Fred C. Koch papers, 1802-1983

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Koch, Fred C.
Title
Fred C. Koch papers
Dates
1802-1983 (inclusive)
bulk 1908-1983 (bulk)
Quantity
3.0 Linear feet of shelf space, (6 Boxes + 1 Oversize folder)
Collection Number
Cage 851 (collection)
Summary
The Fred C. Koch Papers consists of materials collected by Fred Koch on Germans from Russia and German immigration from Russia to the other points in the world. Koch was a born in Kolb, Germany before immigrating with his family to Ritzville, Washington. The collection includes correspondence, personal notes, publications, genealogy, and newspapers.
Repository
Washington State University Libraries' Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections (MASC)
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
Terrell Library Suite 12
Pullman, WA
99164-5610
Telephone: 509-335-6691
mascref@wsu.edu
Access Restrictions

This collection is open and available for research use.

Languages
English, German, Spanish

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Fred Koch was born in Kolb, Russia in 1901. At the age of 5, he emigrated to the United States with his family to Ritzville, Washington. Koch started in the newspaper business in Wenatchee, Cashmere, Spokane, and Seattle, all in Washington State. During World War II, he was in the Office of War Information in London, the Office of Psychological Warfare in Paris, and was in military government in Frankfurt and Berlin. He was a graduate of the University of Washington.

Koch is the author of "The Volga Germans: In Russia and the Americas, from 1763 to the Present", which is one of the first English-language histories of the Volga Germans.

Historical NoteReturn to Top

The Volga Germans are ethnic Germans who settled along the Volga River in southeastern Russia in the 18th century. In the 19th and 20th centuries many immigrated to the United States, settling in a number of states, including Washington, Kansas, and Nebraska.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

This collection consists of Fred Koch’s research files on Germans from Russia and their immigration to other parts of the world, including the United States, South America, and Canada. The materials include correspondence to multiple individuals on history and genealogy, newspaper clippings and copies of articles on Germans from Russia, Koch’s personal research notes and annotations, and publications and annotated photocopies of publications on Soviet Union and Russian history, German immigration from Russia to the United States, Canada, and South America, and texts on genealogy.

Series 1: Correspondence, 1965-1983, consists of letters Koch exchanged with individuals who were authors or direct descendants of Germans from Russia. Some correspondence includes attached articles or photos.

Series 2: Research notes, 1908-1982, is comprised of Koch’s personal notes, annotated photocopies of publications and articles, and annotations on publications about Germans from Russia.

Series 3: Published works, 1802-1970, bulk 1916-1970, consists of books and texts that Koch collected, which discuss Germans from Russia history or genealogy.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Copyright restrictions may apply.

Preferred Citation

[Item description]

Fred C. Koch Papers, 1802-1983 (Cage 851)

Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The collection has been organized into three series: Series 1: Correspondence, 1965-1983, is arranged in folders for respective correspondents, in chronological order therein; Series 2: Research notes, 1908-1982, is organized by subject; Series 3: Published works, 1802-1970, bulk 1916-1970, is arranged in folders for each publication, organized by author’s last name.

Acquisition Information

The Fred Koch Papers was donated to Washington State University by Rodney Koch (MS.1984.23).

Processing Note

This collection was processed by Brianna Webb and Steven Bingo in 2016.

Separated Materials

The Karl Stumpp maps that were donated with this collection will be separated and catalogued with Washington State University Libraries' Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections map collection.

Related Materials

Scheuerman/Lust Family Confirmation Certificates, 1899-1924 (MS 2020.23)

Richard D. Scheuerman Volga German Papers, 1766-2009 (MS 2021.17)

Anna Biedel Weitz Papers, 1904-1983 (Cage 158)

Emma Schwabenland Haynes Papers, 1927-1982 (Cage 573)

American Historical Society of Germans from Russia Records, 1968-1984 (Cage 850)

Emma Schwabenland Haynes Nuremberg Papers, 1940-1984 (Cage 953)

Dewald Family Story Typescript, 1998 (Cage 4827)

Arthur Hartwig Notes on Germans from Russia, 1916-1999 (Cage 5085)

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series 1: Correspondence, 1965-1983Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
1 1
Solomon Bart on Germans from Russia
 1965-1973
1 2
Carson, Grassmück, Huber, and German Publishers
 1972-1978
1 3
Victor Donis on Germans from Russia
 1965-1967
1 4
Jacob Eichhorn on Germans from Russia
 1965-1974
1 5
Jacob Eichhorn on Germans from Russia
 1979-1983
1 6
Elmer Miller on Germans from Russia
 1965-1978
1 7
Victor Pedro Popp, Lydia Riffel, and Mennonites
 1966-1977
1 8
George Rath, Paul Reeb, and Pastor Lundblad on Germans from Russia
 1966-1973
1 9
Victor Reisig and Karl Stumpp on Germans from Russia
 1966-1977
1 10
Liss Rogel on Koch family
 1973-1977
1 11
Jakob Vogel and Kat Monroe
1969-1974

Series 2: Research notes, 1908-1982Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
2 12
American Historical Society of Germans from Russia Rosters
 1970-1972
2 13
Annotations on Germans from Russia
 1963
2 14
Berschauer, Kissler, and Klein Genealogy
 1976-1977
2 15
Canadian Census Records
 1958-1968
2 16
"The Coast" Vol. XV No. 1
 1908
2 17
Germans from Russia essays
 1939-1973
2 18
Germans from Russia in Colorado Study Project
 1976
2 19
German and Russian Poetry and Music
 1962-1965
2 20
"Die Stellung des Staates und der Regierungsbehörden im Rheinland zum Auswandererproblem im 18. und 19. Jahrhundert" by Hermann van Ham
 1933
2 21
Helmut Brandt correspondence
 1942
2 22
Russia and Her Colonies by Walter Kolarz
 1952
2 23
Die Deutschtumsinsel an der Wolga by Lothar König
 1938
3 24
Research notes on Germans from Russia A
 undated
3 25
Research notes on Germans from Russia B
 undated
3 26
Research notes on Germans from Russia C
 undated
4 27
Economy and church in Russia texts
 1968
4 28
Koch family genealogy notes
 1946-1969
4 29
Newspapers on Germans from Russia
 1920-1982
5 30
Russian history and German immigration
1969-1972
5 31
Russian history and South American immigration xerox copies
 1929-1974
5 32
Studien über die Geschichte der Wolgadeutschen by David Schmidt
 1930
5 33
Soviet Union history xerox copies
 1919-1972
5 34
Thiel family genealogy
 1968-1973
5 35
"Wolgadeutsche Monatshefte"
1922
Oversized folder
Map of German colonies along the Volga
undated

Series 3: Published works, 1802-1970Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
6 36
Climbing the Schmidt Family Treeby Carol Benzel Schmidt
 1973
6 37
"The Crimean Tartars, Volga Germans and Meskhetians: Soviet treatment of some national minorities" by Minortity Rights Group
 1973
6 38
Faith of our Fathers by Susan Yungman
 1972-1973
6 39
Our Parents Were Russian German by William Urbach
 1963
6 40
Rückblicke by Johannes Grassmück
 1931
6 41
Die Deutschen Wolgakolonien by Fritz Heinz Reimesch
 1922
6 42
Die Rußlanddeutschen by Jakob Riffel
 1928
6 43
Die Rußland Deutschen by Karl Stumpp
 1965
6 44
Der Russische Coloniet by Wilhelm Webel
 1802
6 45
Hattie Plum Williams papers
 1916-1970

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Russian Germans -- United States -- History

Personal Names

  • Koch, Fred C. -- Archives

Finding aid prepared by Brianna Webb and Steven Bingo.
2016

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