Title: Photographs of the Gruettner Family
Inclusive Dates: 1905-1911

Creator:

• Flancher, Edwin, 1876-

Call Number: UWM Manuscript Collection 32

Quantity:

• 1 cubic ft. (3 boxes)
• 98 nitrate negatives
• 98 digital files (14.1 GB)

Repository:

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries, Archives Department

Archival Location:

UW-Milwaukee Libraries, Archives / Milwaukee Area Research Ctr. (Map)

Abstract:

Pictures taken by Edwin Flancher of the Gruettner family of Milwaukee at their home and at their cabin at Lake Manitowish, Vilas County, Wisconsin. The family is pictured in various leisure activities: fishing, hunting, swimming and preparing and eating meals. The pictures provide a sense of family recreation and leisure during the early years of the twentieth century.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-mil-uwmmss0032.

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The family relationships extend from two sisters, Emma and Louisa Hellberg, who were identical twins and born April 11, 1852. Emma and Louisa married Peter A. Barth and Gustave A. Gruettner, respectively. Emma and Peter Barth, who operated a liquor wholesale dealership at 251 Reed Avenue in Milwaukee, apparently had one child, George. George Barth became a doctor, and the first Director of Health for the City of Milwaukee in 1909. Gustave Gruettner was a dairy farmer and died in 1899. Louisa and Gustave had six children of their own: Louise (a.k.a. Lulu), Hilda, Elsa, Lorraine, Adolph and Rudolph. Elsa was a dental assistant, Hilda a school teacher and Louise married Edwin Flancher, who was a dentist. Adolph's profession is unknown.

Rudolph, who was born on January 3, 1876, graduated from South Division High School and entered Milwaukee Medical College (which later merged with Marquette University) and graduated with a degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery in 1900. He later opened up practice at 420 11th Avenue. Rudolph and Alice Eaton were married on November 24, 1903, and they three children: Catherine, Rudolph Edwin and Lorraine Madeline Gruettner.

Alice Eaton was the daughter of Barney A. and Kathryn Eaton and the sister of May, Nellie, and Ann Eaton. Barney apparently owned a fruit farm and vinegar factory on the south side of Milwaukee, near Cudahy. This establishment was also not in the city directory.

The exact kinship or family ties to other people included in the photographs has not been determined. It is not known if they are actually family or friends. It could not be determined how the Collins family and Jack Urban, for instance, fit into all of this merely from the information provided on the back of the pictures. They could be other relatives, friends of the family, or business associates. In addition, the age of the siblings in relation to each other could also not be determined.

This collection of 228 photographs, 135 4 x 5 inch glass negatives and 96 print negatives documents the vacation and leisure activities of the extended Gruettner family from approximately 1905-1911 at their home in Milwaukee and at their lake cabin on Lake Manitowish, Wisconsin. Edwin Flancher took the pictures and he is often seen holding a bulb leading off of the picture. The photographs illustrate the Gruettners in various pursuits: hunting, fishing, swimming, playing cards, relaxing in hammocks, and preparing and eating meals. Also included are group and individual photographs and shots of the local scenery. Although the majority of the pictures are of their vacation trips, some show the Gruettner home in Milwaukee, including indoor and outdoor shots and group and family portraits.

People are identified on the verso of each photograph from left to right unless otherwise noted. Additional information was provided by Jack Eaton Gruettner. There are, however, some inconsistencies in Gruettner's descriptions. The home in Milwaukee is given as both 11th or 14th and Morgan Street (the home was not listed in the city directory), and names and locations are also spelled differently on occasion. In addition, Gruettner could not identify all of the people in the pictures. A "-----" indicates an unidentified person; additional information is in brackets. The exact relation of all of the people in the photographs is unclear. The family biography below describes the family network in a general sense, given the limited information on the backs of the photographs.

The photographs are numbered and arranged in the order in which they were received. There are two sets of images: one set is numbered 1-134 and held in both photographic print and glass negative. These images are described at item level. There are also two unidentified glass negatives numbered 135 and 136. The photographic prints are housed in a binder in box 1 and the glass negatives are housed separately.

A second set of images numbered 101-195 are held in photographic print and nitrate negative. These images lack descriptions. The photographic prints are housed in a separate binder and the nitrate negatives are housed with other nitrate negatives. These negatives have been digitized and can be consulted upon request.

The records are arranged into the following series:

1. Prints and glass negatives
2. Prints and nitrate film negatives

Citation Guide for Primary Sources

Access Restrictions

Nitrate negatives are located in cold storage and must be acclimated before delivery to the reading room. Handling of the glass negatives requires the assistance of an archivist. Users must access the prints and digitized versions over the nitrate negatives. There are no other access restrictions on the materials, and the collection is open to all members of the public in accordance with state law.

Use Restrictions

The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright which may be involved in the use of this collection (Wisconsin Statutes 19.21-19.39).

Acquisition Information

Jack Eaton Gruettner donated the collection to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Golda Meir Library in December 1989. The Library transferred the collection to the Archives in February 1990.

Processing Information

Mark Shelstad processed the collection from December 1991 to February 1992. Charles Kempker reprocessed part of the collection in 2002.

In April 2011, Bob Jaeger removed 98 nitrate negatives from the collection and placed them with other nitrate negatives.

In 2021, Digital Collections and Initiatives digitized photographs 101-195 from their prints.

	Series: 1. Print and Glass Plate Negatives Scope and Content Note: These images are described at item level. The prints are housed in a binder in box 1 (there is no print for photograph 118). There is no glass negative for photograph 134. Box 3 also houses two unidentified glass negatives numbered 135 and 136.
Box   1 Photograph   1	Louisa (Hellberg) Gruettner and Emma (Hellberg) Barth at the Gruettner Home at 14th and Morgan, Milwaukee, 1910
Box   1 Photograph   2	Croquet Game in Front of the Gruettner Barn, 1910
Box   1 Photograph   3	Garden at the Gruettner Farm, 1906
Box   1 Photograph   4	Milk Route Barn Owned by the Gruettner Family, 1906
Box   1 Photograph   5	Louise Collins, Nora Collins, Mrs. and Leon Flancher, Edwin Collins, Emma Barth, Louisa Gruettner, -----, Lulu Gruettner, Adolph Gruettner, -----, -----, Elsa Gruettner, 1910
Box   1 Photograph   6	Edwin Flancher, Location Unknown Before 1911
Box   1 Photograph   7-8	Baby Hawks, Location Unknown Before 1911
Box   1 Photograph   9	[Woodland Scene], Location Unknown Before 1911
Box   1 Photograph   10	[Unidentified Woman] , Before 1911
Box   1 Photograph   11	[Unidentified Winter Street Scene] , Before 1911
Box   1 Photograph   12	[Two Unidentified Men Sitting Atop a Cannon] , Before 1911
Box   1 Photograph   13	[Picture of Flowers on Top of a Railing] , Before 1911
Box   1 Photograph   14-15	[Unidentified People Standing on Side of a Waterfall] , Before 1911
Box   1 Photograph   16-17	[Unidentified Two Women Next to Dairy Cows and a Barn] , Before 1911
Box   1 Photograph   18	[Unidentified Three People Swimming in a Lake] , Before 1911
Box   1 Photograph   19	Lorraine, Elsa Gruettner, Rudolph Gruettner, Edwin Gruettner, Lulu Flancher, Alice Gruettner (Mrs. R.C.), 1907
Box   1 Photograph   20, 22	Elsa Gruettner, 1907
Box   1 Photograph   21	Elsa Gruettner, With Sister Lulu Flancher, 1907
Box   1 Photograph   23	Edwin Flancher, D.D.S. with Model "97" Winchester (1897) near Plum Lake, Vilas County, Wisconsin, 1907
Box   1 Photograph   24	Dr. Edwin and Louise Flancher, Elsa Gruettner, Fishing near Manitowish, Wisconsin, 1907
Box   1 Photograph   25	Lulu and Edwin Flancher, D.D.S., 1907
Box   1 Photograph   26	Edwin and Lulu Flancher, Edwin Gruettner, Alice Gruettner, Lorraine, Elsa Gruettner, 1907
Box   1 Photograph   27	Aunt Lulu (Gruettner) Flancher, Lorraine, Edwin Gruettner, 1907
Box   1 Photograph   28	Elsa Gruettner, Lulu Flancher, Hilda Gruettner (All Sisters), At Gruettner Home, 11th and Morgan, Milwaukee circa 1905-1907
Box   1 Photograph   29	Edwin and Lulu Flancher, St. Germain Lake, 1907
Box   1 Photograph   30	Lulu Flancher and Elsa Gruettner, St. Germain Lake, 1907
Box   1 Photograph   31	Christmas at Gruettner Home, 11th and Morgan, Milwaukee circa 1905-1907
Box   1 Photograph   32	Leon Flancher, Lulu (Mrs. E.A.[Flancher]), Elsa Gruettner, Mrs. Leon Flancher, 1905
Box   1 Photograph   33	Leon Flancher (Top Right), 1905
Box   1 Photograph   34	Dr. Rudolph Gruettner, D.D.S., 1905
Box   1 Photograph   35	Leon Flancher (On Right), 1905
Box   1 Photograph   36	Elsa, Hilda, -----, -----, Grandmother Louise Gruettner (nee Hellberg), Louise Gruettner, 1905
Box   1 Photograph   37	Hilda Gruettner, Grandma (Louise) Gruettner, Lulu, ----, -----, 1905
Box   1 Photograph   38	"Porcupine Looking," at Gruettner Farm, 1905
Box   1 Photograph   39	Barn at Farm of J.A. Gruettner, 14th and Morgan, Milwaukee, Widow of J.A. Gruettner, Louisa (nee Hellberg) Pictured, 1905
Box   1 Photograph   40	Manitowish, Near Dam Site at Rest [sp?] Lake, on the Manitowish River 1905 (?)
Box   1 Photograph   41	Fresh-Water Spring "Wearing White Water Lillies," Edwin and Lulu Flancher, -----, Rudolph Gruettner 1905 (?)
Box   1 Photograph   42	Edwin Flancher, Wife Lulu, and Elsa Gruettner, 1905
Box   1 Photograph   43	Sisters Lulu and Elsa, 1905
Box   1 Photograph   44	Muskego Lake (?) Wisconsin , circa 1905-1907
Box   1 Photograph   45	Mrs. Louise Flancher, -----, and Muskie Fish at Plum Lake or St. Germain Lake, 1905
Box   1 Photograph   46	Edwin and Lulu Flancher, 1905
Box   1 Photograph   47	White Water Lillies -- Little Manitowish Lake, 1905
Box   1 Photograph   48	Mrs. Louise Flancher (nee Gruettner) , undated
Box   1 Photograph   49	Unloading Camping Equipment from Milwaukee -- Boats, Tents, Food, etc. -- To Meet at River Crossing and Then Barge to Campsite, at Rice Creek Train Stop, Rice Creek, Vilas County, Wisconsin, 1905
Box   1 Photograph   50	Elsa Gruettner with Model "97" Winchester Shotgun, Manitowish, 1905
Box   1 Photograph   51	Mrs. Louise Flancher, Manitowish, 1905
Box   1 Photograph   52	Mrs. Louise Flancher, Manitowish Lake, 1905
Box   1 Photograph   53	Pike Catch for Shipping to Milwaukee from Manitowish, Louise and Edwin Flancher with Elsa Gruettner (Standing), 1905
Box   1 Photograph   54	Edwin and Louise Flancher, Fred Urban, Rudolph Gruettner 1905 (?)
Box   1 Photograph   55	"Picnic of a Sunday," At the Gruettner Home at 14th and Morgan, Milwaukee, 1910
Box   1 Photograph   56	Bay Window at the Gruettner Home, With Spittoon and Beading Drapes, 1910
Box   1 Photograph   57	May, Nellie, Mrs. Katheryn and Barney A. Eaton (back); Ann, Alice, and Katherine (Front) at the Lakeside Fruit Farm (B.A. Eaton), Lake Road, Cudahy, 1910
Box   1 Photograph   58	Milwaukee Vinegar Works, Lake Shore Drive in Cudahy, R.R., Apple Orchard in Foreground of Barney A. Eaton, Lakeside Fruit Farm, 1910
Box   1 Photograph   59	Facilities of Spider Lake, 1909
Box   1 Photograph   60	"Learning to Swim," Edwin Gruettner, 1909
Box   1 Photograph   61	Dr. and Mrs. Edwin Flancher (Lulu and D.D.S.), Manitowish Lake, 1909
Box   1 Photograph   62	Lulu and Edwin Flancher, Elsa Gruettner near Manitowish Lake, 1909
Box   1 Photograph   63	Manitowish River (?), 1909
Box   1 Photograph   64	At "Buck's [Resort]," Spider Lake, Muskie on Tree 1909 (?)
Box   1 Photograph   65	-----, Muskie at Spider Lake, Manitowish 1909 (?)
Box   1 Photograph   66	Campfire at Manitowish, Dr. Rudolph Gruettner and Alice, Mrs. Louise Flancher, Elsa Gruettner, 1909
Box   1 Photograph   67	Northwoods Lumber Camp near St. Germain, (Right to Left) Edwin and Mrs. Flancher, Fred Urban, Rudolph Gruettner, 1909
Box   1 Photograph   68	Dr. Edwin Flancher, D.D.S. at Manitowish Lake, 1909
Box   1 Photograph   69	Family of Dr. Edwin Flancher, D.D.S. "Ready for an Outing," Patterson Touring Auto, 1911
Box   1 Photograph   70	Aunt Lulu -- Mrs. Edwin Flancher, 1911
Box   1 Photograph   71	Mrs. Lulu and Edwin Flancher, Campsite at Manitowish Lake, 1911
Box   1 Photograph   72	Lulu Flancher, Voss Birchwood Lodge on Manitowish Lake, 1911
Box   1 Photograph   73	Edwin Flancher, Voss Birchwood Lodge on Manitowish Lake, 1911
Box   1 Photograph   74	Elsa Gruettner and Lulu Flancher, Voss Birchwood "Cabin" on Manitowish Lake, 1911
Box   1 Photograph   75	Fred Urban, Voss Birchwood "Cabin" at Manitowish Lake, 1911
Box   1 Photograph   76	Edwin A. Flancher D.D.S., -----, Rudolph C. Gruettner D.D.S., Manitowish Lake Activity, 1911
Box   1 Photograph   77	Picnic at Manitowish Campsite, Edwin and Lulu Flancher, -----, -----, Katheryn, Alice, Edwin, Lorraine Gruettner, -----, George Barth, Elsa Gruettner, 1911
Box   1 Photograph   78	Picnic at Manitowish Campsite, Louise and Edwin Flancher, -----, Alice, Katheryn, Edwin, Lorraine Gruettner, Elsa Gruettner, 1911
Box   1 Photograph   79	Picnic at Manitowish Campsite, Edwin and Louise Flancher, -----, Alice, Katheryn, Lorraine, Edwin Gruettner, -----, George Barth, Elsa Gruettner, 1911
Box   1 Photograph   80	Campsite Picnic at Manitowish Lake, Louise Flancher, -----, -----, Katheryn, Alice (Mother), Edwin and Lorraine Gruettner, George Barth, Elsa Gruettner, 1911
Box   1 Photograph   81	"Going for a Swim," Spider Lake, 1911
Box   1 Photograph   82	Rudolph Gruettner, Edwin Flancher and Mrs. (Lulu), 1911
Box   1 Photograph   83	Lulu Flancher (Standing), Elsa Gruettner (Facing - Seated), Manitowish Lake, 1911
Box   1 Photograph   84	Edwin Flancher, Lulu Flancher, George Barth, Elsa Gruettner, Adolph Gruettner, Alice and Rudolph Gruettner, 1911
Box   1 Photograph   85	George Barth, Edwin Flancher, Alice Gruettner, Lulu Flancher, Elsa Gruettner, Rudolph Gruettner, Edwin Gruettner, Katheryn Gruettner, Lorraine Gruettner., Floating dock at Koerner's Resort on Spider Lake, Manitowish, 1911
Box   1 Photograph   86	Campsite near Manitowish Lake, 1911
Box   1 Photograph   87	Manitowish Lake, Louise (Lulu) and Edwin Flancher D.D.S., 1911
Box   1 Photograph   88	Manitowish Lake, Voss Birchwood Lodge, Campfire Ceremony and Costumes, Standing: Edwin Flancher D.D.S., Mrs. Alice (Rudolph) Gruettner, Elsa Gruettner (Dental Assistant to Uncle Edwin), Hilda Gruettner (School Teacher), Rudolph Gruettner D.D.S., Seated: Edwin Gruettner, Birelli [sp?] (Chef from Pfister Hotel), Lorraine Gruettner ("Rain-in-the-Face"), Kathryn Gruettner ("Kick-Hole-in-the-Sky"), 1911
Box   1 Photograph   89	Campsite of Future Cottage, Manitowish, Edwin Flancher D.D.S., Elsa Gruettner (Dental Assistant), Louise Flancher, 1911
Box   1 Photograph   90	Camping on Site of Future Cottage, Manitowish Lake, Edwin and Louise Flancher, 1911
Box   1 Photograph   91	Camping _____, Manitowish Lake, 1911
Box   1 Photograph   92	Spider Lake, Manitowish, Going for a Swim, Katheryn, Edwin, Lorraine Gruettner, Elsa Gruettner (Aunt of Katheryn, Edwin and Lorraine], Louise Flancher, -----, -----, Alice and Rudolph Gruettner, George Barth, 1911
Box   1 Photograph   93	Fred Urban, With Winchester Model "95," Lever-Action Shotgun, John Browning Design, Leaning on Railing, Percussion Black Powder Rifle or Musket, 1905
Box   1 Photograph   94	Lulu Flancher, Rudolph Gruettner, Edwin Flancher, Fred Urban, Plum Lake, 1905
Box   1 Photograph   95	Plum Lake Cabin, Fred Urban, Rudolph Gruettner, Edwin Flancher, and Lulu (nee Gruettner), 1905
Box   1 Photograph   96	Rudolph Gruettner, Louise Flancher, -----, Fred Urban, '97 Winchester and .22 Small Bore Rifle on Wall, St. Germain Cabin, 1905
Box   1 Photograph   97	Edwin and Louise Flancher and Elsa Gruettner, Old Logging Road in Marsh (Bulb to Kodak Camera -- 4 x 5 Plate), 1905
Box   1 Photograph   98	Packing Pike for Shipment (Moss and Ferns), Walleye Pike on Ice, Edwin and Louise Flancher and Elsa Gruettner, Manitowish, 1905
Box   1 Photograph   99	Packing Walleye Ppike for Shipment (Ice, Moss and Ferns) from Manitowish, Edwin and Louise Flancher and Elsa Gruettner, 1905
Box   1 Photograph   100	Mrs. Lulu Flancher with Shotgun Model "97" Winchester near St. Germain Lake, 1905
Box   1 Photograph   101	[Unidentified Woman Reading at Cabin] , undated
Box   1 Photograph   102	[Unidentified Man and a Boy Making Ice Cream] , undated
Box   1 Photograph   103	[Unidentified People on a Bridge over a River] , undated
Box   1 Photograph   104	[Unidentified Man Standing on a Bridge Over a River] , undated
Box   1 Photograph   105	Alice Gruettner, Fred Urban, Rudolph Gruettner undated
Box   1 Photograph   106	Dr. Rudolph and Alice Gruettner and Dr. Edwin Flancher , undated
Box   1 Photograph   107	Lulu Flancher, Camping at Manitowish undated
Box   1 Photograph   108	Camping at Manitowish Lake. -----, -----, Lulu Flancher, Lorraine Gruettner, 1911
Box   1 Photograph   109	Edwin and Lulu Flancher, Camping at Manitowish Lake, 1911
Box   1 Photograph   110	Facilities a la Nature!, Courtesy of Diamond Match Co., [Gruettner's Outside Toilet on Their Camping Trips, Made from a Diamond Match Company Wooden Box], 1911
Box   1 Photograph   111	Sleeping Tent, Elsa Gruettner, Lulu and Edwin Flancher, 1911
Box   1 Photograph   112	Fred Urban and Rudolph Gruettner, Manitowish Lake, 1911
Box   1 Photograph   113	Camp Dinner near Manitowish, Rudolph Gruettner, D.D.S., Elsa Gruettner, Alice Gruettner, Louise (Lulu) Flancher, 1909
Box   1 Photograph   114	Spider Lake, Manitowish, Friends of the Family, 1909
Box   1 Photograph   115	Dr. Edwin Flancher D.D.S. and Muskie, Manitowish Lake, 1909
Box   1 Photograph   116	Elsa Gruettner, Lulu and Edwin Flancher near Manitowish Lake, 1909
Box   1 Photograph   117	Manitowish Lake. Elsa Gruettner, Louise (Gruettner) Flancher, Alice Gruettner (Mrs. R.C. Gruettner), 1909
Box   1 Photograph   118	Elsa Gruettner and Louise Flancher, Fishing near Manitowish, 1909
Box   1 Photograph   119	Voss Deer Park Lodge, Manitowish Lake, 1910
Box   1 Photograph   120	-----, Alice and Rudolph Gruettner D.D.S., at Buck's Spider Lake Dock, Muskie and Old Town Boat with 1911 Evinrude Motor 1911 (?)
Box   1 Photograph   121	Louise (Lulu) and Edwin Flancher D.D.S., -----, Rudolph Gruettner D.D.S., Sieving for Bait Minnows, Manitowish River, 1911
Box   1 Photograph   122	Adolph Gruettner, George P. Barth (M.D.), Edwin and Lorraine Gruettner, Lulu Flancher, Elsa Gruettner, Alice, Katheryn, and Rudolph Gruettner (D.D.S.), -----, Sieving for Minnows, Evinrude Outboard Motor, Manitowish River, 1911
Box   1 Photograph   123	Campsite, Manitowish Lake, Dining Tent, 1911
Box   1 Photograph   124	A "Wherry" or "Rhinelander's Guide Boat," Manitowish Lake (?), 1911
Box   1 Photograph   125	Campsite, Manitowish Lake, Cook Tent, Elsa Gruettner, Louise Flancher (Sister), 1911
Box   1 Photograph   126	Camping on Site of Future Cottage, Manitowish Lake, Elsa Gruettner, Sister of Louise, Edwin Flancher D.D.S., 1911
Box   1 Photograph   127	Spider Lake, Manitowish Lake, Buck's Resort Dock, Mrs. Louise Flancher and Sister Elsa Gruettner with Katheryn Gruettner, age 2+, Floating Pier with Minnow Bait Tank in Center, Old Town Boats on Left, Evinrude Motors, 1911
Box   1 Photograph   128	Lulu Flancher, Fred Urban, Edwin Flancher, Rudolph Gruettner, Sieving for Minnows, Manitowish Lake, 1911
Box   1 Photograph   129	Alder Lake, Loveless Mill or Pinery, 1909
Box   1 Photograph   130	Rest Lake, Side Paddleboat for Logging, 1909
Box   1 Photograph   131	Rudolph and Alice Gruettner (Rice Creek?), 1909
Box   1 Photograph   132	Rice Lake or River, Dr. Rudolph Gruettner D.D.S., Dr. Edwin A. Flancher D.D.S., 1909
Box   1 Photograph   133	Corderoy Road (For Logging) near Alder Lake, Leading to Loveless Lumber Mill. Elsa Gruettner, Lulu and Edwin Flancher (With Kodak Camera Box and Remote Bulb), 1907
Box   1 Photograph   134	Manitowish Action, Lulu, Elsa and Edwin Flancher, "Walleye Catch of the Day," Getting Ready to Pack and Ship, 1905
Box   2 Photograph   1-115	Glass negatives
Box   3 Photograph   116-133, 135-136	Glass negatives Scope and Content Note: There is no glass negative for image 134. Box 3 also houses two unidentified glass negatives numbered 135 and 136.
	Series: 2. Print and Nitrate Negatives Scope and Content Note: These images a second set of photographs numbered 101-195, held in print and nitrate film negative. There is no print or nitrate negative for 180.	⇧
Box   1 Photograph   101-163, 165-179, 181-195	Photographic Prints Scope and Content Note: There is no print for image 164 or 180.
Electronic Folder	Digitized Photos Physical Description: 99 digital files (14.1 GB)  Scope and Content Note: Digitized versions of nitrate negatives for photos 101-195. The digital IDs match the original number starting with uwmmss032_000101. The number of #147a was written on the wrong side, so the number apears mirrored. #180 doesn't exist in both copies.