OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION
Minnesota Historical Society
Menzel, B. R. (Bruno
Richard), 1867-.
Bruno Menzel and family
papers.
1881-1990.
Autobiographical and genealogical
information, family correspondence (1890-1922), photographs (1905-1970s),
newspaper clippings (1911-1990), an autograph book, financial journal
(1881-1990), and miscellany (1884-1887) of a German immigrant to Minneapolis
and his family, as well as bills, receipts, and correspondence relating to the
B.R. Menzel Fur Company (1892-1940).
0.75 cu. ft. (1 box, and
5 additional items in oversize box).
See Detailed Description for shelf
locations.
BIOGRAPHY OF BRUNO MENZEL
Menzel, a furrier, emigrated from Hirschberg, Germany to the United
States, arriving in Minneapolis in 1884. He married Flora Lehmann in 1893 and
opened his fur store in Minneapolis in 1908. From then until 1965 the store was
operated by Menzel and his two sons, Theodore and Walter.
SCOPE AND CONTENTS OF THE PAPERS
Most family correspondence, the autobiography, and the two volumes are
in German and have not been translated. The small collection of bills,
receipts, and correspondence (1892-1940) document Menzel's business connections
with other retail fur companies in the United States, England, and Germany.
Two folders of photographs, both studio portraits and snapshots (some
identified), depict Bruno Menzel and members of his family. The earliest dated
photograph is a 1902 family portrait and the latest is a group portrait dated
1935. The rest are undated, but date from the 1920s through the 1970s.
ARRANGEMENT OF THE PAPERS
These documents are organized into the following sections:
- Menzel Family Papers
- B.R. Menzel and Company Records
- Oversize Items
OTHER FINDING AIDS
Inventory available in repository; filed in ALPHA notebooks under
the heading: Menzel, B. R. (Bruno Richard).
CATALOG HEADINGS
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.
Topics:
National socialism.
Business enterprises -- Minnesota --
Minneapolis.
Fur garments -- Minnesota --
Minneapolis.
Fur trade -- Minnesota --
Minneapolis.
German Americans -- Minnesota --
Minneapolis.
Immigrants -- Minnesota --
Minneapolis.
Organizations:
B.R. Menzel and
Company (Minneapolis, Minn.).
Menzel Furs (Firm :
Minneapolis, Minn.).
Places:
Minneapolis (Minn.).
Document Types:
Passports.
Photographs.
ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Preferred Citation:
[Indicate the cited item and/or series
here.] B.R. Menzel and Family Papers. Minnesota Historical Society.
See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional
examples
Accession Information:
Accession number: 14,633
Processing Information:
Processed by: Kathryn A. Johnson, September 1992
Catalog ID number: 09-00027955
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION
Menzel Family Papers
146.K.14.5B
1
Biographical information and genealogical charts.
1 folder.
B. R. Menzel's autobiography (in German),
[undated].
400 pp., typed. 4 folders.
Letters (in German) to Bruno Menzel from individuals in
Hirschberg, Germany,
1890-1901.
Letters (in English) to Menzel family members from
pianist Elsie Wolff, Munich, Germany,
1922.
Miscellaneous family papers,
1884-1987.
Newspaper clippings,
1911-1990.
Bruno Menzel's autograph book (in German),
1881-1888.
1 volume in folder.
Bruno Menzel's financial journal (in German),
1894-1900.
1 volume in folder.
Photographs,
[192-]-[197-].
2 folders, containing 31 images.
Menzel family portraits, snapshots, and photoprints, some of
which are identified.
Printed items issued in Germany under the Nazi
party.
German newspaper, April 20, 1928, and a songsheet from the
steamship Deutschland of the German-American
Steamship Line, 1934.
B.R. Menzel and Company Records
146.K.14.5B
1
Biils, receipts, and correspondence,
1892-1940.
3 folders.
144.D.5.7B
2
Printed materials,
[undated].
Oversize Items
144.D.5.7B
2
Photographs.
Studio portaits of Flora Menzel[?], 1911, and of Bruno Menzel
when 60-70 years old; group photograph from a dinner party of German Americans,
St. Paul, 1935.
Pamphlets:
"Fur Fashions Created for B. R. Menzel,"
1939.
B.R. Menzel, "The Fashion Doctor,"
1939.