Introduction | Biographical Sketch | Scope and Content | Series Description | Inventory

Introduction

The Schall Family Papers consist of .25 linear ft. of correspondence, genealogical and legal documents, and clippings.

The papers were donated and transferred to the Center for Archival Collections on October 9, 1999, through the cooperation of Nancy Schall of Defiance, Ohio. There are no restrictions on the use of this collection. The register was prepared by Marilyn Levinson, Curator of Manuscripts, with the assistance of Stephen M. Charter, Reference Archivist, in November 1999. Translations of all German documents were done by Michael J. Krapp, Graduate Student Archival Assistant.

Biographical Sketch

The Schall Family of George and Catherine Schall, originally emigrated from Tübingen in Württemberg, Germany. Their son, George Schall , was born November 9, 1843, living his entire life in Richland and Highland townships of Defiance County. On September 27,1864 he was drafted into Co. C of the 47th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, serving until the end of the war. In 1871 he married Anna Marie Seyfang. Their family included son George Gottlob Schall, born on May 10, 1880 in Highland Township, Defiance County, Ohio, as well as daughters Anna Barbara, Anna Maria, and Louise Katherine.

George G. Schall married Mary Kluck in 1903 and their family eventually included five sons, Albert, Clarence, Walter, Harold, and Elmer, six grandchildren, and 10 great grandchildren.

The bulk of the correspondence is from the Cordes Family to George G. Schall. This grouping of correspondence is of interest since it emphasizes the ties between the German American community with relatives in Europe before, during, and after World War II.

Scope and Content

The Schall Family Papers are a small collection of incoming correspondence (primarily from three generations of the Cordes Family in Kirchwalsede, Germany), as well as detailed Shall and Seyfang family genealogical documents.

The correspondence part of the collection is almost entirely in German handwritten script. Spanning the period from 1933 to 1968 (with a gap from 1939 through 1945), the letters discuss family matters throughout the period.

Both the Cordes and Schall families had farms, and the bulk of the correspondence reflects this. There is much discussion of weather, crops, food prices, and the overall difficult life of being a farmer.

Also of interest is the ability to observe how a family was effected by the tumultuous events occurring in Europe during this time period. The pre-war letters discuss the new Reich Chancellor, Adolf Hitler, and the growth of the German economy. The early post-war letters mention both the physical and economic devastation of the war. They also describe the situation of the family during and following the war. Two of the Cordes Family sons were prisoners of war. Two of the letters in the collection were written to Schall from Heinrich Cordes, Jr. while a prisoner-of-war in England. His younger brother Friedrich was being held in the Soviet Union. The remaining letters reflect the recovery of the German economy, but this is heavily overshadowed by the fear of another war between the West and the Soviet Union.

The collection also contains two letters from Alma Kwade, a German refugee from what had been East Prussia, who is seeking help from the Schall Family to find relatives in the United States. She and her husband are the only surviving members of the family left in Europe.

The genealogical material (some in German) relates primarily to the Schall Family, with just a few Bible pages associated with the Seyfangs. Among the documents are Marriage, Baptism, Confirmation, and Naturalization certificates, and the Will of George G. Schall. Additional legal documents belonging to the family are a variety of land records, particularly a rental property notice, ditch records, and appraisements.

Series Description

CORRESPONDENCE

CORRESPONDENCE - CORDES FAMILY
Dec 26, 1933-Feb 4, 1964
Arranged chronologically
Letters from family relatives, Marie Cordes and son Heinrich Cordes, Jr. in Kirchwalsede, Germany. Hand-written in German, including pre-war and post-war period. Some letters written while Heinrich Cordes, Jr. was a prisoner of war in England. Two letters from refugee Alma Kwade.

CORRESPONDENCE - MISCELLANEOUS
1867-1957
Arranged chronologically
Letter fragments, cards, and telegrams

SUBJECT FILES

GENEALOGICAL INFORMATION
1857, 1878, n.d.
Handwritten sheets with family information, plus decorative Family Register page, and copied information from Family Bible

LEGAL DOCUMENTS

GENEALOGICAL PAPERS
1837-1968
Arranged chronologically
Travel documents, Marriage, Baptism, Confirmation, Naturalization certificates, and Will. Some documents oversize.

PROPERTY RECORDS
1844-1911
Rental property notice, ditch records, appraisements

PRINTED MATERIALS

NEWSCLIPPINGS
[1933], 1967, 1970
Arranged chronologically
Obituary clippings from Defiance newspapers for George Schall, Jr., Mary Schall, and article on George Schall, Sr. at age 90

MEMORIAL CARDS
1934-1950
Arranged chronologically
Funeral home memorial cards, with date information on Matthew Seyfang, John F. Schall, Caroline M. Seyfang, M. George Seyfang, and Louise B. Johnston.

PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIALS

PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTS
1936-1962, n.d.
Photographs of members of the Cordes Family, sent with correspondence. Some identification on verso

Inventory

Box 1

1. Correspondence to George G. Schall from Marie Cordes (Letter addressed, "Dear niece." - presumably wife of George G., Mary Kluck), Dec. 26, 1933
2. (2a.)Correspondence to George G. Schall from Marie Cordes (Addressed to, "Brother-in-law" from "Sister-in-law"), Apr. 4, 1936
3. (2b.)Correspondence to George G. Schall from Marie Cordes (Letter to "niece" included with letter from 4.4.1936), Mar.1, (?)
4. Correspondence to Mrs.George G. Schall from Marie Cordes, Jan. 20, 1938
5. Correspondence to George G. Schall from Marie Cordes, Dec.12, 1938
6. (5a.)Correspondence to George G. Schall from Heinrich Cordes, Dec. 29, 1938
7. (5b.)Correspondence to George G. Schall from Heinrich Cordes, Jr., Dec. 29, 1938

1. Correspondence to George G. Schall from Heinrich Cordes, Jr., Sept. 9, 1946
2. Correspondence to George G. Schall from Heinrich Cordes, Jr., Oct. 10, 1946
3. Correspondence to George G. Schall from Heinrich Cordes, Jr., Nov. 4, 1946
4. Correspondence to George G. Schall from Alma Kwade(?), Nov. 29, 1946
5. Correspondence to George G. Schall from Heinrich Cordes, Jr., Jan. 28, 1947
6. Correspondence to George G. Schall from Heinrich Cordes, Jr., May 4, 1947
7. Correspondence to George G. Schall from Alma Kwade(?), Aug. 30, 1947
8. Correspondence to George G. Schall from Heinrich Cordes, Jr. Feb. 13, 1948
9. Correspondence to George G. Schall from Heinrich Cordes, Jr. Apr. 2, 1950

1. Correspondence to George G. Schall from Friedrich Cordes, Jan. 8, 1952
2. Correspondence to George G. Schall from Heinrich Cordes, Jr., Jan. 20, 1952
3. Correspondence to George G. Schall from Heinrich Cordes, Jr. (Includes death notice for Friedrich "Fritz" Cordes), Dec. 14, 1952
4. Correspondence to George G. Schall from Heinrich Cordes, Jr., Nov. 21, 1954
5. Correspondence to George G. Schall from Heinrich Cordes, Jr., Dec. 2, 1956
6. Correspondence to George G. Schall from Heinrich Cordes, Jr., Dec. 30, 1957
7. Correspondence to George G. Schall from Heinrich Cordes, Jr., Jan. 20, 1959
8. Correspondence to George G. Schall from Heinrich Cordes, Jr., Jan. 5, 1960
9. Correspondence to George G. Schall from Heinrich Cordes, Jr., Jan. 12, 1961
10. Correspondence to George G. Schall from Heinrich Cordes, Jr., Feb. 6, 1962
11. Correspondence to George G. Schall from Heinrich Cordes, Jr., Jan. 6, 1962 (Supposed to be Jan. 6, 1963)
12. Correspondence to George G. Schall from Heinrich Cordes, Jr. (Includes death notice for Heinrich Cordes, Sr.), Feb. 4, 1964
13. Correspondence to George G. Schall from Heinrich Cordes, Jr., Dec. 14, 1966
14. Correspondence to George G. Schall from Heinrich Cordes, Jr., Dec. 1, 1968

1. Correspondence fragment from Lizzie Schall, Sept. 13, 1867
2. Correspondence fragment, Oct. 20, 1896
3. Correspondence fragment to John George Schall, Jun. 16, 189-?
4. Correspondence (V-Mail) to Elmer Schall from Steve Ricica, Nov. 8, 1944
5. Correspondence (Telegram & card) to Mr. & Mrs. George Schall, Apr. 23, 1945
6. Correspondence (Greeting card) to Mr. & Mrs. George Schall from Clarence and Betty, Jan. 28, 1957
7. Postcard (blank), n.d.
8. Poem (in German), n.d.

1. Family Bible record pages - Seyfang (photocopy), n.d.
2. Loose sheets (8) with genealogical information (Schall & Seyfang), n.d.

1. Baptism Certificate (George G. Schall) - photocopy, Jul. 11, 1880
2. Birth & Baptism (Jakob Schall) - photocopy, Oct. 28, 1855
3. Confirmation Certificate (George G. Schall) - photocopy, May 14, 1893
4. Family Register - photocopy, n.d.
5. Tübingen Registry information documents (3), May 20, 1837
6. Württemberg Registry information documents (2), Nov. 1, 1839, 1864
7. Naturalization Declaration of Intention (George Schall), Sept. 13, 1841
8. Naturalization Certificate (George Schall), Sept. 12, 1843
9. Confirmation Certificates (George Schall), Nov. 9, 1843
10. Affidavit regarding Anna Marie Schall, Apr. 1, 1872
11. Confirmation Certificate (Marie Kluck), Apr. 11, 1897
12. Estate Legal Correspondence (John Georg Schall), 1871-1872
13. Will of George G. Schall, May 5, 1965
14. Executor's Account, Estate of George G. Schall, Mar. 4, 1968

1. Rent Notification, Jun. 5, 1844
2. Statements of Ditch Work, 1881, 1890
3. Engineers Reports of Apportionment - Wight Joint Ditch (2), 1890
4. Notice to Land Owners - Wight Joint Ditch Improvement, May 8, 1890
5. Assessor's Certified Copy Re-Appraisement of Real Estate, 1900
6. Ditch Notice, Jun. 7, 1910
7. Quadrennial Appraisement (1910), Dec. 1911

1. Obituary newsclippings (with photocopies), 1967, 1970
2. Article on George Schall at 90, [1933]

1. In Memoriam, George Schall, May. 1, 1934
2. Memorial Record, Matthew Seyfang, Oct. 27, 1936
3. Memorial Record, John F. Schall, Nov. 6, 1936
4. Funeral Register, John F. Schall, Nov. 6, 1936
5. Memorial Record, Caroline M. Seyfang, Apr. 6, 1949
6. Memorial Record, M. George Seyfang, Apr. 15, 1950
7. Memorial Record, Louise B. Johnston, Sept. 25, 1950

1. Cordes Family photographs (12), 1936-1962

Oversized (encapsulated)

1. Baptism Certificate - Geburts- und Taufschein (Jakob Schall), Oct. 28, 1855
2. Baptism Certificate - (George G. Schall), Jul. 11, 1880
3. Confirmation Certificate - (George G. Schall), May 14, 1893
4. Familien Register, 1843-1880
5. Marriage License (George Schall and Mary Kluck), Jan. 29, 1903

Removed to Main Collection

1. Defiance Daily Crescent (partial issue), Sept. 7, 1893

Manuscripts by Subject | Family Collections | U.S. in Wartime