Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Letters to Miss Benedict from Alexander Riel, Martha Ruhemann, and Else Ruhemann, 1914-2018
Overview of the Collection
- Title
- Letters to Miss Benedict from Alexander Riel, Martha Ruhemann, and Else Ruhemann
- Dates
- 1914-2018 (inclusive)19142018
- Quantity
- 0.1 cubic feet, (1 folder in shared box)
- Collection Number
- Mss 2290
- Summary
- Collection consists of manuscript correspondence in English and German written to a person identified only as "Miss Benedict." Included are a letter from a German soldier, Alexander Riel, written in English and dated December 8, 1914; and letters from Martha Ruhemann and Else Ruhemann, written in German and dated December 13, 1923, discussing the family's situation in Germany and Miss Benedict's teaching at Tabor College. The collection also includes a typescript English translation and a typescript German transcription of the Ruhemanns' letter.
- Repository
-
Oregon Historical Society Research Library
1200 SW Park Avenue
Portland, OR
97205
Telephone: 503-306-5240
Fax: 503-219-2040
libreference@ohs.org - Access Restrictions
-
Collection is open for research.
- Languages
- English, German
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
"Miss Benedict" was probably Flora M. Benedict, who taught at Tabor College in Tabor, Iowa. Alexander Riel lived in the Charlottenburg district of Berlin, Germany; there is evidence suggesting that the Ruhemanns were also Berliners.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Collection consists of manuscript correspondence to a person identified only as "Miss Benedict." Included are a letter from a German soldier, Alexander Riel, written in English and dated December 8, 1914, regarding the German attitude to World War I, battles with Russia, and American support for German children; and a letter from Martha Ruhemann and Else Ruhemann, written in German and dated December 13, 1923, wishing Miss Benedict happy holidays and discussing the family's situation in Germany and Miss Benedict's teaching at Tabor College. The collection also includes a typescript English translation and a typescript German transcription of the Ruhemanns' letter, both made by Andrea L. Menz in 2018.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Preferred Citation
Letters to Miss Benedict from Alexander Riel, Martha Ruhemann, and Else Ruhemann, Mss 2290, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
Restrictions on Use
The Oregon Historical Society owns the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from copyright owners.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Acquisition Information
Original letters, gift of Nellie Kirby, June 1975 (Lib. Acc. 13314).
Custodial History
The letters were donated to the Oregon Historical Society Research Library by Nellie Kirby in 1975, but it is unknown how Kirby came into possession of them.
Processing Note
Collection was titled "Letters to Miss Benedict" prior to April 2023.
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- World War, 1914-1918--Correspondence
- World War, 1914-1918--Germany--Public opinion
Personal Names
- Riel, Alexander--Correspondence
Family Names
- Ruhemann family--Correspondence
Form or Genre Terms
- correspondence
Other Creators
-
Personal Names
- Menz, Andrea L. (translator)
