negligent custodian let it burn down."
- Photograph 36: "Harvest time in the Red River Valley. Leave efficiency to others, but this one is picturesque."
- Photograph 37: Woodworth Hall Fire 1948-1949
- Photograph 38: Woodworth Hall Fire 1948-1949
- Photograph 39: Woodworth Hall Fire 1948-1949
- Photograph 40: Woodworth Hall Fire 1948-1949
- Photograph 41: Woodworth Hall Fire 1948-1949
- Photograph 42: Woodworth Hall Fire 1948-1949
- Photograph 1: Berta Weissenburger Frank. Date unknown. Taken before Richard Frank emigrated to the United States.
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