The Krzyzanowski family papers are arranged in three series: CORRESPONDENCE, BUSINESS AND PERSONAL PAPERS, and VISUAL MATERIALS. The collection had no discernible original order, aside from the SCRAPBOOKS, which were kept intact as much as possible.
The CORRESPONDENCE series contains mostly outgoing correspondence from various family members, and is arranged by recipient. The majority of this series consists of letters written to Estelle Krzyzanowski Schulze from family members and friends and these are therefore presented first. Included in Estelle Krzyzanowski Schulze's letters are love letters from her husband Reinhardt written while he was serving as a soldier in 1918, as well as letters from several long-time male companions. There are numerous letters from her daughter, Dorothea Schulze Wong, while she was living with her grandparents, while traveling, and while attending school and working in other states. Also of interest is the very thorough run of letters from Estelle's sister-in-law Eleanore Krzyzanowski, which provide insights into a working class woman's day-to-day life in the 1930s. Most of these letters are in English, but contain some Polish material. Correspondence to other family members is less plentiful, but provides extra insight on relationships covered in Estelle's letters. Of particular interest are the letters from various relatives from Poland, as they chronicle the hardships endured by the Polish during World War II.
The BUSINESS AND PERSONAL PAPERS series consists of Estelle's business records, her diary and transcription, certificates, ephemera, career materials, a yearbook, scattered news clippings, and various personal papers. Estelle's business records include both records relating to the various beauty shops that she owned and managed, as well as records detailing the “trading” she did in real estate. Many of the records provide insight on the day-to-day operations of a beauty shop at the time, including licensure, personal injury issues, and wage regulations for women. Complementing these records are Julius Balcerzak's barber training manuals and associated materials. Also included is Estelle's beautician's case including various realia used in her profession.
Estelle's diary chronicles her separation and divorce from Reinhardt Schulze from 1920 through 1925, her struggle to receive financial support from him, and his estrangement from his daughter Dorothea. Other personal papers illustrate Reinhardt Schulze's life as a soldier and his later activities, and Dorothea Schulze Wong and her husband Victor Wong's careers in the medical field. Also of note are the few items documenting Benjamin (Krzyzanowski) Crossler's hike to California from Wisconsin in 1926.
The VISUAL MATERIALS series is divided into four sub-series: Family Scrapbooks, Crayon Portraits and Drawings, Photographs, and Negatives. The Family Scrapbook sub-series consists of five distinct scrapbooks that were compiled by donors Virginia Holtz and Lorie Nichols. Each scrapbook documents a person or family group, and each contains an assortment of materials: photographs, certificates, letters, advertising materials, business cards, calendars, news clippings, awards, ephemera, memorabilia, genealogical sheets, and official records. Family relationships are captured well, as are special events (weddings, funerals, graduations, etc.). Estelle Krzyzanowski Schulze's career scrapbook provides a vivid glimpse into working class beauty shops and beauty culture in general for the 1920s-1950s. Coverage is extensive and materials are presented chronologically. It is important to note that some extended family members are only documented in this part of the collection.
The scrapbooks were initially compiled in binders; these had to be dismantled for preservation purposes. The materials were separated, placed in folders and are in original order. Additionally, the scrapbooks were photocopied in their entirety before they were disassembled, and this master copy remains in the boxes, preceding the scrapbook materials, to serve as a reference tool.
The Crayon Portraits and Drawings sub-series includes crayon portraits of Teofila Olszewski, Thomas Olszewski, and Sophia Olszewski Krzyzanowski and a charcoal drawing reported to be Dorothea Schulze Wong.
The Photographs sub-series consists of a relatively small selection of images mostly of Estelle Krzyzanowski Schulze and various activities she participated in. There are a handful of general family photographs, as well as several oversized portraits of family members. The photographs in this series are not comprehensive, as the collection's strongest photograph component resides within the contents of the Family Scrapbooks.
The Negatives sub-series documents four subject areas: family, travel, recreation, and special events. A majority of the negatives document activities Estelle Krzyzanowski Schulze was involved in (especially American Legion events and parades), although there are a large number of images relating to Dorothea Schulze Wong as well. The images related to traveling mostly chronicle Estelle's travels in California, when she would visit her brother Benjamin. Recreation imagery includes shots of picnics, horseback riding, fishing, lounging by the waterfront, and a few of the Colsac Car Ferry in Merrimac. Some of the images from special events were taken by Muriel Krzyzanowski Balcerzak at various dog shows.
