Collection is open for research.
Original letters, gift of Nellie Kirby, June 1975 (Lib. Acc. 13314).
"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.
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.
Letters to Miss Benedict from Alexander Riel, Martha Ruhemann, and Else Ruhemann, Mss 2290, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
Collection was titled "Letters to Miss Benedict" prior to April 2023.
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.
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.